“I just want to apologize,” he said, the last word slurring almost unintelligibly. He shifted his weight between his feet nervously, or maybe just in pain.

I didn’t really care, so long as he left us alone. “Okay.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Okay. It’s okay.” I willed him to walk away, begged him with my eyes.

“I hope I didn’t hurt you. Are you all right?”

All I could think of was how to get this guy to leave, but I didn’t know what he wanted. If anything, he seemed to be getting more worked up. His breathing increased, but not in a menacing way—more like he’d fall down any second.

I glanced at the closed receptionist window again, wondering if we’d need her help for a different kind of emergency. “Umm, you don’t seem so good. Are you all right?”

He jumped back. “No! I’m fine. I don’t want any trouble.”

“Okay,” I said, more confused than wary at this point. “So…” I trailed off, glancing at the door suggestively.

“Ah! Right. Well, you take care. And again, I’m sorry. Very sorry.” He backed away from me to the door as if I might lunge and attack him with the diaper bag. I heard him mumbling apologies even as the door shut behind him. My whole body slackened in relief that he was away from Bailey. She dozed in my arms, fitful from her sickness but otherwise no worse for the wear.

That call was too damn close.

We made it through the actual visit with minimal fussing. The doctor, who performed what appeared to be a cursory exam, said it was probably a virus but sent us home with an oral antibiotic “just in case.” By the time I dragged us back home, it was already midnight. Late, but not that bad, considering all that had happened.

Bailey, who had been exhausted on the ride home, decided to wake up with wide eyes after I administered the antibiotic. Meanwhile my lids were closing. Not good.

My throat started to ache, and it felt so cold. I cranked up the heater, already cringing at the thought of our gas bill next month. I set Bailey up with some soft toys in the living room and then collapsed on the floor beside her, watching her play.

I jolted awake to the sound of my phone ringing. I took a quick inventory of Bailey, who seemed to have collected everything that wasn’t nailed down and piled it in the middle like a bird’s nest.

My hand fumbled for the phone. “Hello?”

“Hey, Allie.” A few of my frazzled nerves settled at hearing his voice.

I glanced at the clock and groaned. It felt later than one o’clock. “Hey, you.”

“What’s wrong?”