Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Daisy had spent her entire career staying calm.

She'd handled emergency surgeries.

Critical patients.

Terrified parents.

Children arriving in ambulances.

She was the doctor everyone trusted when things became serious.

So naturally, the moment something was wrong with her own daughter—

she completely froze.

It started on a Tuesday evening.

Lillie was nearly three months old now.

Usually she was happy.

Smiley.

Always kicking her little legs.

Always making everyone work for her attention.

Tonight she wasn't.

Daisy noticed it immediately.

She was feeding her when she realised Lillie wasn't drinking properly.

Just enough to settle.

Then she'd stop.

Fussy.

Uncomfortable.

Not herself.

The feeling hit Daisy instantly.

Something wasn't right.

Roman noticed her expression.

"What?"

Daisy looked down at their daughter.

"I don't know."

The answer came quietly.

Roman immediately sat forward.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

Daisy touched Lillie's forehead.

Warm.

Too warm.

Her stomach dropped.

She reached for the thermometer.

A minute later she stared at the screen.

Fever.

Not dangerously high.

But enough.

Enough to make her heart start pounding.

Roman was already standing.

"What is it?"

Daisy opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

Because suddenly she wasn't Dr. Daisy Miller.

Head Pediatric Consultant.

She wasn't the doctor with years of experience.

She was just a mum.

And her baby was sick.

"Daisy?"

Roman's voice sounded further away than it should.

The room suddenly felt too small.

Too hot.

Too quiet.

Lillie whimpered softly in her arms.

The sound shattered something inside her.

Roman immediately crouched beside her.

"Talk to me."

"I..."

Her voice broke.

That had never happened before.

Ever.

Not in an emergency.

Not at work.

Not anywhere.

Roman's eyes widened.

Because he had never seen Daisy scared.

Not once.

Then her phone was suddenly in her hand.

She wasn't even sure when she'd picked it up.

The number was already dialling.

Harper.

Her sister answered instantly.

"Hi."

Daisy didn't even say hello.

"Can you come over?"

Silence.

Then Harper's voice changed.

Immediately.

"Daisy?"

"Please."

"I'm coming."

The call ended.

Twenty minutes later Harper burst through the apartment door.

Noah right behind her.

She took one look at Daisy sitting on the couch holding Lillie and immediately knew.

"Oh sweetheart."

Daisy hated the tears that filled her eyes.

Because this was ridiculous.

She knew what to do.

She knew exactly what to do.

Yet somehow she couldn't think straight.

Roman stood nearby looking equally worried.

"She has a fever."

Harper sat beside her.

"Okay."

"She's not eating properly."

"Okay."

Daisy looked down at her daughter.

Tiny.

Sleepy.

Warm.

The most important person in her world.

"I can't think."

The confession came out quietly.

Harper immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Then don't."

Daisy looked up.

"What?"

"You spend every day looking after everyone else."

Harper smiled gently.

"Tonight, let us look after you."

For a second Daisy couldn't speak.

Because Harper was right.

At work there was always a plan.

Always a protocol.

Always something to do.

But nobody ever told doctors what happened when the patient was their own child.

Roman carefully took Lillie into his arms.

The baby settled immediately against his chest.

Still sleepy.

Still warm.

Still completely unaware she was terrifying everyone.

"Tell me what to do," Roman said.

The words snapped Daisy back into herself.

Slowly.

Piece by piece.

Doctor mode returning.

Check temperature.

Monitor hydration.

Watch for worsening symptoms.

Call the pediatrician.

Keep her comfortable.

The things she already knew.

The things she'd known all along.

Fear had simply gotten there first.

Harper smiled as she watched it happen.

The moment Daisy started taking control again.

The moment the doctor returned.

"There she is."

Daisy laughed weakly.

"I hate this."

Harper squeezed her hand.

"I know."

The next twelve hours felt endless.

Roman refused to leave.

Harper refused to leave.

Noah kept making coffee nobody drank.

And Daisy barely slept.

Every tiny noise from Lillie had her checking the monitor.

Every movement had her sitting upright.

By morning, she was exhausted.

Completely exhausted.

Then she heard it.

A giggle.

Tiny.

Sleepy.

Beautiful.

Daisy sat bolt upright.

Lillie was awake.

Smiling.

Actually smiling.

The fever was gone.

Her eyes were bright again.

And judging by the angry noises she was making—

she was very hungry.

Roman looked so relieved he nearly laughed.

Harper immediately burst into tears.

Again.

Noah sighed.

"She's fine."

"I know," Harper sniffed.

"Then why are you crying?"

"Because she's fine."

Noah nodded.

"Fair enough."

Roman handed Lillie back to Daisy.

The baby immediately grabbed a fistful of her mother's hair.

Hard.

Daisy laughed.

The tension finally breaking.

Because she was okay.

Everything was okay.

Lillie snuggled against her chest.

Warm.

Healthy.

Perfect.

And for the first time, Daisy truly understood something she'd seen countless parents experience over the years.

Being a doctor didn't stop you being scared.

Being a mother didn't stop you knowing what to do.

Sometimes those two things simply collided.

And when it was your own child—

love always spoke louder than logic. ❤️