A Stranger In My Home

Chapter 21

Six months later

“Jason?” Julie’s voice was frail and Jason looked up to find her standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

“Hey, Jules,” he smiled at her. “You hungry?”

“A little…”

“I’m making garlic bread and onion soup, so we’re both gonna have bad breath by the time dinner’s over,” he joked.

“Sounds good,” she smiled weakly.

“The food or the bad breath?” he teased.

“Food,” she asserted.

“Do you want some wine with dinner?” he asked casually.

“I took a couple of pills…”

Jason’s eyes widened and he rushed up to her, grasping her arms. “Jules… look at me. How many did you take?” he asked with urgency.

“Two. I don’t want to mix them with alcohol.”

Jason breathed out, his body relaxing. “Thank god…”

“Did you think that I…” Julie blanched.

“I’m sorry, I was just concerned,” Jason said and rubbed her arms gently.

“I don’t feel… like that… anymore,” Julie said, dropping her gaze to the floor.

“I’m glad,” he said and hugged her, stroking her hair as he held her in his arms. She tensed a little at his touch, but she didn’t move away from him.

Over the past months, they’d worked their way up to touching each other again – a hug, a squeeze of hands, a gentle stroke of arms. With medication, which Julie had surrendered to after several sessions with her therapist, came side effects, and Glory and Jason had taken turns on suicide watch for a little while until the dosage was adjusted. Jason had felt helpless at times, but Julie was coming back, he could see it in her eyes.

“Can I help?” she said, glancing over at the kitchen counter.

“Do you want to?” Jason asked, taking a step back from her.

Julie swallowed. “Yes.”

“Okay,” he said and walked over to the counter, keeping his face impassive despite his elation over her remarkable progress. Julie hadn’t even wanted to be in the kitchen since he brought her home from the hospital, and now she wanted to help. Maybe he’d keep the knives out of sight until she was completely at ease…

“You can stir the soup.”

“Okay,” Julie said and took the spoon he was offering.

Jason watched her as she focused on stirring, her face blank. She still had a long way to go.

Derek had been sentenced to serve time in a closed psychiatric facility, as a jury had found him not criminally responsible for his actions by reason of temporary insanity, much thanks to Sissy’s testimony about his mental state at the time of Julie’s abduction. Jason hadn’t talked to Julie about the details of Derek’s case, just that he was put away for a long time and never would be able to hurt her again. She didn’t ask for specifics.

“Logan called to ask how you were doing,” Jason said tentatively. The English professor had been very concerned about Julie, but Jason didn’t like reminding her of her condition.

“Oh?” Julie said dispassionately.

“He had some suggestions on classes you might like to take.”