“There are a few in the pamphlet. If you have any concerns, you give me a call.” Dr. Monroe reached into his drawer and pulled out a notepad. He jotted down a few things in neat, cursive handwriting and ripped the paper off. Then he held it out, and Ian shot up to take it.
He ignored the tremor racing through him. “Is there anything else we can do?”
“You’ll need to follow up with me every two months,” Dr. Monroe added before linking his fingers together. “If anything happens, you call my office right away. Other than that, you live your life normally. Lupus is not an uncommon diagnosis, so I don’t want you to worry too much.”
Ian didn’t hear anything else the doctor said.
It felt like he was underwater, and everything was garbled.
Until Lucy rose to her feet and shook the doctor’s hand.
Ian tucked the prescription into his back pocket and offered the doctor a quick handshake and a nod. Then he was leading Lucy outside, his body on autopilot the entire time. As soon as they got home, he called out to Dean and pulled him aside. After making sure Lucy was lying down, Ian snatched his wallet and keys off the counter and stepped outside.
When Stu and Sophia found him, Ian was on the pier, his legs dangling over the edge and the tears streaming steadily down his face. Wordlessly, his father and sister pulled him in for a hug and held him tight. Ian bowed his head and let the tears fall freely.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do next,” Ian murmured gruffly. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to help her.”
Sophia’s eyes were red when she drew back. “We’ll figure it out together, E. Whatever Lucy needs, we’ll all be there.”
Stu took a step back and clapped Ian on the back. “You’re not alone in this, Son. Neither are Lucy and the kids. We’re all going to be here, no matter what.”
Ian glanced between the two of them, and the swell of emotion in his chest tightened. “I don’t know what I would do without you all.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Ialready had something to eat,” Lucy protested, pausing to give Ian an exasperated look. “You do realize I can make my own plate, right?”
Ian sat down on the couch and held the food out. “But doesn’t this look delicious? Angie and Lily both pitched in to make this.”
“I’m working on a new recipe book,” Lily announced, taking a seat opposite them. “It’s basically recipes for people with autoimmune diseases. It’s meant to help them, so everything doesn’t feel so overwhelming.”
Lucy gave Lily a grateful smile. “You don’t have to do all of this. I already appreciate all of you pitching in to help around the house and with everything else.”
Emily waved her comment away. “It’s what family does, Luce. Don’t even think twice about it.”
“All you need to do is focus on getting better.” Aunt Heather handed her a mug of steaming hot tea. “And obviously making sure that Ian waits on you hand and foot.”
A chorus of laughter rose through the air.
Ian glanced around the room and saw Aunt Rebecca and Aunt Ashley in the kitchen, rummaging through the cupboards and rearranging casseroles. Uncle Frankie hovered on the otherside of the counter, exclaiming loudly over the schedule until Grandpa Frank and Grandma Jen materialized behind him, and Grandma Jen took the schedule out of his hands. His cousins Rob, Terry, Jonathan, and Suzie were in the backyard, mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges. Now and again, they looked over at them and grinned.
Jeff and Tara were in the attic, cleaning up and moving things around with the help of Ruby, Zac, and Zoe. Kelli, Dana, and Dean sat opposite them on the couch, talking amongst themselves and wrapping some of the Christmas gifts. When the doorbell rang, Ian gestured to Sophia to get it. Moments later, Tammy, James, Luke, and Denise spilled in, carrying more trays of food. A short while later, Abby, Tania, Josh, and Emma knocked on the front door, revealing a large storage fridge that they then wheeled out into the garage.
Ian’s chest was bursting with gratitude and emotion.
It felt too small to contain everything he was feeling.
Having everyone there made him feel stronger, like he could handle anything in the world, so long as he had his family by his side.
It had been too long since Ian felt that way.
Over the next few hours, more and more of the Wilson clan poured in, filling the place with so much love and support that it brought tears to Ian’s eyes. He’d been by Lucy’s side the entire time, only getting up when he had to in order to get her more food and water. Thankfully, Lucy didn’t look tired or uncomfortable with all of the attention.
On the contrary, she’d regained some of her color since starting her medication and following her doctor’s instructions. She was even gaining back some of the weight she’d lost, and Ian knew that without his family, none of this would’ve been possible.
He pressed his mouth to the side of her cheek and laced his fingers through hers.
“You can’t keep hovering,” Lucy whispered, looking quickly in his direction. “I’m fine, you know.”
