Chapter 200 Alex Has a Fever
"You're burning up! Should I call an ambulance?" Alex panicked, but Frederick's hand on his forehead calmed him a bit.
It did feel pretty hot to the touch, but it was still far from being an actual fever.
With the wet hair and all, it wasn't hard to figure out – he was probably just winded from running laps around the bedroom.
"Little guy's got energy, huh!" Frederick shot him an annoyed look, nodding towards his room, "Go sleep it off."
Alex's eyes flashed, "Can't solve it yourself, and now you won't let me help?"
His short legs moved fast. Frederick had just reached the stairs when Alex had already huffed his way into the bedroom and slammed the door with a bang.
Frederick fell silent.
His gaze landed on the still-steaming cup on the kitchen island and the thermometer in his hand. After a moment of silence, Frederick went upstairs to get his phone.
When Rebecca received Frederick's message, she was playing a game. She had just lost several rounds, and frustration bubbled up inside her. She was done playing.
Her phone dinged. She saw Frederick's pitch-black Facebook profile picture on the screen.
[Becca, Alex has a fever. Where did you put the medicine box?]
[He was fine just now. How did he suddenly get a fever? The medicine box is in the storage cabinet next to the living room sofa.]
She could already picture Frederick rushing from the first-floor master bedroom to the living room sofa, rummaging through everything.
Her phone rang again.
[Alex can take this medicine, right?]
The photo showed orange-packaged children's ibuprofen.
[Check his temp. If it's above 100.4°F, give it to him. Doc here yet?]
[They said they're on the way, might not be that quick. Okay, everything's fine. Get some sleep! Good night!]
The phone went silent. Rebecca's eyes were wide open.
'Don't worry! Alex came to the Windsor family when he was two. Frederick must have experience taking care of kids. Plus, the doctor will be there soon, it'll definitely be fine!' she told herself.
But at the same time, she was thinking, 'What experience could Frederick have? It was Elizabeth and the staff handling Alex's care, and kids get fevers, they spike and they're fine.What if the doctor leaves and Alex's fever comes back in the middle of the night?'
Imagining Alex with a flushed face, looking pitiful and curled up in the big bed, Rebecca felt like her heart was being squeezed.
She video-called Frederick, but he didn't pick up. Rebecca quickly got up and rushed into the walk-in closet.
"Mom, a friend of mine is sick with no one to take care of them. I'm going to check on them."
"Okay! Drive safely, and if it's too late, just stay in the dorm. Don't rush back!"
During dinner, Rebecca had talked about Lucy for ages—how she was a top student, how her boyfriend was both a top student and the campus heartthrob, and how they both came from a remote village.
Hearing Rebecca say she was going out now, Alexa automatically assumed it was Lucy, who had stayed at school instead of going home.
Watching Rebecca dash off, Alexa turned back to look at Layla coming out of the kitchen, her face full of pride, "Becca has been kind since she was little!"
"You're absolutely right!"
Nodding in agreement without hesitation, Layla glanced back, her eyes and brows filled with knowing, gentle warmth.
How wonderful!