Free Homecoming Day by Holly Jacobs

Cessy’s comment had bothered him even more than he thought.
    â€œI was making some soup for dinner. Would you like a bowl?” Laura asked.
    â€œYou don’t have to feed me.”
    â€œMy grandmother used to say, I don’t have to do anything but die and pay taxes.” Laura stopped abruptly as she said the words. “I guess that’s the truth of it. Things happen. And the people left behind have to go on. That seems the hardest part.”
    â€œI never thought of it that way,” Seth said as he pulled a stool up to the island.
    Laura bustled around at the stove, not looking at him as she said, “Well, I know that Jay’s fine. I know he’d want me to find a way to be happy. Although, I’m not sure how to do it.”
    â€œIt hasn’t been that long for you,” Seth said softly. He remembered those awful early days and acknowledged how far he’d come. He’d healed without even noticing it. He missed Allie. He always would. But he’d survived. He’d found a life for himself.
    He’d told Laura that Allie’s death was like a scab that kept getting torn off, but he confessed it had been a long time since he’d dealt with that particular scab. He wasn’t sure if he found that idea comforting.
    Laura was staring at him. “And you? How long for you?”
    â€œYears.” He could no longer automatically say how long to the day. He did the math in his head. “It’s goingon three years. I still feel the loss, but it’s not that giant, clawing grief.”
    â€œSo, my goal should be to get out of this hole and…” She shrugged. “And then what?”
    â€œAnd then, once you can see beyond that hole, you’ll be able to see your future. You’ll be able to remember there’s so much more to life and you’ll want to be a part of it.”
    She dished up bowls of soup. “You haven’t.”
    â€œHaven’t what?”
    She set a bowl in front of him. “Moved past your loss.”
    â€œMost days I have. And that’s something.”
    She sat down opposite him at the island, her own bowl in front of her. “Maybe it is.” She stirred her soup with her spoon, not taking a bite.
    He took a taste. “Hey, this is good.”
    â€œThanks.” She continued to stir. Round and round. Finally, she said, “So, about JT—”
    Seth prided himself on reading people, but he had no clue what the expression on Laura’s face meant. “Laura?” he asked.
    She stood up, looked at the floor, then panicked. “I think my water broke!”
    â€œOh.” The realization sunk in. “Oh! Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital.”
    â€œNo, really, that’s okay. I gotta get some dry pants, and my suitcase. I’ll drive myself. I’ll need a car to get home,” she said, as if that explained everything.
    â€œWho should I call?”
    Sadness replaced the panic.
    â€œA friend?” he asked.
    â€œThis was supposed to be me and Jay. Having someone else come along…” She shook her head and her long, blond hair flew back and forth. “I can’t do it.”
    â€œWhat about the chief and his wife?” Seth knew without a doubt that Jameson and his wife would be at the hospital in a heartbeat.
    â€œNo!” Laura couldn’t have been more emphatic. There was only one option left, but Seth didn’t want to take it. He wished he was the kind of man who could say, Fine, good luck, and go home, but he wasn’t. “I’ll drive you then,” he insisted.
    â€œNo. I need my car—”
    â€œDamn it, Laura, I’ll pick you up when it’s time to go home. You don’t need a car.”
    â€œI need to do this on my own.” Her voice sounded suspiciously watery.
    â€œAre you crying?” he asked this woman for a second time.
    â€œNo, I’m not crying. And I don’t need you. I need