Chapter 15 Poignant Moments at Thirty Thousand Feet
The baby was finally taking a nap on the seat beside Meg. His blond curls hung in precious ringlets, defying gravity with heavenly helices.
He’d had a hard time during takeoff, crying tearlessly through the cabin pressure changes, and Meg had held him until he calmed down. Creed sat beside Meg and the baby, offering the little boy gentle pats on the back. Meg had to keep from staring in awe when, to her complete surprise, Creed began humming a vaguely familiar, lullaby-like tune. His beautiful baritone vibrated through the notes in a soothing, mesmerizing way that even made Meg feel sleepy.
Evan was determined to get some fluids into the little boy. His dehydration was so severe; the on-board doctors were worried he was going to start suffering organ failure and, to be fair, they really needed to focus their attentions on Mom.
Feeling helpless when it came to what was happening to her mother; Meg focused all her attention on the little boy in her arms. Creed found exactly what they needed in the galley: a sports drink and a straw.
After stroking his face with a cool cloth until he’d relaxed, Meg took the straw and dipped it into the bottle of orange flavored sports drink held by Creed’s large, caring hands. She placed her finger over the straw to capture the fluid then brought it to the baby’s lips, coaxing him to open just enough to let the droplets into his mouth.
She tried not to smile when she glanced at Creed watching the baby’s face so intently, willing the little guy to drink, that he was opening his own mouth and closing his lips around an imaginary straw. Meg’s heart swelled with love in her chest for the gentle giant Creed turned out to be.
With persistence and patience, Meg and Creed continued this way, droplet after droplet, gently forcing the little boy to replenish electrolytes while hydrating him. After an hour, they got six ounces of the sports drink into him, but the effort was so exhausting to the little fellow, he’d fallen into a deep sleep.
Meg watched his long, blond lashes curl up and away from his closed lids. His lips didn’t look quite so chapped and dry. His breathing and heartbeat sounded much healthier, even to Meg’s untrained ears.
“Six ounces of fluid is a start,” Meg whispered to Creed.
“Little man did good,” Creed grinned at the baby’s angelic face.
“Thank you for your help, Creed. You’re a natural.” She smiled widely over the baby’s sleeping head.
“A natural what?” Creed asked, cocking his head as though truly unsure how amazing he was with the child.
A hot blush curled up Meg’s neck and settled to burn her ears. “I just mean, you’re really great at taking care of him,” she stammered.
“Me? I didn’t do anything a cup holder couldn’t have done,” Creed shrugged humbly. “You are the ‘natural’ here.”
Meg, who had been staring at the baby’s sleeping face, looked up to see Creed’s dark blue eyes watching her with an expression of awe. Meg didn’t have to be an empath to know what he was feeling; it was written all over his face.
“I like watching you care for him.” Creed’s pupils couldn’t have gotten any wider as though they wanted to swallow the image before him whole. Though Meg was sure her hair was a rat’s nest of crazy dark curls flopping out of her errant pony holder, she had fresh cuts on her face compliments of the rose bushes back at the Facility, her clothes were covered in dirt and her hand was still sporting the torn swatch off his T-shirt, when Creed looked at her she felt like the most beautiful girl on earth.
His love gave her body strength, gave her empath skills wings and gave her soul peace.
Meg felt her love for the man sitting beside her well up in her throat until she had to swallow the tears of sheer joy he made her feel. She knew now wasn’t the time. Taking her lower lip between her teeth she gnawed thoroughly to bring her feet back to the ground.
Without another word, she turned back to the baby and started to stand. Gently, she moved to lay the little boy across two seats. Reading her intent, Creed reached to quickly lift the armrest between the seats.
In the overhead compartment, Meg found what she was looking for: a Sleeper Sleeve. She liked the fact that she could slip on the pillow and either lean on it or use it as a sleeping cushion. She found them on the last two flights they’d booked and had become accustomed to their versatility. Meg lifted the little boy’s head and slipped the Sleeper Sleeve under him. The blanket up there wasn’t nearly as soft as the special pillow, but it would have to do. Creed carefully adjusted the airflow of the vents to provide the perfect amount of comfort to the sleeping child.