FAMILY VACATION

Chapter 7

Brian and Justin were sleeping peacefully, as were most in the large deluxe hotel, until they were suddenly shaken out of their sleep by loud wailing cries coming through the baby monitor.

“Justin, what the fuck? She hasn’t woken up in the middle of the night in over a month.”

“She never sounded like that when she was hungry.” Justin flung off the blanket and threw on his sweatpants that were left on the floor the night before. “I’ll go check on her and see what’s going on.”

“Okay. Leave the monitor on in case you need me to get you something.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine. Go back to bed.” Justin quickly gave Brian a peck on the cheek and went to get Jessica.

When he arrived in the room, Gus was rubbing his eyes. “Daddy, she’s making a lot of noise.”

“I know, Gus. Go back to sleep. I’ll take her into the living room to feed her.”

“Thanks, night.” He rolled over and was asleep before finishing the last word.

Justin went over to the crib and whispered, “You must have worked up quite an appetite at the park yesterday to be up for a feeding in the middle of the night.”

He picked her up and noted that she once again had a full diaper. He took the changing supplies into the living room and placed her on the changing pad, but when he undressed her and his hand touched her skin, he noted that she was very warm.

“Shit! Brian, come in here.” Justin tried not to yell or sound too alarmed, but he had no idea what was wrong. He changed Jessica into a fresh diaper and then held her.

“What is it? Do you need help getting her a bottle?”

“No. I’m giving her a little water, but feel her forehead.”

It was easy to detect the alarm in Justin’s voice and after touching the baby’s forehead Brian nodded, confirming Justin’s fears.

“I knew it. I am too young to have a kid. I couldn’t take care of her well enough to keep her safe and healthy in fucking Disney World.”

“Calm down, Justin.” Brian gently extricated the baby from Justin’s arms, so she wouldn’t have to deal with sensing her father’s agitation and insecurity. “Kids get sick. It happens all the time.”

“But I thought I was taking such good care of her. Daphne had enough confidence in me, and now the first time she’s sick, is when I’m supposed to be caring for her.”

“Sit down and don’t raise your voice. You don’t want to wake up Gus.” Justin stopped talking but he didn’t sit down. He started pacing back and forth, running his hand through his hair. “Stop doing that. You’ll be bald before your time.”

“Shut the fuck up, Brian.”

“I can see that you’re not going to rest until we find out what’s going on.”

“Maybe I should give her some of that liquid baby aspirin we brought with us.”

“That’s a good idea. You get that shit out of her diaper bag, give her the medicine and I’ll call downstairs and see if they can page a doctor to come to the room. I’ll pay double if they’ll hurry things up.”

“Good, a doctor, that’s a good idea.” Justin took Jessica to the sofa and gently lay her down on one of her blankets while he measured out the dose of baby aspirin for her weight. She sucked up the flavored liquid happily and then shoved her fingers in her mouth, which stifled the previous ear-shattering sobs.

“The doctor will be here in a few minutes. They have a pediatrician on call at all times. Apparently, lots of kids get sick with all this activity and excitement. I know you’re not going to relax, but why don’t you go in the bedroom and get each of us a t-shirt before the doctor comes. I’ll hold Jessica and keep her as comfortable as possible.”

Less than fifteen minutes later, a knock on the door to their suite announced the arrival of the doctor. As soon as Brian let her in, she quickly glanced at the baby in his arms and the frantic father pacing back and forth at the other end of the living room.

“Hello, I’m Dr. Jane Marks.” She read from a small index card in her hand, “And you must be Mr. Taylor or Mr. Kinney?”

“I’m Mr. Kinney and that’s my partner, Mr. Taylor.”

“And this must be my patient.” She tickled Jessica’s stomach just above the diaper as the baby continued sucking voraciously on a pacifier.

“They taught you well in doctor school,” Brian smirked. The doctor simply smiled, judging the humor coupled with middle-of-the-night anxiety over a sick infant led to the sarcasm. “This is Jessica.”

“Are you both the parents?” The doctor noted Brian’s anguish when asked. “I have to ask for security reasons.”

“Yes, I’m a third party parent. Justin is her natural father, and her mother doesn’t live with us.”

“Thank you. It’s an important formality for the child’s protection and confidentiality laws.” She reached over and took Jessica from Brian’s arms.

Justin immediately walked over. “I knew we shouldn’t come to such a busy place. She’s too young. She could’ve caught anything and it would be my fault.”

The doctor continued to examine the baby as she spoke, “Mr. Taylor, people bring newborns here all the time with their older siblings. It’s perfectly safe. And this looks like one very well cared for young lady.” The doctor removed the pacifier from Jessica’s mouth and she once again replaced it immediately with her fingers, sucking away.

“However, you can’t keep any child germ free, especially when she’s obviously about to give her parents a special treat.”

Brian looked at the doctor, “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Brian!”

“Oh, sorry, doctor.”

“I’ve heard the word before, but unless you want her parroting it soon, you might want to keep it to moments when she’s not in the same room.” The doctor smiled at Brian and he nodded -- message delivered. “As I was saying, she’s obviously been sucking on anything she can get her hands on and consequently has a mild ear infection and...”

“Oh shit! Brian, those can be painful. I used to get them when I was a kid.”

“Relax, Justin. You need to keep it together for your daughter.”

“Dr. Marks, is there anything we can give her? I’m allergic to a lot of different meds.”

“Why don’t you tell me what you’re allergic to, and I’ll make sure to give her an appropriate antibiotic in case she’s inherited some of your allergies.” Justin handed her a card he kept in his wallet, and the doctor noted it down. “No problem, I came prepared. This bottle should take care of everything. Just measure a half teaspoon in the dropper three times a day for the next seven days. She should start feeling as good as new in 24 hours. In the meantime, just keep her in a restful environment for today. You may want to sit outside since your hotel has a lovely beach and boardwalk area.”

“That’s a relief.”

“And Mr. Taylor and Mr. Kinney, you also might want to note that children are much more susceptible to getting sick while they’re teething. You can’t keep her sheltered from germs.”

Justin chimed in, “I know but she’s so little.”

Brian interjected, “You said she had a treat for us. Do you always call infections treats? That sounds like a warped viewpoint to me.”

“You were both so anxious that you didn’t let me finish earlier,” she laughed softly. “Jessica, if you’ll let me extract those fingers from your mouth, we can show your daddies the big surprise... Voila!”

“Brian, look, she has a tooth.”

“No shit! So that’s what started all this.”

The doctor laughed and shook her head. Parents of infants were all the same. “I know you both have an older child, I’m surprised you’re not used to this.”

Brian looked at the doctor solemnly, “He lived with his mothers during his younger years. I was only a passive and infrequent participant back then, but now he lives with us most of the time.”

“Ahh, the best of both worlds. Lucky him.” Brian nodded at the doctor’s quiet understanding. “Oh, and gentleman, if I’m not mistaken, tooth number two should pop out any time now. This little one will be leaving with quite a set of souvenirs from Disney World.”

“See, Sunshine, there was no need to panic... or blame yourself.”

The doctor looked at the obviously much younger Mr. Taylor. “You know, it takes a very special man to love a child that much. Your concern is understandable, but remember to trust that Jessica has two, or I guess from what you’ve said three parents that love and protect her. Parenting is more instinct than anything else, and you seem to have enough instincts to know that you needed help to resolve your daughter’s problem.”

Justin half-smiled for the first time that evening. “Thank you, doctor. I appreciate that.”

“I’m glad I could be of service to all of you, but I think you’ll be fine now, and this little lady looks quite ready to return to her crib.” Jessica yawned and made little sucking movements with her lips as her eyes began to slide closed.

“How do we arrange payment for this overnight house call?”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Kinney. The hotel will handle that with your insurance company and if there’s a balance, my office will forward a bill to your home.”

The doctor stood up and shook hands with both men. “Thank you so much, doctor. Sorry to get you out in the middle of the night, but I guess I panicked.”

“That’s part of being a pediatrician. If I wasn’t willing, I wouldn’t have gone into this field -- but I love children, and I love it more when I can help them stay healthy and happy.”

The doctor left after leaving her card with a pager number in case Jessica’s fever spiked, although that seemed unlikely.

After they returned Jessica to her crib and checked that Gus continued to sleep peacefully, Brian and Justin returned to their own room.

“So, your... scratch that... our daughter has her first tooth.” Brian smiled and held Justin close.

“Yeah, and she also has her first ear infection,” Justin droned.

“Well, with you as her father, it was inevitable.” Brian laughed when Justin swatted him gently on the chest.

“Let’s get some sleep, and if you’re a good boy, I’ll get you something from the parks when I take Gus out today.”

“Thanks, Brian.”

“For what?” Brian started to stroke Justin’s disheveled hair as they returned to their bed.

“For loving me enough to put up with me when I act like a silly faggot.”

“Not a silly faggot, although you certainly can queen out with the best of them.” Justin chuckled against Brian. “You’re a loving father who doesn’t want to see his kid in pain -- that just makes me love you all the more.”

Justin wrapped his arms around Brian in response and as he nodded off to sleep whispered, “I love you, too, Brian.”

Brian kissed him on top of the head, closed his eyes and murmured, “Right back at you, Sunshine.”

And the two slept peacefully through the remainder of the night.

[TBC]

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