Homecoming Day by Holly Jacobs

didn’t want to hear her apologies. She didn’t want to have this conversation, so she cut her off. “The nurse is waiting, Mrs. Martin.”
    Jay’s mother looked disappointed, but nodded. “Yes, yes. I’ll call in a few days.”
    â€œThat would be fine.”
    â€œLaura,” Mr. Martin said. “We really are sorry.”
    â€œI really have to go now, Mr. Martin. I don’t want to make Seth wait any longer.”
    â€œYes. Of course.”
    Slowly, Mrs. Martin handed the baby back to Laura and let Mr. Martin lead her from the room. Laura waited to feel guilt, anger or even pity for Jay’s parents. She felt a mixture of all those emotions, but couldn’t sort them out. At least not yet. She stared at her son instead and let the rush of love calm her. Center her.
    Moments later, as Laura settled herself in the wheelchair, Seth was there. “You okay?”
    She nodded. “Fine, fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” She realized how defensive she sounded and added, “Really, I’m fine.”
    Seth’s expression said he didn’t believe her, but he let it go. “Come on then. Let’s get this little guy home.”
    The nurse packed up a cart with Laura’s bag and the flowers that the teachers at school had sent, and the ones that Jay’s group had sent.
    Laura had given Seth a key to the house to get the car seat for her, and he already had it installed like an old pro in the backseat of the truck. When she commented, he said, “The police department pairs up with the different organizations in town and does car seat checks for parents, so I’ve had a lot of practice.”
    With Seth’s help, she got into the truck. As he closed the door, the cloying scent of flowers was overpowering. That’s how Jay’s funeral had smelled. Seth drove past Kloecker’s Funeral Home. Sitting in a car that smelled of flowers, having seen Jay’s parents and now driving past the funeral home was too much. Laura felt tears well up in her eyes. She turned toward the window, not wanting Seth to see her cry.
    The smell of flowers. That’s what stood out most in her memory of Jay’s funeral.
    Lines of people. Some she knew, some she didn’t. All hugging her and expressing their sympathy.
    That very nice funeral director who seemed to sense the tension between her and the Martins. Though they’d offered to let her sit in the limo with them after the service on the way to the cemetery, she declined. She’d opted to drive alone. Standing amidst all those strangers, listening to the minister talk about seasons, and how it was Jay’s time, she’d wanted to scream: no. No, it wasn’t his time. This shouldn’t be his place.
    He should be alive.
    He should be here.
    With her and his newborn son.
    Tears ran freely down her cheeks as she stared out the window heading home with her fatherless son.

CHAPTER SIX
    S ETH KNEW L AURA WAS UPSET about the chief and his wife’s visit, but he didn’t know what to say. Laura and Jamie were both quiet on the ride home.
    As they pulled into her driveway, Seth broke the silence. “I’ll confess, I let JT into the house to finish Jamie’s mural.”
    â€œShe didn’t have to do that.”
    â€œBut she wanted to.” He got Laura’s bags and the flowers, while she got the baby.
    They walked into the house and sniffed. “What’s that?” she asked.
    â€œBeef stew. It’s in the Crock-Pot, so it’s ready whenever you’re hungry, and there will definitely be leftovers for tomorrow.” He paused. “You do like stew, right?”
    â€œI do. But, Seth, you didn’t have to.”
    She was wrong. He did have to. Oh, he wanted to walk away. He’d stayed with her at the hospital, he’d been there for her while she gave birth. That should be enough. More than enough. But rather than leaving, he followed her farther