Page 4 of Forged Forever

I must fall asleep after my tea because I wake to Alex gently tapping my shoulder. “The doc is here,” he smiles at me.

Looking past him, I see Dr. Croft standing nearby with a gentle smile on his face. “Hello Summer.”

“Hi doc,” I eep out with a sneeze.

Alex steps out of the way so he can come closer. Sanitizing his hands and pulling on gloves, he grabs a tongue depressor and a light to have a look at my throat. Sucking in a breath, I try not to breathe on him as he does his job. He asks about my symptoms, feels my lymph nodes, and takes a swab to run a rapid strep test from his doctor's bag. “This will take approximately 15 minutes,” he tells us as he strips his gloves off and washes his hands. Alex gives him a coffee as we wait, and Seb snuggles into my side. I love the cuddles, but I’m overly hot right now, so I kick the blanket to my feet so I can keep Seb close.

My brain isn’t fully functioning right now because, what feels like seconds later, Dr. Croft announces I have strep throat and a cold virus. He sets a bottle of antibiotics on the counter for me, telling me to rest and get lots of fluids. I ask about Seb since we made out last night, and he assures me Alex can call him if he develops a sore throat too. Thanking him, E hands me another warm tea to sip.

Waving goodbye, Alex closes the door behind him. “If you can provide me with a list of items you would like, I can shop for you,” Alex offers. He pulls out his phone, ready to type.

E begins with ingredients to make chicken soup, then I request raw honey, herbal teas, echinacea for Seb, cold medicine, and soft foods.

As he leaves, Dad enters the apartment. “Hey darling. How are you feeling?” he asks, coming to sit by my feet.

“Okay, Dr. Croft tested me, and I have strep throat and a cold. I’ll be fine,” I give him a small smile.

He puts the back of his hand on my forehead to test my temperature. “Can I get you anything?”

“Alex is getting some stuff for me now.”

He sits back with a sigh. “You have been going so much these past two months, darling; I'm not surprised you got sick. How was your evening?”

Seb fills him in on our night, and Dad does the same with some funny stories about drunk rich folks. Mrs. Grant knocks and enters with bedding and cleaning supplies as they're talking. “I hear we have a sick patient,” she smiles at everyone. “How are you, dear?” she directs her question towards me.

“I’m okay, thanks.”

“Let me get the bathroom disinfected and your sheets changed, and then I'll be out of your hair.”

“No, you don’t have to do that, Mrs. Grant.” I attempt to get up, but my head pounds painfully as I grab it and fall backwards. I don’t want anyone else cleaning up after me.

“Nonsense,” she waves at me. “You’re a sweet girl, and you made this family whole again. I have years of experience doing this sort of thing. I’m an expert, and it will only take a moment.” She bustles off to my room without another word, humming to herself. Alex must have contacted her before he left. My friends are the best.

Dad stays for lunch and then drives to Finn. After loading my system with cold medicine, antibiotics, and more tea, I fall asleep on the couch. I planned to go home to avoid getting anyone else sick, but Alex and E argued they were already exposed last night, so I should stay here instead of infecting my home too.

I drift in and out during the afternoon and manage to video call Jake. Alex dropped off some immunity supplements to him while he was out as a precaution.

E makes a fragrant chicken noodle soup with melt in your mouth rolls for dinner. My appetite returns with a vengeance at the smells coming from my bowl. After stuffing myself, everyone gathers around the couch to watch some movies. Bay joins us after dinner, and Alex gives him a bottle of immunity stuff to take as well. He had an enjoyable time at the party with Penny and was home by 1am. He worked at the shop today, doing oil changes and tire rotations with Olivia’s help.

I spend the next day at Alex’s house too, feeling like I’m at 10% battery power all day, unable to stand long enough to even shower, and Seb develops a sore throat by the evening. Alex picks up an antibiotic for him from the hospital, and he comes home with me that night. Mrs. Grant came back a few times with homemade pudding and ice cream, keeping the bathroom, bedding, and blankets washed for us.

Since it’s the weekend, Seb and I cocoon ourselves on the couch to rest. E sent us home with lots of his homemade soup and rolls because it’s the only thing I seem to want to eat right now. We’re both as cold, damp, and gloomy as the weather outside. Dad takes care of us all weekend in between chores and work.

You’ve heard of the term “man cold?” Well, Seb, as it turns out, is not a great patient. I’ve never heard so many whines and groans in my life. I got stomach aches from laughing at him, which led to coughing and sneezing fits, but it was so worth it.

Our friends stop by periodically to check on us, and by Monday morning, I’m feeling much better. I still have a cold, but it’s muted, and my throat is a dull ache now. I drive Seb and me to school Monday morning with him still groaning like a baby.

We get an update on Nick on Tuesday after school from Troy. Nothing extensive, but he’s still working at a bar in Knoxville with his dad. The bar is a proper establishment, apparently, and he’s bruised but functioning.

I video call Jake for a few more days before I’m comfortable visiting on Friday. Neither he, Ray, nor the nurses have gotten sick, thank goodness. E and Alex visited Jake on Monday and Wednesday evening while Ray attended his support group. He started attending with the encouragement of Dad and Jake right after Christmas. Zander convinced him it wasn’t healthy to stay cooped up in the condo 7 days a week. It’s a work in progress, but he seems to be getting better.

The next week and a half involves a lot of rest, school, and Jake. E got a bit of a cold but no sore throat, and Seb milked his illness way past its expiration date. Ray and Will started taking Jake out for physiotherapy a couple of days a week, so they both get fresh air. In typical Jake fashion, he’s pushing his physiotherapy hard, working on it 5 days a week. The guys regularly visit Jake on their own when they have time, and I appreciate that so much.

Chapter 3

The following Saturday morning, Ray decides to tell Jake his story. Jake asked me to be present for the conversation, which I initially declined, feeling they needed time alone, but Jake was having none of that. Since I already knew most of it, I agreed.

After hot homemade soup and fresh bread with Zander, I hop in my Jeep and drive over there. I’m nervous for Jake; he’s going to be upset, and I hate it. I unlock the door when I arrive, calling a greeting. Jake hollers from his room that he’s curling. It’s been a thing ever since New Year’s Day. Whenever I visit, he yells that he’s doing something he can’t yet. I think it’s a coping mechanism, and he finds it hilarious. He’s been skydiving, BASE jumping, planting flowers, and painting, to name a few. “Are you winning?” I respond.