Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 16 (5 page)

“
You
’
re right
.”
Chad hesitated.
He felt almost obligated to explain his mission
,
but he didn
’
t want the news all over town before he could enjoy it with his wife for just a little while.

“
Hey, I
’
ll be praying for her.
Do you guys know what is wrong?
”

“
Yeah, we think so but we need to be sure.
See you later.
Thanks
,
Joe
.”
Without another word, Chad punched the automatic window button, turned on the key, and once Joe stepped away from his truck, eased onto the highway and drove the rest of the way just barely over the speed limit.

Willow awoke feeling weak, hungry, nause
ou
s, and with the terrible urge to use the bathroom.
Unsteady on her feet, she grasped the bed and dresser with one hand while clutching her milk pail with the other.
A glance inside
the bucket
surprised her.
It was clean.
It didn
’
t smell.

A smile spread across her face.
“
He cleaned up for me.
What a man
.”

She stood confused at the closed bathroom door.
Why was the door closed?
Willow knocked. She rattled the knob.
As
cautiously as she could, she pushed it open
,
calling for Chad.
Silence greeted her.
She took a step forward
and
froze as she realized her mistake.
Her foot slid through the previous contents of her stomach
,
sending her careening across the bathroom.
She slammed into the edge of the tub and groaned.

“
Ow!
”
Tears sprang to her eyes as her head impacted with the cast iron.
“
Oh man
.”
The room spun, her hand groped for the milk pail and grabbed it just in time.

Sounds of feet on the stairs sent her into fresh tears.
“
Chad?
”

Chad, hearing he commotion upstairs, had dropped his bags just inside the front door and bolted upstairs.
The sight of Willow sprawled across the vomit streaked bathroom floor
,
holding her head in one hand and her bucket in the other
,
made him wince.
“Oh
, I
’
m so sorry.
I almost cleaned it up and then I thought I could get back faster and clean it even if you were awake.
I
—”

“
I
’
m coated and it
’
s making me feel worse
.”

Chad grabbed two towels and mopped up the worst of it.
Quickly
,
he helped her out of her sodden pajamas and into the tub.
While she soaked with bucket in hand
and whining about the disgusting practice of sitting in one’s own filth
, he raced downstairs with the stinky laundry gagging any time he was forced to take a breath.
He tossed the towels in the washer, dumped a scoop of dripping laundry soap into the machine, turned it on
“
normal wash
,”
smelled his shirt, peeled it off,
dumped it the tub,
and raced back inside.

Willow was almost asleep by the time the tub filled.
He brought her water, crackers, and sat on the floor beside the tub wishing he
’
d thought to buy some ammonia.
“
Bleach!
That
’
s what the floor needs.
Bleach.
Be right back
.”

All morning and into the early afternoon, Chad brought her something to drink, something to munch on, dumped her milk pail, and then sat beside her on the bed
,
stroking her hair and praying for her.
As the day passed, he grew worried.
What would they do if every day was this bad?
What if it kept going for several weeks or even the whole time?
He
’
d heard of that.

His phone vibrated in his pocket sending him downstairs quickly to answer it.
“
Mom?
”

“
How is she doing?
”

“
Better, I think.
She
’
s kept down her last few crackers and the
Jell-O
.
The broth was a nightmare
.”

“
Does sound like it
—
did you get a test?
”
Marianne tried not to sound as eager as she felt.

“
Got a test
,
but we haven
’
t taken it yet.
We
’
ve been talking.
She
’
s so excited
—when she’s not puking anyway
.”

Marianne
’
s sigh filled both their hearts with delight.
“
I
’
m going to be a grandmother!
Isn
’
t she going to be the cutest pregnant mother ever?
”

“
Mom, you
are
a grandmother
—
you
’
ll just have to wait to meet your grand-something
.”

“
Child.
It
’
s called a child, Chaddie.
Oh, do you want a boy or a girl?
”
Her excitement
became
infectious.

“
Both?
”
He laughed with her.
“
Actually, whichever is most likely easier for a first baby
.”
He tried to do the math and couldn
’
t think.
“
When do you think the baby is likely coming?
”

Murmuring as she counted, Marianne finally said,
“
Mid February to the first of March I think
.”

“
Valentine’s Day.”

“
Or if she goes overdue, you could be talking St. Paddy
’
s Day
.”

“
That
’
s forever
.”

Her laughter turned to howls.
“
Son, you sound about six years old
.”

Willow stirred.
“
Gotta go mom, she
’
s waking up.
I
’
ll call
after she takes the test
.
Can you scout around for doctors in Brunswick?
”

He whispered his love, and then hurried to Willow
’
s side.
“
How are you feeling?
”

“
Weak, thirsty, and hungry
.”

“
How
’
s the nausea
?
”

She shrugged.
“
I can tell it was there
,
but I think it
’
s gone
.”

“
Well,
”
he chuckled,
“
I hope you don
’
t have it that bad every day
.”

She stared at him in horror.
“
Every day?
”

“
Some women
—”
he didn
’
t have the heart to tell her.
“
Have it more than others
.”

“
I
’
d better be done
.”
The finality in her voice was comical.

“
Mom is calling around for a doctor.
If it keeps up, they have medications that can help
.”