“I don't deserve that.” Christine glanced up, and the pain on her face would haunt Jamie for a long time. What had Stephen done to her?
“Sure you do. Just because we fight and treat each other like shit doesn't mean that we don't love each other. Even if you don't love me right now, it's okay.” Jamie leaned in to pull her sister into a hug. “I still love you.”
Christine's sobs tore Jamie apart, and she stayed another twenty minutes, holding her sister until the other woman calmed down. She slipped back into her catatonic state, but it was for the better. Jamie could only hope that she couldn't really feel anything in her numbness.
She left the hospital after talking with the doctor for a few minutes. They really believed that, with time and lots of patience, Christine would make a full recovery.
The doctor’s words echoed in Jamie's mind as she walked to the car, her heart full of sadness for her sister. “Some people are mentally susceptible to deep depression, and the only way out is death, in their minds. We need to pull her past that, but it's not going to be easy.”
Jamie got in the car and tried to pull herself together. Her phone buzzed in the seat next to her. Alex.
“Hi, baby,” she whispered and locked her doors.
“You still there with Christine?”
“No, I'm leaving.” She turned on the car and pulled out of the parking lot. “She let me braid her hair today, and she actually spoke for a few minutes.”
“That's great news.” Alex cleared his throat. “Are you headed this way, or do you need the day off? You know I don't want you overdoing it.”
“I'd rather be at the office than at home alone. I think I would just work myself into a depression.” She turned the radio down and let out a long sigh. “It apparently runs in the family.” She forced a laugh. “Besides, I want to see you.”
“Good. I'm going to talk with Zander about moving into upper management today. I think he's the best candidate. Put him as a Senior Advisor.”
“I agree. You've been working with him for quite some time.” She pulled the car onto the freeway and hit the gas, needing to feel like she was in control of some part of her life.
“Good. I was hoping you would think so. He's more of a backseat, in the shadows kind of guy, but I think this will help bring him out of his shell. He's a brilliant businessman.”
“I'm almost there. I can help with anything you need me to.”
/> “Alright, baby. I love you. Be safe.”
“Me, too.” She dropped the call and set the phone in the cup holder next to her. Going home sounded like a tempting idea; she could crawl into bed and cry for a little while, but life went on. She didn’t want to mope. She needed to focus on the good things in her life and on her growing family. She glanced down at her growing bump and smiled.
Mark had started looking at houses and condos to buy and it made Jamie sad as well. She was excited for him to be ready to find his own space, but she loved having him around. When the babies came, he might be an extra set of hands. She had teased him about that and he’d grinned and offered to be their only free babysitter, but he wasn’t changing diapers.
They needed to find an apartment for her dad, and Mark had been willing to give his place up for him. Alex said that anything Jamie wanted, he would accommodate. Jamie wasn’t so sure. She had the feeling her dad needed some of his own space and had quietly asked Mark to let her know if he saw any condos or retirement living areas, as he was on the prowl for a place of his own. Mark promised to look and also promised he wasn’t in a rush to move out.
Her dad had found a temporary place that had an extra room in case Christine was released before he found a more permanent location. He had already started to work on the divorce papers. Her mom hadn't taken the news too well, and had left town that night after he'd told her.
Jamie hoped like hell that the wayward bird would show back up, if nothing else, to help pull Christine out of her depression. It was sad to think all the years that they were growing up that she acted like she loved Christine more. It was a lie. Her mom only loved herself. If she gave two shits about Christine, she would have been sitting beside Jamie at the mental hospital, but she wasn't. She hadn't visited more than once. Jamie wasn’t angry, she was just sad. All of it was really sad, for all of them.
After parking the car, she got out and walked languidly to the building, heading out of the parking garage to enter at the main part of the building instead of through the garage elevator.
She paused to let her eyes move over the street around her. So much had changed in the last year. Gina was gone and Nicholas dealt with. Paul was back home and loving life completely. Her parents were getting divorced, her dad looking healthier than he had in months. Alex was doing better with his chest pains, and his stress had gone down, even though Mark had set a time frame of three months before he would be hanging up his hat at Reid Enterprises.
She rubbed her hand over her tummy and took a deep breath before walking into the building. One of the security guards greeted her with a broad smile, and she couldn't help but smile back.
Change sucked - good and bad, but it was what it was. She got in the elevator and leaned against the back wall, closing her eyes as someone called out.
“Hold the door”!”
She reached out and stopped it from shutting as Justin got in.
“Hey, Jamie. Thanks for almost losing a hand for me.” He smirked.
“Anything to get you to work a little.” She gave him a cheeky grin. They'd become friends over the last few weeks, and she was glad they'd decided to give the guy a chance as Alex’s secretary. He was as smart as a whip, and wanted to be an advisor for Alex one day, which Jamie could see happening sooner than later.
“How's it going? The babies doing okay?” He glanced down at her tummy and smiled.