Chapter Four
Opening her eyes in the dark room, if felt as if she had not slept at all. But she felt hungry. Pulling back the covers, Jayme climbed out of bed. First, she used the bathroom before heading down the steps. Looking through the refrigerator, she took out the milk. Next, she looked in the pantry and found some cereal. Obtaining a bowl and spoon, she sat at the table and poured a bowl of cereal and milk.
As she ate, she looked up and saw her mother enter the kitchen, turning on the light. Jayme shielded her eyes for a moment until her eyes adjusted. “Mom?” She said.
“I heard you come downstairs, I wanted to make sure you were alright.” Paige said.
“I woke up hungry.” Jayme said.
“It’s understandable. It’ll probably happen more often as you get closer to your due date.”
“That’s what I’ve been hearing…” Jayme said. “I feel like I’ve already been pigging out for the last seven months.”
“Well, you’re eating for two…” Paige said and sat beside her.
Dropping her spoon into the bowl, it made a clinking sound. “What am I going to do, mom?” Jayme said, looking at her mother.
Paige could see the tears welling up in Jayme’s eyes. All she could do was reach out and embrace her daughter, holding her tightly. Softly Paige stroked Jayme’s hair. “I don’t know what to say to you to make you feel any better but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand what you’re going through. I just couldn’t imagine.”
“I want to sell the house and move back to Hillman.” Jayme sobbed.
“Yes. I wish you would. I want you as close as possible… and our grandchild.” Paige said. “You know your father and I will help you however we can, but it’ll only work if you’re close to home.” Paige said.
Jayme nodded her head but her heartache took over. In her mothers arms, Jayme cried hard for long minutes. Something she needed to do to help her move on. Jayme grew so upset that she nearly hyperventilated. Grabbing a brown paper sack, Paige covered Jayme’s mouth with it as Jayme was nearly gasping for air.
Taking nearly twenty minutes to recover, Jayme felt the exhaustion that her grieving caused. Paige noted that her daughter had calmed and released her embrace, still rubbing Jayme’s back with one hand. “It will get better, you’ll see. I know you’re strong and you will overcome this.”
“Thanks mom.” Jayme said at the beginning of a yawn.
“Come on, you need your rest.” Paige said as she stood up and took the bowl from before Jayme. Then she shut off the light as they exited the kitchen and helped Jayme up the stairs. Helping Jayme all the way to her bed, Paige kissed her on the forehead before Jayme sat on the bed.
“Goodnight…” Paige whispered.
“Goodnight.” Jayme returned.
Jayme barely laid her head on the pillow before she was asleep. The grief she released helped her tremendously as she slept soundly all night long. Waking in the morning, Jayme opened her eyes and felt refreshed. Stretching before pulling off the covers, Jayme got out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
Glancing at the clock, she noticed it was just after eight. Jayme looked out the window as she sat on the toilet. The sun was coming up but the fog that laid low across the fields was thick, drastically shortening the viewing distance. Walking back into her room, she dug through her suitcases to find something to wear for the day.
Finding comfortable, stretchy clothing, Jayme dressed before heading downstairs. Searching for her purse, she needed to call work. Locating her phone, she discovered she had a missed call from an unknown number but was local to Silver Creek. Unsure of who it was, she disregarded it, for now. Dialing the number for Silver Creek Medical Center, Jayme asked for Dr. Snyder.
Dr. Anne Snyder was the supervisor over the nursing department. Waiting for a few minutes, Jayme finally heard her voice on the phone. “This is Dr. Snyder.”
“Oh, Anne, it’s Jayme…”
“Jayme, are you alright? Where are you?” Anne asked, sincerely concerned.
“I’m sorry, I’m at my parents house.”
“I can’t blame you… We all know what happened…”
“I’m sorry I haven’t yet contacted you before now.” Jayme offered her apology.
“No, Jayme, I don’t expect you to be here. I’ve already submitted the paperwork for your two week leave.”
“Really?” Jayme said, her voice cracking as she tried to maintain her composure.
“Yes. You need time to heal from this trauma. Don’t worry about your job, I’ve got you covered. You take these two weeks off and call me then.”
“Thank you, Anne.”
“How are you, Jayme, are you getting by alright?”
“Yes, I’ve been staying at my parents house… The police told me that Scott has been having an affair.”
“What? Scott was having an affair?”
“Yes, apparently, for three years. They suspect it was his lover’s husband. She was reported missing three days ago.”
“Be careful, Jayme. I’m going to worry about you. Please, keep in touch.”
“I will, thank you, Anne.”
Jayme finished the phone call, then looked at her phone for a minute, there was a message. Jayme discovered it was an attorney named John Collins. He merely said only for her to return his call. Playing the message again, she jotted down the number, then called it.
Speaking to the man’s assistant, she wouldn’t tell Jayme what his call was concerning, but encouraged Jayme to make an appointment for later in the afternoon. Jayme agreed to be there at one, she would be his first client after lunch.
Looking through the kitchen, she found some cereal bars and granola bars in the pantry. Grabbing a few of each, she also grabbed a banana before sitting at the table to eat. Then she got up to get a glass of milk. Thinking about things, she knew she needed to go home and start packing if she were to sell her house.
After eating, she cleaned up and gathered the trash, throwing it into the trashcan outside as she left the house. It was now nearly ten and she wanted to gather some boxes to take back to the house with her. Driving behind the stores, she located as many decent boxes as she could find for now and took them back to the house.
Upon entering the house, the first thing she did was made sure the door to the office was closed. If she had to be there, she was not going into that room. She knew she would have to send professional cleaners into that room. She had mixed feelings, with the fact that Scott was murdered in this house, she was uncomfortable but on the other hand, she felt the cozy comfort of home.
Leaving the house at nearly twelve thirty, she climbed into her car and started it, allowing it to warm some before taking off. She knew she could take her time getting there. But also, she was fascinated to know what this lawyer had to say. Slowly, she drove toward his office, already knowing where it was.
Waiting in her car until it was time to go in, she saw a man walk toward the door and enter the building. That was when she got out and went inside. The man she saw was John Collins. Seeing her enter behind him, he greeted her. “Good afternoon… are you Jayme McNally?” He asked.
“I am.” Jayme smiled and showed him her identification.
“Follow me.” He said and walked towards a large, dark, wooden door. It was his office and he closed the door behind her.
“So, Mr. Collins, why did you bring me here?” Jayme asked.
“I have some forms for you to sign.” He answered and picked up a file from off his desk. Opening it, he sat in his chair and motioned for her to sit. “Please, have a seat.”
“What kind of forms?” Jayme asked as she sat across from him.
Mr. Collins looked up at her. “You are not aware that Scott had life insurance?”
“No, I had no idea.” Jayme answered.
“Yes, he did. For the past five years. But it was only recently, since your marriage, that he’s changed the beneficiary. He’s listed you for all his assets.”
“Assets? What kind of assets?” Jayme asked as she took the papers in her hands to look over briefly.
“Other than the house and vehicles, a policy worth five hundred thousand dollars.”
“Scott had a five hundred thousand dollar policy?” Jayme was astonished.
“Yes, and these documents are requiring your signature before they will release the funds.”
“Oh my God…” Jayme said and started to cry.
Mr. Collins handed her a tissue and smiled. Jayme thanked him and smiled back. “I’m sorry…” she apologized for her display of emotions.
“I understand, that’s usually how they respond.” Mr. Collins informed her.
With a pen in her hand, Jayme signed all the documents that Mr. Collins directed her to. With a handshake and all the paperwork in order, Jayme left the Lawyers’ office and climbed into her car. In shock between the trauma and news of insurance, Jayme felt beside herself. She sat in her car with her hands on her steering wheel, just staring out the windshield.