Free Rough Drafts by J. A. Armstrong

guessed.
    Candace
turned to Pearl and nodded. “I’m sure of it. ”
    ***
    The
weekend passed much more quickly than Jameson would have liked. Jameson was due
in Ithaca at noon. Jonah had asked if he could accompany her. Jameson
reluctantly agreed. “So, Scott is your cousin?” Jonah asked.
    “Yep.”
    “You
guys aren’t close?”
    “We
were,” Jameson said.
    Jonah
watched Jameson’s brow knit in tension as they pulled into the parking lot.
“J.D.?”
    Jameson
turned and offered Jonah a half-hearted smile. “Come on,” she said.
    Jonah
followed Jameson through the doors of the clinic. They rounded a corner and
Jameson’s pace slowed. Jonah noticed that Jameson’s hand was trembling slightly.
“J.D.? You okay?”
    Jameson
nodded. “Come on.” She took a deep breath and made her way a few short paces
down the corridor. “Scott?”
    Scott
turned and smiled. “J.D.,” he greeted her. “Who’s this?” he asked.
    Jameson
looked at Jonah. “This?” she asked. Scott nodded. “This is Jonah…my…my
step-son,” she smiled.
    Scott
extended his hand and Jonah accepted it. “Nice to meet you, Jonah.”
    “You
too,” Jonah said. He leaned in and whispered in Jameson’s ear. “How painful was
that?”
    Jameson
laughed and elbowed him in the ribs. “It’ll be a lot more painful for you if you’re not careful.”
    Jonah
followed Jameson for the next hour as she took detailed notes and made rough
sketches. They passed Scott a few more times and Jonah noticed that each time,
Jameson would become quiet. He was enjoying watching Jameson work and was
curious about what she was looking at. Jameson made no more mention of Scott.
That was until she and Jonah were headed
out the door and Scott caught them.
    “You
headed home?” Scott asked Jameson.
    “Yeah.
I have to drive to Albany tomorrow morning to take Jonah to the airport.”
    “Have
time for dinner?” Scott asked hopefully.
    Jameson
managed a small grin. “We’re actually headed to my parents’ house for dinner,”
she explained. Scott nodded his understanding. Jonah looked at Jameson
curiously. Jameson sighed. “I’m sure Mom would be happy to have you join us,”
Jameson said. “You are her nephew,” Jameson continued.
    “I
don’t want to impose,” Scott answered.
    Jameson
took a deep breath. Candace’s words were ringing in her ears. She needed to
talk to Scott. She simply didn’t know how. Maybe Jonah and her parents would be
enough of a buffer for her to begin to find a way. “You wouldn’t be,” she said
honestly. “Just stop over. You know Mom will be happy to see you.”
    “Are
you sure?” Scott asked. “I’m sure that
Jonah is…”
    “It’s
cool with me,” Jonah chimed.
    “Okay.
What time?” Scott asked.
    “You
know my mom,” Jameson said. “Just come whenever. You never needed an invitation
before,” she pointed out.
    “Yeah.
I remember,” Scott said softly.
    Jameson
sighed. “Whenever,” Jameson repeated. “I’ll let her know.” Scott nodded and
watched Jameson and Jonah leave.
    Jameson
rubbed her eyes and shook her head as she walked out of the building. Jonah
grabbed her arm. “J.D.? Are you okay?” he asked. “It’s none of my business, but
you just seem…”
    Jameson
looked at Jonah. “It’s a long story,” she said.
    “I
don’t leave until tomorrow,” Jonah reminded her.
    Jameson
nodded and sighed. Jonah’s offer was sincere. “How about we grab a beer before we hit my mom’s?”
    Jonah
smiled. “Hey, at least you aren’t telling your parents you are about to become
a parent yourself.”
    “True,”
Jameson laughed. “Beer?”
    “Beer,”
Jonah agreed.
    ***
    “So?”
Dana asked Candace.
    Candace
looked up from her desk at her friend and lowered her glasses onto the bridge
of her nose. “Happy Monday to you too, Dana,” Candace replied.
    “Don’t
you Happy Monday me,” Dana scolded her boss. “Did you talk to Shell?” she
asked.
    Candace
removed her glasses and placed them on