Even Though I'm Leaving

8

"Mama's right baby girl," Jay nodded, handing Maddy her tumbler cup full of ice water.

"This is no fun," she sighed, staying right in her spot as Hailey put her arm around her and Jay rubbed her back.

"I know baby, but it's what's gonna help you feel better. We all want you better," her mother told her again as she sipped on her ice water.

"I know," she groaned, "Why did I have to do this?"

"I think the answer is pretty simple bug, so you live a long and very happy life," Jay said as he pulled the blanket off the back of the couch, "We want what's best for you, and unfortunately, it's this,"

"This...sucks." Maddy groaned again, tired of being tired. All she wanted was to feel normal again.

"I know," Hailey sighed, knowing all she could do was listen to and support her daughter. "You wanna go back to bed? Or sleep between us on the couch?"

"I don't wanna move mommy,"

"That's fine. Go to sleep,"

Within minutes, Maddy was sound asleep between her parents and as comfortable as she could be while nearly sitting up.

Jay and Hailey both stayed on the couch with their daughter as she slept for a few hours. Neither of them really focused on their task at hand while the TV played a random show. Hailey was trying to work from home, while Jay was scrolling through his phone looking at old family pictures and baby pictures of Maddy. He wondered how he got so lucky with his wife and daughter and glanced at both before turning back to his phone.

——————

Hailey had gone to the store while Maddy slept, getting a few things she knew she could get Maddy to eat, a few adult coloring books, and journals so her daughter had some lowkey things to do while she was recovering.

When she got home, Jay had managed to get their daughter settled back in their big bed and watching a movie. She wasn't really watching as Hailey heard the sounds of TikTok playing on the teen's phone.

"She do okay?" Hailey asked as she got everything out of the plastic bags she'd set on the counter.

"Yeah, she was fine, watched half a movie with me out here, and then went to our room. I thought she'd fall asleep but it sounds like she's playing on her phone," He chuckled, looking in on the teen, "Nope, she's out,"

"I figure she'd pass out soon enough," She smiled, peeking in the room before going in and taking the phone from her hands. She turned off her app and locked the phone, setting it on the nightstand and going back out to the kitchen.

Maddy slept for a while before she got up and actually watched her favorite show on their TV.

"How you doing in here kid?" Jay asked, sitting on Hailey's side of the bed.

"Okay, I guess. I don't know," She shrugged, "I don't even know what day it is,"

"It's still Thursday. I'm still here until Saturday night. I'm not leaving here until about 9. Mom is gonna take me so Kim is gonna come hang out with you,"

"But dad she has a kid to take care of,"

"Well, Mack also has a dad and Kim offered," Jay chuckled, "You'll probably be asleep most of the time mom is gone,"