LIFE Interrupted

“Not at all,” she groaned.

“Why not? It’s been a long day.” He sounded tired.

“I’m wired, Josh. I can’t stop thinking. I keep thinking about all of things in my life I have to be grateful for,” she told him, “but I keep wondering if I’m being taught a lesson.”

“No Soph.” Josh moved down in the bed taking Sophie with him. He held her just a little tighter. “You are mouthy for sure and bossy.”

She glanced over her shoulder at him waiting for something that would make her feel better.

“But baby, you are one of the kindest people I know. You’d give the shirt off your back to your friends or a stranger on the street.”

Sophie snuggled into Josh’s side. “Then why me, Josh? You heard Mom. No one in our family has cancer.”

His fingers traced over her shoulder. “Baby, I’ve been asking myself that question for days now. I don’t have that answer. Maybe the question isn’t why me but how do we fix this?”

Chapter 6

Josh

Sophie’s appointment with Doctor Roberts was coming up tomorrow. Right after that Josh had an interview with a candidate for a manager to help with the business.

Josh thought he owed Sam and Miguel an explanation as to what was changing with the business because they had been loyal to him. He wanted them to understand nothing would change about their positions with his company. He respected them as men and wanted them to know their hard, work was always appreciated.

He was in the office wrapping up the day while he waited for the two men. They were coming in with separate crews at two small clients. Sophie hadn’t been in at all this week. She worked at home; unwilling or unable to face anyone since her diagnosis. He knew it wasn’t healthy for her, but he couldn’t push her right now.

Sam made it to the office first. Josh sat back in his chair and listened to him instructing his men about tomorrow. Where to be, what time and how long the jobs would take. They had two to tackle tomorrow. Then he made his way to Josh’s office. He glanced at Josh when he entered.

“You wanted to see me, Josh?”

“Yeah, shut the door, would you?”

Sam was close to his age. He worked hard. Divorced with two kids. They took his child support payments out of his check and sent them to the county agency. Josh knew he lived lean to make those payments. He was a good man who put his kids first. On rare occasions, he went to a sports bar with some of the guys and drank soda while the others drank beer and watched sports.

He took off his ball cap and ran his hand through his blonde hair then he shut the door. He seemed uncomfortable for a moment. Then he moved across the room and sat in a guest chair on the opposite side of Josh’s desk. Sam leaned on his knees at first.

“What’s up, Josh?”

He wasn’t sure how either man would feel about him bringing in someone else, over them. He didn’t want to upset the balance that he had created.

“You know I value what you do for me?”

He nodded. “Are you laying me off, firing me?” The question rushed out of Sam quickly.

“God no,” Josh declared. “Man, I’m not good at this if I’m giving you that impression.” Both men laughed which eased the tension in the room.

Sam relaxed and leaned back in his seat. His arms from the elbow down were a deep brown as was his neck and face. He worked outside all year round; from April to October, he rarely wore anything but the short-sleeved, polo that Russack Landscaping provided them. In the summer months, they wore khaki shorts, so their lower legs were as brown as their arms were. Josh had the same tan lines, himself.

“Just tell me, Josh. What’s wrong?”

“Sophie is sick, Sam. I’m going to be out of the office a lot more. I’m trying to hire a manager. I feel like I owe you and Miguel an explanation.”

“You don’t owe me anything. I appreciate it though and I hope she’s okay.” Josh could see that Sam was relieved.

“Me too. She’s got a rough road ahead of her,” Josh explained. “I just wanted you to know that nothing will change about how you are needed or what you do for me day to day. If anything, this man may need you more.”

Sam nodded his head. “I’ll help in any way I can.”

“I appreciate that. I’ll make sure you are compensated for your help. You know that.”