Christmas Connection

Bailey rubbed her forehead. “I went to the hospital?”

“No, but they recommended someone bring you home. Are you okay?”

“I don't remember walking in here,” Bailey said.

“The paramedics said you were in shock.” Noelle handed her a glass of water.

Bailey sipped it, recalling the events that led up to her collapsing at work. “Oh, yeah.”

“I called your mom,” Noelle said.

“You mean my adopted mother.” She didn't mean to say the words, but it was the truth.

“Don't be that way, Bailey.”

She raised an eyebrow. “She told you?”

Noelle nodded. “She knew she couldn't be here since she's sick, but she wanted me to be aware in case you were acting… differently.”

Bailey let out a deep sigh. “I don't even know if I'm angry.”

“What do you mean?”

She wrung her hands together. “I always felt out-of-place growing up. I never seemed to fit in with the family, except my Dad.”

“You know they love you.”

Bailey nodded. “I assumed all families are like that in one way or another. Now… I know. “

“What are you going to do?”

Bailey opened her mouth to answer but a knock at her door disturbed her. “Who's that?”

“I'll get it.” Noelle rose from her place beside her and answered the door. “Hi.”

Bailey sat up on the couch.

“I tried calling,” she heard Jackson say, “but there was no answer. Is she okay?”

“Now's really not a good time,” Noelle said.

“Let him in, Noelle.” Bailey brushed the stray hairs back that escaped her ponytail. She couldn't change fast enough from her sweat suit, so Jackson would see her comfy clothes. Oh well.

“Hey,” he said as he entered her living room. “What happened? Are you sick?”

“I'll be in the other room.” Noelle left them alone.

Jackson sat beside Bailey on the couch. “What's wrong?”

She shrugged. “Nothing I can change.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I've been living thinking my life is one way, and it's not. What's worse is I don't think I care. I feel… numb.” She adjusted in her seat to face him. “How did you know where I lived?”

“I asked around. You collapsed at work?”

Bailey’s gaze flicked upward. News in a small town traveled fast. “I blacked out, but I'm fine.”