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“Sounds good. I have an interview at two I have to make that, but we have plenty of time until then.”
Josh guided Sophie down the hall to the exit. He didn’t let her go as he held the door open for her. He didn’t let her go as they walked across the parking lot to his truck. Sophie went into his arms at the passenger door and just held him, still quiet, still unsure. Her world was spinning out of control. Feeling the need to cry but all cried out at the same time. She clung to Josh, hoping her life would feel normal for just a second.
“It will be okay Sophie. I’ll go to every chemo appointment with you. We’ll get through this together like we have everything else, I promise you.”
Josh’s voice was shaky. She didn’t want to look up because she knew he was crying. She didn’t want to see his tears because she would come unglued herself. She nodded against his chest, letting him hold her. Then Sophie felt his lips against her hair.
“I want to go to mass tomorrow,” she told him.
“Really?” He croaked. She laughed for the first time in a while, really laughed from deep in her belly.
Sophie raised her head and looked at Josh. “I do. I think it’s important for me. I’m trying to figure out why this happened to me, Josh.”
He opened the door for her. “You think you’ll find the answers there?”
“Where else should I start?” Sophie asked him.
He helped her into his truck and shut the door then walked around the front to the driver’s side. Sophie watched as he wiped his sleeve across his face. As Josh climbed into the truck, Sophie said, “I want everyone to go.”
He glanced at her quickly. “Why?”
“Because it’s important to me.” She glanced at Josh then out the window as he started up the truck.
“Our mothers already go with Ross and his family on Sunday. That shouldn’t be a problem for them to change to Saturday night but getting our dads to go, good luck, Sophie.” He whistled between his teeth.
She continued to gaze out the window. “Why did we stop going?”
Josh’s fingers tapped against the steering wheel. “It was the only day of the week that we got to sleep in.”
“We could have gone on Saturday night,” she protested.
Josh pulled out of the spot where they had parked. She took her phone out of her purse and sent a text message. She didn’t tell Josh what she was doing. She didn’t explain to him what the text message said. She just knew that she needed this. She knew that she needed her family to go on this journey with her.
Responses started flooding in.
Her mother: I’ll talk to Dad sweetheart. He hasn’t been to mass in decades. Her father didn’t carry a phone, so her mom had responded to her message sent to the entire family plus Kai too.
Her mother: How was your appointment?
Sophie: Come to dinner tonight. It would be easier to explain it there.
Her mother: Sounds good.
Daisy Ward was still holding onto hope that her daughter didn’t have cancer. Sophie thought it would be helpful to her to have this out in person, so she invited everyone to dinner.
Then she could explain like she had about her diagnosis what her treatment plan was. She sent the same group another message about coming to dinner tonight.
Kai: Can Roman and I bring anything? Dinner? Pizza maybe?
Sophie: Pizza would be great. We’ll be at the office until four. I’d appreciate the help.
Kai: You got it. Love you, bunches.
Sophie: Love you, too. Not asking about the appointment?
Kai: Save it for when I see you then I can hug you too if you need it.
Sophie: Thanks. I’m going to need it.
