Chapter 3
The doctor noticed the worried look on her face, adjusted his glasses, and asked gently, "Are there financial concerns?"
Colette bit her lip, feeling awkward and helpless, then nodded.
"Doctor, is it possible for him not to be admitted? Could you just prescribe some medicine so I can take care of him at home?" she asked, her voice pleading.
The doctor shook his head, speaking in a grave tone.
"His fever's nearly 104°F, and his tonsils are severely suppurated. He must have IV antibiotics. Otherwise, it could easily lead to myocarditis or nephritis. The consequences could be severe," the doctor warned.
His last words struck her heart like a heavy blow.
She looked down at her sick, limp son in her arms, her nose started to burn, and she nearly broke down in tears.
She could handle anything life threw at her, but watching her son in pain was the one thing she couldn't stand.
The doctor's gaze landed on her pale face, and he sighed softly. "Go get the blood tests done first. You can think about the hospital fees along the way."
Colette walked out of the exam room, holding Theodore in her arms, feeling dazed and lost.
She sank onto a bench in the hallway, her mind completely blank.
Where was she going to get the money?
Borrow from her friends?
Her few friends were barely scraping by themselves. They could lend her a few hundred or a thousand, but she could not bring herself to ask for ten thousand dollars for the hospital bill.
Ask the company for an advanced salary?
She'd only been there for less than three months and was still on probation. Would her supervisor even agree?
Colette had never felt so powerless.
She always thought she was tough enough to handle anything for her son. But reality kept slapping her in the face. When it came to money, all that strength just fell apart.
Her phone was just sitting in her pocket.
A familiar number popped into her head. It was Wayne's number.
He told her, if she ever needed help, his number hadn't changed. Should she call Wayne?
The thought barely lasted a second before she shut it down hard.
No, absolutely not. This was the last shred of dignity she had left.
She could be beaten down by reality, but she'd never lower herself to him.
Just when Colette was at her wit's end, the young doctor from earlier walked over.
He sat down beside her and handed her a cup of warm water.
"Here, drink some water. Your lips are so pale," he said gently.
Colette took the water and quietly said, "Thanks."
"I'm Caleb Locke, the attending physician here," he said, his voice smooth and almost soothing. "Are you having trouble with the hospital bill?"
Colette nodded, feeling a bit uncomfortable and embarrassed.
Caleb acted like he hadn't even noticed how awkward she felt, still speaking gently.
"Tell you what. I'll cover the hospital admission for you. Just pay me back whenever you can," he offered.
Colette looked up at him, stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"I can't let you do that. We're basically strangers," she stammered, her voice shaky.
Caleb smiled. His expression was warm and gentle, like sunlight in spring.
"Don't worry about it. Everyone goes through tough times. I can tell it's not easy for you, raising your child alone." His eyes softened as he looked at Theodore.
"Right now, getting your kid into the hospital matters more than anything," he added.
A rush of warmth flooded through Colette, filling her with a bittersweet sense of relief and gratitude.
She gazed at Caleb, this gentle, kind man, and felt her throat tighten with emotion.
Six years had passed, and now, at her lowest point, it was a stranger who reached out and pulled her back from the edge.
Yet the man who once swore he'd always be there for her was now the very last person she'd ever ask for help.
How ironic.
"Thank you, Dr. Locke," Colette said, her voice choked and nasal with emotion. "I swear I'll pay you back as soon as I can."
"There's no rush." Caleb stood up. "Just wait here for a bit. I'll go handle the paperwork."
Watching him walk away, Colette finally felt the tension she'd been carrying all night begin to bleed away.
She looked down at her son in her arms and gently stroked his burning cheek.
Don't be scared, Teddy. Mommy's here. No matter how hard things get, Mommy will always be right here with you.
With Caleb's help, Theodore was quickly admitted to a room and hooked up to an IV.
The pale yellow medicine dripped slowly through the clear tube, one drop at a time, into Theodore's tiny body.
Watching her son's furrowed brow finally relax, and his breathing grow steady, Colette felt the knot in her chest finally loosen.
The hospital room was shared, and the boy in the other bed looked about Theodore's age, with his grandmother staying by his side.
The old lady was quite talkative, and seeing Colette juggling everything on her own, she couldn't help but feel for her.
"Sweetie, are you here all alone? Where's his father?" the grandmother asked.
Colette's hands stilled for a moment, then she forced a relaxed smile, acting like it was nothing.
"He's away on business, so he's busy," Colette replied.
It was an excuse she'd relied on for five years.