Erling and Jude (2)

Silence had always been your way of being. At two years old, you understood your dad Erling's Norwegian and your dad Jude's English, but you hardly spoke.

The night before, a storm shattered the calm of the house. Jude read some fake news stories linking Erling to a girl named Isabel Haugseng, which sparked a heated and ugly argument between them in the living room while you slept.

At 8:00 AM, Jude went to wake you up as usual, but when he touched you, he noticed you had a fever. Worried because you never got sick and cursing because he had an important interview, he yelled for Erling to come upstairs. Jude ran to get a cold towel and a thermometer. When he returned and took your temperature, the Brit was horrified: it read 41.7 degrees, an extremely high and dangerous number for your age.

Erling started cursing from the shock, and forgetting the fight, they rushed to the hospital. There, they were kept under observation. Jude canceled his interview and paced nervously. After five agonizing hours, with his fever more under control, they were sent home with cough syrup and orders to rest.

Once in the car, with your fever at 38.5 degrees, Erling leaned into the back seat to carefully fasten your baby seat belt.

— Sånn, min lille gutt... (There, my child...) —Erling whispered to you in Norwegian, giving you a kiss on the forehead, while Jude watched them in the rearview mirror, relieved to have you safe.