Chapter 18 Raising a Kid Alone Isn’t Easy
“Oh, right!”
+10 Free Coins
The women quickly snapped back to their senses. Some changed Layla’s diaper, and another started feeding her medicine. Bessie single–handedly wiped down Layla’s entire body, while someone tossed Tess a baby bottle and told her to go prepare
some milk.
The lights in Tess’s dorm stayed on late into the night. It wasn’t until the redness on Layla’s cheeks faded and her temperature dropped to 99°F that everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, they sprawled out in exhaustion on Tess’s bed.
Tess held Layla in her arms to make room for them, gently rocking her while a wave of warmth bubbled in her chest.
If it hadn’t been for these women, she honestly wouldn’t have known what to do.
A group of strangers had gone all out to help Layla, yet her own father had nearly cut off her lifeline.
Something unreadable flickered across Tess’s eyes, thick with bitter irony.
Layla slowly opened her eyes. They were round and sparkling like black grapes.
After finishing a bottle of milk, her fever had gone down, and she was full of life again, playing with her little hands and letting out soft coos.
It looked like the high fever hadn’t caused any serious damage to her.
Tess let out a breath of relief, though she was still on edge. She silently vowed to take Layla to another public hospital for a proper check–up the next morning.
“Look at this girl! She just got over a high fever and is already full of energy. She’s bound to be a lucky child!”
Bessie, who had done the most through the whole ordeal, was still full of energy. She had barely rested before getting up again to play with Layla
Tess looked at Bessie with deep gratitude. Her nose stung, and her gaze lingered on Layla.
She didn’t need Layla to be blessed or extraordinary. She just hoped she could live a safe and happy life.
“Thank you all so much for helping with Layla’s fever. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for us.”
Tess solemnly bowed with Layla in her arms, but Bessie quickly stopped her. “Come on, you just got better yourself. No need for that. Just go rest with your baby.
“You really are pitiful. It’s just the two of you, with no one around to help. We’re all women, so we couldn’t just stand by and watch. Of course we’d help.”
Bessie patted her chest and then helped gather the other women sprawled on the bed, ushering them back to their rooms.
At this hour, the night outside had grown so dark it was pitch black outside the window. Bessie tiptoed to the doorway, ready to leave. As she closed the door, she hesitated for a moment, then turned back and said, “Tess, you’re still young. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. Raising a kid alone isn’t easy. Once she grows up, she’ll probably ask about her dad. Raising a kid without a man–that path is never easy.”
Tess was stunned. She immediately understood what Bessie was getting at.
She wanted Tess to consider finding a dependable man to marry someday.
“But there’s no rush for that kind of thing. At the very least, we all love Layla. If it’s hard for you to manage on your own, we’re happy to help out!”
Noticing Tess’s discomfort, Bessie quickly switched the subject, gave her shoulder a light pat, and left.
Once Bessie left, a heavy stillness settled over the room, leaving only Tess and Layla.
1/2
10:43 PM
Chapter 18 Raising a Kid Alone Isn’t Easy
+10 Free Coins
She lowered her gaze toward the baby in her arms. Layla was calmly sucking her pacifier, unusually well–behaved, her big eyes blinking as she smiled up at her.
Tess’s arms tightened around Layla.
She knew Bessie meant well. But after what happened with Finn, she no longer wanted to trust anyone.
The next morning, Tess had specially taken a day off to bring Layla to Trinity General Hospital for a follow–up.
Layla had already regained her energy, but Tess still worried that there might be some untreated aftermath.
She had just picked up her approved leave slip and reached the door when she ran into Bessie, who was heading out to work.
Bessie seemed to guess her intentions and said first, “Work can wait. Your kid comes first. She’s still so young. Don’t let her end up with any lasting problems.”
Tess was deeply moved by Bessie’s concern and nodded several times in response.
While they were waiting for their respective rides, Bessie made small talk with her as she waited for the other sanitation
workers to arrive.
“Tess, didn’t you take Layla out yesterday? Why are you going to the hospital again today?
“It couldn’t be for getting medicine again, right?”
Hearing that, Tess couldn’t help but recall what had happened yesterday. Her heart ached all over again.
She had stood there holding Layla, isolated and helpless in the center of the hospital’s waiting area, while every doctor flowed away from them like a retreating tide. That scene would haunt her forever.
“Yeah. I couldn’t get a consultation yesterday, so I’m going to try another hospital today.”
She bit her lip and offered a vague explanation.
Bessie couldn’t make sense of it–what kind of hospital wouldn’t treat a child? But seeing Tess’s wary expression, she decided not to press the issue.
Just then, Tess’s taxi arrived. She quickly thanked Bessie and got into the car.
The cab drove off in a cloud of exhaust. Watching Tess flee the scene like that, Bessie stood in place, scratching her head in .confusion.
This time, Tess didn’t choose the nearby private hospital run by the Lock Group. Instead, she deliberately chose to go out of the way to Trinity General Hospital.
She didn’t want to run into Finn or Nadine ever again. In fact, she hoped they would vanish from her world completely.
Right after she finished registering, she overheard some idle nurses at the reception desk gossiping.
