Patchwork Family Read Online Free PDF

conversation,” he assured her, squeezing her hands again.
    She snatched her hands away from the warmth that had begun to seep into her tense body. Denying herself that comfort made her feel closer to her daughter.
    “Molly, I wasn’t—” Quinn began, but he halted as Brady appeared, holding Sara in his arms.
    Molly exploded from the chair and raced to meet her daughter. “What is it?” she asked the doctor. “Is she okay? What caused the fever?”
    “She’s going to be fine,” Dr. Spencer assured her.
    Molly’s knees suddenly went weak. She would’vesagged to the floor if Quinn hadn’t been behind her to support her.
    It was Quinn who followed up with questions. Molly couldn’t speak. “What caused the fever?”
    “The flu. It’s going around. She got dehydrated, which only made the fever worse.”
    “I tried to get her to drink juice, but it kept coming back up,” Molly told him.
    “I know. I’ve given her a shot that will settle her stomach and ward off any additional infection, and we put an IV in her. I want you to get some Pedialyte to give her. It comes in liquid and Popsicles. She should be able to keep that down. Wash her face with a lukewarm washcloth to help keep the fever from getting too high.”
    Molly nodded even as she reached for her child. Sara snuggled against her mother, but her eyes never opened.
    “Is she asleep?” Molly asked, alarmed.
    “Almost. The shot made her drowsy. She needs lots of rest and liquids. Feed her soup, keep her still and call if anything worries you.”
    “Yes. Yes, of course, Doctor. Thank you so much for seeing us. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate—”
    Brady Spencer grinned. “Thank my baby brother. He’s the reason I worked Sara in. But I’m glad I did. She needed attention right away.”
    Molly nodded again, swallowing a huge lump in her throat. “Yes, I’ve already told him how much I appreciated his offer to call you.”
    The loudspeaker blared out Dr. Spencer’s name, and he excused himself, rushing down the hall to his next emergency, leaving Molly holding Sara close.
     
    Q UINN WAS RELIEVED at his brother’s diagnosis. Molly’s fears had begun to affect him, and he’d feared that the small child might’ve had a dangerous ailment.
    She was so tiny. Like a doll.
    He offered to carry her, but Molly refused. “I have some money in my purse. Could we stop by the pharmacy here in the hospital and see if they have what the doctor recommended?”
    “Yes, of course.” He paused and then said, “In fact, why don’t we put you and Sara in the car. I’ll go back and get the medicine. She’ll get heavy if you hold her while we shop.”
    “Do you mind?” she asked, her blue eyes anxious.
    “Not at all.” He escorted her to the car, putting her in the back seat, guessing she wasn’t going to give up holding her child.
    “I’ll hurry,” he promised. Then he returned to the hospital.
    In the pharmacy, he found Pedialyte in clear liquid form and in fruit flavors. And the Popsicles, encased in plastic, waiting to be frozen. He chose some of each variety, wanting to be sure Molly had what she needed. After paying, he hurried back to the car.
    “I forgot to give you money,” Molly said at once as he slid behind the wheel.
    “That’s okay. I’ll add it to your bill.” He’d do no such thing, but those words kept Molly from protesting.
    When they arrived back at her house, he came around the car and reached for Sara.
    “No! I’ll carry her.”
    “Molly, she’ll have to be carried upstairs. Yourarms are probably already tired from holding her. It’ll be safer if I carry her. You can go ahead and turn down the covers on her bed.”
    “It’s on the third floor,” she warned, watching him.
    So much for his manly appearance. She didn’t seem to think he could make it that far. “I think I can make it up two flights of stairs carrying your little girl. She hardly weighs anything.”
    As if she took his words as a criticism,