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She knew it wouldn’t be easy for him to meet her at home because he would have to leave a crew at Satterfield Manufacturing if she even remembered where he was today.
Josh looked around for Miguel. He had never left him onsite at this account but if Sophie requested him, it was serious. He whistled between his fingers. Miguel looked up and saw him wave. He jogged towards Josh’s truck where he himself was heading.
“What’s up?”
“Sophie asked me to meet her at home. Something’s wrong. Will you wrap up here today?”
“Sure, Josh. I can handle this.”
He clapped Miguel on the back. “I know you can and I appreciate it. It won’t make you late getting to daycare will it?” Josh asked.
“No, definitely not. If I need to, I can call my mother and ask her to pick up Markus.”
“Thanks Miguel, I appreciate this.”
“Go, Sophie needs you.”
“I’ll see you in the morning.” He had one leg in the truck and stuck the key in the ignition.
“We’ll pray for Sophie,” Miguel told him.
“Thanks, Miguel. We might be needing prayer more than anything.”
He shut his door and watched Miguel head back to the crew he was working with. Josh didn’t ask her any questions. He didn’t know what was wrong. He just texted her back, I’ll see you there.
Chapter 3
Sophie
When Sophie pulled in the driveway, Josh was standing by his truck. She couldn’t remember where he would have been when she messaged him about meeting her, but he had made it home before her.
She put the old red truck in park and just stared at him for the moment. He was just as handsome as he was as a teenager when she began dating him. Josh gazed at her, not moving. She didn’t move either. Her hands were clenched around the hard, plastic wheel.
They were both afraid. Sophie could see it on his face as plain as what she felt in her gut. Finally, she turned off the ignition and climbed out of the truck. She shut the door and Josh opened his arms waiting for her to come to him.
She dropped her purse at his feet and let him hold her for a moment without saying anything while her cheek rested against his, chest. Sophie listened to the beat of his heart. The comforting sound caused her eyes to close as a tear rolled from beneath her lashes. “What is it Sophie? What’s wrong?”
She inhaled, preparing herself to explain what she didn’t know. “I have a lump. That’s why Ben sent me to the Imaging Center. I had a diagnostic mammogram. I didn’t want to worry you.” Josh grunted at her. She knew what that meant. He didn’t like it. “Carol his nurse is trying to arrange an ultrasound and biopsy for tomorrow or the next day.”
Josh was still, not saying anything while taking in her explanation. Sophie leaned back so she could look at his face. She wanted to see what he was feeling. “Is it cancer?” He asked gazing at her.
“They don’t know yet. It is possible that it’s just a cyst. Doctor Simpson, the radiologist finally admitted after I pushed her, it has markers that look like cancer, but she doesn’t want to commit without the biopsy. She is concerned enough that they want to hurry the appointment for the ultrasound and the biopsy.”
He nodded. “Then we’re going to think positive, that it’s not cancer.” Josh wrapped his arm around her, grabbed her purse off the drive and led Sophie inside. “I’ll go with you to the appointment.”
“Josh, I’m a little scared,” she admitted. “Ben was concerned which is why he sent me to the Imaging Center today. The radiologist is concerned which is why they are trying to get me into the oncologist so quickly.” Her voice cracked. “We have to be realistic.”
He hugged her hard at the garage door that he had put it up while they waited. He kissed her temple. “I love you babe. We’ve been through everything together. A new business. Two kids. Heath is married to Hannah now. A grandson.”
“Now this,” she said.
He smiled at her. “Now this. Whatever it is, I’ll be right by your side just like always.”
That is what she wanted to hear but for the moment she didn’t feel any better. She was scared. It was a big word with lots of implications.
Cancer.
Chemo.
