Homecoming

Chapter 8

Driving seemed to be the most relaxing task I usually had during the day. Pushing paperwork, stamping, and striking notes was the other. Something seemed off during my drive to work though. I looked at my surroundings as I drove carefully, feeling like weird eyes were set on my head and when I got to work, I rushed in with chills going down my spine. As I passed Rachel's office, I saw her get up from the corner of my eye, but I didn't bother to stop to talk. She was just going to belittle me or make another weird comment on my life.

I sat at my table and felt a low cramping in my stomach as my heart beat raced. I touched the spot and breathed through the cramp before it disappeared and left me to rub the spot tenderly. My baby kicked back against my hand and I smiled at the brief moment we shared before Rachel rushed in the room.

"Hey!" She said in a breathless tone.

I eyed her suspiciously as she wiped her forehead with her hand, "What's up?"

She shifted back and forth on her feet, "I was just wondering how you've been? This week has been crazy."

"I'm not involved in the news anymore." I said as I slid paper out in front of me.

"So, nothing crazy then?" She pushed, fidgeting with the edge of her shirt.

I looked up at her and she was looking at me with a strange bubble of fear behind her eyes. She was still rocking and as she cast a look over her shoulder, she closed the door and sat down across from me. Her shoulders slumped and she exhaled as she looked back up at me with vulnerable eyes.

"Is there something you want to talk about?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her sudden softness.

"Jason." She said, hesistting to continue.

I cringed at his name and she took a deep breath before continuing,

"Jason is here in town." She said suddenly.

I felt the warmth leave my body and my entire world froze like ice as the papers I was holding left my hands with loud intent. It slid off the desk and landed on the floor silently and I was extremely aware of the sound of Rachel picking her nails as she sat watching me. My chest tightened and I forced another shaking breath in, I focused on the swirling wood of the desk beneath me. The desks and chairs around me spun and I felt a lump heave in my throat as I choked back vomit. As Rachel stood, I turned and heaved the contents of my egg breakfast into the trash can.

"Julia!" Rachel said in shock, moving with precision around the desk to hold my hair.

I wiped my mouth with a shaking hand and groaned out, "How do you know?"

"What?" She pushed the question out with her breath.

I felt anger build behind my temples, "How do you know he is here!"

Rachel stepped back as I sat up and pushed my chair away from her,

"Julia, he was at church Sunday." She said, eyes darting to the floor.

I looked at the calendar and counted the 4 days over and over as my brain processed Jason's presence in town. He had been in town for 5 days already and I had gone to the store, bank, and work since then. I passed by Rachel's office 2 of those days, speaking to her while she knew? I stood and felt my hands shake like earthquakes as I reached for my phone and fumbled to dial's Fynn's number.

"Who are you calling?" Rachel asked, watching me pick up my bag in astonishment.

"Where are you going?" She called out from the room as I sped off in fear mashed with fury.