Page 23 of Full Strength

“When did you start feeling bad?”

She swallowed and cringed a bit. “It started with a sore throat yesterday and has gotten progressively worse. I thought it would go away but...” she sighed. “I called the doctor and he said it was probably the flu.”

“It’s early for that.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry you came all the way over. You should go before I get you sick.”

Worrying about myself was the last thing on my mind. I’m sure coach would freak if I got sick but I couldn’t leave Addi now. Not in her condition.

“Where’s Eli?” I asked as I stepped passed her. She didn’t even fight me coming in. She must be near death if she was caving so easily.

“He’s sleeping. I finally got him down about forty minutes ago. He’s got a cold too.”

I could hear the exhaustion in her voice and it tugged at my heart. I should have come sooner. “Have you had anything to eat today? Do you have an appetite?”

She shook her head and sank into her little burrow on the couch. “I get nauseous just thinking about food.”

“Okay, but are you able to drink anything?”

She shrugged so I scanned the living room where she’d set up camp. There was an empty water bottle on the table but that was the only sign of liquids. I needed to get her hydrated.

“Does ginger ale or Gatorade sound good?”

Her head dropped to a pillow and she pulled her knees up to her chest. “Lemon lime.”

That was all I got before light snores met my ears. I smiled and pulled the blankets over her. I walked back to Eli’s room and peeked in. He was sleeping so I tiptoed in and felt his face. He was warm but not nearly as bad as his mom looked.

I closed his door behind me and went back to the kitchen to take inventory. Medicine for Eli was sitting on the counter and I read the label. I wasn’t sure what babies could take but this was just for congestion. I may need to call his pediatrician to see if we can give him anything else. Addi has some generic cold medicine and cough syrup on the counter and I decided it would be best to ask the doctor if we could get her a prescription for the medicine that can shorten the flu, too.

Luckily, Addi had the number for Eli’s pediatrician on the fridge. I explained their symptoms and he called in prescriptions for both of them to a twenty-four-hour pharmacy. I sent a text to my assistant asking him to pick those up, along with some crackers and Gatorade. I cancelled our dinner order and looked around the living room. There was more I could do.

I grabbed a grocery bag from under her sink and began collecting the trash on the table and tidying up the kitchen. I hurried so I could clean up before she woke. I knew she’d throw a fit the second she saw me. After throwing away the trash I opened her fridge and frowned. It was almost empty. There was half a carton of milk, a few apples, and a jar of boysenberry jam. I looked at her counter and counted three bananas and half a loaf of wheat bread. I hadn’t paid much attention to her cart when I saw her at the grocery store, but that was only a few days ago. She couldn’t have eaten it all since. Why was there so little here?

I opened a few cupboards to find them empty until I moved closer to the fridge. Finally, I found her plates, bowls, and cups and a cabinet dedicated to bottles.

Maybe she was a minimalist. As a single person she didn’t need much but this was taking it to the extreme.

I wandered around the kitchen and stopped at a pile of mail. I knew I shouldn’t look. I felt it in the pit of my stomach but I couldn’t help myself. She’d peaked at my papers to see the custody information my lawyer had sent me so this made us even. There was a stack of envelopes. One from the power company, her mobile carrier, and a hospital. I cringed. All bills from what it looked like.

Under the envelopes was a paper, still folded in thirds. I scooted the mail to the side just enough to read the return address. It had the name of her complex on it. Maybe it was about the HOA. I convinced myself it was and shuffled things to see more.

Past due.

I should walk away. I needed to. Addi wouldn’t want me to see this. She was too proud. But I couldn’t look away.

I lifted the corner of the envelope covering the other half of the paper.

My stomach dropped. Her rent was two months past due. This was the final notice.

I glanced over toward the living room, she was still asleep. I typed the phone number into my phone and saved it.

I knew what I wanted to do and I knew how she’d react. Was it worth facing her wrath? Was it worth potentially losing her again?

It wasn’t just her I was worried about. Eli needed a safe stable home. She shouldn’t be doing this all on her own. Her worthless ex should be helping to support their son. I knew she was determined to do things without him, but she needed help.

I wanted to be the person to come to her aid. I wanted to help support her. I rubbed my hand over my face. A few months with this woman and her precious son and I was wanting to take over.

It wasn’t my place.