“Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“No, it’s fine.” He forced a weak smile. “I like it.”

Her heart had never actually ached with love the way it regularly did for this sweet boy. She returned his smile and brushed the hair back from his forehead. “You need anything?”

“Some water maybe.”

“I’ll be right back.” She went downstairs and brought two glasses of ice water back up. Leaving Nick’s on Scotty’s bedside table, she helped her son sit up and take some sips.

“Was Harry here, or did I dream that?”

“He was here, and he said that despite how bad you feel, you’re going to live.”

“That’s good.”

Sam kissed his feverish cheek. “That’s very good.”

“How’s Dad?”

“Out cold the last time I checked.”

“I hope he’s okay.”

“He’ll be fine, and so will you.”

His eyes went wide all of a sudden. “TJ’s party! It’s tomorrow night. I have to go! Everyone is going.”

Sam hated to disappoint him, especially after all the hoops they’d had to jump through with the Secret Service to make it possible for him to attend. “Let’s see what tomorrow brings before we decide anything. You wouldn’t want your friends to get sick if you go out too soon, would you?”

“No, but...” His chin quivered ever so slightly. “I really want to go.”

“I know. Maybe you’ll feel a thousand times better by tomorrow.”

“I hope so.”

“Me too. Now get some sleep, and call me if you need anything. I’ll be close by.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Sam leaned over to kiss his cheek again before tucking the comforter in around his shoulders.

“You’re a good mom,” he said so softly she almost missed it.

Her heart skipped a beat. “Really?”

“Mmm-hmm. The best.”

“You make it easy for me.”

His eyes were closed, but his lips curved into a smile.

Taking the other glass of water with her, Sam left his door propped open so she could hear him if he called for her. She went into her room where Nick was exactly where she’d left him—curled up on his left side sound asleep. Other than their honeymoon, when they’d done nothing but eat, drink, sleep and have sex, she’d rarely seen him asleep at this hour of the day. It was unsettling to see her unstoppable husband felled by anything, let alone something as pedestrian as the flu.

At times, she’d wondered if he had superpowers that he kept secret from her. How else to explain the way he managed to get so much done while also taking excellent care of her and Scotty? Sam kissed his cheek, and even though she knew she shouldn’t, she kissed his lips too.

“Mmm, not tonight, babe.”

Sam laughed out loud.

His eyes popped open.