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Sophie scoffed at her. “When have you ever listened to me before?”
“What are you talking about? I always listen to you,” Kai protested.
“I told you not to sleep with Roman. You did exactly the opposite and look at you now. Pregnant at forty-one with twins, your second and third child with him.”
Kai rolled her eyes at her friend. “It’s a real hardship being married to Roman Garin,” she teased her.
“I’ll bet it is,” Sophie replied. “Man is a Calvin Klein model and sweet as can be. He got his shoes all dirty and his pants wet to get those puppies for me out of the drainage ditch. Risked making you mad and took one home…”
Kai burst out laughing interrupting Sophie’s diatribe about Roman Garin, Kai’s husband. “It’s not just his looks Sophie. He is genuinely a kind man. He loves you,” she declared. “He’d do anything you asked. Right now,” Kai told her, taking her hands. “I think most of the men in our circle would do about anything for you sweetheart. They just want to see you be yourself. They want the sassy, Sophie back barking orders at them.”
She sniffed back her tears. “It’s hard Kai. I feel so rotten and it’s just begun. One treatment down. I don’t even want to think about how many more to go.”
“Then don’t.” Kai squeezed Sophie’s hands. “Take it one at a time.”
She nodded. “Get going. I know you need to get back to work. I love you, you know.”
Kai smiled at her. “I know that. I love you too.”
Kai closed the door when Sophie was seated. She waved as she backed out of the parking spot. Then Sophie put it in drive and headed towards the road. She was driving towards the office about ten minutes away when she glanced at her purse and realized in that short of a time span she had forgotten the invoices.
She slammed her fist against the steering wheel and turned on her turn signal. She went around the block and headed in the opposite direction back towards the diner.
Sophie wiped her hand across her forehead. She was tired. She tired easily though. Maybe she would drop these at the post office, run back to the office and get the puppies and head home. Suddenly, she didn’t feel like doing anything else today.
At the office, she left her purse and jacket in the truck then headed inside. Josh was on the phone, so she left his sandwich on the desk and went to the kitchen where Ally and Jagger were reviewing next week’s schedule. They were good together. She was proud of Ally and how well she was doing.
They both looked up when she stopped in the door. “Mom, you look beat.”
“I thought I’d go home unless you need me.”
“Are you okay?”
Her eyes met those of Jagger Crosby. He was concerned too. She smiled at him. Then she looked at her daughter. “I’m just tired honey. I tire easily now.”
She had another symptom of chemo that she hadn’t shared with anyone because Sophie was tired of complaining. An ache had settled in her bones. Almost like she had the start of the flu coming on. Something else that was fun to go along with her tiredness.
Ally and Jagger exchanged glances.
“It’s okay, I promise.” She also had constipation, sometimes diarrhea but she didn’t need to share that with them either. She sighed. Sophie just wanted to go home.
“Want me to drive you home? Jagger can follow us and bring me back.”
“Nope, I’m fine to drive home. I just wanted to get the girls.”
They were asleep at Ally’s feet. She hated to disturb them, but she wanted them at home with her. They would keep her company and Ally didn’t need to worry about taking them outside when she had work to do. Josh would be happier if they weren’t here anyway.
“Marcy stopped by with more rice pudding for you,” Ally told her. “It’s in the fridge.”
She almost sighed in anticipation. “That is wonderful. I tried a Hot Fudge Brownie Delight at the diner. I left most of it.”
Her daughter frowned at her. “Wow, that you never turn down.”
She nodded. Sophie went to the fridge and grabbed the rice pudding that Marcy had dropped off. Two large Tupperware bowls. She would call her later and thank her. “Could you carry the puppies out for me?”
“Sure, Mom.”
“See you later, Jagger,” Sophie called to him over her shoulder as she walked out of the kitchen.
