The Conductor

Chapter Eight- Brenna Jones

I sat alone on my tan micro fiber couch folding laundry, silence surrounding me. My only son, Jason, was at Wrestling Practice. My husband, Robert Jones, was still at school, and wasn't expected to be home until later this evening.

Robert was the Band Director at Fairfield Jr. High School. He loves what he does and is good at it too. On top of that he is in the Army Band and the Utah Wind Symphony. He works very hard to do what he loves. His students love him, and I do too.

I've been married to Robert for 14 years now. I first met him in Band when we were in college. A lot of girls thought he was cute, but he picked me out of all of them. We got married because we couldn't live without each other, and we make each other feel full of worth and happiness.

In that time span we've tried to have children, but it hasn't worked. We adopted Jason when he was a baby, but otherwise we were told we couldn't have children.

I sat in silence folding clean shirts when I heard the sudden sound of my garage door opening.

"Is that Robert?" I mumbled to myself, putting down the shirt I was currently folding. Sure enough, it was.

Robert walked in and set his bag down, pausing in the doorway.

"Hey, love!" I greeted him. "Why are you home so early?"

I turned to face my husband, who had an extremely worried look on his face.

"Robert? What's wrong?"

Robert turned around and softly shut the garage door behind him.

"Brenna, she's back." he said, still staring straight ahead.

"Who's back, sweetheart?" I questioned, even more concerned than before.

"The Drum Major. She's back."

"The Drum Major?" I was so confused.

"Yeah, remember him, the ghostly figure who vowed to end the universe?" said Robert, pacing around and making obscene gestures with his hands out of fear.

"Oh, yeah." I replied. "Yeah, I do."

"She's back," he continued, "She's here. I heard the Wood Splits growling while I was talking to a student after school ended. I panicked and told her I had to leave right away. I didn't know what to do and I kinda just..."

Robert looked right at me. "I left the school right after that. Brenna, I'm afraid I have no clue as to what to do. It has been almost fifteen years since I've fought anything. I don't know what to do. What if people find out my identity? I can't let that happen. I can't do it. It would put you, Jason, and my students at risk."

You could easily tell Robert was in sheer panic. He was sweating, pacing, and wringing his hands. His breathing was shaky along with the rest of his body.

"Oh, Robert."

With that I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his body, him doing the same. I rubbed his back to help him relax and calm down, while he placed his chin on my shoulder.

"It's okay, Robert," I cooed, holding his shaking body in my arms, "Everything will be fine, I promise. We'll work through this together and everything will be fine."

Robert's breathing was still shaking, and his heart was racing. I held him there for a few more seconds and his breathing went steady, along with his pulse gradually getting slower. He was more relaxed now, I could tell.

I held him in the hug for a few more seconds and pulled out. The expression on his face had changed a bit, and his face was a lot less pale with worry.

"So, what the heck do we do now?" he asked after a few moments.

"Well, it is a weekend. We should make a plan and discuss it then. Why not start now?" I replied.

I suddenly heard the handset ring.

"Oh." I frowned. I looked back at Robert. "Oh, and to think I didn't even let you change." I frowned even more.

"You go change your clothes and I'll get the phone, okay?"

"Alright." he replied.

I hugged Robert once again.

"Everything is going to be okay. We'll be alright."

Robert walked upstairs while I answered the home phone.

"Hello?" I asked. I continued to talk to the other end as I grew more and more concerned about my poor love, Robert.