Heart of the Family by Margaret Daley Page A

alone, not with eight children in the house—six of them sick and probably up and down the whole night until the antibiotic really took effect.
    But a picture of his tired face popped into her mind as she stared at the dark liquid dripping into the pot. It was after one, and he’d spent over nine hours here, helping her with the children—and that was after working a full day at his office. With Meg off, she’d needed the help, and she hadn’t wanted to expose anyone else to strep.
    Thank You, Lord, for sending him to us.
    The aroma of coffee permeated the kitchen, tempting her to drink a cup herself. But she needed to get what rest she could so she only filled a mug for Jacob, then walked back into the living room to find him sound asleep. Even in relaxation he appeared exhausted, his pale features highlighting the dark circles under his eyes.
    After placing his coffee on the table beside his chair, she grabbed the coverlet from the couch and threw it over him, pausing for a long moment to stare at him. Until she realized what she was doing. Quickly she dimmed the lights and tiptoed out of the living area. On her way to her bedroom, she checked on the children. The sick kids were separated from the two who were still healthy and she hoped stayed that way.
    All seemed well as she headed for her room and bed. She was so tired she didn’t even bother removing her clothes. She plopped down on the bedspread and fell back onto the pillow. The softness cocooned her in luxury that her weary body craved.
    A thought seeped into her mind. She needed to get up and take her maintenance dose. She’d forgotten earlier. She would…soon….
    The next thing Hannah knew someone was shaking her arm. She popped one eye open to find Nancy by her bed, her thumb in her mouth, her face flushed. “Baby, what’s wrong?” She pushed herself up on her elbows.
    “I can’t sleep,” she mumbled with her thumb still in her mouth.
    Hannah touched her forehead, then cupped her cheek. Fever radiated beneath her palm. She slid her glance to the clock. Four. She’d slept almost three hours. “Let me give you some more pain reliever.”
    Hannah hurried into the bathroom off her room and retrieved the medicine and a paper cup full of water. When she returned, she found Nancy curled on her bed, still sucking her thumb. “Here, chew these first then drink some water.”
    Nancy did, then lay back down, her movements lethargic.
    “I’ll carry you to your room.”
    “Not mine. It’s Susie’s. Can I stay here?”
    Hannah pulled a chair near the bed and sat. “Okay. This time. I’ll take you…”
    The child’s eyes drifted closed. She’d wait until Nancy was asleep then take her back to the bedroom she shared with the two other girls. Fifteen minutes later she scooped up Nancy into her arms and strode out into the hallway and nearly collided with Jacob, who held Andy against him.
    “What happened?” Hannah stepped back.
    “He’s sick, too. He woke me up in the living room.”
    “That makes seven now.”
    “Put him in my bed. I don’t want him going back into the room with Terry.”
    Jacob passed her and entered her bedroom while she quickly took care of Nancy. She tucked the little girl in and brushed her fingers along her forehead. Her skin was cooler to the touch. Relief flowed through Hannah as she checked on the other two girls then slipped out into the hallway. Hopefully by this evening the children would be much better with no complications from the strep.
    When Jacob came out of her room, she asked, “Are you hungry? I’ll fix you an early breakfast or a late-night snack, whichever way you want to look at it.”
    “I never turn down a chance at a meal I don’t have to fix. And after the past—” he glanced at his watch “—twelve hours I’m starved.”
    As she made her way to the kitchen, the hairs on her nape tingled as though Jacob was staring at her. She didn’t dare look back to see if he was. Just thinking about it