Page 88 of Cause and Effect

“Just get out.” She shook her head and walked up the stairs.

“No. I’m not leaving.” I followed her into the bedroom. “I get the feeling something happened.”

“What did Morgan tell you?” she asked.

“She said you went to lunch and suddenly became ill.”

“Yeah. That’s what happened. Why is that so hard to believe?” she climbed into bed and pulled the sheet over her.

I rubbed my chin as I stared at her. “You’ve been crying. What happened?” My phone pinged. Pulling it from my pocket, I saw a weather alert. “We’re under a severe storm watch,” I said.

“Great.” She rolled her eyes.

I sat on the edge of the bed and placed my hand on her leg.

“Stop it.” She jerked her leg away.

“Do you need me to pick up the girls from school?” I asked.

“No. Morgan is, and then she’s taking them to her house for a while so I can rest. Now, I need you to do the same. Bye, Julian.”

“Fine. I’ll leave.” I stood up from the bed. As I began to walk out of the room, I stopped. “No. I don’t care what you say. I’m not going anywhere. Especially with a bad storm possibly hitting. I’m not leaving you alone.”

“Maybe that’s what I want!” she shouted.

“There’s no need to shout. Just relax,” I said.

She jumped up from the bed, went into the bathroom, slammed, and locked the door. Sighing, I walked over and gently knocked.

“Laurel, come on. Please.”

I could hear her sobbing, and it frightened me. I went into one of the girls' bedrooms and found a paperclip. I used it to unlock the bathroom door. When I opened it, I found Laurel crouched in the corner of the shower floor.

“My God, Laurel. What is going on?” I stepped inside the shower and sat next to her.

“I have to protect my daughters,” she said as she hugged her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth.

“Protect them from what? From who?”

Her eyes stared into mine, and it broke my heart to see her this way.

“It was him. The phone calls, the flowers, the man at the school, the figure I’d see watching me on the streets—it was him.”

“Who, Laurel?” I spoke authoritatively. “Who is doing all those things?”

She stared at me and softly whispered, “Jason.”

Instantly, confusion settled inside me. Was she being serious, or did she finally snap?

“Jason died, Laurel.”

“No.” She shook her head, sniffling. “He’s alive. Morgan and I saw him.”

“What?” My brows furrowed. “Come on.” I grabbed hold of her arm. “Let’s get you into bed.”

She nodded and stood up with my help. I walked her over to the bed and climbed on the other side.

“I’m having a hard time here understanding what you just told me,” I said.

---