Chapter 16

Evelyn woke up to the sound of coughing, low and raspy, coming from the other side of the bed. Earl, who was always composed and stoic, now seemed vulnerable, curled up under the covers, his skin pale and clammy. The usually sharp, confident man looked completely undone by the fever that had crept up on him overnight.

"Earl?" she whispered, gently placing a hand on his forehead. He stirred but didn't respond, his skin burning hot under her cool touch.

Concern flickered across Evelyn's face. She pulled the covers up to his shoulders, then quietly slipped out of bed to check on Leo, who was still fast asleep in his crib. The baby's soft breathing was a soothing contrast to the tension Evelyn felt rising inside her.

After making sure Leo was fine, Evelyn padded back into the bedroom, determination settling into her gentle features. Earl rarely showed weakness, and the fact that he was this ill must have meant he'd been pushing himself too hard. Without a second thought, Evelyn set about gathering a cool compress, preparing tea, and heading downstairs to make a light broth. 

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The kitchen filled with the soft, comforting aroma of chicken soup as Evelyn stirred the pot. She moved quickly yet with grace, gathering herbs and preparing ingredients with practiced ease. Every so often, she glanced up the stairs, thinking of Earl lying feverishly in bed. She wasn't used to seeing him like this—so unguarded, so in need of help.

After a few minutes, she heard a faint cry from the nursery. Evelyn wiped her hands and hurried upstairs, scooping Leo into her arms. His tiny hands reached for her face, a little yawn escaping his mouth.

"Good morning, darling," she cooed, cradling him. "Uncle's not feeling well today, so we need to be extra quiet, okay?"

Leo blinked up at her, babbling in response, as if he understood the seriousness of the situation. Evelyn smiled softly, placing a kiss on his forehead before carrying him downstairs to finish preparing the soup. With Leo perched on her hip, she moved through the kitchen, humming softly to keep him entertained while the broth simmered.

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Back in the bedroom, Earl was half-awake, groaning softly as he shifted under the blankets. His head felt heavy, pounding with every breath, and his throat was dry and raw. He vaguely registered the sound of Evelyn returning to the room, but it wasn't until she sat on the edge of the bed, pressing a cool cloth to his forehead, that he opened his eyes.

"Evelyn," he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "You don't… have to do this."

"Hush," she replied softly, dabbing his forehead gently. "You're burning up. Just let me take care of you."

He looked at her, his usually cold, guarded expression softened by his feverish state. Evelyn's touch was tender, her fingers cool against his heated skin, and for a moment, Earl let his walls down completely, too exhausted to keep them up.

She helped him sit up just enough to take a few sips of water, her hand lingering on his shoulder to steady him. Earl closed his eyes, leaning into her touch without realizing it. There was something so comforting about her presence, the way she moved with such care, like every small gesture was meant to soothe him.

As Evelyn leaned closer to check the damp cloth, their faces were suddenly inches apart. Earl opened his eyes, his gaze locking with hers. The air between them felt charged, like time had slowed down. Neither of them moved, but the closeness, the intimacy of the moment, made both of their hearts race.

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat as she realized just how close they were. For a split second, it felt as though something was pulling them together, as if all the unspoken tension between them was finally surfacing. Earl's eyes flickered to her lips for the briefest moment, and Evelyn, startled by the intensity of the moment, quickly pulled back, her cheeks flushing.

"You… you should rest," she stammered softly, standing up and smoothing her dress, as if to calm herself. Earl nodded weakly, though something lingered in his gaze as she turned away to check on Leo.

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Later in the day, Leo toddled into the bedroom, his little legs carrying him unsteadily toward the bed where Earl lay, propped up with pillows. Evelyn had been in and out, bringing him tea and checking on his fever, and now Leo seemed determined to join the effort. The baby's wide eyes were filled with curiosity as he approached the edge of the bed, his chubby fingers gripping the blanket as he looked up at Earl.

"Hey, buddy," Earl said, his voice still hoarse but a touch warmer than usual. He reached down and gently lifted Leo onto the bed beside him, where the little boy sat, staring up at him with those bright, innocent eyes.

Leo babbled something, his tiny hand patting Earl's arm as if to say, "feel better soon". Earl chuckled softly, surprised by the comfort he found in such a small gesture.

"You worried about me too, huh?" Earl murmured, reaching out to tousle Leo's soft hair. The boy responded with a giggle, clearly pleased with the attention. Earl's heart softened even further, the weight of the day lifting slightly as he watched Leo play with the edge of the blanket, his tiny fingers curling around the fabric.

Evelyn stood in the doorway, watching the scene unfold. Her heart swelled at the sight of Earl interacting with Leo—something about the tenderness in his eyes, the way he softened around the child, made her feel like she was seeing a different side of him. A side that, maybe, just maybe, had always been there beneath the surface.

As Earl leaned back against the pillows, Leo crawled closer, babbling happily as he rested his head on Earl's chest. The child's innocent affection seemed to work wonders, calming Earl in a way that even Evelyn hadn't expected.

"Looks like you've got a little nurse," Evelyn said softly, stepping into the room with a tray of soup and fresh tea.

Earl glanced up at her, a faint smile playing at his lips. "Yeah, he's better at this than I thought."

Evelyn placed the tray on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed, watching as Leo curled up against Earl, his small body fitting perfectly against him.

"You two make a good team," she said with a smile, her heart fluttering at the sight of them together.

For a moment, Earl didn't say anything, simply resting his hand on Leo's back and letting the peacefulness of the moment wash over him. There was something so right about it—about having this small family, this warmth in his life that he hadn't even realized he needed.

"I didn't think I'd… ever feel this way again," Earl said quietly, almost to himself.

Evelyn looked at him, her eyes softening. "What do you mean?"

Earl met her gaze, his expression more open than it had been in months. "This," he gestured to Leo and then to her, "it feels… like home. Like something I didn't think I'd ever have."

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat, her heart aching at the vulnerability in his voice. She reached out, resting her hand over his, her touch gentle and reassuring.

"You do have it, Earl," she whispered, her eyes locking with his. "And we're not going anywhere."

For the first time in a long time, Earl allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, this was the future he had always been meant to have.