Page 78 of Moving to Love
She turned and walked out the bathroom door with a smile on her face. Damn, that felt good.
She walked back to the bar where Jeremiah and the boys were talking. She caught his eye as she walked back. A soft smile appeared on her face when she looked at her stunning man. Big and strong, lean muscle, and the best part, an enormous heart. Her shoulders felt like a weight had been lifted. As she sidled up next to him, he snaked his arm around her and leaned down to kiss her forehead. He pulled back and looked at her with his brows furrowed.
“Honey, you’re very warm. Are you okay? Did LuAnn…”
“I’m okay. I don’t want to cut your night short. If I start feeling too bad, I’ll go take a nap in the truck.”
“No, you won’t. I did what I needed to do here tonight, Joci. There’s nothing more important than making sure you’re okay. Let’s go.”
They said their goodbyes to everyone, and Joci hugged the boys. When she hugged Gunnar, he looked at her with alarm in his eyes.
“Mom?”
Jeremiah spoke before she could, “She’s not feeling well, Gunnar. I’m taking her home. We’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
He hugged each of the boys and took her hand.
As soon as they got in the truck, she began shivering. The air outside just felt so cool against her skin. The drive home wasn’t far, but the rocking in the truck made her stomach lurch. “Baby, pull over, please. Real fast.”
He jerked the truck to the edge of the road; she had her hand on the door handle and opened it before they came to a complete stop. She tripped stepping out and caught herself, then kneeled down and emptied anything that may have been left in her stomach. Jeremiah ran around the truck and knelt alongside her. He rubbed her back as she retched, even though her stomach was already empty. She shivered.
He reached into the truck, grabbed a couple of tissues, and handed them to her. After she had finished wiping her mouth, he picked her up and set her down in the truck.
“Joci, I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“No. I just want to go home. I must have the flu.”
“Joci, people don’t get the flu in August.”
Joci leaned her head back against the seat. “There isn’t actually a flu season.” She couldn’t even argue about this.
He leaned over and grabbed her hand. “Honey. Let me take you to the hospital. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m just tired and need something like tea in my tummy. I’ll be fine tomorrow.”
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, but the motion of the truck made her tummy roll. Opening her eyes, she watched the road and noticed Jeremiah frequently looking at her. She rested her hand on her tummy when it felt queasy and by shear will, she made it home without vomiting again.
She made her way to the bedroom with Jeremiah’s assistance. He gently took her dress and shoes off. He left her underwear on and tucked her under the covers. “Relax, sweetheart. I’ll make you some tea.” She smiled weakly and closed her eyes.
* * *
Jeremiah pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped his mom’s number as he walked to the kitchen. “Mom, sorry, I know it’s late. I don’t know what to do. Joci’s sick. What should I do for her?”
“Tell me what’s going on with her.”
“She’s been warm all day. She took a two-hour nap this afternoon and then some aspirin before we went to the employee dinner. She threw up while we were there and again on the way home. She’s hot now and so pale, and she’s sweating and shivering at the same time.”
“Make her some weak tea and bring her some crackers, and I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Mom, you don’t have to come over, it’s late.”
“Nonsense, I’m just sitting here in my chair watching your father nod off anyway. We’re so close, it won’t take me long to get there. Go make tea.”
He took the tea and some crackers into the bedroom. “Joci, honey, can you sit up?”
She nodded and pushed herself up. He pulled one of his t-shirts out of the drawer. “Mom is coming over to help. Let’s cover you up.”
She weakly pulled the t-shirt over her head and leaned back against the headboard. He handed her the cup of tea, and she put it to her lips and took a little sip. He gave her a cracker and sat alongside her on the bed. He plumped a pillow and tucked it behind her. He rubbed his hand along her leg, trying to soothe both of them. He watched as she took a couple of nibbles of the cracker and leaned her head against the pillow.
