I’ll be there as fast as I can,I promise.Keep the phone with you.And stay near your mom’s room.I’m on my way.
I hang up, then dump half my medicine cabinet into a gym bag I grabbed along the way.Acetaminophen, electrolyte drinks, thermometer, cold compresses, it all goes in the bag.Then, I raid my fridge like a lunatic, grabbing bottled water and whatever else looks remotely helpful.Minutes later, I’m sprinting out the door.
Toronto traffic is its usual brand of hellish, but once I hit the outskirts of the core, the roads open up.I drive faster than I should, but not recklessly.My brain is too sharp, too focused to do anything stupid.It knows exactly what matters—getting to Eddie and Joey.
She hadn’t returned a single one of my texts in two weeks.Was this illness part of the reason why?There has to be another part to this explanation, but if she’s as sick as Joey is saying, then this must have been building for days.I can’t believe I made it all about me.Thinking that her lack of response was somehow tied to my self-worth.What an idiot I am.
One thing I’m learning as I travel down this new path is that none of my past relationships prepared me for Eddie.And I need to stop thinking the world revolves around me.
I pull onto a quiet street lined with attached townhouses—older and well-worn, nothing fancy, but sturdy.Waiting at the curb, shivering in the November cold, is Joey.
My chest squeezes.The kid looks miserable.He’s in jeans and a sweatshirt, his hands clenched in the sleeves.His hair, which I’ve never seen in any other style but messy, looks extra crazy right now, telling me that the kid has been non-stop worrying.I barely throw the car in park before I’m out, slinging my bag over my shoulder.
Hey,I say softly as I reach him.You okay?
For a second, I think he’s going to tell me yes, that he’s holding it together, but he changes his mind.He shakes his head, pressing his lips together to stop any emotion from escaping.She won’t wake up.She keeps making all these weird noises, and I don’t know how to help her.
You did exactly what you’re supposed to, Joey.You took care of her, and you called for backup.I rest a hand on his shoulder.Let’s go inside, yeah?
Joey nods, turning without any further prompting, and rushes through the front door.Adjusting the bag over my shoulder, I follow him and prepare myself for what I’m about to walk into.
Inside, the townhouse is warm.Not just from the heater.Cozy.Clean.Bright colours and soft touches everywhere in the form of plants, blankets, and family pictures.There are hockey posters taped crookedly on the hallway walls that make me smile.I’m a little offended I’m not on the wall of Watson greatness, but maybe there’s still time.The place is a little messy, but it’s a well-loved home.
And, weirdly, I feel myself relax in the space.Like I’ve walked into something familiar.I honestly expected there to be more signs of sickness around the place.Scattered tissues and the like.Which means whatever is wrong with Eddie came on suddenly.
Joey waves me forward, and I follow him to the bedroom.He opens the door with such caution that I feel a bit of my worry disappear for a moment before I peer into the dark room.My eyes catch on Eddie instantly in the middle of her bed, sheets thrown down and tangled around her feet.Her arms are crossed over her head, blocking her eyes from the light or something that I can’t pinpoint.The long-sleeve top and sleep pants she’s wearing are drenched in sweat.
Oh yeah, she’sill.
I’m not talking about simple day-one flu symptoms either.From where I’m standing across the room, I can hear the raspiness of her breaths.She’s struggling.
Eddie is curled on her side.From what I can see, her face is flushed, and her breathing is too shallow and too fast.A bottle of nighttime cold medicine lies on the bedside table, half-empty.
Both Joey and I jump when Eddie bursts out into a fit of coughs.They rack her body, making her gasp for breath.The sounds she’s making have my stomach in a knot.I know I have to be the adult here, but my God, she could be possessed.
When her coughing stops, she still hasn’t woken up.Giving Joey a quick look of reassurance, I hope at least, I move farther into the room.Stepping up to the side of her bed, I bend and gently press my hand to her forehead.Shit.She’s burning up.
The first thing that pops into my head is that this has to be pneumonia.Or walking pneumonia at best.I’m no doctor, but I remember my mom having that a few years ago and needing a puffer to help with her cough.
She’s really sick,Joey murmurs from my side.
She is, but you did the right thing, bud.We’re going to help her.
She’s not gonna die, is she?Joey whispers.
My heart cracks clean in two.I turn to him, taking a step forward so he can see how serious I am.
No,I say firmly.She’s really sick, but I’m here now.And we’re going to take care of her together.Once she wakes up, I’ll call a doctor to check on her.We’ll get her the right meds, and then she’ll be back to her normal self.She’s going to be okay.
He nods, but his eyes are still glued to the bed, fear hovering at the edges.
You hungry?I ask gently, trying to distract him.You eat dinner?
He shakes his head.Another clear sign that he was very worried about his mom.
Okay.How about we fix that?I force a smile.What do you say to ordering a couple burgers with onion rings?I’ve been at training camp all week, eating rabbit food.I want something greasy.
The first flicker of hope crosses his face.Burgers?
