Page 68 of Harmony Island Gazette
JUNIPER
Mom was at the hospital bright and early the next day. She stayed with me until I was discharged. I was grateful to get out, and I was also grateful that the hospital was certain the baby was okay. They recommended a few doctors locally and in the surrounding towns for me to go to for prenatal care.
Dad was at the store when we got home. Mom helped me to my room, even though I told her that I could handle it. She shook her head and held my hand as she walked me to the doorway and then lingered.
I finally declared that I was going to shower and that she didn’t need to help me with it. She was reluctant but finally shut the door to give me some peace.
The shower felt so good even though my face was still sore from where Kevin hit me. I was ready to wash off the hospital and the memories of what had happened yesterday.
I was tired of crying. I was tired of the pain. I was ready to move forward into the fresh, new future. The only regrets I had involved Boone, but the image of him happily leaving Harmony was the only thing keeping me sane.
He was going to find his peace somewhere else, and I was happy for him.
Mom was on her computer when I walked into the kitchen. I was wearing a pair of faded shorts and a tank. My hair was damp and hung past my shoulders. I was fresh and clean, and I felt like a million bucks.
“What are you doing?” I asked as I made my way over to the cupboard and grabbed a glass, which I took to the sink to fill up.
Mom gave me a suspicious smile. “I’m looking at baby clothes.”
“Ma,” I said before I took a sip of water. “We don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl.” I couldn’t help the smile that emerged. I was ready to start feeling excited about this baby.
“I know, I know. I just couldn’t help myself.” Her smile spread across her face. “I get to be a nana.”
Her smile was contagious. “I know. I’m excited for you.”
“Come look at what I picked out.”
We looked at baby clothes for the next thirty minutes. I swatted her shoulder when she put a bunch of gender-neutral clothes into the cart and then proceeded to pay for them. She shushed me when I tried to protest, claiming it was her grandmotherly right to spoil the child.
I laughed as I settled back on the barstool next to her and took another sip of water. Mom was quiet for a minute before she glanced over at me. “Have you heard from Boone?”
I thought about denying that I’d talked to him, but I was tired of hiding things from my parents. I was better off when I had their support. So I nodded. “He came to visit me last night.”
Mom’s eyes were wide when she turned her full attention to me. “He did?”
I nodded. “Yeah. He wanted to make sure I was okay and to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye?”
That word felt like a dagger to my heart. “Yes.”
Mom paused before she turned her attention to the counter in front of her. Then she glanced over at me. “I went to Boone yesterday.”
It was my turn to feel confused. “You did?”
Mom nodded. “After you told me that you were going to talk to Kevin and there was nothing I could say to stop you, I went to him.”
I blinked as I tried to digest what she was saying.
“I wanted him to protect you.”
“Oh,” I said as realization hit me. That’s how Boone knew where I was.
“I’m so sorry, Juniper. I needed to know you were safe.”
“So you sent Boone.”
Mom nodded. “I went to Boone.” She sighed. “He was sitting in the driveway of his mom’s house. I’d never seen someone so lost. I don’t know the history there, but that man is hurting.”
