You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 708

They didn’t even have to wait for morning. That night, the Padilla family flew in. Lydia and Miles weren’t with them. People in their positions couldn’t just leave the city whenever they wanted, so it was the Padilla brothers who came.

Roger and Sara had spent the whole night juggling phone calls, handling every worried inquiry and nosy question that came their way. For the first time, they realized how tiring it was just to deal with people. Their nerves were wound so tight, but the moment the family showed up, they finally felt that heavy weight lift from their shoulders.

Jaxon and Jimmy asked the doctor everything they could think of. When they heard it was only a fever and nothing more, they both finally breathed easy.

Jaxon looked at Sara. “Where’s your Aunt Patricia?”

“She’s inside. She’s been worrying herself sick, barely ate anything all day.”

Jaxon looked over at his wife, Selara. She got the hint right away. “I’ll go check on Oliver.”

If Patricia hadn’t been in the room, it would have been fine for Jaxon, as the eldest brother, to go in. But with his sister-in-law there, he knew he should stay out.

Selara slipped quietly into the room and found Patricia sound asleep, slumped over the side of the bed. The sight softened her heart, and her steps grew lighter as she moved closer. She reached out to feel Oliver’s forehead, and just as she was about to pull her hand away, he shifted beneath her touch.

In the dim light, Oliver slowly opened his eyes. He looked confused for a second when he saw Selara. He started to speak, but she pressed her finger to her lips, telling him to stay quiet, and then pointed to the other side of the bed.

Oliver turned his head and finally saw Patricia, fast asleep. His chest tightened. Even in sleep, her brow was furrowed, and her hair was a mess. He hated to wake her, but she couldn’t be comfortable like that.

“Your brothers, Jaxon and Jimmy, are here. They’re outside. We’ll come back in the morning,” Selara whispered. She knew that with a young couple in the room, her presence was just in the way. From the look on Oliver’s face, it was obvious he wanted Patricia to get some proper rest in the bed, not hunched over like that. He had no interest in visitors right now.

Back in the room, Oliver carefully tried to slip his hand out from Patricia’s grip. But halfway through, she woke up with a start and sat up fast. For a second, her eyes were full of panic—then she saw him and her face lit up with relief. She pushed herself up, reaching out to check his forehead, but her legs were numb from sleeping bent over. She almost lost her balance.

“Careful,” Oliver said, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her onto the bed. As she landed, he sucked in a sharp breath.

“Did I hurt you? I’m sorry,” she blurted, trying to get up.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m okay,” Oliver said, his voice rough and gentle.

Patricia steadied herself, then reached out again to check his forehead. “Your fever’s gone down. I’ll get the nurse to check your temperature again.”