LIFE Interrupted

“I’ll get the garbage can.” He patted Kai’s shoulder. “Be right back.”

Minutes later, Josh returned with their bathroom garbage can, a box of bags for it and a bottle of water. He sat them on the nightstand. Kai had laid down beside Sophie and was comforting her. Both women were on their sides facing each other. It was like old times watching the two of them together.

Josh took a seat in the over-stuffed chair by the window. He crossed his ankle over his knee and held it with his hand. He listened to Kai comfort Sophie as she traced her finger over her forehead.

“What did you use on her?” He could smell the faint scent of something that Kai had put on her finger before she started rubbing on Sophie’s forehead and temples.

Kai glanced over her shoulder. “An aromatherapy oil in Lavender scent. I bought it in case Sophie had migraines again. Lavender helps with headaches.”

Josh nodded. “How’s the nausea Sophie?” He asked.

“Bad. I’m trying not to throw up because that will make my head worse.”

“Can I get you anything?”

She shook her head no.

Josh went to the kitchen to fix lunch for Kai, but they couldn’t get Sophie to eat. Josh stayed in the kitchen while Kai had her sandwich in the bedroom with Sophie.

The puppies were nipping at his ankles wanting to go outside. Josh took the last bite of his sandwich and got up from the table to take them to the patio door. He slid it open and they ran between his legs making him laugh. It was a blessed relief to watch them frolicking in the grass versus waiting to see if Sophie was going to be sick.

He tossed a ball with them for a while, twenty-five minutes or so. Then Josh took them inside, so he could check on Sophie. He hadn’t even closed the door when he could hear her in the bedroom, violently ill just like last time. Josh laid his forehead against the glass.

This continued, on and off for hours. Ally came home and didn’t want to go to Columbus. Sophie was on the bathroom floor now, shivering beneath a blanket from the bed that Kai had placed over her. She and Josh stood in the doorway while Ally tried to convince Sophie she shouldn’t be going anywhere with her mother this sick.

“Sweetheart, please leave.” Sophie begged her. “I’ll be here Sunday night or Monday morning when you get home. Possibly still lying on the bathroom floor but I’ll be here. I promise.”

“Mom,” Ally groaned at Sophie’s attempt at humor.

“Come on Ally,” Josh told her. “I’ll walk you to your car.” He forced her from the floor and slipped his arm around his daughter’s shoulders, walking her outside. Her bag was already in the backseat. “I’m worried about you driving all that way alone.”

“I’m fine. Doug and Jagger are riding up there with me.”

He didn’t know if he should feel better or not. “Text me and let me know you’re safe,” he said forcing himself to be quiet about her company. She was eighteen. She was an adult of sorts. Young and naïve. Jagger was twenty-nine and Doug was twenty-four.

“Brian got us four tickets but one of the guys couldn’t go last minute.”

“Oh,” he replied.

His daughter was going to Columbus with four guys and he didn’t even know it. “Dad, don’t look like that. It’s not like it’s a threesome. Jeez, I’m not that kind of girl. These guys are my friends.”

He rolled his eyes at her. Josh could feel his cheeks warming. “I wasn’t implying anything.”

“You were thinking it though.” She climbed into the car and started it up. “You were wondering if it was a good, idea to be going with two men. I’m not dumb Dad. I’m staying on campus with Brian and our friends. Jagger and Doug have a hotel. I’ll text you when I get there.”

This might be something Ally would tell Sophie but not him. He rubbed his hand across his face. Sophie would tell her to use protection. He wanted to tell her to be a good girl and keep her pants on. She wasn’t ready for sex. Not his little girl. He cleared his throat with the uncomfortableness that had settled in his chest.

“Bye Dad.”

“Bye Ally.” He waved as she backed her small SUV out of the driveway.

Then Josh turned and went inside. He found Kai sitting on the bathroom floor with Sophie’s head in her lap. “She’s gone,” Sophie stated.

“She is. Did you know she’s staying on campus with Brian and their friends?” Before Sophie could respond, Josh asked another question. “Is she sleeping with him?”

“I don’t think so.”

He exhaled sharply. The air whooshed out of him in relief. “I’m so glad. I didn’t know if I should say something or not.”