Masquerade (Masquerade #1) by S Williams Page B

but I need to do this. Getting up, I leave money on the table for my lunch and a tip.
    I go back to work, trying to keep my normal routine. I pick Lucy up from school, go by the grocery store, and head home to cook spaghetti for supper.
    We all eat then later have family time in front of the TV. I give Lucy a bath, get her in the bed then decide it’s time for me to relax. The only thing about relaxing is I can’t seem to stop thinking about my appointment tomorrow.
    As we lay in bed, Chris kisses my shoulder. “Jules, are you okay tonight?”
    “I’m okay. Sorry. Work has been really busy lately. I have my head stuck in projects needing to get done.”
    “Are you sure that’s it?”
    I turn to face him, kissing him lightly on his lips. “Yeah, I’m sure. Before I forget, is there any way you can pick Lucy up tomorrow? I need to work late. I have got to finish up a project along with get the trip finalized.”
    He kisses me. “I think I can manage getting her. Now, do you think I can get in you tonight?” He says, wiggling his eyebrows.
    I feel bad because during our love making, I can’t keep the fact that I am going to see a therapist from Chris. Maybe I should tell him, but I don’t feel it’s necessary right now.
    I fall asleep late, waking up early to another nightmare. This time, I was running to someone. I couldn’t run fast enough. They kept fading in and out as soon as I would get close enough to see who it was.
    Then my parents appeared in front of me, stopping me from running. They begin yelling at me that I was making the biggest mistake of my life chasing after something that wasn’t worth the pain, and we could do this by ourselves. I couldn’t understand what they meant by it not being worth it. What could we do by ourselves?
    I started running away from them with tears streaming down my face, not knowing where I was going. All of a sudden, I was somewhere I think I have seen before, but I’m not sure. I was in a big garden with a black iron fence all the way around it.
    I heard someone telling me I wasn’t wanted there. I kept asking why when a hand slipped around my neck, and I jerked myself awake.
    The dream had stuck with me all day long. What the hell was I chasing, or whom was I chasing? It’s a good thing Chris didn’t hear me because I know he would be concerned, and I have this nagging feeling this is something I need to do on my own.
    I make breakfast once I am ready for work and do everything as normally as I always would. Chris doesn’t seem to suspect anything is wrong. I just hope it stays that way for a little while.
                                                           

Chapter Fourteen
    I arrive at the Dr. Green’s office thirty minutes before my actual appointment time. I am sitting in my car, telling myself it’s all going to be okay. I’m feeling sick to my stomach, but I know that I need to do this. Taking a deep breath, I open the car door and climb out.
    I walk in the door to the receptionist’s desk, which happens to be enclosed with glass. I see a clipboard sitting in front of me that says to sign in. I write down my name when I hear the glass come open.
    “Your name?”
    “It’s Julia Falls,” I say in a whisper.
    She looks around on her desks to find what she needs. “I need you to fill out this paperwork and bring it back to me when you are done.”
    Smiling, I take the papers and pen. “Thank you.”
    I sit down and begin the task of filling out the stack of papers she has given me. Starting with the first paper, which asks for my name, address, emergency contact, and other personal information. The second is for insurance purposes.
    The third paper is a list of all kinds of questions about dealing with the sole purpose of my visit. It asks many different questions and some are the same questions, just worded differently.
    Finally through that, the rest is privacy act gibberish. I sign everything