CHAPTER 7… SICK
Timothy woke up when he felt Bella's movement underneath the sheets. He pulled the sheets off his body and sat up. Taking Bella's head, he placed it on his laps. As his hand brushed against her forehead, he felt her skin burning.
Without another thought, he went to the bathroom and returned with a bowl of cold water and a towel. Timothy soaked the towel in the water before placing it on Bella's forehead.
He did it over and over again but it didn't help. Instead of the fever subsiding, Timothy felt it was only increasing. Therefore, he placed the bowl and the towel away and left the room to find the housekeeper.
"Mrs. Johnson?" He knocked on the door gently. It was late at night and she must be sleeping but he had no choice but to wake her up.
"Coming, Mr. Lancaster," the housekeeper respond groggily, pissed at Timothy for waking her up.
She opened the door and stood in front of Timothy, trying to stiffle a yawn.
"Sorry I had to wake you but Bella's having a fever," Timothy went straight to his reason for being there.
The housekeeper frowned for a few seconds and turned back into her room. Timothy stood outside patiently until she returned with a veil over her nightgown.
"Did you use cold water on her to reduce it?" Mrs. Johnson asked, already leading the way to the kitchen.
Timothy nodded.
"It was useless."
He watched the old woman pick a few meds from the first aid kit in the kitchen and a bottle of water.
"Did she have dinner today?" She asked again.
She hadn't been home when dinner was served so, she didn't know who was present for it.
"No," said Timothy.
Mrs. Johnson picked a sachet of food supplement and dissolved it in the bottle of water before handing them to Timothy.
"Here," she said and shoved everything into his hands. "Have her swallow the pills with this water. It contains a supplement to help her fight the hunger in her stomach."
Timothy nodded with a sigh of relief. All that was needed was to get Bella to take them. That would be very troublesome, Bella hated drugs.
"Thank you, Mrs. Johnson."
The old woman nodded and started to walk away. "I'm off to bed. I have a headache so, I'll see her tomorrow."
Timothy nodded and left too.
Back in the room, he woke the child up and tried severally to get he to take the pills but she wouldn't.
Tired and worn out, Timothy slumped into the nearest couch and watched the child who was staring into space.
She was traumatized, very. What he didn't understand was why a child would be traumatized by the very voice and look of her mother. It didn't seem right at all.
Bella used to love visiting her mother but after a while, she just hated it. Like literally hated it. He had asked why but she never spoke.
"Miss Selena…" Bella mumbled weakly.
Timothy broke out of his thoughts and rushed to sit bedside her. He cupped her face in his palms and she met his gaze. Her eyes looked empty, dark, and lifeless. A stark contrast to his hyperactive daughter.
"What do you want, darling?" He asked. "Daddy would do anything for you, okay? Tell me"
Bella blinked a few times before replying.
"I want to see Miss Selena"
Timothy nodded, not giving himself the grace to frown.
"Why baby? Can't it wait till tomorrow?"
"She didn't come to school today, she's sick." Bella replied sadly.
Timothy understood.
He stood up and grabbed a pair of heavier pajamas for Bella. While she changed into it slowly, he got into his own tee shirt and a blue pants.
When they were all dressed, Timothy grabbed his keys and threw them in his pockets. In Bella's backpack, he put the pills and the supplement before picking Bella in his arms.
*****
Selena couldn't sleep. She kept tossing around on the bed until she eventually stood up. She threw a veil over her shoulders and went downstairs.
The house was dead silent and it was almost midnight. Rick wasn't home, he had called her earlier to inform her that he'd be spending the night at the office since he had a lot of work to finish up.
Selena walked into the kitchen and prepared herself a plate of snacks and a cup of coffee before going to sit before the TV. She busied herself watching a romance series as she snacked happily.
A knock on the door interrupted her movie. Selena turned off the TV volume and listened properly. She thought she had heard wrongly but whoever it was knocked again. This time, a bit louder.
Slowly and carefully, Selena stood up and picked the nearest tool around, her guitar and walked to the door. She wouldn't let fear creep into her just in case it was a robber.
Selena grabbed the door handle and started to open it gently while her other hand held the guitar tightly. When the door was halfway opened, she hid behind it and poked her head to have a glimpse of the person.
Under the glowing moonlight, she could make out to familiar figures. The smaller one looked familiar to her. Just when she was about to ask who it was, she heard a voice that confirmed her suspicions.
"Miss Scott?"
"Bella?" Selena came out if her hiding place and stared at the child and her father in suprise.
"Mr. Lancaster?"
Timothy looked down at Selena's hand with a frown.
"Where you scared?"
Selena quickly put the guitar behind her and hissed.
"Oh, no! I was only playing," she replied to see a mocking smile on Timothy's face.
"Why are you both here? This late?" She asked.
Timothy looked down at Bella without a word.
"How are you feeling now, Miss Selena?" Bella whispered weakly. "Are you better?"
Selena smiled and came down to her knees. She cupped Bella's face in her palms and kissed her forehead tenderly.
"I'm better now, darling. Thank you for checking in on me. How are you too?"
"She's not doing well, Miss Scott." Timothy cut in sharply.
Selena's head whipped to him as her face contoured with a frown.
"Come in."
Once they were seated with Bella wrapped in Selena's arms, Selena turned serious.
"What's wrong?"
"She's running a fever,"