“What?!”
Rebecca White was completely taken aback. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope, it’s true.”
Sherilyn raised an eyebrow, “They’ve been together for a while now. Even before Jenna’s surgery, they were living together.”
“Oh my god!”
Rebecca swallowed hard in shock, “Talk about being shamelessly unstoppable! That Caroline, after breaking up with the older brother, turns around and gets with the younger one! The audacity of that woman! She’s like a force of nature!” She gave a thumbs up, “What a character! You have to admire her nerve!”
“Exactly.”
Sherilyn nodded in agreement, “Only someone like that can achieve what they want.”
The next morning.
The doorbell rang, and Sophia went to answer it.
Gilbert stood at the doorstep, holding a paper bag with ‘Crimson Table’ printed on it.
“Blueberry cheesecake, for Jenna.”
She missed out on it yesterday, so he had ordered it from Crimson Table last night, picked it up first thing in the morning, and brought it over specially.
Sophia eagerly took it from him, “Jenna will be thrilled when she sees this! Mr. Johnson, would you like to come in for a bit?”
“Cough, cough…”
Gilbert hesitated, then heard a series of violent coughing from inside.
He looked questioningly at Sophia, “Sherilyn?”
“Yes.”
Gilbert immediately frowned and walked in, “What’s with the coughing?”
Inside, Sherilyn was holding a cup of water, trying to drink.
Sophia followed him, explaining, “It started late last night… she’s been coughing so badly, I could hear it even from the next room.” “Cough, cough!”
After Sherilyn finished her water, she quickly put on her mask.
She looked at Gilbert, “Morning.”
“Morning…” Gilbert stared at her face. Even with the mask on, he could see she had lost weight overnight.
“Coughed all night? Did you take any medicine?”
“I did…”
“What did you take?”
No need for Sherilyn to answer, Sophia had already grabbed the medicine and handed it to him, “T heard her coughing last night and found this for her, but it doesn’t seem to be helping much.”
Gilbert glanced at it, just some generic cough syrup.
“This isn’t strong enough…”
“How could it work instantly?”
Sherilyn was surprisingly unconcerned, “It takes time. I’m going to get an IV later, I’ll ask the doctor then.”
“I’ll make you some chicken soup, eat that and then head out.”
Sophia put the medicine down and went into the kitchen to busy herself.
“No rush…” Sherilyn started coughing again after speaking a few sentences.
She looked at Gilbert, both uncomfortable and puzzled, “Jenna’s not usually up this early, aren’t you leaving?”
Gilbert swallowed his words, “I’m about to.”
From the kitchen, Sophia called out, “Sherilyn! Come have some soup!” “Coming…”
Sherilyn responded, waving at Gilbert with her mask on, “Cough cough! Guess I won’t see you out then make sure to close the door behind you…”
Saying that, she turned and went into the kitchen.
“Sure.”
Gilbert was left speechless, his frown deepening at the sound of her coughing.
How could she keep this up?
…
Around three or four in the afternoon.
Sherilyn, having taken her medicine, was sleeping heavily in her room when the doorbell woke her up.
“I’m coming.”
She got out of bed, “Who is it?”
Sophia and Jenna were out, leaving the house empty.
Opening the door, she saw Gilbert standing there.
“You… what’s up?”
“Sherilyn.”
Gilbert, holding a bag, let himself in, “I got you some imported miracle drug, supposed to be very effective.”
He walked over to the table, placed the bag down, and took out the medicine.
“You… cough, cough!”
Sherilyn tried to speak but ended up coughing instead.