He turned her around and directed Sophie towards the house. “Yes, it is. Four more months to go. Then onto the next step.”
She nodded. “One more month and we’re halfway there, Josh.”
“See, we’re getting good at looking at the bright side.”
She laughed. “Right,” she agreed.
In the house, Hannah was putting on Joshua’s jacket. “You’re leaving so soon?” Sophie asked.
“Joshua seems to be really grumpy and tired. We’re taking him home and putting him to bed.”
She kissed her grandson’s forehead. “He doesn’t seem to be warm. I hope he isn’t coming down with something.”
Hannah gazed at Sophie with concern. “Me too.”
“Oh, I hadn’t even thought about me.”
“You should. I should have too. I just thought he hadn’t slept well.”
She patted her daughter-in-law’s arm. “Kiddo, I can pick up an illness where I go to get fluids or chemo. I can get something anywhere, I go.”
“I know but I don’t want to be the one to bring something to you.”
Sophie leaned in and kissed Hannah’s cheek. “Quit worrying. Let me know how he is in the morning.”
She told Heath goodbye after Hannah. “I’ll see you in the morning.” She knew then that her son wasn’t looking forward to her chemotherapy treatment.
“See you in the morning. Love you baby.”
After they left, snuggling with Josh in her Dad’s recliner she got comfortable. It had been a long day for Sophie. She was starting to feel like her grandfather who whenever he sat down, he nodded off. Josh’s breathing was soothing to her and soon she was asleep in his arms.
He had to wake her when it was time to go home. She kissed her dad and mom. She and Josh were all that were left. Everyone else had gone home for the night without waking her.
At home, in her bedroom, she changed into a nightgown while Josh let the dogs out. They scrambled into the room happy to see her. She perched on the edge of the bed and rubbed their ears.
“It’s a long day tomorrow, girls. Get in your beds, right now.”
They flopped down on the down filled cushions with a huff. Then Sophie climbed beneath the blankets and waited for Josh. She didn’t make it before he arrived. She mumbled goodnight to him.
“Night Sophie, I love you.”
“Love you too, Josh.”
**
In the morning, she kissed Josh goodbye at the door and kicked him out. Sophie had to force him to go to the office before Heath and her dad picked her up. She thought it would be easier on him not being here when they came to get her.
“Call me or have Heath call me and let me know how you are.” Josh went down the steps of the porch. Sophie leaned against the pole by the stairs.
“I will, babe. Promise.”
She headed back inside when the coolness of the morning was making her bones ache. Her cell phone was ringing on the dining room table. She grabbed it right before it went to voicemail.
“Heath, everything okay?” He was due here in twenty minutes.
“Mom, Joshua is running a one hundred two. He’s been up all night with a fever.”
“Oh no.” She wasn’t concerned for herself when she should be. She was concerned for the baby.