Chapter Thirty Eight
A few days later, Eddie woke Jamie about five am. "Jamie..."
"Hey, are you okay, Eddie?" Jamie sat up looking down at her.
"I feel hot," she replied "My neck hurts."
Jamie gently pressed a hand against her neck frowning, "You're hot. Okay, stay calm."
"I think it might be my catheter," she replied "The pee was dark earlier."
"Okay," Jamie reached to turn the lights and pulled the covers back to check
He looked at the diaper Eddie was wearing and saw the dark color and smelled the odor.
"Looks like you have an infection Eddie I'm sorry honey," Jamie sighed
"Can I have some water?" She did feel lousy and achy
"Of course, don't move okay," Jamie went to get her a cup of water carefully lifting her to drink.
"Thanks" She replied. "I'm sorry, I'm so tired. Is there any way you can be off today?"
"If you need me to be I will. I'm going to change you and clean you up okay," Jamie said worried.
She nodded, "Thanks, I feel all gross. And you can't stay home, you have court remember? We planned for this for weeks. Maybe Nancy will come over and do diaper duty and run me to the doctor."
"Oh yeah I forgot I can call her in the morning, but your dad is still here in case you need," Jamie said.
"Dad will freak," Eddie replied. "If you can't get Nancy get Constance or Marcus I guess or your Dad, but my Dad is going to lose it."
Jamie sighed, "I know it took some time for my dad too and pop, but I'll call Nancy and Constance in the morning."
Eddie sighed, "I know you hate this, but can you wake up Henry now, so I can nurse and try to get some more rest?"
"Sure, let me just finish and wash my hands. Eddie, I love you," Jamie looked up so their eyes met
"I love you too," Eddie replied. She fell asleep before Jamie arrived with Henry.
"Sorry buddy mommy was more tired than she thought," Jamie sighed
"Guess you'll have to do a bottle with the old man huh?"
Smiling Jamie took Henry to the kitchen snuggling him while the bottle warmed up. "Okay here we go."
Armin stepped out of his room, "I thought I heard Edit, is Henry okay?
"Yeah, he's fine needs a bottle," Jamie said holding his son close.
"Is Edit all right?" he asked. "She usually nurses him."
"Eddie isn't feeling well and I don't want to wake her so I'm just giving him a bottle"
"What's wrong with her? Armin asked. "Does she need an ambulance?"
"No, it isn't that serious she just needs rest," Jamie assured
Armin nodded, "Well you should go to Edit, and I'll feed my grandson."
"Okay thanks," Jamie kept Henry supported shifting him to Armin carefully
"Here we go little one" Armin whispered and sat down on the couch. "Drink that milk there...Good boy...Grandpa will take good care of Mommy, just wait and see..."
Jamie returned to the bedroom lying in bed by Eddie kissing her head and stroking her hair.
He dozed off a few times but didn't fall into a deep sleep. The clock went off at 7. Jamie got up and called Nancy.
"Hey, Nancy, I need a big favor Eddie woke up last night with an infection and I have court today"
"Sure, doctor run and diaper change," Nancy replied. "Got it covered. Why about the kids?"
"Eddie's dad is still here, he can take care of the kids, but he isn't used to caring for Eddie like this."
"No," Nancy replied. "Takes an expert hand. I'll be there around 11. Keep her in bed, elevate her legs and pulse points to help with the perspiration aspect."
"Thank you so much Nancy I really appreciate it," Jamie sighed
They hung up and Jamie gave Eddie a new diaper. "Nancy will be by around 11, you see Dr. Camden then she'll make sure you're all okay"
"Great thanks Jamie I'm glad she could come since you won't be here," Eddie said
"I'll be here as soon as I'm done with court," Jamie replied. "
Eddie smiled at him, cheeks flushed and red with fever. "I'm so tired."
"I know," she replied. "I know that honey. Let me put some cool rags on your neck and feet, then you go back to sleep all right?" Jamie gave her a soft kiss. "I'll be back as soon as I'm done."
"Love you Jamie," Eddie whispered sleepily, eyes already closing fast.
Nancy got there at eleven, Eddie was resting and Armin playing on the floor with Anna
"Hi, you must be Eddie's father I'm Nancy. Hey Annabeth, hey Eddie how are you feeling?"
"A little better, but the shot will be nice," Eddie replied. "I was just telling Dad this happens a lot from wearing the catheter. Nancy is one of my dearest friends and a nurse...We'll be back in about twenty minutes."
"Don't worry about the kids they're in good hands," Armin smiled at Annabeth
Eddie nodded, but Annabeth had other ideas. They could hear her crying for Mommy as soon as they left the door.
The antibiotics shot tired Eddie out, so Nancy put her into bed. "She'll sleep for a few hours at least. I must get some things for dinner tonight, but I'll be back to change her around four. Jamie will be home after that."
"You're a great friend taking care of her like this," Armin remarked
"Eddie and Jamie are very special, they have a deep abiding love, like my Paul and me," Nancy replied. "If she does need to be cleaned up, my number is in her phone."
Armin smiled, "thank you very much Nancy I really appreciate you're taking care of my girl."
She nodded, "She's very special, she's very kind, but they do have their way, Jamie and Eddie...they honed this for a few years already, so you can relax. I'll be back in a little while. Annabeth, you want to go to the store with Aunt Nancy?" She could see the girl was a little edgy.
"Go sopping," Annabeth got to her feet reaching a little hand out to her
"I'll bring her back in about an hour or so," Nancy smiled. "Come on honey... Grandpa will take care of Mommy and Henry. We'll get them a surprise.'" Nancy left, and Armin sat with Henry in the swing.
He watched the baby boy for a minute smiling. "You are a handsome boy what should we do?"
Henry blew a bubble at him and Armin laughed. The shopping trip took longer than they planned, Eddie called out, "Nancy, Eddie called out. Nan you here?"
Armin went into the room, "she went out shopping said she'd be back soon. How are you feeling?"
"Not too bad," Eddie replied. "I just need a little..." Eddie blushed.
"What Edit what do you need honey? Do you need help?"
"Just some water," Eddie replied. "I'm thirsty is all. And I need her to help me change..."
"Okay she said her number is in your phone want me to call her?"
"No, I'll wait a little bit," Eddie replied. Armin nodded, "I could...I mean I did when you were a baby so..." Eddie blushed.
"When I was a baby this is a little different dad. Thanks, but I'm ok I can wait for Nancy."
Armin didn't want to push it, "Okay, you get your rest. You need it." He kissed her hair. "What if we watch TV together? Would you like that?"
"Sure, that sounds great I may fall asleep again. Where are the kids?"
"Annabeth is with Nancy, Henry is asleep in the swing," Armin replied. 'Here, sit with Daddy...close your eyes."
Eddie laid back closing her eyes tiredly, fever taking all her energy away.
Nancy took over when she got home and Eddie was set until Jamie arrived home much later. The early day he tried for as usual was not working out.
"Hey sorry I'm late how is she feeling," Jamie rushed in
"She's okay," Armin replied "She's asleep." Jamie nodded shrugging his jacket off and quietly went to check on Eddie
"Jamie," Armin stopped him. "She's asleep and Nancy just got her clean, I made up the couch for myself. Take my room."
"I just want to see her Armin I'm not going to wake her," Jamie said
"She needs this rest," he said firmly. "She broke her fever, earlier. She needs the sleep. There's no reason to bother her."
Jamie sighed quietly, "I know she does I just wanted to see her " He thought about it, she was okay if Nancy just checked her she would be all right and perhaps the deep sleep would be a healing one.
Jamie settled in with Armin spending time with the kids
Eddie was sound asleep when Jamie went to bed. The babies slept and he said an extra prayer
"Love you Eddie," he whispered turning over tiredly
Eddie woke up about 4 in the morning. She felt immediately that Jamie wasn't beside her. "Jamie..."
Jamie was in a light sleep stirring immediately, going into the bedroom. "Hey how are you feeling?"
"Where we're you?" she asked. "I woke up and you were gone."
"I didn't want to wake you so I crashed in the other room," Jamie sat on the bed. "How do you feel?"
"Pain in my neck," she replied. "And I think I need a diaper."
"Okay ill change you then rub your neck so you can rest," Jamie leaned to kiss her first.
"Jamie," Eddie replied. "Don't leave again okay? Sleep with me, I need you here."
"I'm not going anywhere Eddie," Jamie promised so Jamie got the items he needed to change her and tenderly did that. He cleaned her with a warm soft cloth, and put lotion on her legs and feet. When Jamie had secured the diaper in place, Eddie reached out as best she could to cup his face. "You are so much more to me than a husband," she whispered. "You are my dearest friend, I could not survive without you. I love you."
"I love you too Eddie your my best friend and soulmate," Jamie held her tight kissing the top of her head
"You do so much for me," she whispered. "Not many couples do things like this for each other. I can never do this for you, even if..."
She kissed him softly as he covered her with the sheet. "Go back to sleep now. I'll feed Henry."
Eddie closed her eyes quickly, "stay Jamie come back to bed with me."
"I am right here," Jamie whispered. "Your dad felt that you needed the rest.
"I need you," Eddie replied already almost back asleep.
"I need you too," whispered stroking her hair and cheek until she was asleep again.
Armin understood the need for Nancy, Eddie wasn't comfortable with him changing her diaper or washing her, it was awkward, but he tried to keep this up.
Eddie relaxed on the chair watching Annabeth playing, Armin on the couch.
"Here's is your lunch," Armin smiled. "You need me to feed you?"
"I can there's a special spoon and fork that connects to my chair," Eddie smiled
"And you are strong enough?" He asked and she nodded. "I'm getting better Dad. Stop worrying."
Armin sighed watching her quietly. "That's what fathers do worry."
"But it would mean a lot to me for you to do it less," Eddie said gently.
"I'll try my best Edit," Armin smiled .Armin's new attitude only lasted until that night.