by Lee Wardlow
She nodded but said nothing. Josh missed a play and tried to determine what was going on. There was a pile of bodies on the field. He held his breath. The other team came up with the ball. There was thirty-five seconds left on the clock and it was third and twelve. The opponent had lost even more yardage. It was looking good for Camden to win this game and take the Big Ten Championship.
Josh squeezed Sophie’s hand, he was so nervous. “It’s a game, babe,” she grumbled.
“I know. I know.”
He didn’t look at her. He stared at the television. The quarterback went back in the pocket. He had plenty of time. He threw to his tight end, ten yards out. He took off down the field. Josh started yelling no, forgetting all about his sick wife, with the intense migraine. Sophie covered up her head with the pillow.
Camden’s Strong Safety, Willie Morton was hot on the tight end, Jake Hart’s tail. It was foot race to the end zone. Josh was getting even more excited. He was getting louder and louder. Willie brought Jake down at the twenty, yard line and Josh shouted yes. Sophie hit him in the head with her pillow.
“I’m sorry Sophie. I lost my head. There’s only twenty-nine seconds left in the game.”
“I don’t care Josh.”
“I know,” he whispered.
Josh watched them line up, no huddle offense. There were too many men on the field. The offense got a five, yard penalty and they moved back to the twenty-five, yard line. The play clock started again. Brian and his teammates were waving their hands, motivating the crowd that was roaring right now. He didn’t know how anyone could hear anything on that field. They had to hold them, or the game was over.
Camden’s defense blitzed and sacked the quarterback pushing them back another five or six yards. It was now second down and fifteen. They showed Brian’s nervous pacing along the sidelines. Then they showed his parents. His mom’s arm was linked with Ally’s. Looked like they were getting along well which made him smile.
With twenty-three seconds to go, the center snapped the ball and the quarterback fumbled it at the line of scrimmage. He fell on the ball. It was now third down and fifteen.
Josh released Sophie’s hand and climbed off the bed. This could be the final play if Camden held them. He sat on the end of the bed. The quarterback lined up behind his offensive line. He read the defense and called a timeout.
The puppies started clawing at his back. “Oh no, you don’t. Give me one second girls. One play, then I’ll take you out.”
They continued to whimper and claw at Josh’s back. “I don’t think they’re going to wait,” Sophie warned him.
The two teams lined up.
“Josh if one of them pees on the bed, you’re in big trouble.”
He sighed. Grabbed the girls off the bed and jogged down the hallway to the patio doors. He let the girls outside. He tugged his phone out of his pocket and typed in college football scores. He waited for them to load. The game would be over by the time his phone loaded.
Josh glanced up at the two girls, ears flopping as they chased each other around the yard, stopping and sniffing as they went. He chuckled at the dogs. Then a message came through from Ally distracting him from the puppies.
We won Dad.
Great, he thought. I missed the end.
I guess Camden’s defense held them?
Dad, didn’t you watch the game?
Somebody had to go to the bathroom.
Mom! Lol. She just wanted to ruin the game for you because she hates football.
Josh laughed at Ally.
No, the four-legged girls wanted to ruin the game for me this time. Close game. I got whacked in the head by your mother for losing my mind when Jake Hart almost scored that touchdown. Her head is pounding.
How is she?
FLU has been added to her miseries thanks to your nephew. Remember, she was hugging and kissing on him all day Thanksgiving Day. For some reason, he decided he was Nana’s boy when he didn’t feel good but we all thought he was just tired.
Oh no, Dad. Is she all right?
So far, sore throat and fever. I’m watching her.
Keep me posted.
I will. Tell Brian congrats. They will hold onto the number 2 spot.
They will. Sounds like they will play Clemson if they win their game today.
That will be tough Ally.
No harder than if they gotta play Bama Dad.
Love you Ally. I need to check on Mom.
Love you too.
Kai brought him a thermometer. She had three. His father was busy helping his mother take care of an active toddler. Kai wanted to see how Sophie was doing anyway.
“Have you lost your mind?” Sophie croaked seeing her, pregnant, best friend standing in the bedroom door.
“I’m staying right here,” she held the thermometer out to Josh.
He climbed off the bed and went to Kai. “In case I’m carrying germs, I’ll just take that and step away.”
“I appreciate that.”
Kai stayed where she was while Josh went to the bed where Sophie was on her back, still shivering, still running a fever. The fever reducer had done nothing to break the temperature.
He stuck it in her ear after pushing the button. She scowled at him and rolled her eyes.
“What did you want me to do, Sophie?”
She pulled the blankets to her chin and ignored him.
When it beeped, he looked at the screen. “One hundred two.” He glanced at Kai. “I’m really worried. She hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday morning before chemo.”
“Sophie, you need to eat something. How about some soup?”
“No, you guys. Just let me be for a while. Please,” she begged.
“Josh, I would call her doctor,” Kai suggested.
“No,” Sophie grunted then covered her head. They could see the lump that was her shivering beneath the heavy blanket.
Josh texted Kai Sophie’s doctor’s number. She went to the other room to call her, so they didn’t upset her. A few minutes later, she returned to the doorway and motioned for him. He slid off the bed and went down the hall to the living room where Kai was on the phone with Doctor Roberts. She put her on speakerphone.
“Doctor Roberts, I have Josh now.”
“Hi Doctor Roberts.”
“Hi Josh. This happens because their immune system is weakened. Kai said Sophie isn’t eating.”
“Nothing in over twenty-four hours.”
“How much water has she had?”
“Since yesterday…about sixty ounces but she was throwing up in the night like usual. She’s calm again, just nauseated.”
“I’m probably going to extend her chemo out to every three weeks. She’s just not handling the treatments well. Some patients are like that.”
“Okay.” He didn’t know what that meant. Would Sophie still be all right?
“She’ll still be just fine, Josh. Try to get her to drink, water and Gatorade if nothing else. We don’t want her BP to drop like it did before because she was too dehydrated. If her temperature gets above one hundred three or you can’t get her to take in fluids, take her to the emergency room. We will need to start Sophie on fluids.”
“Okay.”
Kai stayed for a while, hanging out in the door. She got Josh Gatorade for Sophie. She only sipped from the bottle. Kai made a phone call a little past eight when Sophie’s temperature was approaching one hundred three.
She was the one who let Father Paddy in the house.
He didn’t stay in the doorway as Kai had done. He perched on the bed beside Sophie and took her hand in his. “Sophie my girl, you can’t behave at all, can you?” He teased her.
She smiled at him although that hurt too. “I can’t. Did you come to give me last rites because I think I’m dying.”
He chuckled.
“Not funny,” Josh told her.
“How about anointing of the sick. We’ll save the last rites for fifty, sixty years down the road.”
&nb
sp; Sophie’s eyes were squinty when she gazed at Father Paddy trying to calculate in her fever addled brain how old she would be. “I’ll be over ninety,” she croaked. He chuckled at her then he became serious.
The sacrament of the anointing of the sick was sacred. Father Paddy lifted his stole out of his pouch and laid it around his neck, adjusting it until it was perfect. Then he took out his blessed oil. He dabbed it on his fingers and made the sign of the cross on Sophie’s forehead and the palms of her hands as he recited the words, “Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up."
Father put his oil away. Then he lifted his stole and carefully folded it before tucking it in his pouch. He lifted Sophie’s hand and held it in his. “I hope you feel better soon, Sophie.”
“I hope you don’t catch this Paddy.”
He chuckled. “I’ll wash my hands on the way out and pray a lot that Jesus protects me, so I can continue his work. It’s worked for me so far.”
“Thank you, Father,” she whispered to him.
“You’re welcome, Sophie. Get some rest.”
Josh walked out with Father Paddy. He guided him to the kitchen where he could wash his hands in the sink. “Let me know how she’s doing, Josh.”
“I will Father. Thank you for coming over.”
“Thank Kai. She called me.”
Josh gauged his fingers in his eyes to stop the tears. Father Paddy placed his arm around his shoulder. “Josh, pray with me for a minute. It will help.”
He nodded. Quietly the two men prayed together. It was powerful feeling for Josh that lifted his spirits when he was getting down. Sophie had been through so much he hated that this was happening now too.
“Thank you, Father.” He patted Josh’s shoulder.
“Anytime, Joshua. Anytime. That’s my job.”
He nodded and wiped is face. His emotions were all over the place right now. He walked outside with Father Paddy who got into his little, energy efficient car. He waited until Father backed out and then he gazed up at the sky and watched the stars twinkling in the inky blackness. There was no moon that he could see.
“Josh, you, all right?” Kai called to him.
He turned to her. So many years of friendship he had lost count. Some filled heartache. Some filled with precious memories that he loved. “I’m fine,” he told her. “Thank you for calling him.”
“I didn’t know what else to do. I knew she was going to the hospital soon, so I thought of Father Paddy first.”
“It will work, Kai. Let’s see if I can get her to drink some more water or Gatorade.”
Throughout the night, Sophie’s temperature dropped to one hundred and hovered there. She drank water and Gatorade but complained every time Josh woke her. Kai slept on the sofa, so she could let the puppies out for him.
On Sunday morning, Sophie croaked at Josh, “I need fresh water and I need to pee.”
He had fallen asleep.
He startled, arms and legs flailing about. He raised up and looked around then he felt her forehead. “My temperature broke. Move it mister or you’re going to be cleaning up the bed. I need help going to the bathroom.”
“Come on.” Josh climbed over Sophie causing her to snap at him. Then he lifted her to her feet. He guided her to the bathroom. She was so weak she didn’t know if she could stay on the toilet. “You haven’t eaten in forty-eight hours, Sophie. You need to eat something. Soup? Mom’s oatmeal?”
“You have some?”
“I’ll make it.”
“How?”
Her voice was froggy and her face pale. He brushed his hand across her cheek. “Oatmeal and applesauce. We have that.”
“It won’t be the same, but I’ll eat it.”
He put her back in bed and wandered through the living room. Kai was outside shivering in the cold watching the puppies. She saw him and hurried them inside.
“How’s Sophie?”
“Temperature broke. She’s agreed to eat oatmeal and applesauce. She wants fresh water.”
“Oh, thank God.”
“Him and you for bringing Father Paddy over. I swear he has a direct connection to him,” Josh pointed up.
She laughed at him. “If he does, Sophie will be healthy when this stuff is over.”
“She will, Kai. I’m feeling good about this.”
Chapter 19
Sophie
On Wednesday, Ally decided to finally come home. She had left her father and Jagger high and dry. Sophie was doing pretty, well except for being weak so she was out of bed, freshly showered and able to be on her own so Josh could be at the office helping Jagger.
Her daughter strolled in at two o’clock in the afternoon. She didn’t want to hear how irresponsible she was being. She wouldn’t see Brian now until after the playoffs and possibly the National Championship if they made it that far.
Sophie didn’t care about the football game. She had wanted her daughter to stay in Columbus at Camden. She could have been with Brian if she had, but she didn’t. She came home, and she had a responsibility to her job that she had shirked. Just because she was Josh’s daughter didn’t give her the right to come and go as she pleased.
“Maybe I’ll just go back to Columbus, Mom.”
Sophie frowned at Ally. She didn’t like the attitude she was developing. The freedom that Ally thought she should have should be earned whether she was eighteen or not. Sophie shook her head.
“Maybe you should then, if you have no more respect for your father or I than this. Jagger too. He’s had more to pick up since you weren’t there, and he’s had a lot on his plate with the town’s proposal.”
She got out of the recliner and grabbed Delilah. Cleo followed her down the hall. Sophie slid into bed and cuddled with the puppies after shutting the door. Shutting out Ally, not wanting to argue with her anymore.
She hadn’t even asked if she was all right. If Joshua was okay after his bout with the flu. How her brother or sister-in-law were doing? If anyone else had come down with it. Ally was wrapped up in Brian Wilkes and nothing else mattered.
Sophie took a nap resting with the dogs. She was still weak, so it was easy to fall asleep snuggled up with her babies.
**
Josh woke her when he got home. She rolled over and faced him. “Ally’s home,” she told him.
“She said you two had a disagreement.”
“What did you say to her?” Sophie asked.
Josh laid his hand on Sophie’s hip. “The same thing that you did, Soph. She made a commitment to us that was important. She had let us down. She should have been home Monday afternoon at the latest. Jagger and I really needed her this week while we were trying to put together the new proposal for the mayor.”
Sophie sat up and Josh’s hand dropped to his side. “What did she say to you?”
“I’m going to my room. I expected you to understand.”
Sophie chuckled at his frustration. Josh had never liked being the disciplinarian. She ran her hand over her head. She still wasn’t used to feeling the soft fuzziness that was her hair not really trying to come in yet because chemo kept it like this.
Josh leaned over and kissed her. “How are you?”
“Peachy Josh.”
He chuckled which made her roll her eyes. “No one else has gotten sick that is a blessing. I was worried about our parents or Kai getting this. Father Paddy since he braved my germs too.”
“That is what he does,” Josh replied.
“So, what’s for dinner?” Sophie asked.
“You’re actually eating something other than oatmeal?” He teased her. He got up from the bed pulling his shirt from his pants.
“I don’t know what I can eat but I’d like to try. Did you know Madge called, she changed my chemo appointment to three weeks from last Friday instead of two?”
Josh explained that he had talked to Doctor Roberts while she was
sick. She was concerned about Sophie’s reaction to the chemo. “You’re getting too weak. She wants you to have more recovery time.”
“That’s what Madge said.” She was excited about that prospect. She hated the way the chemo made her feel. “I’ll sit with you in the kitchen while you make dinner.”
Josh glanced over his shoulder. “I’d like that, Sophie.”
She climbed out of bed and grabbed a sweater to put on. She couldn’t shake the cold feeling in her bones. They went to the kitchen together, the puppies following along behind them.
Sophie sat at the breakfast table near the window. It was almost December, today was warm for Ohio but she liked it.
“Maybe I could walk a little outside while the weather is warm. The puppies would like that.” She was looking outside.
“Whatever makes you happy, Sophie.” Josh glanced up from what he was doing.
“What are you making?”
“That fettucine alfredo recipe my mom made. Remember?”
She nodded. Kind of rich. She didn’t know how her stomach would handle it, but she always had her fallback. Rice pudding or oatmeal.
“Micki’s mom is in the hospital,” she told him.
“What’s wrong?” He asked stirring the pot of noodles.
Scary, how their parents were at that age when anything could happen to them. She worried about them. Since cancer, she knew how fragile life could be.
“They are running tests on her. Possible heart attack,” Micki said. “John’s been taking care of the kids.”
“He has his hands full,” Josh replied.
“He does. Before cancer, we would have helped him.”
She sounded sad. Sophie wanted to help her friends, but Micki had told her that just listening to her cry was all the help she needed right now. Micki’s dad had passed away five years ago from a heart attack. He was only sixty-eight then.
Micki had the oldest parents of their group of friends. They had her later in life. An oopsie baby they had called her. The youngest of eight children. A typical Catholic family not like hers and Josh’s. He was an only child while she only had Ross.
“Your mom and dad are helping Kai with Alexander since Micki has been at the hospital so much.”
“I talked with Hannah today,” Josh told her.
