Love Thy Neighbor

Chapter 36

After the chicken has simmered for hours, I remove the chicken, take all the meat off bone and shred it. I add it back into the soup with some thick noodles.

It's ready to eat about ten minutes later, so I spoon a bunch into a bowl for Shawn and take it on a tray into his room, along with some bread and a glass of ginger ale. I expect to find him sleeping, but he's sitting up playing on his phone.

"Are you hungry?" I ask.

"Famished," he says, "but I want to eat with you. Can we do that?"

"Sure, let me take this back to the kitchen."

I take everything off the tray and set it at the table. I make myself a bowl of soup and get a water. Shawn comes in, now dressed in flannel pants, and takes a seat.

"This is really good," Shawn says between bites.

I smile and say thanks.

When we're done eating, he definitely looks a bit better. He moves over to the couch while I clean up. When I am done, I join him, tucking my legs up underneath myself, turned towards him.

"I'm going to head back to my place for the night, is that okay?" I ask.

He nods. "I'd probably keep you up with this coughing."

"You need to take your Tamiflu before you go to bed," I remind him. "Call or text me tomorrow if you want me to come over. It's okay if you don't. I know you feel terrible and maybe being alone is what you need."

"My mom is coming by tomorrow," he says, "so you can have a break."

I get up, giving him a kiss on the forehead. "I love you, Shawn."

"Love you, too, Jessica," he says.

The next day, he texts me to tell me the Tamiflu has given him stomach issues, so it really is good I am staying away.

Late afternoon, Karen stops by.

"Come on in," I say brightly.

"Shawn's eaten nothing but that soup you made all day," she tells me as we sit down with some tea at my kitchen island.

"It's my Nana's recipe. It's the best if you are sick."

"Thank you for being so good to him," she says. "I'm thankful every day that he has you."

I smile. I'm so glad Karen and I have such a good relationship.

"I do want to ask you something, though," she says carefully. "Does Shawn seem different to you?"

I'm relieved she's brought this up.

"He doesn't really seem happy," I say. "I know he had insomnia when touring and now he's sick. Yesterday he said he was angry about all of it."

"He's definitely been on edge," she says. "Hopefully he'll get over the flu quickly so that he can have at least a week to really relax."

Karen then gets up and puts her coat back on. "Thank you for the tea, Jessica. Let me know how he's feeling tomorrow."

After she leaves, I text Shawn asking how he is. He replies back immediately that he's not great. He says I can come by tomorrow morning.

The next morning, I get up early and walk to a bakery a couple blocks away and pick up some fresh muffins. I bring them back to the condo and let myself in Shawn's place, calling out to him to let him know I am there. He doesn't reply so I go to his room. He's sound asleep in bed, his bedding all askew. His face is flushed, but he looks very peaceful. I'm about to walk back out when his eyes flutter open.