"Remind me again how Beca convinced me to move to Chicago again," Aubrey grumbled as she wrapped the huge fleece around her. "Honey, Chicago ranks third among metropolitan areas in the size of the music industry." Aubrey mimicked her girlfriend's voice and mannerisms.
She stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room of their high-rise apartment and gazed down at the Chicago River, which spilled into Lake Michigan right next to Navy Pier. She had to admit that the view from their home on the thirty-fifth floor was spectacular despite the skies being gray and gloomy.
Aubrey sneezed and shuffled her way to the bathroom to take her temperature. 99.4. Not a fever, but enough to make her feel miserable. She hoped she could treat her symptoms with Tylenol and a relaxing bubble bath. She placed a few drops of peppermint oil to help clear her sinuses.
After her bath, she felt much better and wrapped a giant, fluffy robe around herself before snuggling beneath the blankets on the couch. Aubrey didn't get sick often, but she was a big baby when she was ill. She was especially glum because Beca was out of town for the unforeseen future, probably three to five weeks, depending on how long she needed to complete her work in Los Angeles. Fortunately, Beca's project in Los Angeles did allow them time to FaceTime every evening before Aubrey went to bed. Beca had insisted on having a decent dinner break as a condition of her temporary stay in L.A.
"Hi you," Aubrey sniffed.
"Hi, yourself," Beca smiled as her girlfriend answered FaceTime. "Hey, are you sick?" Aubrey nodded and dramatically pulled the thick blanket she had around her shoulders tighter. "What's wrong, babe?"
"Flu, I think. I was running a low-grade fever earlier, and my body is starting to ache all over. And my nose is completely stopped up." Aubrey could feel her cheeks were on fire, a sure indicator that her fever had not broken. "I wish you were here."
"Oh, sweetie. I do, too. I know how much you hate being sick."
"Why do you have to be so far away," Aubrey whined. She knew she was being pitiful, but at this point, she didn't care.
Beca kissed her fingers and pressed them against the phone's camera. "I'm sorry I'm not there for you. Are you going to work tomorrow?"
Aubrey shook her head. "I called out for the rest of the week."
"Good; you deserve some time off. I'm not going to keep you from your rest, though. Get some sleep, babe."
"Beeeeecaaaaa," Aubrey whined. "I miss you."
"I miss you," Beca chuckled. "Love ya."
"You, too."
The next day, Aubrey heard a knock on her door. "That's odd," she thought to herself. "Very few Few After a few more knocks, her phone buzzed with a text message.
[To Aubrey: Hey, Aubrey. It's me, Emily. Are you awake?"]
Aubrey groaned as she rolled over and pulled the comforter over her head. She was in no shape to make small talk with Emily. She had called in sick from work for a reason. She was sick!
[To Aubrey: I'm coming in, Aubrey. I brought you some things.]
Knowing that Emily had the keycode to the apartment, Aubrey knew she didn't have to get up.
"Aubrey?" Emily's voice rang out. "It's me, Emily." She walked towards the bedroom where Aubrey still was; the blanket pulled up to her chin. "Beca said you were sick and sent me." Aubrey groaned as she went to get out of bed. "No, stay in bed. It doesn't look like you are in any shape to get up."
"Thanks," Aubrey mumbled weakly. "I can't believe Beca sent you. I'm a miserable sickie, but I can manage."
"Well, I just brought you a few things – decongestant, herbal cough drops, and some herb tea I got from Dr. Jing's shop." Emily started taking things out of the bag and putting them within arm's reach of the bed. "I put several cartons of coconut water in the fridge. Oh yeah, and I brought take out. I know you might not feel like eating just yet, but just in case you do."
"The thought of chewing something makes me miserable," Aubrey moaned.
"I thought you might say that," Emily said as she got off the bed and went into the kitchen. She returned with a steaming bowl of soup. "Dr. Jing wants you to come to visit when you feel like getting out again to get you balanced. Meanwhile, he sent me to the restaurant next door to pick up some clear-steamed chicken soup with ginger and black mushrooms. The lady said the soup was pretty strong, but it would help."
Aubrey graciously took the bowl, took a sip, and made a face. After taking another sip, she said, "actually, I think I'll get used to it. I can feel the ginger soothing my throat."
Emily stayed with Aubrey for a while, ensuring that she took care of everything that Aubrey needed, and the sick woman didn't need anything else. "Thanks for coming over, Ems. If you hadn't, I would have laid in my bed all day, being miserable and feeling sorry for myself. I'm starting to feel better." Emily let her know to call if she needed anything at all.
When the nightly call came from Beca, Aubrey felt a little better despite still having chills and being wrapped up in her oversized comforter. She thanked Beca for sending Emily over and told her what Dr. Jing had recommended and that she should go see him for additional balancing once she felt like getting out of the house again.
"Chinese medicine is amazing," Beca said. "In high school, an Asian exchange student from Tianjin went to my high school. She brought all these little packets of herbs and pills. Anytime I'd feel under the weather, she'd give me something to take and I'd miraculously feel better."
"I didn't understand any of it, especially when she always refused ice in her drinks. She even drank her water warm and claimed it was healthier. Who was I to tell her differently?"
The call was short again because Aubrey's stamina quickly waned.
The following day, Aubrey received a call from the lobby. "Ms. Posen, you received a package marked perishable. Should I have a porter bring it up?" Aubrey told him to send the box up. She got out of bed and pulled a massive toboggan over her head to hide her bedhead. She dug in her purse for a five-dollar bill and went to the living room. Shortly after that, the porter arrived and put the box on the kitchen island. Aubrey tipped him and locked the door.
Not expecting anything, she was curious about what was in the box. "Spoonful of Comfort," she murmured as she slit open the tape holding the box shut. The inside flaps were colored light green with white polka dots. There was a paper that read, "Love By the Spoonful," and a stainless ladle with a light green bow. Beneath that were individual boxes labeled "Homemade Soup," "Rolls," and "Cookies." The soup was Tomato Basil, Aubrey's favorite, and the cookies, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, again her favorite. Also enclosed was a package of cheese crisps and croutons.
Another package beneath the food held some vapor rub, fuzzy socks, and small stuffed lamb. After she'd emptied the box's contents, she found the card.
My dear Aubrey,
I hate that you are sick, and I'm not there to take care of you. I hope this box of love and comfort helps make you feel a tiny bit better. Know that you are always on my mind.
Missing you,
Beca
Checking the time and thinking about Beca's schedule, Aubrey decided that this definitely warranted interrupting her day. Besides, Beca would just be getting to the studio with the time change. Beca answered immediately.
"Bree? Are you okay?"
"Yes," Aubrey snuffed. "I got my box, babe. What a delightful present to send."
"I'm glad you like it." Aubrey imagined Beca grinning from ear to ear as she bounced on the balls of her feet with excitement. "Oh, and Theo swears that if you rub vapor rub on your feet then put on the fuzzy socks, it will help with your nasal congestion."
"That's a new one to me. I'll have to try that," Aubrey chuckled. "I'm willing to do anything at this point.
The third day of Aubrey's not feeling well didn't find her feeling much better. Granted she wasn't feeling worse which was a plus. Her second phone call with Beca the day before, their normal nighttime call, was again brief. She told Beca to make sure she let Theo know that the vapor rub under the sock trick just might have some actual credence.
Aubrey was feeling strong enough to take a shower. Thinking the hot steam would help not only relax her aches but to also help with her chest congestion as well, she turned on the shower and went to find a clean set of pajamas to put on after she finished.
When Aubrey got out of the shower, she heard someone in the kitchen and smelled the aroma of food cooking. She wasn't alarmed because this building was one of the safest in the area as it should be for the price they paid. Plus if someone got past the front security, they'd also have to break in the front door which was unlikely as well. She figured Emily had let herself in with more deliveries from Beca. Of course, it had to be food delivery because Emily sure didn't cook.
"I'll be right out, Ems," she called out to their friend. At least the shower had made her feel slightly better which was a bonus. After rubbing vapor rub on her chest and feet, she slipped her feet into her fuzzy socks and then into slippers. Aubry wrapped herself in a clean blanket and went to the kitchen.
Imagine her surprise to see not Emily standing in her kitchen but Beca. And she was cooking? Beca rarely cooked and when she did, her standard fare was grilled cheese sandwiches and microwave popcorn. "Beca?"
The tiny music producer looked up with a sheepish grin on her face as she dumped the vegetables she was chopping into a large bat of steaming liquid which seemed to be the source of the amazing smell wafting through the apartment.
"What are you doing?" Aubrey's feet were frozen to the floor, shocked to see her girlfriend who was supposed to be halfway across the country, standing in their kitchen.
"Ummm cooking? I wanted this to be done when you got up, but the soup kinda takes two hours. No chance you're going back to bed?"
Finally, Aubrey walked over to her girlfriend and pulled her inside the blanket with her, kissing the top of her head. "No, silly. I mean what are you doing here? You are supposed to be in Chicago… working."
"Oh, well, I told Theo I needed a few days off. Since he knew you were sick, he agreed to let me come home until Sunday. I just have to work next weekend to make up the time is all." Beca slipped her arms around her girlfriend and hugged her, face against her chest before suddenly pulling back. "Ohhh, that makes my eyes burn, Bree." She wriggled free from the blanket and went back to her cooking. "Sorry babe. Menthalatum makes my eyes burn."
"I can't believe you are here," Aubrey sniffed.
"Why not?" Beca looked at her girlfriend. "Oh honey, why are you crying?"
"I j-j-just don't feel good. At all. And you sent Emily over here with things. You sent me that super nice box yesterday, and now this. You came home and are cooking. I had destined myself to be here alone, feeling sorry for myself because I didn't feel well. But how can I with all the sweet things you do? You are adorable."
"Not adorable!" Beca announced. "Badass."
Aubrey wiped the tears from her eyes and chuckled. "If you say so. So what smells so good?" She wrapped her arms around Beca's shoulders as best she could to not interfere with her chopping.
"Good old plain chicken soup. Some of my mom's bridge friends swear by it. Then again her bridge group is comprised of a bunch of older Jewish grandmothers. Mrs. Benowitz sent me a basic recipe that wasn't quite as complicated as she makes. And here I am."
Beca dumped the last of the veggies into the simmering water and started to clean up. "In two hours, all I have to do is strain out the bones, chop up the meat to put back in, and voila, chicken soup. You'll be better in no time."
While listening to Beca, Aubrey had moved to the couch and was curled up with her feet tucked under her. "Meanwhile, I get to snuggle with you. Let me take a quick shower and get into my own comfy pjs. Pick out whatever you want to watch, even one of those cheesy rom-coms you are so fond of." She gave Aubrey a quick kiss and went off to their bedroom.
"'How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days?' Hmmm," Beca pondered upon her return when she saw which movie Aubrey had cued up. Aubrey had expected Beca to make more of a stink when she came back since her girlfriend really didn't like Kate Hudson, so this genre of movie and actress was a double whammy.
But instead, Beca popped some popcorn and got Aubrey a carton of coconut water and herself a bottle of water and made them both cozy on the couch. When everything was situated just right and they were both settled with the blankets tucked in around them, Aubrey started the movie.
Aubrey kept checking on her girlfriend to make sure she hadn't fallen asleep, which she tended to do, even if Aubrey managed to drag her to the movie theater. She was surprised that Beca seemed to be actively watching the movie. At one point, Beca laughed fairly loud. Aubrey turned to her and arched an eyebrow questioningly. "What," Beca replied. "That was funny. If you were to take me to a Celine Dion concert when I had Bulls tickets, I'd have dumped your beautiful self right then and there. Don't get me wrong, I love you to death. But don't come between me and my Bulls."
"Awwww," Beca said as Ben read Andie's article. "I lost the one person I ever fell for. Yeah, I guess it's true, Bree. I'm a sucker. I'd give up a hundred Bulls games to keep from losing you. That was a cute movie." Aubrey was staring at Beca.
"Who are you, and what have you done with my girlfriend?" Aubrey kissed Beca's cheek.
"What?"
"You! Getting all sappy. At a movie no less." They both laughed. "Why don't you go check that chicken soup? Surely the timer is about to go off, and I'm starving."
Both women ate their fill of chicken soup then retired to the bedroom. Beca rubbed some vapor rub on Aubrey's feet for her and slipped on a new pair of fuzzy socks she'd bought when she was grocery shopping. After making sure Aubrey was warm and cozy, Beca slipped in behind her, and they went to sleep.
The next morning, Beca woke up to an empty bed. Aubrey's side was still warm, so she knew her girlfriend hadn't been up for long. She found Aubrey in the kitchen sipping on chamomile tea, making coffee for Beca.
"Look who's feeling better," Beca said as she went over to kiss Aubrey and feel her forehead with the back of her hand. "Feels like your fever may have broken, too."
"I'm feeling 1,000% better. I guess your mom's bridge group was right; chicken soup does make everything better."
Beca grinned. "Now about that Bulls game."
A/N: Find me on tumblr at Wordsofmyreality