"Dinner was great." I smiled as I placed my wine down.

"I'm glad you like it."

"I almost missed it." I laughed. "My ex, was being a bit complicated." I explained to him.

"Oh. I wouldn't have mind if we had to bring, Rowan?"

"Yeah. No. It's fine. As long as I'm back by eight fifteen all should be good."

"Are we on curfew?" Luke teased at me.

"As a single mother with strict bedtimes, yes." I grinned. It didn't really matter if Rowan slept in tomorrow, I don't have to rush to work since I'm on holiday and Ashley is there.

"How is your little sabbatical going?"

"Good. I've caught up, finally, but I want to get in front of my deadline." Dessert was just getting served and I couldn't help but laugh at the two slices of cheesecake plated in front of us. "Cheesecake?" I grinned.

"Well, yeah."

I heard my phone vibrating in my bag and I felt slightly annoyed. "Excuse me. I'm sorry."

"Oh, no. Go ahead." Luke offered as I opened my bag.

I rolled my eyes. Of course it's Ryder. I answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Where are you?" He growled out.

I quickly looked up at Luke. "I'm sorry." I mouthed as I got up and walked away. "None of your business. What's wrong?"

"I think Rowan is sick."

I stilled. "What? What do you mean? Does he have a fever?"

"No, he is vomiting everywhere." Ryder told me. "I tried ringing your house phone."

"Where are you?" I asked frantically.

"At the hospital."

My eyes went wide. "You took him to a hospital?" I groaned out. "Alright. I'm coming now." I hung up and went back to the table. "I'm so sorry, Luke. I have to go. My son isn't well." I picked up my bag.

"Well, would you like me to take you home?" Luke offered.

"Oh no. I'll cab it."

"I insist."

I felt so bad. "If you must. But I'm not going home. I have to go to the hospital."

Luke shot up and escorted me to the car. "Is it serious?" He asked me.

I wasn't sure. "I doubt it." I whispered, but I was concerned.

The drive to the hospital felt so long, but it was only a couple minutes in reality. I tapped my fingers nervously on the interior of the car door and as soon as Luke stopped the car, I was out and straight to the entry.

I took my phone and rang Ryder.

"Where about are you?" I demanded.

"Are you at the hospital?"

I just wanted to yell at him. "Yes! Now where are you?"

"In the short stay section." I hung up before Ryder could say any more and turned to Luke.

"I'm sorry our date was cut short."

"It's okay. At least you have a legit reason. I'll call you later."

I gave him a small laugh. "Okay. I better go."

I gave Luke a quick kiss and turned down to the hall leading to short stay. Half running to the desk there, an old nurse looked up to me.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for my son, Rowan Matthews." I spelt out Rowan's name and a few seconds later the nurse told me what room he was in.

I turned to the open doors of the rooms. Room four, I need room four.

I quickly rushed to it and stopped abruptly at the door. Ryder was sitting on the bed, rubbing Rowan's back as he cried.

"Oh, baby." I gasped as I went to him, dropping my bag on the empty chair. I sat next to Rowan and hugged him. "What happened?" I asked as I rubbed Rowan's tears away.

"I don't know. He started getting sick after dinner." Ryder told me.

"What did he eat?" I played with Rowan's hair as I looked him over.

"Pizza. We had pizza."

I heard the snip of his tone and turned my head to Ryder. I saw his angry eyes look at me.

"I thought you had an assessment? That's a bit fancy for an assessment."

"Not now, Ryder." I muttered as I turned back to Rowan. "When was the last time he spewed?"

"About five minutes ago. Do you think it's food poisoning?"

"Oh baby." I sighed at my son. "I don't know. That or a belly bug. We just have to keep his fluids up."

"That's what the doctor said. But he won't drink anything. The doctor has gone to get a nurse to set up an IV drip."

My eyes widened. "Oh no. Have they tried Hydralite?"

Ryder looked at me, confused about my question. I groaned as I went to the nurse at the desk and asked if they had any Hydralite in ice blocks.

I returned holding one. "Rowan, baby. For being such a good and brave big boy for your Momma and daddy, look what I got you." I smiled as I held it out to him.

Rowan's eyes lit up as he took the treat and started sucking on it.

"You gave him an ice block? Won't he bring that back up?" Ryder asked, slightly irritated.

"No." I said proudly to myself as I watched Rowan eat it. "It's a medical thing. It helps keep fluids up, prevents dehydration and hopefully, if he has another one after this one, he might not need a cannula."

I saw Ryder look at me in astonishment.

"Some times I have to do some research before writing a column." I told him as I swayed on the spot.

"You really are a wise doctor." He smiled at me. I felt like I should have ignored it, but I smiled wider, proud of myself.

****

After the ordeal at the hospital, an overnight stay was needed for observations. As much as I disagreed with it, I wasn't the medical expert.

I asked Ryder to stay with Rowan as I went home to get some stuff. I finally got out off my blue dress and slipped on some loose pants and a singlet plus my flats before packing a bag for Rowan.

It was then that my phone rang and I was slightly annoyed thinking it was Ryder, but it was Luke.

"Hey." I answered as I wedged the phone between my ear and shoulder.

"How's the little one?"

"He is good. Thanks. Not sure if it's food poisoning or a belly bug."

"That's no good." I heard him as I shoved in some pyjamas in Rowan's bag.

"Yeah. But the doctor wants him to stay in over night."

"Well, they are the experts."

I gave out a small laugh as I chucked in some toys and books. "Yeah. I'm sure it's nothing. Just keeping an eye on fluids, really."

"Well I'm glad to hear your not too stressed."

I gave out another laugh. "I don't sound stress?" I'm about to spend the night at the hospital and probably with Ryder. "I'm glad to hear my voice isn't betraying me."

"That's why you'll be good as a psychologist." Luke added.

I froze for a second. "Yeah." That is a reason why I am going for my masters in psychology. But my main reason was to be a better columnist.

"I've gotta go, Luke. I'm sorry."

"No dramas, Rhea. Family first. I won't be back till Monday, probably."

"Do you ever stand still?" I joked as I got my keys.

"If only it was that simple. I'll talk to you soon."

I hung up and grabbed the bag as I made my way back to the car. Ryder let me borrow his since Luke took me to the hospital and as much as he irritated me, that I was grateful for.

****

I stayed on the bed after Rowan fell asleep, playing with his hair. I didn't want to look away, because that meant looking at Ryder and that could initiate a conversation.

Ryder stayed on the chair, on his phone and kept quiet while I read to Rowan. But he still hasn't said anything after Rowan fell asleep.

After a few more minutes, I finally got out off the bed and sat on the sofa on the other side of the room, puffing up a cushion and shoving it behind my back.

Ryder snapped his eyes to me, standing up and placing his phone in his pocket as he strolled over to me.

Rowan had calmed down on being sick and the doctor wanted him in for observations. But Ryder insisted that he stayed with us for the night.

"Rhea, I know you don't want to talk about this, about us." Ryder started again as he sat next to me.

"You're right. I don't." I groaned out as I covered my legs with a blanket.

"But we need to. I feel like we are stuck in this rut and there is no getting out till we finally discuss this."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "Who's the one that studies psychology here?"

"I'm serious."

"Well, that's the thing. You're always serious. I've tried telling you and you refuse to accept the answers because they aren't the ones you want."

I saw how Ryder's jaw clenched up.

"I'm sorry, Ryder, I really am. But I don't want to go there again."

"Why not?" Ryder just looked at me, he didn't try to touch me and I was thankful for that. "You weren't arguing this earlier today."

Right. "Please, can't you just be grateful for what you have now?"

Ryder muttered under his breath, something I didn't quite catch, but he let the subject drop. For how long was the question.

"I'm amazed at how calm you were." Ryder suddenly said to me.

"It's not the first time I've been here with Rowan." I shrugged out.

"But I interrupted your date."

I peeked over at Rowan. He was still as handsome as ever, even with his dress shirt messy, the top three buttons undone and his hair a mess.

"You said you had an assessment."

"Would you have come to get Rowan if I said it was a date?"

"Yes." Ryder answered. "And you."

"What? That makes no..." Then it dawned on me. "Ryder. I can have a life of my own."

Ryder didn't bother answering me as we both sat there quietly. It gave me time to think as Ryder went back to his messages on his phone.

I have to admit though, Ryder and I had more good times than we did bad times. Sitting this close to him without talking wasn't as unnerving as I first thought, it was calming, really.

I stole a glance from under my lashes several times before Ryder noticed. He was now calm and collective himself. Maybe we can just try to be friends.