Free Finding Her Way by Riley Jefferson Page A

them to Jaime she said, “You better get going. You know where I parked, right? Be back on time. I hate leaving late.”
    “I know where your car is parked. I’ll be right back. Thanks, Lauren!”
    She watched as Jaime rushed for the stairwell, disappearing behind the door. Lauren looked at her bosses closed door. Wait until she told her what she just did.
    At almost five, Lauren glanced at the clock. Jaime had not yet returned nor had Jerrica come out of her office. She decided that if Jerrica didn’t appear soon, she was going to force her way in. Just then, the office door opened and Jerrica stepped out. Lauren notice that her face looked a little paler then it had earlier and her eyes were puffy. Could she have been crying ?

    †

    Jerrica strolled to the desk, then glanced around the room. “It’s almost quitting time. Where’s Jaime?” she asked, pointing to the empty desk.
    “Well, I sent her home but she’ll be back,” Lauren answered, eyes still focused on her computer.
    “She’ll be back? What did I miss?” Jerrica casually sat on a corner of the desk.
    Blushing, Lauren’s head tilted toward the floor when she began to explain. “Well, while you were hiding from everyone today, Jaime had an emotional meltdown.”
    Jerrica bent her head down in an attempt to see Lauren’s face more clearly.
    “I didn’t know how to handle it, so I asked her if she wanted to go with us for the weekend,” Lauren closed her eyes and waited for the scolding.  
    Instead, Jerrica touched her shoulder, “That was nice of you. So where is she?”
    It was unlike Jerrica not to have an opinion on an unexpected change in plans. “I sent her home to get clothes. She should be back any minute now.”
    “Once she is here, let me know. I’m going to close up my office and then I’ll be ready.”  
    Back in her office again, Jerrica felt less stressed, but exhausted. She didn’t have the energy to fight with anyone about the sudden change in status-quo. She was tired and just wanted to get out of there. Adding one more person to this journey put a crimp in her plans to bare her soul but she understood why Lauren had invited Jaime. Maybe this would be a good trip for all of them. They could spend time getting to know Jaime.
    While shutting everything off and packing her briefcase, she reluctantly picked up the new phone. She could feel the tears at the edge of her eyelashes, but quickly wiped them away. Jerrica shoved the phone in her coat pocket. Walking toward the door, she heard familiar voices talking on the other side. Jaime must have made it back on time. Now they could go and have a great weekend.

Chapter Four

     

    They had stopped briefly at Lauren’s house in Dorchester to pick up food plus a few more necessities and Brandon gave his wife a good luck kiss. In less than twenty minutes, they were back on the road again. Jerrica nestled down in her seat preparing for the almost two-hour drive. The sound of random 80’s music from a local radio station played softly in the background. She turned her head to look out her window. Maybe if she were lucky, she would nap on the way. Even as a child, she would fall asleep on long drives with her parents. She watched as the landscape changed, cities turned into towns and towns into large countryside. Jerrica glanced in the back seat to see Jaime concentrating on something on her cell phone. Jerrica felt her shoulders beginning to relax as she snuggled down in her seat.
    “So,” Lauren’s voice broke through the silence.
    Jerrica realized quickly that her peaceful moment was now over. She turned to look at Lauren who looked like she wanted to talk. Reaching, she turned the radio down.
    “Are you going to tell me what happened today?”
    Jerrica motioned her head toward the back seat reminding Lauren they weren’t alone.
    Lauren glanced in the rearview mirror at Jaime who was engrossed in her phone. Shrugging her shoulders, she lowered her tone, “Well, how about an