It felt good, Julia realized, to get all dolled up for the first time since Nick left her. It was almost empowering, realizing that now she had the opportunity to attract other guys just by how she looked. Staring at her full length mirror, Julia studied herself carefully. Her long nut-brown hair was down and loose curls framed her face. She wore a blue top that was conservative and yet showed just a bit of cleavage and jeans that fit her form rather nicely.

For once Julia saw herself as a young woman. Not as a college bookworm she knew herself to be, but tonight, she was going to go out and have fun. She was nervous about the party and excited at the same time. Would she meet any guys that would show interest? Would she be able to socialize fluidly? Julia had to admit, she wasn't much of a social person. She was always somewhat shy and never quite knew how to talk to people.

Her phone chimed a quick tune that told Julia she received a text message. Julia walked over to her bed and picked up her phone, where it was plugged into its charger.

Text from: Cassie

I'm on my way, See you in ten!

Julia didn't bother responding knowing that by now Cassie was probably driving. She was probably texting as she drove, Julia thought and a flood of worry crossed her mind. Cassie made her nervous when she did that.

Walking back in front of her mirror, Julia leaned in closer to get a better look at her makeup. Dark, subtle blue colored her eyes and a soft blush warmed her cheeks. Overall the makeup only accentuated her natural beauty. Natural would have been the way her mother wore makeup, Julia guessed. Did you even wear makeup, Mom? She questioned silently.

There was still a lot of warring emotions he felt when it came to Jamie Sullivan, but for the most part Julia had come to peace with never meeting her Mom. Her father seemed to be happier too. She didn't find him crying in his room nearly as often. It had been a good seven months since she heard him. Maybe he was finally coming to peace with Jamie being gone too?

Satisfied with the way she looked Julia grabbed her purse and skipped down the stairs and headed into the living room.

Landon was in there, glasses perched on his nose and a small book in his hands. "Going somewhere?" he asked surprised to see she was dressed up and even going out at all.

"Yeah, Cassie invited me to a party." Julia replied and did her best to shrug off the surprise look on her father's face.

"Good," Landon said, a smile tugging on his lips. "That's good, sweetie. What kind of a party?"

Julia knew immediately what question he was really asking; is there going to be alcohol or drugs there?

Julia was about eight months from turning twenty-one. But if there was alcohol there she wasn't going to promise not to have a wine-cooler or something. She wasn't much of a drinker but sometimes she went for the lighter stuff. She wasn't sure if Landon knew she had tasted alcohol before but she wasn't about to tell him if he didn't know about it.

"Just a party, Dad, I don't know."

Momentarily, Landon put his book down in his lap and took his glasses off. While Julia had always lived more of a life like her mother, Jamie, Landon still had vivid memories of his reckless High School years surface. He for one knew first-hand the dangers that went on at some parties and he didn't want Julia in any harm if he could help it. "Alright, but I want you to promise me something."

Julia crossed her arms for a moment and then looked at her father. But the pure fatherly love he was emanating made her small defense mechanism fall apart. Carefully she uncrossed her arms and took a seat on the couch beside him. "What?"

"If you and Cassie need a designated driver, you call me," the seriousness in Landon's tone told her that he probably knew someone from his past that died from a DUI.

"I promise," Julia smiled softly at him, "I'll be fine, stop worrying."

Landon put his glasses back on, "I'm your father; it's my job. Have fun."

Right then Julia saw Cassie's small Honda pull into her drive. "I will, Daddy," Julia said, and gave Landon a kiss before running off toward the front door.

"Hey Julia!" Landon called, "I mean it! You call me, if you need me!"

"I will, I love you, Dad!" Julia called back and then within moments was skipping out the door.

Landon checked his wrist watch and saw that it was 6 pm. He knew that Amber was working the afternoon shift and would be off by seven. He wasn't sure why he kept thinking about her. She had invaded his privacy, talked to him like an upper status staff instead of a nurse, and had beautiful green eyes.

He shook his head and took off his glasses to rub his temples. He didn't want to think of another woman. He wanted to think of Jamie, his beautiful angel…

And then something as soft as a whisper touched his heart and warmed his chest.

Be happy it wasn't quite as tangible as her voice but it was definitely something real. He knew that voice and could never, ever forget it.

"Jamie?" Landon breathed, looking over his shoulder and around the room.

Be happy. It's time to let me go.

"No, no Jamie… no," Landon took to his feet now and looked around the small living room. Tears burned at the back of his eyes and although he knew what he felt and almost heard was impossible, he found himself drowning in the moment. Whether he was losing his mind or completely sane, he loved the feel of his wife. She was there, beside him, he could feel her.

"You were my life, Landon, but I am just a chapter in yours…" This time the voice sounded as if it was only inches from his ear. He could almost feel her lips gently caress the top of his head… and in that one moment he sank back into the armchair. He put the book aside, folded up his glasses and set them on the small table to his left and held his head in his hands as the tears began to fall.


Nick was lying on his bed, staring at his ceiling. The trial was still in progress. He couldn't know anything more than that. For all he knew he could have been on the placebo treatment. Nick would be downright pissed if that's what happened. Then he would have ended it with Julia for nothing.

No, you had to do this regardless of the trial, he told himself. You still have an expiration date stamped on your damn forehead.

Loud rock music suddenly blared to his left and absently Nick grabbed his cellphone. "Hey, dude, what's up?" It was his friend Greg on the line.

"There's a party going down at Mark's house. You should get out and come, man."

Nick crooked an arm under his head and thought about it. "I guess I can go. I've got nothing going on here."

"Great, I'll see you there."

Nick clicked the end button on his cell and lied there a moment just thinking. Being out with friends was the only thing that cleared his mind and gave him refuge from the tormenting thoughts of Julia and the decision he made.

Within ten minutes or so he was up and getting ready to go out for the night.