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in bed and she was whimpering, just seeking relief from the crashing pain in her head.
Josh returned to the bedroom with another hot cloth. He didn’t know how she was bearing this heat, but she kept telling him that it soothed her, so he made them as hot as he could carry to her.
Sophie had stayed away from the office to give Ally a chance to get on her feet. Josh and Jagger were doing well working with her and each other so that was one less thing she had to worry about. One less thing he had to worry about. Josh knew right now, Sophie could care less about Russack Landscaping.
Heath had stopped in to see her. He kissed her forehead. “Mom, I love you. Just checking on you after chemo. Dad said your head is hurting bad.” Josh stood in the doorway to the bedroom and watched the interaction.
She squeezed his hand. Hours earlier, she told Josh that the even the thought of talking hurt her head so actually, speaking was out of the question. She only nodded at her son.
“I’ll call Dad later and check on you,” Heath promised.
She nodded at that too, Josh could see the movement brought tears to her eyes. He walked with Heath to the living room.
“Will it be like this every time?” Heath asked.
“I would assume so, son.”
“How are staying so calm?”
They stood in the middle of the living room, man to man. He was anything but calm. He was worried about Sophie. It hurt in his gut that she was suffering but he couldn’t do anything and that hurt worse.
“I’m not calm, Heath,” he reassured his son.
“We’re staying at Grandma and Grandpa’s tonight. They’re going to look at houses with us tomorrow.”
“Good luck, son. Let me know what you find.”
“I will,” Heath promised.
It hurt him worse that he couldn’t help his son and daughter-in-law look for houses but right now, Sophie was his priority. After Heath left, Josh went back to the bedroom. He sat in the chair in the corner by the big picture window and watched Sophie in case she needed him. Nodding off again, she continued to sleep fitfully.
Sophie’s mother came over next. Daisy opened the bedroom door and peeked around the room. Josh hadn’t turned on any lights because light seemed to hurt her head as much as talking did.
“How is she?” Daisy whispered.
“In pain,” Sophie croaked.
Her mother went to her side and perched on the edge of the bed, with that serenity that only a mother has in stressful situations, she held Sophie’s hand. It was in that moment, tears started rolling down Sophie’s cheeks. “It hurts, Mom.”
“Momma’s here, baby,” Daisy cooed to her.
The tears only made her head hurt worse, Josh knew. Wetness began to form in his own eyes. He gauged his fingers hard into the sockets, hoping to stop them.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“Mom, it’s okay.” Her throat felt dry.
“I’ll get you some water.” Josh headed towards the kitchen leaving the door open behind him. The puppies chased after him. Usually wherever Sophie was, they were. He chuckled at their cuteness as they nipped at his ankles and shoe strings. They probably needed to go outside. He hadn’t let them out since before Heath had arrived, three or four hours ago.
In the kitchen, he filled one of the many water bottles with ice chips and water. He screwed the lid on tightly. Josh stared over the backyard as dark started making it harder to see what was in the woods. Usually nothing, occasionally a coyote would come into the backyard, reminding him he needed to watch the dogs when he let them out.
Then Josh went to the sliding doors and the puppies ran between his legs. They were sort of cute, he had to admit. He leaned for a second letting the tiredness wash over him. He just felt the relief that the first treatment was out of the way. No matter how bad they were, cancer was worse. One down. He didn’t even want to think about how many more Sophie had to endure.
“Josh, come quick.” Daisy’s urgent cry startled him. He whistled to the dogs who came running for the door. They followed him down the hall to the bedroom. Daisy was in the bathroom with Sophie.
She was trying to breathe through the wave of nausea rolling through her. This was how Sophie was when she had morning sickness. He didn’t know if it was the medication or the headache causing it. “Sophie, what’s wrong baby?”
“I’m sick,” she muttered, hovering over the toilet trying not to throw up.
