Sammy arrived at the upscale office building about ten minutes later, heading straight to the sixth floor. She turned left, walking down to the end of the hallway to the door labeled ‘Michael Doogan, Esq.’ She stepped inside to find Trish, Mike’s secretary of two decades, on the phone.
Trish spotted her and gave her a wave. She signaled that Sammy could go in, and Sammy mouthed a thank you in response. Sammy knocked lightly before entering.
“Sammy! How are you, sweetie?” Mike greeted her warmly as she walked in.
Sammy smiled at the handsome, older man as he rose from his chair and came over to wrap her in a big bear hug.
There was something about hugging Mike Doogan that always made you feel better. He had a knack for enveloping you in a sense of comfort and security.
“Hi Mike, I’m okay…” she responded.
He pulled back from the hug and studied her. “What’s wrong? You don’t look so hot, sweetie…”
She sighed as he guided her to the large leather couch situated at the side of his office. She sat down and looked at him.
He was a handsome man in his early fifties, with just a sprinkling of gray hairs in his dark brown hair. His bright-blue eyes, charming dimpled smile, and well-maintained physique were all part of his appeal.
His intelligence and successful career as an attorney were also attractive to women; the man was practically a money magnet. His status as a widower also tugged at the heartstrings of the many women who tried to catch his attention.
Mike never remarried after his wife passed away twelve years ago; his love for her persisted even after her death.
“You’re right, Mike, I’m not feeling well. But that’s not why I’m here… I just came from a meeting with the principal and preschool director of Gracie’s school.”
“Is Gracie okay?” he asked, his concern evident.
“Oh, she’s fine—actually she’s more than fine,” Sammy said, and proceeded to explain the meeting to Mike and how they believe Gracie is gifted.
“Gifted? Well, that makes sense. Her mother is a math genius and her father has an incredible mind—when he manages to pull his head out of his ass.”
Sammy laughed and thanked him, but continued. “But seriously, would you come with me to tour the school? I’d value your opinion and I could use another perspective.”
“Absolutely! Just give me the date and I’ll be there.”
“Thank you… But there’s another issue, the cost. It’s really expensive and I can’t afford it on my current salary. So, could you spread the word if anyone needs bookkeeping or anything like that?
“I need to bring in some extra income, especially since my brother keeps nagging me about the state of my jeep; I need to start looking at a new car…”
“Sammy, let me take care of the tuition,” Mike offered.
“Oh Mike, I can’t let you do that! It’s too much money.”
“That would just take away from the time you get to spend with Gracie. Please…”
Sammy looked at the kind man sitting next to her, her eyes welling up with tears. He was such a wonderful person, and she loved him dearly, as did Gracie.
She nodded at him as he smiled and pulled her in for another hug.
“Sammy, you’re burning up! Go home and get some rest. How is Gracie getting home today?”
Sammy wiped her eyes. “Kate is picking her up from school and taking her and Emma to dance class. She’ll bring her home later.”
“Good. Go get some sleep,” he said, planting a kiss on her forehead.
She thanked him again and zipped up her coat. She told him she would call him with a time for the school tour once she had it arranged. She waved to Trish on her way out and headed home.
She texted her brother and sister-in-law to let them know she wasn’t feeling well and was going to bed. She barely made it home, changed into sweats and a hoodie, then climbed into bed and fell asleep instantly.
She woke up a few hours later and rushed to the bathroom to throw up. She felt like she’d been hit by a truck when she stood up to rinse her mouth.
She called Derek and told him she thought she had the flu and asked if he could take care of Gracie’s dinner and bath for the evening. He told her to look at the clock and she was shocked to see it read 7:30.
“Sammy, you’ve been out for hours. She’s watching a princess movie, already had dinner, and had a bath. Sis, I tried waking you up a few hours ago, and you were practically unconscious and burning up with fever.
“I left you some meds on your nightstand. Take them. Lynn has Gracie in the morning. We’ll figure out the rest later. Stay in your room. Don’t spread your germs around the house. I don’t need your germs,” he replied.
“Jerk, thanks. Give Gracie my love,” she mumbled back to him before hanging up. She noticed the meds sitting there along with a bottle of some sports drink.
She took the pills, lay back down, and didn’t hear anything until someone knocked on her door the next morning.
“Sammy, I’ll be at the barn. If you need me, just call or text,” Derek said through the door.
She looked a mess as she made her way back to her bed. She took another round of pills and turned on the TV, drifting in and out of sleep all day. She was sleeping so deeply at one point that she missed a phone call from Gracie’s school.
Derek answered his cell phone. “Mr. Hills, this is Janet from Stepping Stones Preschool. We have Gracie in the office; she’s running a fever and not feeling well.”
“Oh man, she must have caught what her mom has. Umm…someone from her emergency list will be there in a few minutes. Thanks for the call.”
Derek was swamped. He had two lessons to teach, an interview lined up with a potential handyman, and a massive delivery of hay due. He knew Lynn was up to her elbows in frosting, trying to finish two hundred cupcakes for a wedding by six o’clock tonight. She couldn’t possibly leave.
Times like these made him want to sock Gracie’s dad square in the face. He adored his niece, but he was fed up with her father skipping out on his responsibilities while everyone else picked up the slack.
With a sigh, he moved to plan B. He dialed a number on his phone and waited.
“Hello, this is Michael Doogan.”
“Hey Mike, it’s Derek.”
“Hey Derek, how are you?”
“Could use a favor.”
“What do you need?”
“Gracie’s sick. The school just called. Sammy’s under the weather too and missed the call, so she’s probably sleeping. I’ve got three appointments this afternoon and Lynn’s swamped.
“Can you pick up Gracie and take her to Sammy?”
“Absolutely! Need anything from the store?”
“Damn, yes. Can you grab some sports drinks, children’s fever reducer, and some jello mix? You know Gracie’s favorites.”
“I’m on it. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Thanks, Mike!”
“I’d do anything for my granddaughter, you know that.”
Mike grabbed his keys, told Trish he was heading out for the day, explained about the call, and sped off to the store to pick up the requested items. He was at Gracie’s school in twenty minutes.
He signed her out and picked her up, noticing her feverish warmth. She whimpered a little when she saw him and he comforted her.
“Grampy, I don’t feel good. I wanna go home.”
“I know, baby. I’m taking you to Mommy right now.”
She nestled her head on his shoulder and clung to his neck as he carried her to the car. He buckled her into the car seat and drove her home.
By the time they reached the ranch, she was fast asleep. He carried her inside, thankful Sammy had given him a key for times like this. He climbed the stairs and knocked on Sammy’s door.
He heard some movement and called her name as he opened the door. Sammy was in bed, just waking up, as he called her name again. She looked over at Mike and he could see she was feeling awful.
“Sammy, sweetheart, Gracie’s sick too. Derek called and asked me to bring her home.”
Sammy sat up a bit and Mike placed her little girl on the bed. He removed her coat and shoes and then went to fetch her pajamas.
Sammy went to the bathroom and grabbed the thermometer. Gracie had a fever, just like hers. She checked the medicine cabinet. No fever meds. “Damn it.”
She returned to the bedroom. Mike had Gracie changed into her pajamas and had even remembered to bring her stuffed bear. She told him about the medication and he said Derek had asked him to pick some up.
She nearly cried with relief. He told her to wait while he fetched the medicine from the car. Sammy took a moment to drink some water and take some pills for herself.
Mike returned and measured out the correct dose as Sammy gently woke Gracie so she could take it. Gracie fell back asleep almost instantly.
Sammy thanked Mike. He brushed it off, saying it was no big deal. He was going to make some jello for them downstairs and then head out.
She nodded and lay down with her daughter snuggled close. Mike went downstairs and made Gracie’s two favorite flavors of jello and put them in the fridge.
He checked on the two beautiful redheads one last time and found them sound asleep. He closed the door, texted Derek an update as he headed downstairs, and then drove home to start his own dinner.
He got in his car and muttered to himself, “My son is the biggest idiot on the planet for leaving her.”
He drove back to the highway and headed home.
