Finding Jaime

Chapter 64

"I'm kinda liking having him around, too," I smiled at my youngest son.

"How come he sleeps so much?" Saint asked.

"Well," I said. "The chemo makes him throw up, which is exhausting, and he can't eat much, so he hasn't got a lot of energy. He needs as much rest as he can get."

Saint nodded.

"You okay?" I asked him.  He shrugged. I couldn't really ask for much more.  "Saint, you can text me or call me any time when I'm at the hospital with Jaime, okay?  Even if it's to talk about hard stuff."

"Okay," he said.

"Okay. Get ready for bed, and I'll come back and check on you in a little, okay?  I'm going to go talk to Bronx for a minute."

"Okay," Saint said. I ruffled his hair and got up. Leaving his room I went into Marvel's room and saw she was already in pyjamas and in bed. I went and said good night to her. She was quiet and didn't ask for a story. To be honest, I wasn't sure I had the energy for one anyway.

"Good night my little princess," I smiled at her.

"Daddy?" She asked.

"Yes, pumpkin?" I replied.

"When Jaime is no more sick?"

"I don't know sweetheart. He has a long road ahead right now. First we have to make sure the boo boo stays away before he can start to feel better."

"That's why he takes the yucky medicine?" She asked.

"It is," I admitted. "It will make the boo boo stay away. But it also makes Jaime very sick and very tired. And when he comes home, he's going to still be getting the medicine, but less and less often until the doctor says he doesn't need it anymore."

Marvel nodded.

"I drawed Jaime a picture. But I forgetted to bring it today."

"You can bring it tomorrow, then. I bet it'll make Jaime feel better."

I said good night to my youngest child and went to check in on Bronx.

His door was also closed so I knocked.

"Yeah?" Bronx called out.

"Can I come in?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied. I opened the door and saw Bronx sitting at his desk at his computer.

"How are you doing, Bronx?"

He sighed and turned to me. I was sitting on the end of his bed.

"I'm okay," he said.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean, it sucks that Jaime's sick, and it sucks that he's as sick as he is, but like you said, hopefully the medicine will help him kick cancer's ass and he'll be okay soon."

"That's the hope," I said. "But yeah. It sucks."

"Saint is scared Jaime's gonna die," Bronx said, as if I hadn't heard that straight from Saint already.

"I know. I talked with him. How about you?"

"Well, yeah. I'm scared of that, too. And I miss having you home but, someone needs to be with Jaime, too. And Meagan isn't his mom, so it makes sense that you would stay with him the most."

"Yeah. But it hasn't been fair to you kids that I haven't been home really at all since Jaime went into the hospital. I wasn't being fair to any of you."

"Really, Dad. It's okay. Marvel and Saint understand, even if they don't seem to."

"I hope so. Because Jaime has two more weeks in the hospital before he can come home. And then he has five more months of chemo after. We'll be back and forth to the hospital."

"Dad, do you promise Jaime's going to he okay?"

"I can't promise that. I can only tell you what I know and what I know is he has a very good chance to beat this. But I can't make promises about things I can't control."

"I guess that makes sense," Bronx said.

"Like I said to Saint, you guys can call or text me anytime when I'm at the hospital with Jaime. Even to discuss the harder things. I know I'm super focussed on Jaime right now, and you've all been amazing and patient. And Meagan says you're all being very helpful with your brother and sister and around the house. I know a lot has been dumped on you, but don't forget you're still a kid, okay?"

Bronx smiled at me.

"I won't. Dad?"

"Yep?"

"Can you come to my baseball game on Saturday?"

"I'll try. It'll depend on how Jaime's doing," I said.

"Okay," Bronx said, dejectedly.

"I really will try, Bronx."

He nodded. I said good night to him and reminded him lights out at ten.

I went back to Saint's room and saw he was in bed.

"Doing alright, Saint?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'm okay, Dad. Are you going to call Jaime before you go to bed?"

"I'm going to call Meagan before I go to bed.  But I have some work to do, first."

"Can you tell her to tell Jaime I miss him and I hope he feels better?"

"Of course," I smiled at Saint.