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Heath was in the bedroom with Sophie, so they headed to the living room, giving him time with his mother. Kai sat on the sofa and stared outside while Josh leaned back in the recliner.
“Remember Homecoming our senior year?” She asked him.
“Yeah, Ben and I watched you and Sophie kind of like what I just did although she was throwing up for different, reasons.” His tone was soft as he too remembered.
“She didn’t drink again for a long, time.”
“She was pregnant with Heath.”
Kai turned and looked at Josh. “It was more than that, Josh. She felt out of control. Sophie didn’t like that feeling. That’s why this is so hard on her. She has no control.”
He nodded. “I ran into Ben or rather he pulled into the parking lot at the office to talk to me. Did Soph tell you?”
Kai didn’t respond.
“Kai?”
“She told me.” Kai sounded distant. Josh glanced at her but couldn’t tell what she was feeling right now.
“What do you think?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t told Hannah yet. I don’t really know what to think myself. I guess I was processing it first.”
“Are you angry at me for not telling you that he was in touch with me?”
Her head shot around, and she looked at Josh. “No, I understand why you didn’t. You were protecting us.”
“I was. I care as much about you and Hannah as Sophie and my own kids.”
“I know you do. We’ve been together for a long time, Josh. At first, after Ben left, it was the three of us. You had your hands full with two pregnant, teenage girls,” she teased him.
He laughed. “He stared at the ceiling. I remember holding Hannah when she was just hours old. Never thought she’d be my daughter-in-law.”
Kai laughed. “Yeah, that was a shocker. They have always been together though being so close in age.”
“Think about it Kai. I have Ben’s number. I’ll give it to you if you decide to tell Hannah he wants to see her.”
She nodded.
Heath left after ten. Josh and Kai were up and down all night with Sophie. “I wish you would let me get up with her. I don’t want you to get too tired.” Josh watched Kai hold her hair back while Sophie perched on the edge of the bed. Her shoulders wrapped in the blanket.
“I’m fine. I’ll lay down if I get tired.”
He did the running. Wet, hot wash cloths. Emptying trash bags and putting in new ones. More water. They were trying to keep Sophie hydrated, but she kept throwing up the water. They tried Gatorade, but she couldn’t keep it down either.
In the morning, Kai was asleep on the sofa. Sophie was resting comfortably in bed snuggled beneath the comforter with both dogs. Josh was on top asleep.
**
Sophie
“Hey,” Kai touched her shoulder trying not to wake Josh. She had been awake for a while trying not to disturb him herself.
“Want to get a shower? You might feel better,” Kai suggested.
Sophie nodded. Roman took Sophie’s hand and put his arm around her waist because she was so weak. He was practically carrying her to the bathroom.
“Sit her in the tub. I’ll help her get undressed when I have her dressed again you can get her out or we’ll wake Josh then. He’s exhausted let him rest until then.”
