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One by one, she got responses. Her brother’s wife, Lo told her they would be there, but her sons wanted to come too if that was okay. They would also go to mass with her on Saturday instead of their usual Sunday morning.
Sophie: Lo, I’d love to see the boys.
Lo: Great. I’ll let them know to come. Dillon won’t be able to make it because he’s staying on campus tonight, but Duke and Driver will be there. Dillon says to tell you he loves you. He’ll come to see you soon. Love you.
Sophie felt her eyes watering.
Sophie: Tell Dillon, I love him too and to call me. I want to see him soon. See you tonight.
Heath answered for him and Hannah. They would be there but not until almost seven. He had to work later tonight. She understood. Her son’s job was demanding. That’s why they were looking in Cooper, so they would have help with Joshua.
Josh’s dad responded for him and his mother.
Brad Russack: Sophie, the church will collapse around my ears, but I’ll go with you. Maria is still rolling on the floor laughing that I agreed to go but whatever you need now, I’ll do, sweetheart. We’ll be at dinner tonight too. We love you.
Brad to Daisy: Tell that bum of a husband of yours if I can go he can go too. Father Paddy will have a heart attack on the way to altar, when he sees us both.
Sophie burst out in tears.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your dad.” Sophie sniffed.
“What’d he do?” Josh glanced at her then back at the road waiting to hear what his dad had said. She read his message to Josh and he chuckled. “He’s always had a soft spot for you because he never had a daughter, Soph.”
“I know. He just amazes me at times when he shows it.”
He reached across the seats and squeezed her leg. That was Josh’s dad. A big man like Josh. A quiet man with deep thoughts who didn’t always show his emotions. He was prone to slap his son on the back making him cringe, but he never was one for words.
He loved deeply though, and they knew it. He was proud of Josh and Sophie for making it work even when things got hard when, so many people just walked away from their lives because it was easier than staying together.
They parked in the lot near the door of the diner where they often ate. Sometimes Sophie and Josh and sometimes, Sophie and Kai. She climbed out and met Josh at the front of the truck. She tucked her hand in his arm and walked with him to the door. She just wanted a peaceful lunch with him. She didn’t want to think about cancer. Her treatments starting next week. She just wanted to think about nothing at all.
The hostess gave them the window booth that she always gave Sophie and Kai. They had the same server that she and Kai often had so she knew what Sophie wanted. It wasn’t often that Josh ate out, so he ordered a thick, double cheeseburger loaded with French fries for his side.
Sophie frowned at him. “What?”
“Eating garbage,” she shook her head at him.
“I rarely do it,” he defended himself.
She stared out the window. “Miguel was acting strange this morning. Did you tell him about my cancer?”
For the first time in weeks, they went to the office together. They weren’t going to go before her appointment, but Josh needed to handle a few things quickly before taking Sophie and she had to go with him.
“I did tell Marcy. If he was behaving strangely it was because he quit last night when I told him about the manager I want to hire. He reacted like he does when he doesn’t like something. Marcy arrived within ten minutes. He must have talked to her on the phone. She asked me what happened. She was ready to beg me to take him back.”
She realized that she was staring at Josh open mouthed. She licked her lips then closed them. “What if she hadn’t showed up?”
Josh laughed. “I would have given him time to cool off and told him to quit being an ass. He had a family to take care of. I do need him more than he knows. He didn’t let me finish.”
She shook her head. “Another stubborn male who needs to think before he acts.”
“Speaking of…” His wife frowned. “Ben pulled into the parking lot while I was locking the door.”
“What did he want?”
Josh told Sophie about his conversation with Ben. She gave a low whistle. The server brought their drinks preventing her from asking any questions. “Thanks,” they said at the same time. Then Sophie took a sip of her water. Josh had iced tea.
