As tears splashed onto her forearms, she bent her lips to his ear and quietly sang. “Oh Sam-Sammo” came out to the tune of “Oh Susannah.”

“One…two…three.” Richard marked the seconds and withdrew the syringe. He slipped it back into the case and then into the first aid kit on the floor.

She kept singing.

In seconds, Sam quieted.

Was it her imagination, or had his breath already eased?

Richard wrapped his fingers around the boy’s wrist and moved his lips in a silent count.

Only then did she notice how ashen his cheeks were. Minutes passed.

Finally, Sam shuddered and took a deep breath. He gave a hearty sniff and burrowed into her lap. “That was scary.”

Withdrawing his fingers from Sam’s pulse, Richard met her gaze. “Thank you.”

“I think we better call my daddy,” Caitlin said.

Tessa cuddled Sam close, her heartbeat slowing with his. Resting a cheek atop his head, she assessed her own condition. Her clothes were adhered with a combination of sugar and sweat, and her stings hurt more than she cared to say.

But Sam would be all right.

She dropped her eyelids with a sigh. When she lifted them again, she discovered Richard still looking at her. Gratitude and respect shone in his eyes. With Richard by her side, maybe…just maybe…she’d find the courage to face Claire again.

****

“They had no idea Sam was allergic?” Tessa asked, just a few hours later.

Richard signaled and turned off Route 45. “Not a clue.”

She dropped her head against the headrest. Her right leg throbbed, but she was loath to complain. After all, she hadn’t gone into anaphylactic shock in the Softee Freeze parking lot. “They could have been super mad at us.”

“Indeed.” Richard glanced sidelong. “But Tyler’s a doc. He gets it, and Claire is just a really good person.”

They’d met Claire and Tyler at the St. Luke’s ER. By the time they arrived, Sam was breathing normally, but his parents took him in anyway. Tyler texted an update from the exam room. Sam’s reaction was severe, but thanks to her keen eye and Richard’s treatment, the boy would be fine.

In minutes, Claire burst into the waiting room and embraced her. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

A hot lump rose in her throat. “Oh, Claire, I’m so sorry.”

Stepping back, Claire had leveled her gaze. “It wasn’t your fault. His allergy was bound to show up sooner or later. I’m just glad he was with you two when it did.”