He told Riki to watch Kinley and retrieved a cool washcloth and the thermometer. Alexis dry heaved into the toilet, but nothing came out. She didn’t have anything left to come out. She did take the cool cloth and covered her face with a moan, sure she was dying.
“Open your mouth,” Cory ordered, knelt in front of her.
Alexis raised her head from her knees and gave him a dirty look. “I know I have a fever, Dr. Baker. I don’t need a thermometer to tell me that.”
“Open your mouth!”
Alexis didn’t have the energy to argue. She just wanted to lay on her couch in peace and quiet. Was that really too much to ask? Her lips barely parted, but it was enough for Cory to slip the thin rod below her tongue. Cory was in doctor mode when the thermometer beeped, revealing a one hundred and three temperature.
“Alexis, you’ve got to go to the doctor. Let me call Sam to come and stay with the girls, and I’ll drive you to the clinic.”
“I don’t want you to drive me anywhere. Take the girls and go home.” Alexis did let Cory help her to her feet. Only because she needed the extra energy.
“Lex, you’re pregnant. Your temp is way too high. You need to go to the doctor.”
“I need you to leave. I have the flu. Paige just had it, too. I’ll be fine. Just take the girls and go.”
“I’m not leaving you here sick. Go upstairs to your bed and I’ll stay here with the kids.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you? I don’t want you here.” Alexis managed to move around him and fall to the sofa with a moan.
“I don’t like this, Lex,” he tried one more time, squatting to her face, and moving hair from her forehead.
It was his fault. It wasn’t like Alexis didn’t give him plenty of opportunity to go. First she looked to see Riki and Kinley playing with Mr. Dog and then she gritted her teeth. “Get the fuck out of here,” she ordered through the clenched jaw. Cory had no choice. He had to leave her.
No sooner had they left and she was finally sleeping, Bernie was waking her. For Pete’s sakes…
“What are you doing here?” Alexis moaned. Her eyes squinted to Bernie wearing a red and white bandana over her mouth.
“Cory called me. I brought you soup and Pedialyte.”
“Pedialyte? That’s for kids.”
“Cory told me to get it. I got the Pedialyte popsicles, too. Cory said I can’t leave until you at least eat a popsicle.”
“Why are you talking to Cory? I’m not eating a popsicle. I just want to sleep. Why can’t anyone understand that?”
“Because we’re concerned about you. You’re pregnant.”
“Thanks for reminding me. Give me the damn popsicle so I can rest for Christ’s sake.” Alexis managed to keep the icy treat down and then she slept. Bernie could entertain herself. She just wanted to sleep, that’s it. Sleep.
The next time she woke up it was dark out and Bernie was gone. Mr. Dog pulled himself from his rug and went to her, resting his head on her lap. Alexis petted him, thanking him for always being there, and never leaving her side. The queasiness in her stomach was still there, but not near as bad. She still felt weak and she was sure she was still fevered. A shower was desperately needed, but there was no way. She wasn’t doing it. Alexis turned off the lights and made her way to her bed, checking the multitude of messages on her way.
Cory—How do you feel?
Cory—Lex? Please answer me.
Cory—Will you just message me back so I know you’re okay?
Cory—You’re impossible. Whatever. Be sick alone.
Cory—Please tell me you’re okay.
Cory—I’m going to load the girls up and come over there if you don’t answer.
Cory—Really? You can’t just say, I’m fine?
Cory—I’m going to keep messaging you until you answer.
There was a time that Alexis would have been flattered and found his persistency cute. Not now. She found it to be very annoying. The last message he’d sent was fifteen minutes ago. As soon as she slipped out of her pants she fell into bed and text him back.
Alexis—I’m fine. I’m sick…
Cory—Thank you! Geesh…
Alexis didn’t respond. She didn’t care. She slept, and slept, and slept. Mr. Dog woke her the following morning at eleven o’clock. Holy smokes. She hadn’t slept that long since her and Bernie were teenagers. Slowly, she sat up. The fever had broken and she thought she felt better.
“I’m coming!” she called down the steps. Mr. Dog was just going to have to wait. She had to pee worse than him. Alarm emerged when she wiped, seeing the bright red blood on the toilet paper. That wasn’t normal. Maybe she should call the doctor, but then again, it wasn’t much. It could have been from being sick, throwing up so much, and feeling like death. Deciding to give it a day, Alexis placed a pad in her panties and walked downstairs. She did feel better. A little weak, but better. The blood was probably just side effects to everything her body was going through. She bled a little like that in her first trimester and it stopped and again after Cory had his way with her on the front porch. That was hardly anything either. She wasn’t going to worry about it.
Her intuitions were correct. By the afternoon there was no blood and she was feeling like a human being again, managing to keep down dry toast and another popsicle. Although she was feeling better, she still didn’t feel one hundred percent yet. The only thing she wanted to do was curl up on the sofa with a quilt and Mr. Dog by her side, watch television, and maybe sleep. Guilt got the better of her, knowing the girls were with Cory when they were supposed to be with her and she gave up and called.
Cory answered just before the voicemail picked up. “Hey, how do you feel?”
Alexis plopped her head to the pillow, exhausted while her eyes rolled in annoyance. “Why do you have to do this? It doesn’t matter how I feel. Why is Kinley crying?”
“She wants more candy. Are you better? Did your fever break?”
“I’m fine. I’ll come and get the girls in a little while.”
“You don’t have to. Just rest. We were just going out anyway.”
“Out where?”
“I can’t ask you if you feel better, but you can ask me where I’m going?”
Alexis rolled to her back and covered her eyes with her arm. Maybe she didn’t feel better. “You have my kids. I think that justifies me asking where you’re taking them.”
“I don’t have your kids. I have one of ours and one of mine. We’re going to April’s for lunch and then to the grocery store for diapers.”
Well that was below the belt…Alexis didn’t respond. He could be an ass. Whatever. “I sent diapers.”
“No you didn’t, but it’s fine. I can buy them.”
Alexis remembered Riki packing the diaper bag and refrained from arguing. Maybe she didn’t. “You can bring them home after that if you want.”
“How about I just keep them tonight and bring them tomorrow. You’re sick. Rest.”
“Fine, give them a kiss for me. Bye.” Alexis hung up on that note, curled into a little ball and closed her eyes.
Alexis once again slept for hours, four to be exact. It was almost five in the evening the next time she woke to her phone ringing somewhere around her. Searching the quilt for the noise, she found it between the covers.
“Hey, Bernie,” she answered just before it went to voicemail.
“How are you?”
“Better, I think.” Alexis got up and made her way to the bathroom. She barely peed at all and made a mental note to go drink something. At least there was no blood, that was a relief.
“Do you want me to come over? Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m fine. How was work?”
“The same as always, but don’t worry about it. Paige came in. She’s already did your part of it. You have nothing to do but rest. Watch a love story on Hallmark or something,” Bernie suggested and popped a bubble.
Alexis frowned at the phone and the loud pop. “I
don’t believe in love. I think I’ll go make soup. I’ll talk to you later.”
“I’m going to the County Line. I may not answer.”
“Who are you going there with?”
“Sam, she had a fight with Doug.”
“You’re going to the bar with my sister?” Alexis made her way to the kitchen, feeling weak, but better. Her legs felt like Jell-O and she still felt that sick faint feeling, but not near as bad.
Bernie popped another bubble. “She needs a drinking buddy.”
“You’re a horrible drinking buddy.”
“I am not.”
“You’ll be the drunk one and Sam will be the babysitter. Why are they fighting? And stop popping bubbles in my ear.”
“I didn’t ask that. I just said I would go.”
Alexis moved the pop away from her ear again and shook her head. Sometimes she was sure Bernie’s mind stayed in high school. “I’m going to call her. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Don’t you talk her out of going. Travis is gone. I don’t want to stay home.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Don’t drink and drive.”
“Love you, bye.”
“Love you, bye.”
Alexis opened a can of soup and plopped it to the microwave, leaned against the counter for support, and dialed her sister.
“Hey, how do you feel,” Sam answered.
“I’m okay. What’s going on? Bernie said you and Doug had a fight. You okay?”
“I don’t know, but it’s fine. I was going to come and hang out with you, but I don’t want the germs.”
“I’ll spray Lysol. Come over.”
“Bernie will be mad.”
“She’ll get over it. You don’t want to go to the line with Bernie. That’s a warning you should heed to.” Alexis moved to the chair, feeling like the counter wasn’t enough to hold her weak legs.
“Do you have alcohol?”
“I have beer that has been in the back of the fridge for months, and Cory has some Crown and Jack, maybe a little Jim Beam. Come over.”
“You call Bernie,” Sam countered. Great. Bernie was going to kill her.
“Okay, I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“I have homemade potato soup. Do you want some?”
“Yes, that sounds way better than watery chicken noodle.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in a few.”
Alexis cowardly texted Bernie.
Alexis—Sam is coming here.
Alexis emptied the soup to the disposal and opened one of the electrolyte popsicles.
Bernie—I hate you! I knew you would talk her out of it.
Alexis—I didn’t talk her out of it. Sam’s not really the bar type. She needs a shoulder not a bottle.
Bernie—No sir! She needs Captain Morgan. He makes everyone feel better. Now what am I going to do?
Alexis—Come over. We’ll make it a party. Where is Taylor?
Bernie—My grandmas. Can I spend the night?
Alexis—Yes, come over.
Alexis sprayed the house with a half a can of disinfecting spray while she made her way up to her room. She undressed, retrieving clean pajama pants and white a cotton shirt. That was as dressed as she was getting. She adjusted the shower and turned toward the sparkle when the light caught her ring, sending a quick glimmer across the room. The next thing that caught her eye was how huge she was. Not quite four more months. She could do this. Alexis placed her hand around her stomach, ignoring the shine from her ring again. A surge of guilt filled her lungs with the deep breath. This guilt was different than when she was pregnant with Kinley. Kinley’s gestation was ignored due to fear of something being wrong. This poor little baby was disregarded due to not wanting it. Alexis smiled at her reflection when she felt what she was sure was a foot. Sure she would feel different once it arrived, she blew out a puff of air and stepped into the shower. She would worry about that day when it came.
Sam was in her kitchen warming her soup when Alexis joined her with a towel wrapped around her head. “Do you want water or tea?” Sam asked.
“I can get my own food, Sam,” Alexis protested, sort of. She did sit down at the table while she was saying it, still feeling like shit.
“You’re sick. I’ve got it. You should have told me you had Coors. I hate Coors,” Sam complained while preparing Alexis’s much appreciated meal.
“Oh, don’t worry. Bernie’s coming. She hates Coors, too. She’ll bring Bud Light, I’m sure. Where’s Doug?”
“He’s home, sitting in front of the television.”
“What’s going on?”
“I can’t talk to you about my problems with Doug, Lex,” Sam assured her while placing the bowl of soup in front of her along with a glass of tea.
Alexis blew steam, cooling the spoonful of soup. “Yes you can. Why are you fighting?”
Sam took a deep breath and twisted the top off one of the bottles of Coors. “You might need to find a babysitter.”
Alexis’s eyes widened with the bite of soup. “Why? What does that mean?”
“I think it’s time Doug and I throw in the towel.”
“Throw in the towel? You mean like a divorce? Mom will kill you dead.” Wow! Sam wanted a divorce? Alexis was in shock. None of her siblings had ever gotten a divorce. She wasn’t sure anyone in her extended family had ever gotten a divorce.
“Yes, I think I’m going to move to Bradford. The only thing stopping me is Emily, but she’s in school now. I can still come and get her on the weekends,” Sam explained, like she was trying to work it all out in her head.
“Sam! Are you serious? You’ve been married for like a hundred years. Why? What’s going on?”
“Twenty five next April. It’s been coming for years. We’re just not the same people anymore. I’m going to be forty five in two more years. I don’t want to live in the country and cater to Doug anymore. My kids are raised. I want more out of life,” Sam explained.
Alexis ate her soup, trying to grasp what she was saying. “Maybe you’re just going through a mid-life thing.”
“Maybe.” Sam sat across from Alexis and chugged her beer. It was probably a good thing she was at her house and not the bar. Alexis had a good feeling that Sam was out to get drunk.
“What does Doug say? Is he on board with getting a divorce?”
“I don’t know. One minute he is, and the next he’s not. It’s time.”
“You can’t leave me. I can’t let anyone else watch my kids. Move in with me. I have four bedrooms. You can have the downstairs bedroom.”
“Hey, that’s my room,” Bernie announced while joining them in the kitchen, carrying a whole case of beer. Yup, somebody was getting drunk.
“Why didn’t you lock the door behind you?” Alexis teased with a smirk toward Sam.
“She did, the key has been on the light post for years. Don’t worry, I locked it back,” Bernie assured her with a toast of her beer.
Alexis ate her soup and drank tea while Bernie and Sam sat at her table and bad mouthed men, mostly Sam. Alexis was in shock. She didn’t know it was that bad. She’d always known they weren’t close, not like her and Cory were, but she hadn’t realized things were so wrong between them. A few more beers and the real truth came out. Alexis was beyond shocked.
“Are you sure there isn’t another guy, Sam? You keep talking about how you don’t feel anything with Doug, and how he’s not what makes you tick. What is it, Sam, Huh? Who’s making you tick?” Bernie questioned with narrowed, accusing eyes. Alexis paid zero attention. She knew Sam went down that road years ago, and she did cheat on Doug. Surely she wasn’t doing it again.
“It’s the same one from twelve years ago,” Sam confessed in her drunken state. What!?
“I’m drinking a beer,” Alexis said with a shake in her tone. Sam was having an affair? No way.
“It’s not like that, Lex. I haven’t touched him.”
“Emotional relationships are the worse kind, the most dange
rous. You know that,” Alexis pointed out like she was the older sister.
“You can drink one beer. It won’t hurt the baby. He’ll sleep better,” Sam slurred.
“I was going to. Sam, you’re having an affair?”
“No, this has nothing to do with Wyatt.”
“Wyatt? Do I know him?” Alexis questioned as the cold bottle touched her lips. She stayed standing, leaned against the counter while she tried to make sense of this. It was crazy. She knew Doug and Sam had a middling relationship, but she didn’t know it was to the divorce stage.
“You know him.”
“I do? Wyatt … Wyatt,” Alexis repeated while her brain searched out a last name. Nothing. She didn’t recall a Wyatt. The only Wyatt she could think of was Wyatt Earp.
“Drummond,” Sam helped.
Alexis moved back to the table. She needed to sit down. “Wyatt Drummond? Wyatt Drummond went to school with us. He’s like twenty years younger than you.”
“Fifteen. He was two years ahead of you,” Sam offered.
Bernie didn’t say a word. Her eyes went from Alexis to Sam while for the first time in her life her mouth stayed out of it.
“Wyatt Drummond was the guy you had an affair with years ago?”
“Yes, we actually started talking at your graduation party. He needed help with his website and I helped him.”
“You don’t do graphic design,” Alexis argued. What the hell was going on? Wyatt Drummond? Wow.
“I can do graphic design. Just because I’ve been a stay at home housewife my entire adult life, doesn’t mean I can’t do anything else.”
“What does this mean, Sam? Are you going to leave Doug for Wyatt?”
“No! Of course not. I’m leaving Doug for me.”
“But what about Shannon and Pete?”
“What about them? They both have their own families. Emily’s in school now. They don’t need me. Don’t lecture me about this, Lex. I’m going to hear it from mom and dad enough.”
Alexis took a deep breath and took a very long drink of her beer. That’s when Cory walked right into the kitchen, carrying Kinley. Alexis tried to slide the beer away, but it was too late. The look on his face was obvious.