Fast Forward 6 Months

Drizzly and Cold

Stephen came home bringing the cold and damp in with him. His eyes were puffy, his nose red, and he was coughing. He stooped at the shoe cabinet and changed from his shoes to his slippers.

Betty came into the lounge to greet him.

"Oh, you look awful," she said.

"I feel awful. We had to unload three lorries today. I was outside most of the day," he crabbed. He screwed his face into a sour pout.

She put her arms around him and noticed he felt warm. She looked up and he bowed his head to kiss her. She touched his face.

"Ooooh, you're burning up! Upstairs you go. I'll run a bath for you," she ordered. He nodded.

"Thank you, Love. I hurt all over. What a day," Stephen groaned. It seemed to take quite an effort to speak.

"I'll bring you up a cup of tea in a bit. Would you like some soup? I'll make it for you."

"The kind in the box? Chicken flavor with the noodles?" he asked hopefully.

"If that's what you fancy, that's what I'll make," she murmured

"We used to get that in the Army. They always brought us that when we went on maneuvers. We called it 'field soup'."

"You get undressed while I fill the tub," she instructed. He may have been a captain, but he believed that had she been in the Army, she would have been a colonel!

She poured in some aromatic oil and the room filled with steam and the scent of eucalyptus and lavender. He entered the bathroom draped in a towel and stepped into the hot water. She folded a flannel, dipped it in the water and placed it on his head.

"You soak a minute while I get your tea and start the soup."

"You do spoil me," he whispered dreamily.

"Don't get too used to it! I took an oath, you know…In sickness and in health...'Til Death Do Us Part and all. They've got it in writing," she teased. He tried to laugh, but it hurt to do so.

She returned a few minutes later with his tea and some aspirin on a small tray, "Here, Sweetie, drink this and take these."

He smiled sleepily, "Thank you." He took the cup and saucer and set it on the tub shelf. He sat up a little to drink his tea.

"I'm going downstairs to get your soup. I'll be right back."

"Mmm-hmm." He lay in the bath with his eyes closed, half asleep.

She went into the bedroom, set out a jar of Vap-O-Rub, and plugged in the electric blanket.

Carrying the tray, she went downstairs to the kitchen to stir the boiling soup. She turned off the gas ring, and ladled the soup into the bowl. She took the tray, went back upstairs, and set it down on the bedroom nightstand. She took a fresh towel from the linen cupboard and took it in to Stephen.

He teetered on the edge of the bed, getting dressed. Betty rubbed Vap-O-Rub on his back and chest. He moaned softly as she massaged his back.

"Here, raise your arms," she instructed as she slipped a vest over his head and smoothed it, "This will keep that stuff from getting all over your pajamas."

"It hurts to put my arms up," he said groggily. She handed him his pajamas and he slowly put them on. She helped him button the top.

"Oh, you're so pitiful! You get straightaway into bed," she said as she guided him to lie down. He nodded obediently. She pulled the blankets up to his chin, brushed his hair to the side with her fingers, and kissed him, "Get some rest, Love."

"You are so good to me, Betty. I love you," he uttered softly and smiled as he drifted off to sleep.