Chapter 21

twenty-one

ANDREW

I added another peeled potato to the pot at The Welcome Center. So far, twenty-eight people had reserved a place at dinner, but there could be more. The center never turned anyone away, even if it meant providing slightly smaller meals for the people who were here.

Dylan checked the ovens. “The lasagna’s looking good. I’ll make the garlic bread.”

“The potatoes will be done in about twenty minutes.” I cut the last one into quarters and added it to the pot. Making sure everyone had a hot, home-cooked meal was like running a military operation. Thankfully, a lot of people, including the guests who were staying at the center, were only too happy to help.

Jenny walked into the kitchen and pulled a box of cutlery off a shelf. “Andrew, can you peel another dozen potatoes? We’re setting the tables for forty guests. It’s cold outside and we might get a few more people wanting a nice hot dinner.”

“That’s a good idea,” Dylan said as he opened the refrigerator. “Has anyone seen Alex? He said he would be here by five-thirty.”

Jenny and I both shook our heads.

“Maybe he got sidetracked,” Jenny said. “Pastor Adam was busy taking food across to the church when I arrived. Alex could be helping him.”

No one had to ask Jenny what was happening at the church. The PTSD meeting was a regular feature in Sunrise Bay. A lot of people who came to the meetings became regular guests of The Welcome Center. Having somewhere warm and safe to sleep helped as much as having someone to talk to. And there was no shortage of company at the center.

I hoped Jacob had decided to go to the meeting.

“Alex is here,” Jenny said as she went into the dining room.

Dylan’s husband walked into the kitchen with a smile on his face. “Was someone talking about me?”

“I was wondering where you’d gone,” Dylan said as he handed him an apron.

“I was helping Adam. What can I do?”

Dylan kissed Alex’s cheek. “Finish the apple crumble. The fruit’s already in the pans.”

Jenny rushed into the kitchen. “Can someone give me a hand? Jesse McLaughlin has vomited all over his bed.”

I dropped a potato into the pot. “I’ll help. Is someone able to peel the rest of the potatoes?”

“I’ll do them before I start the crumble,” Alex said. “Is there anything else you want me to do?”

“I think we’re okay, but ask Riley. He knows what needs to happen.”

I followed Jenny through the dining area and into the accommodation wing. Jesse and his mom were two of the centers’ long-term guests. Jesse was a smiling, happy, four-year-old who liked to be part of everything that was happening around him.

On our way past the laundry, I grabbed a bucket, some old towels, and a bottle of disinfectant. If Jesse had a tummy bug, the last thing we needed was everyone becoming sick.

Jenny opened the linen closet and took out a set of clean sheets and some towels. “Barbara and her son are in the room at the end of the hallway.”

The acid smell of vomit met us at the bedroom door.

Jesse’s mom had taken off his T-shirt and was cuddling him on her lap. “I took the sheets and blankets off the bed. I’m really sorry this happened.”

I didn’t know whether Jesse’s skin was flushed pink from crying or if he had a temperature.

“Don’t worry about it, Barbara,” Jenny said reassuringly. “We’ll have this cleaned up in next to no time.”

While Jenny took the bedding and dirty clothes out of the room, I knelt beside Jesse. “How long has he been unwell?”

“He wasn’t himself this morning. He hardly touched his breakfast and he didn’t want to play with the other children.”

I placed my hand on Jesse’s forehead. His skin was scorching hot. There were no spots on his stomach, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have measles or something equally dangerous.

“Is this the first time he’s vomited?”

Barbara shook her head. “He was sick twice this morning and once after lunch. I thought he had a tummy bug, but his temperature’s getting worse.”

“Can I have a look at his back?”

Barbara moved Jesse forward. “I looked to see if there were any spots this morning. He hasn’t had measles or chickenpox.”

When Barbara saw his back, she was distraught. “I never thought to look again. Jesse has been so hot that I?—”

“It’s okay,” I reassured her. A red pin-prick rash covered most of Jesse’s pale skin. “We’ve seen it now and that’s all that matters.” But that wasn’t the worst of his symptoms. Jesse was so limp he was like a rag doll.

Jenny came back into the room with a glass of water. “Give him this to drink. The poor little man will be dehydrated after vomiting so much.”

Barbara lifted the glass to Jesse’s mouth, but he barely took a sip.

I looked into Barbara’s worried face. “He needs to see a doctor.”

Tears filled Barbara’s eyes. “We don’t have medical insurance and I don’t have any way of getting to Boulder.”

Leaving Jesse like this wasn’t an option. “I’ve got another idea.” Quickly, I pulled out my cell phone and found Jacob’s number. The call went straight to his messaging service. “Hi, Jacob. If you hear this before I find you, can you call me right away? A little boy’s sick at The Welcome Center and I think you should look at him.”

Jenny sent me a worried glance. “Jacob could be anywhere.”

I picked up a hand towel. “I think I know where he is. Soak this in cold water and lay it on Jesse’s forehead. We need to cool him down. I’ll be back soon.”

I rushed out of the room and ran across the parking lot to the church. If Jacob hadn’t come to the PTSD meeting, I didn’t know where he would be. If I couldn’t find him, we’d have no option but to drive Jesse into Boulder.

I just prayed the road had been cleared.