I own none of the characters of October Road
The first morning after Eddie took his first Chemo pill he woke up feeling fine. He had none of the expected side effects. Thrilled that he still could get an erection he virtually attacked Janet who was downstairs at her desk. Eddie was so horny they didn't even make it upstairs. They were lucky that they made it to the couch. After they made love, they showered and then Eddie took his beautiful wife out to breakfast.
"My god, I can't believe how great I feel." He told her as he shoveled eggs into his mouth. "Maybe I'm not going to react to the medicine like Dr. Turner said."
"I hope so baby."
"So what do you want to do today?"
"I called my OB/GYN for an appointment and they had a cancellation this afternoon. I was hoping that you would come with me."
"Of course I want to come with you. I want to be as involved with this baby while I'm here as I can." Janet reached across the table, took and squeezed his hand.
"I also need to go to Sully's, stop at the bank and go to City Hall to get the paperwork to change my name." She said with a smile. "What about you? What do you want to do today?"
"I want to go with you while you run all of your errands."
"Eddie you don't have to hang out with me all day."
"I want to."
"Well what do you want to do?"
"You might not like it."
"Tell me."
"Since I'm feeling good I want to go to the funeral home." Janet had to bite her lip to keep from crying.
"If that's what you want then I'll go with you."
"Thanks sweetheart. Your support means a lot to me." She nodded, to afraid to speak because if she opened her mouth she would cry. "And I was thinking that we could get our tattoos today too that is if you hadn't chickened out."
"I haven't chickened out Latekka. As long as my doctor says it's okay then it's on."
After their breakfast they stopped at Eddie's old house to pick up the last of his things that Phil had boxed up for him and his mail. Eddie was pleasantly surprised as he sorted through his mail. His retirement check came in and the check from selling his house to Phil came in. Both checks were more than he expected so now he could easily take care of Janet financially and hopefully he could convince Janet to deposit the check her mom gave her into her savings account so she and the baby wouldn't have to worry so much about money after he was gone.
At the bank Eddie closed his checking account and Janet added Eddie to hers. They ordered checks with her married name on them and as soon as she got her new social security card with her name changed on it the bank would change her name on the account. After a lot of arguing Janet finally agreed to deposit her mother's check into her savings account. She was a very independent woman who never had to rely on anyone, especially a man to take of her and she wasn't ready to change that now, even for Eddie. She was willing to relinquish a little bit of her independence because she loved Eddie so much but that didn't mean she wouldn't continue to fight for her rights.
"I've never shared a checking account with anyone before. This is so cool. I love being married." Eddie commented as they pulled into Sully's.
"Isn't that what marriage is all about? What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours." When Janet turned off the jeep he leaned over and kissed her softly.
"Especially my heart. My heart belongs to you." He whispered.
"As does mine." Eddie grinned at her, jumped out of the jeep and raced around to open her door and then they linked hands and walked into Sully's together. Some of the regular crowd was already there when they walked in and they applauded them. Janet turned red with embarrassment at all of the attention and Eddie just made it worse when he grabbed her, dipped her and kissed her passionately. "I'm going to kill you." She whispered when he stood her back up.
"Aww you know you loved it." He quipped.
"Janet, Eddie welcome back." Sully said coming around the bar to hug his favorite bartender.
"It's good to be home." Janet said.
"I have something for you two." Sully handed Janet a box full cards.
"What is this?" Eddie asked, looking over Janet's shoulder.
"Some folks or actually a lot of the folks here in town wanted to send you their congratulations so they started bringing cards here."
"Wow." Janet mumbled, thumbing through the cards.
"Eddie, what goes on?" Nick said walking up to the three of them.
"Look at all of these wedding cards people left for us." Eddie said.
"You two, well Janet anyway is pretty damn special so it's no wonder why you have of these cards." Nick said.
"Got that right." Eddie said proudly.
"Got a minute Sully?" Janet asked.
"For you sweetheart I'll give you two." Janet and Sully headed to the back while Nick and Eddie found a booth in the back.
"So how is he?" Sully asked Janet when they got to his office.
"He's good…today. He started his new chemo med today and so far he hasn't had any of the expected side effects but his doctor said that he will definitely get them."
"I'm sorry hon."
"I am too."
"What's on your mind Janet?"
"I was hoping that we could talk about my schedule."
"Your schedule?" Sully asked, somewhat surprised. "I thought that you were going to quit."
"Eddie and I talked this morning and as long as he is feeling okay we want to live as much as a normal life as we can. We want to be together as much as we can but at the same time if all we do is sit at home all we are going to think about is his upcoming death and I …we can't do that. It's just too hard."
"So what do you want to do?'
"Because of his medication Eddie will be weak so he won't be able to work like he used to and right now he is talking to Nick about going to work in the mornings to do paperwork. Nick hates paperwork and Eddie doesn't mind it so much. Our plan is for Eddie to work at Best Friend Windows in the mornings and if it works for you I can come in and open up and work through lunch and maybe some evenings when Eddie is hanging out with the guys I can work a shift. We want to spend our afternoons together and the evenings with family and friends that is if that schedule works for you."
"Janet besides the fact that you are my best bartender my patrons love you and there would be a revolt if I wouldn't give you any damn schedule you wanted." Janet smiled softy at her boss. "So this is what we're going to do. I won't put you on the schedule. You just come in whenever you can or want. Morning, afternoon or evening, whenever you want."
"I…I…don't know what to say." Janet mumbled tearfully and Sully pulled her to his chest and hugged her tightly.
"Janet you are like a daughter to me and I will do everything I can to help you. I was so happy that you found true love with the goofball Latekka and it breaks my heart that you are going to lose him. I want you two to spend as much time together as possible before there is no time left." Tears were falling from Janet's eyes and she clung tightly to Sully.
"Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me."
"If you ever need anything…a beer, dinner, a talk, a cry or if just need to vent I'm here because I love you."
"I love you too Sully."
--
"Welcome to Hinkley. My name is Rob. How can I help you?"
"We need to plan a funeral." Eddie answered.
"I'm very sorry for your loss."
"I'm not lost yet." Rob looked very confused.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Eddie knock it off." Janet snapped. She was not enjoying this whatsoever.
"It's my funeral. I'll be dead in a few months and I would like to plan my funeral now so my wife doesn't have to do it."
"I'm very sorry."
"Don't be. So is it something that we can do?"
"Absolutely. Why don't you and your wife follow me to my office and we'll go over some of our packages."
"There are packages for funerals? Cool." Eddie commented and Janet glared at him. "Aww come on sweetheart it is cool." She didn't say a word as he took her hand and they followed Rob back to his office.
Janet lasted all of fifteen minutes and two funeral packages before she had to leave. Seeing the pictures of the coffins and imagining Eddie lying in one was too much for her to handle. "I…I…can't do this Eddie." She said through her tears. She stood up and walked out of Rob's office.
"Excuse me. I'll be right back." Eddie found his wife sitting on the steps outside sobbing quietly. He sat next to her and pulled her to his chest.
"I'm sorry." She cried. "You asked for my support and I told you that I would give it but I just can't. Every time I look at those damn pictures I see you lying in them…dead…gone from my life forever and I'm not ready to face that yet."
"Don't be sorry hon. I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm being selfish. I know how hard all of this is for you and I was only thinking of myself. I'm so sorry baby. "
"No, you were thinking of me." She sniffed. "You don't want me having to plan your funeral. You're trying to save me more pain and I love for that. I'm sorry that I'm not strong enough."
"You are strong sweetheart. You are the strongest woman I know."
"I need a few minutes to pull myself together. Go on back in and finish up and I'll be back in."
"You don't have to."
"I know." She lifted her head and kissed him softly. "Go on. I'll be fine." He looked at her, his face full of concern. "Really sweetheart. I'll be fine." He kissed her forehead and slowly walked back inside.
Janet took about another half hour to pull herself together. When she thought she was okay she went back inside the funeral home and as soon as she saw a casket, she burst into tears again. Another employee of the funeral home found her sobbing, led her to a chair and sat with her until she calmed herself down. "Thank you." Janet sniffed.
"I'm very sorry for your loss."
"He's not gone yet. My husband is here planning his funeral and it's just really hard for me."
"Your husband is not the first person to plan their own funeral. When someone is dying they have no control over their illness, death, or essentially their life. Planning their funeral gives them a sense of control and they feel it will take a load off of those they leave behind."
"That's what he told me. He doesn't want me to have to go through planning the funeral."
"He's doing it because he loves you."
"I know it. Thank you." Janet blew her nose and returned to Rob's office.
"What do you want on your tombstone?" Rob asked Eddie and Janet wanted to puke.
"I guess whatever people usually put on their tombstones. My name, birth date and death date."
"With that your tombstone will read John Edward Latekka III. Date of…"
"That's not his name." Janet spoke up causing Eddie to turn around in surprise because he didn't know she had returned.
"What are you talking about Janet? That is my name." She sat next to him and took his hand.
"Officially John is the name on your birth certificate but it's not your name. No one ever calls you John. You're Eddie and that's what should be on your tombstone."
"I never thought about that but you're right sweetie. I'm Eddie. I have been since I was born. John is my grandfather." Eddie looked at Rob. "The name on my tombstone should read Eddie Latekka." Rob nodded and made the change on the paper in front of him.
"I also want written "Beloved Friend, Brother, Son, Husband and Father." Janet instructed and for the second time Eddie looked at Janet in surprise.
"No Janet." Eddie said softly, his eyes filling with tears.
"I want this on your tombstone Eddie. It's who you are, beloved to all of us and I want everyone who passes your stone to know it so it's going on there one way or another either you agreeing to it now or I'll change it after you're gone."
"It sounds like I have no choice. You heard my wife. Make the change please." Eddie said, squeezing Janet's hand.
"The last thing that needs to be settled is a burial plot. Do you know where you want to be buried?"
"My family has a set of plots at the cemetery already." This time Janet was the one who was surprised.
"I can contact the cemetery to find out the exact location. Is the plot in your name or just your family name?"
"There are two plots in my name…John Edward Latekka the third." He said with a grin.
"I'll take care of it."
For the next thirty minutes Rob and Eddie took care of the final details of the funeral while Janet sat quietly. By the time they left Eddie had a list of things that he still needed to do, like talk to his mom about finding someone to perform the funeral, talk to his friends about eulogy's and just stuff like that. He made arrangements to make payments now so by the time his death happened, hopefully the funeral would be paid for and all of his life insurance would go to Janet and the baby.
"What's up with the family plots?" Janet asked once they left the funeral home and were on the way to her doctor's appointment.
"My grandparents bought all of us plots when they bought theirs. I always thought it was kind of morbid but now I appreciate the fact that I'll be close to family."
"This may be a stupid question but why do you have two plots?"
"My grandparents bought one for each of them, one for each of my parents, one for Katie and I and one for each of our future spouses. Look, I'm not asking you to be buried next to me because …"
"I want to. I want to spend forever next to you." She said softly. They drove the remainder of the way to the doctor in silence.
--
"What are they going to do to you?" Eddie asked Janet once the nurse left the room and Janet was undressed and on the table.
"
"Draw lots of blood, take some measurements, perform a pelvic exam and check the baby's heartbeat."
"We're gonna hear the baby's heartbeat?" Eddie's eyes grew wide with excitement and Janet nodded. "Wow. I can't believe that I'm or we're going to hear our baby's heartbeat."
"We sure are."
"What's a pelvic exam?"
"See that speculum over there?" Janet motioned to the counter and he nodded. "The doctor inserts that speculum into my vagina to do a visual exam, to make sure everything is as it should be."
"The doctor puts that inside of you?" Janet nodded. "Does it hurt you?" He looked worried.
"No baby. It doesn't hurt."
"Is your doctor a male or female?"
"Female."
"That's kinda hot."
"Eddie!"
"Hey I'm a guy and I can't help it. Can I watch while she does the exam?"
"Absolutely not. That's just gross."
"Janet how are you?" Dr. Lindley asked coming in the room.
"I'm good. Thank you. This is my husband Eddie." Eddie held out his hand and they shook hands.
"Married? Your chart still says Meadows. Are you keeping your maiden name?"
"No. I just haven't changed my name yet."
"Well let's get started." Dr. Lindley began her exam while talking to Janet and answering any questions that she had.
"Are you tired?" Dr. Lindley asked.
"Very."
"Good. That's normal. Breast tenderness?"
"Yeah they're tender. I have to be gentle when I'm touching them." Eddie answered and Janet turned bright red.
"That's normal too. The tenderness will improve with time. How about morning sickness?"
"None. I don't feel sick at all."
"Well everything looks good. Go ahead and get dressed and I'll be back in so we can listen to the heartbeat."
"That was boring." Eddie commented as Janet got dressed.
"Sorry it wasn't porn." Janet quipped.
"That's all right. I got some porn at home I can watch."
"No I left that at your old house."
"You didn't."
"No. I know that every man needs his porn."
"I've got the coolest wife ever."
"Damn right you do." Eddie pulled Janet to his chest and kissed her hard on the mouth until the doctor returned.
"Okay Janet back on the table." Dr. Lindley instructed. Eddie helped Janet up and she lay down. "Lift up your shirt for me." Janet did as instructed. "This is a like a microphone. I'm going to place it over your belly and we should all be able to hear your child's heartbeat." Janet and Eddie linked hands and a minute later the very fast heartbeat of their child was heard. Eddie felt no shame as the tears fell from his eyes because he knew this would be the only sound of his child that he would ever hear.
"Do you have any questions Janet?" Dr. Lindley asked as she handed Janet her prescriptions and Eddie loudly cleared his throat.
"Oh yeah. I want to get a small tattoo and I was wondering if it was safe?"
"No official studies have been done about the safety of the ink on the fetus but I have had patients who have gotten tattoos while they were pregnant and the babies have been fine. As long as the artists use all of the proper safety precautions, sterilized needles and gloves then you should be fine."
"Thank you doctor."
"Janet, Eddie, if you have any questions please call me."
"Thanks, I will."
After they left the doctor's office Eddie directed Janet to Mission Flats to an old high school friend who owned a tattoo shop. Eddie knew that his friend was one of the best artists around and he was also one of the safest.
"Eddie Latekka, how the hell are you?" Will shouted when they walked in.
"Pretty damn good. Will, I'd like you to meet my wife Janet. Janet this is will."
"Nice to meet you Janet." Will said.
"You too."
"What brings you in Latekka? Do you want a nipple piercing?"
"No way in hell. We want a tattoo." Will grinned and led them over to his chair.
They both still wanted the Chinese symbol of love on their right wrists. They decided on the right wrist because they wore their watches on the left and they didn't want anything covering their tattoos. They decided on a dark blue color with their wedding date in black. Janet went first and she was a trooper. Eddie put on a brave face as well but Janet wasn't sure if he was as brave as he acted. By the time Will was done Eddie was pale and sweating.
"I need some fresh air. Can you take of this?" Eddie asked as he rose unsteadily to his feet.
"Are you okay sweetheart?"
"I…just need air." He took a step and swayed into Janet's arms.
"I'm going to walk him outside and then I'll be back to pay. Is that okay?"
"It's on the house." Will told her.
"You don't have to. We can afford to pay."
"Eddie's an old friend. It's on the house."
"Janet…I really need to…"
"Thanks Will." With Eddie leaning against her they slowly made their way outside. They made it about five feet outside before he started puking. Janet did the only thing she could for him, she gently rubbed his back as his whole body heaved. As the smell made its way to Janet's nose her stomach suddenly retched and she was throwing up. As soon as they both stopped vomiting they slowly made their way to the jeep. Janet helped Eddie settle into the passenger side and then she made her way to the driver's side, taking deep breaths as she went.
"You okay?" Eddie mumbled with closed eyes when she got in. He still was very pale and his eyes were closed and he was leaning against the window.
"I'm fine. Let's go home." During the thirty minute drive home Janet had to stop five times so Eddie could vomit. The first two time Janet tried to help him but immediately nausea overtook her body and she was joining him so the last three times, even though she felt horrible about not being able to help or comfort him she found it best to hang her head out the window while he was throwing up and by doing that she avoided throwing up herself.
Once she arrived home she helped Eddie up to bed without either of them puking. He stripped out of everything but his boxers and climbed into bed. Janet got him a glass of water and forced him to take the pills he was prescribed at his last visit for his nausea and vomiting, which he did but it ended up being worthless because he just threw those up twenty minutes later.
"Janet." He weakly called an hour after they got home.
"What's wrong baby?"
"My head. I need my pills." He was in tears and obvious pain. Janet quickly grabbed his strong pills, helped him sit up and he swallowed them. "Thanks." He mumbled settling back onto the pillow.
"You're welcome."
"Stay with me."
"I'm right here." Poor Eddie made it about five minutes before he was rushing to the bathroom again. Janet followed, thinking that she would be okay but as soon as she walked into the bathroom she was throwing up into the trash can right next to her husband.
"What the hell is going on?" She mumbled to herself. She had never had this kind of reaction to vomit before. Hell, she was a bartender and she had cleaned up vomit many nights at Sully's and it had never once bothered her but today every time she heard Eddie puking or smelled it she automatically vomited right along with him. It was like she was having sympathy vomiting.
"Janet…" Eddie cried from the toilet. "I threw up my pills and my head is going to explode." Tears were rolling down his face.
"Now for plan B." Janet went to the medicine cabinet and pulled out two of the new prescriptions that Dr. Turner had given them. "I'm going to put on a pain patch since you can't keep anything down." Eddie nodded while Janet opened the patch and placed it under his collar bone. "You're going to feel out of it while the patch is on but you need something for the pain."
"I'll take anything right now."
"Good because I also have a suppository for your vomiting."
"I'm not shoving anything up my ass." He grumbled.
"Not even if it will help you feel better?" He shook his head. "Dammit Eddie, I know it's not the most pleasant thing in the world but it will help you feel better so please just put the medication in."
"I'm not doing it." Janet sighed.
"Grow up Latekka. So you have to shove a suppository up your ass? Big deal? Remember what got shoved up my vagina today? We all have to do some things we don't like. If you don't this you won't be able to keep anything down, mainly your medication and all of this hell that you have gone through would have been worthless. Is that what you want?"
"I'm shoving a giant pill up my ass."
"Fine. Be that way. I'm not fighting with you. Come on. Let's get you back to bed."
Eddie had just fallen back asleep and Janet had just walked out of their room when he was woken up again with the urge to vomit. He tried to make it to the toilet but missed it by a foot. "Janet." He called, sobbing. He felt so bad. He waited a few minutes and when she didn't come he crawled to the bedroom and yelled for her again.
"What's wrong?" She asked returning to the room.
"I'm sorry." He sobbed.
"Sorry for what?"
"I couldn't make it to the toilet."
"It's okay. Come on. Back in bed." She helped him into bed and then she covered her mouth and nose and ran into the bathroom and grabbed the trashcan and brought it to Eddie. "Next time you need to throw up use this." He nodded through closed eyes.
"So sorry." He mumbled. She kissed him on his head and let him sleep.
It took Janet over an hour to clean up the bathroom floor because she had to keep stopping to throw up herself. As soon as the bathroom was cleaned the trashcan she gave Eddie was full of vomit and when she dumped it and tried to clean it she threw up. By this point she knew that she couldn't help Eddie and she didn't understand why. She normally had a strong stomach so puking every few minutes was not like her. Eddie needed someone who could take care of him without puking so she did what any good wife would do. She called his mom.
When Laura arrived an hour later she found Eddie and Janet on the bathroom floor. Janet was sitting up with her head on the toilet seat, sleeping and her arm wrapped around Eddie while Eddie was curled up in a fetal position with his head on her lap, hand linked with Janet's and he was sleeping soundly. Janet was sobbing when she called and right now they both looked so peaceful that she didn't have the heart to wake them.
As Laura stood at the bathroom door watching her son and his wife holding each other while they slept, once again her heart broke for them. She hadn't even known Janet for a year but she loved her so much. She was the woman that she always wanted her son, kind, sweet, compassionate and so much more. They deserved an entire lifetime of happiness not a few short months. Like she has done everyday since her son was diagnosed she sent up a quick prayer for a miracle.
Thanks for reading. Please, Please, review. Thanks so much for all of your support.