I called work the next day, and Tabitha took the call. I told her to let Mr. Stevens know why I wouldn't be in today. She said she would relay the message. I doubt it. At this point, I didn't have the patience to deal with her; I had to deal with a sick child.

I also called Ben, Tara, and Mel and let them know. They told me to do what I had to do and that they would stop by later.

"Mommy!"

"I'm coming, baby!" I went into her room as she got sick again. It was going to be a long day.

*********
Tabitha hung up, and an evil smirk grew on her face. It was her chance to swoop in and take my position. All she had to do was leave out a few details.

She strutted over to Scott's office and knocked on the door.

"What is it, Tabitha?" He asked in annoyance.

"Mr. Stevens, Carolina Sherwood called," she said.

He stopped working, "Oh?"

"Yeah, she said she wasn't coming in today."

"Why not?"

"She didn't say. My guess is she is busy," she shrugged.

Scott looked at her, then dismissed her. He went back to work.

Tabitha left his office and started walking back to her desk when Lacy stopped her, "Why do you look happy?"

"Because, soon, that position will be mine, and I will be one step closer to Mr. Stevens," she smirked.

"Tabby, he isn't like Mr. Logan," she said.

"Lacy, all men are the same. Dangle a carrot before them, and they can't resist," she retorted.

"You're bad."

"Only in bed," she smirked. They laughed as they walked away, only to be caught by Mel.

"Shouldn't you be working," she asked them.

"Oh Mel, we are," Tabitha smiled and shrugged. They walked away, still laughing.

Knowing the kind of person Tabitha is, Mel went to see Scott. She walked to his office and knocked on the door, "Yes, Mrs. Walker?" He kept his eyes on the screen.

She walked into his office, "Mr. Stevens, I just wanted to let you know Carolina isn't coming in."

"I heard," he said with annoyance.

"Well, did they tell you she is dealing with a sick child?"

"Children get sick all the time. That's why you have babysitters," he told her.

"I see. So, the fact Lina never calls off and only does because she doesn't feel like leaving her daughter with someone," she countered.

"She has an ex, doesn't she?"

Mel looked at him as he continued to work. Wow, for someone that seems like he has an interest in me, he sure was acting like a complete ass right now.

"Yes."

"Then, there are no excuses. Now get back to work," Scott ordered Mel. She turned and walked away. "What was Scott thinking?" she thought as she shook her head.

Once Mel was gone, he stopped typing. Scott sat back in his chair and thought about it. Scott knows he sounded harsh about me, but he didn't want people to think I deserved special treatment when it came to working.  It was the one thing he wanted to keep separate.

He knew Kami was sick. He also knew Tabitha had intentionally left her out of the equation, which didn't sit well with him. He didn't like her. She was just like Victoria in that aspect.  He would deal with her later, but his thoughts kept drifting back to me.

Then he got an idea.

                                   *******
Kami has finally stopped getting sick mid-afternoon. I was exhausted. I had been up all night with her. All I wanted to do was sleep.

I heard a knock at the door and opened it to find Ben standing there. He walked in, "Rough night?"

"She finally stopped an hour ago," I yawned.

"Go lay down. I will take care of Kami while you get some sleep," Ben told me.

"Thank you."  I managed a small smile as I turned and went upstairs. I crawled into bed, and I was out the minute my head hit the pillow.

Ben stayed with Kami so I could sleep. He made her soup, and they snuggled up on the couch together while watching Sponge Bob.

Around five, he heard a knock at the door. He got up to answer it as Mel asked, "How is she?"

"Kami is better, and Lina is exhausted. She's sleeping right now," he told her.

"That's good; I won't stay long, but let her know Tabitha is trying shit at work. I have a feeling she is trying to get her fired," Mel warned him.

"I don't understand how she has managed to stay employed. Lina has filled me in on about her. If it were my company, I would have fired her after a few days," Ben told her.

"I know, but hey, I guess if you're good at sucking dick, then you're a good worker, right?"

Ben chuckled at that as Mel grinned.

"I'll tell Lina you stopped by. Thanks for giving me the heads up," he said to her.

"No problem, Ben, I'll talk to you later. Tell Rob I said hi," she told him as she turned and walked away. He closed the door and sat back down with Kami. A few minutes later, there was another knock at the door.

"Daddy, I'm hungry," Kami said.

"Okay, sweetheart. Let me answer the door and see who it is, then I will make you some chicken noodle soup," he said to her.

"The one with stars?"

"Of course," he smiled as she sat there and watched TV.

He walked over to the front door and answered it. He saw a man standing there dressed in a suit.

"Is Lina here?"

"Yeah, but she's sleeping," Ben told him.

"Really?"

"Yeah, she had been up all night. I just told her to lie down and get some sleep. Last night was pretty rough," Ben said casually.

"I see."

"Do you want me to give her a message?"

Scott looked at him and said, "No." With that, he turned and left as Ben shrugged and closed the door. From there, he went into the kitchen to make Kami soup.

I eventually woke up and came downstairs. I must have been more tired than I thought. Ben was a lifesaver. I walked into the kitchen, and he made dinner. Ben finished up, and there was a knock at the door. I took a seat while he answered the door. He let Rob inside.

Rob asked Kami, "How are you feeling, sweetheart?"

"I'm feeling better. Daddy made me soup with stars. Rob, I don't like being sick. It's yucky," she said with a face.

"We know, sweetheart. But we are so happy you are feeling better," he said, rubbing her head.

"Me too. Will you watch Sponge Bob with me," she asked him in a tiny voice.

"Sure, let me have dinner, and I promise to watch Sponge Bob with you," he smiled as he kissed her on the top of her head.

"Okay," she smiled.

He followed Ben into the kitchen. Ben made me a plate, then fixed himself one, and Rob fixed his plate, and they joined me.

"So, Mel stopped by and mentioned Tabitha is trying to pull some stuff at work," Ben told me.

"What else is new? She's mad because Scott doesn't bow down to her," I said as I ate.

"Well, some guy stops by shortly after," he mentioned.

"What guy?" I looked at him curiously.

"He had short hair, a close-cropped beard, was wearing a suit, and quite the hottie," he smirked. Rob elbowed him.

"That must have been Scott. What did he want?"

"He wanted to see you, but I said you were sleeping. You had a rough night and were up all night. I asked if he wanted me to relay a message, and he said no, then left," Ben said.

I looked at him as I ate. I had a feeling Scott got the wrong idea about Ben.  But then again, the last time I assumed things, I looked like an ass.

"So, that's The Scott, or should I say your drunken mishap," he asked with a smirk.

I shook my head, "Really?  You'll never let me live that down, will you?"

He chuckled, "Nope."

I just rolled my eyes.

"By the way, did Tara get hold of you," Rob asked me.

"Honestly, I've been so wrapped up taking care of Kami that I told her earlier to let her know Kami was sick. Then I called Ben, Mel, and work. I haven't spoken to anyone today. Too busy cleaning up mess after mess," I shrugged.

"She's having dinner Saturday, and everyone is coming along with the kids," he told me.

"Tara sure loves her dinner parties," Ben said.

"Yeah, but she and Kelly are fabulous cooks.  Plus, I told her we would come, and I would bring my famous triple-layer chocolate cake," Rob told him.

"Oh sure, you bring Tara a chocolate cake, but when I ask for one, you're too tired," Ben scoffed.

"Stop being a drama queen," Rob said, rolling his eyes. I just laughed. They were always fighting over the chocolate. I swear, once, I caught Tara and Ben gorging themselves on chocolate after we went to a chocolate factory.  Kelly and I had to drag them both out of there.

"I still remember our trip to the Hersey factory in Pennsylvania. Kelly and I thought we would never get you out of there," I shook my head.

"You're the adult. You both knew what you were getting into when you took us there," he reasoned.

"Oh, I know I'm going to hear you whine about it when you get home. Rob, they won't let us finish our chocolate. Life is so unfair," Rob mocked Ben while rolling his eyes.

I laughed at that. At least the kids had fun.

Ben and Rob hung out for a while, and Rob kept his word to Kami and watched Spongebob Squarepants with her. I was glad Ben met Rob. He was so good with Kami. I could not have asked for a better partner for Ben. Our fear has always been meeting someone who doesn't take a liking to Kami.

We both agreed on that. Regarding Kami, whoever we met had to love her like their own. We were not going to be with someone who didn't. It wouldn't be fair to her.

Plus, our friends accepted Rob with open arms. It was never an issue that they were partners, which I was okay with. It made life easier for everyone, including Kami.

Ben and Rob did leave after the three of us tucked her in, and each of us took turns reading her a story. I went to bed and had a feeling that things were going to be crazy at work tomorrow. Let's hope not.