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“Good, do you want ht help with the fever”

Erin was nor painkillers with small children, especially not her own s was so piteous she knew they had to offer him some relief

“Sure, there’s a bottle, for eerator A sterile dropper is in the box with it”

Sasha ended the call to go in search of theher phone and feeling distraught Her baby needed her and she’d been out here on the lake taking her pleasure with a man she’d only recently met Guilt threatened to overwhelm her

“Erin? Is Riley okay?” Sa for his clothing

“No, he’s not Sasha said he ith a fever and—” she felt her throat close up with anxiety “—he’s screa his head off He’s never like that Never”

“Here, let s Don’t worry, we’ll be there soon and we can get hiood hands for now”

Guilt sat on her chest like a lead weight What was it she’d been thinking earlier, about how happy she was? She’d been a fool to embrace it, a fool to think she deserved it There was always a price to pay It had been no different when she was younger, it certainly was no different now

She accepted her underwear fro at the clasp of her bra Sam brushed her hands away and capably snapped the front clasp closed and silently handed her T-shirt and jeans to her She shoved her feet into her shoes, not bothering with her socks as Sam dressed rapidly beside her

“Don’t worry about anything else We can attend to it later,” he said, cli up the steps that led to the wheel

Erin stood next to him, frozen orry, as he capably started the motor, lifted the anchor and carefully pulled away froo Noas the furthest distance iinable from her sick baby They rounded the point and the pier came into view, her home and Riley behind it As they drew next to the pier she leaped froh to tie it off before sprinting for the house

She burst in through the back door, Riley’s cries sharp in the air

“Oh, thank goodness you’re back,” Sasha said, her voice quavering “I know I’ve had three of my own and all that but there are times when only a baby’s mother will do”