Chapter 10: Back to the past

…

It didn't take long for Jade to swallow her pride and take the strong sleeping pill the Psychiatrist at Glass Hill had given her. Without it, Roderigo's face was a constant in her head. Even thinking of the interaction between her and Michael, little as it was didn't help. The next morning she felt no better and for the first time in months had to call work sick. She just could not go in that day.

No sooner had she got off the phone to her boss, when her phone rang. Loomis. Jade felt a rush of gratitude and respect she couldn't deny. He was checking she was ok after yesterday; she was sure of it. "Hi Jade," said the soft voice she knew instantly.

Jade cleared her throat. "Hi," she said quietly.

"How are you feeling this morning?"

Jade smiled to herself, remembering the answer to that very question she'd written in her diary just hours before. Without hesitating, she gave the Psychiatrist the same one. "Confused."

Loomis chuckled. Jade had no doubt he knew what'd happened, the doctors would've told him of course. "Why is that?"

"After…" Jade hesitated, trying to find the right words. "After what happened yesterday, Michael… Well you know."

"Showed a hint of compassion towards you?" Loomis asked. "I can see why that might confuse you."

Jade took a sharp breath. She'd spoken without thinking. Did Loomis suspect more than she realised of the real truth? As if reading her mind, the doctor softly spoke again.

"Jade, I know more than you think. I know you have told your family you are happy with Michael. But of course I raised a mental eyebrow when you said this to me. Now I'm not saying Michael couldn't show love at all, but having worked with him for fifteen years, it's highly unlikely bordering on impossible he would feel anything close to it that quickly, if ever. I knew there was more to this than met the eye. Now I will assure you now Jade, whatever you say to me stays here completely. You are talking to me in confidence, I'd never tell your family anything. I need you to trust me on this. When Michael escaped last time, he took you prisoner didn't he? I of course don't know the specifics unless you wish to tell me, but I know Michael Myers. I'm going to take an educated guess that he threatened to kill you and your family if you did not comply. So when he was captured, I'm going to again guess that you had no choice than to marry him to keep your family safe."

There was a long silence. Jade knew there was no point in lying. Loomis had just spoken the truth. "Yes," she said very quietly.

"Then first of all I must commend you for your love and loyalty to your family to such an extent you were able to lie to them so completely and keep it up without a break down."

Jade laughed bitterly. "Don't ask me how I did it. Looking dad in the eye and telling him I was happily married to a killer was the hardest thing I've ever done. Especially when you consider well… My suspicions about his interest in Michael."

"I'm sure," Loomis's voice was gentle now and Jade felt another rush of respect for him at this. "Again, I commend you for your bravery."

"I… I didn't want to tell you," Jade admitted. "I was terrified you'd take action and my family would get killed all the faster."

"Of course, I totally understand that. But Jade, I'd already guessed a long time before now. I was already working in the background to try and help you."

"Of course you were," Jade said, feeling a lump in her throat. "Thank you. Did you see to his capture?"

"I of course played a part in it yes," Loomis said. When I came down with the marriage papers, I was trying to think of a way out for you, but it was too dangerous to say anything to you without a formed plan. You know as well as I do Michael Myers is…"

"Not to be under estimated," Jade finished with a bitter laugh. "He told me that himself."

"Quite," Loomis agreed. But I was working as hard as I could to get you and your family safe, helping to move you if needs be."

"I'd already considered that option," Jade admitted. "But it was such a big call. I knew for now I had to keep up the pretences. Because if I said we should move, I'd have to tell them the whole truth and I… God I just couldn't. Not without… Well, help."

"Which again, I totally understand. I would, will? Help you get a divorce as soon as it's safe to do so. We can all say Michael won't escape from there, but…" He trailed off. Jade also knew why he'd said would, then will, the question in his voice.

"Ha," she laughed again derisively. "You're not seriously thinking that after just a hint of compassion I want to stay married to him are you? That's…"

"So why confused?" Loomis asked very quietly.

"Because it even happened in the first place! He held my damn hand for fuck's sake! Told me to drink the tea which I know for damn sure he knew had a calming drug in it! Why? Asked me to even call him when I got home Dr Loomis! Said I wasn't driving back until I'd seen one of the Psychiatrists! What the fuck? Why does he give a damn what I do? He'd have happily let "blood sucker" suck my blood, surely!"

"Apparently not," Loomis said. "Not if he comforted you in his own way afterwards, not to mention enabled you to call for help."

"It's the call me when you get home which has me the most confused," Jade said. "He's never asked me to do that before, he's never cared either way as long as I was there twice a fortnight like he demanded. Told me to try and get some sleep, I couldn't work when tired." She laughed a little. "I told him I was already exhausted and working. I could've sworn he sighed down the phone then Dr Loomis. That was when he changed my deadline to once a month instead of twice a fortnight. That's why I'm so damn confused. But it doesn't mean I want to stay his wife. I don't love him. I…" Jade could hardly believe what she was about to say. But it was the truth. "While I hate him for taking me prisoner in every way, I… I won't deny I appreciate what he did for me yesterday when it all happened. I'd be a liar if I said otherwise." There was a moment's silence.

"Again, which I understand," Loomis said eventually. "But I will more than willingly help you get a divorce as soon as it's safe to do so."

"But when is that?" Jade asked. "We could leave it twenty years and it still wouldn't be safe. Unless… Her eyes widened. "Are you saying if I just wait one day he might release me himself?"

"Correct," Loomis said softly. "Why else did he do what he did yesterday? I believe you are getting through to him Jade in a way he didn't anticipate at all when he took you captive. Why else did he change your deadline so you could get some rest? Or hold your hand? Or tell you you weren't driving home in that state?"

"I've been asking myself that all night," Jade said, now feeling tears sliding down her face, though she wasn't sure why. "I'm so damn tired, I just want… Want this to end one way or the other. While I sincerely thank Michael for what he did, I don't love him. I hated him for what he did to me!"

"Now?" Loomis asked.

"Jesus," Jade sighed. "I thank him from the bottom of my heart for what he did yesterday, however small it was. He enabled me to get help and then gave me some form of comfort afterwards which he didn't have to do. As for why he asked me to call him when I got home, I've been thinking about it all night. At least until I finally took that sleeping pill your guys gave me. So yes, I thank him for all that, but that's all. Maybe it's taken away a little of my anger and hatred, but I still don't like what he's done to me."

"Of course you don't," Loomis said quietly.

"Jenna knows," Jade said finally. "I told her the truth, but she's sworn to secrecy. She won't tell any of the others. But she doesn't know what happened between Michael and I yesterday. I… I can't tell her that."

"Because? Is it because you can hardly believe it yourself? Or you think she won't believe you? Or, because you're examining your own feelings still?"

"No way!" Jade said quickly. "I mean what I just said. I thank him for what he did, but I'd never love him! At most I'd respect him for it a little, but he still took me prisoner for fuck sake! Made me marry him to keep my family alive! I… I can kind of see what you mean about him possibly releasing me eventually, but you are not seriously suggesting he'll love me are you? I'm sorry Dr Loomis but that's… Well, insane!"

"Perhaps," Loomis said. "But whatever you might think to the contrary, Michael Myers is still a man, Jade."

"Come off it!" Jade said incredulously. "He'd never love! Even if he did I'd never reciprocate it! No way! I want him to release me so bad, get a divorce! That won't change! I have to keep up the pretence to keep my family alive for now, but like Jenna said. If I see a get out card, I'll sure as hell play it! Michael Myers made me become his damn wife! I tried to plead with him for ages not to! For all the damn good it did! If you're suggesting even for a second we'll fall in love and live happily ever after, sorry but you're as nuts as your patients!"

As soon as Jade said it, she regretted it. She opened her mouth to apologise, she hadn't meant to rant. But Loomis was already chuckling in her ear.

"Quite possibly," he said, still laughing. "I've wondered that myself sometimes. But I think the best thing for now Jade is to let this run its course. Go up there once a month like he's asked, I'll more than willingly take you if you want. I'll come down and drive you up there every time." Jade made to speak, but Loomis cut her off. "It's the least I can do and also, I will not deny that out of professional curiosity, I want to see Michael for myself."

"All after what happened yesterday?" Jade asked, pretty sure she knew the answer already. "Why?"

"Perhaps," Loomis said and Jade could hear he was smiling.

"Sorry Dr Loomis, but I think you're expecting a miracle. Michael Myers and I will never love each other. I say again. I respect and thank him for what he did yesterday, but it was probably just for the cameras!"

Even as Jade said it, her voice trailed off. His holding her hand, telling her to drink the tea may have been. But the call me when you get home and happy late birthday? Loomis had of course immediately heard her voice falter.

"Of course it was," Loomis said quietly. "Just for the cameras, Jade. I'll see you in a month then, ok?"

Before Jade could answer, for the second time in hours, the line went dead.

…

The next day, Jade headed back to work. Nothing had changed, the pressure was relentless. Although as Candice reminded her, they'd be done with this party by tomorrow.

"I fucking hope he enjoys it," she muttered bitterly, referring to their rich client. Jade couldn't help it. She snorted with laughter.

"Oh now come on C! You'd love it if you were invited and you know it. All that extravagantly cooked food, indoor pool…"

"Damn well should be invited after all the work we've done on it," Candice muttered. Part of Jade privately agreed.

…

Jade headed down the street towards her favourite coffee bar, intending to get a take out for lunch and take it back to her office. She too was glad this was their last day of working on this party. She like Candice, wouldn't be sorry to see the back of it. Although she had no doubt something just as demanding would pop up on their desks within days.

She'd just reached the door of the café, when someone called her name. "Jade? Hey, Jade?"

The voice was male. She turned around to see who'd called her and her mouth fell open. It was Phil Burgess, a man she'd gone to school with. She hadn't seen him for over six years. He'd moved away from Haddonfield when they were fourteen and Jade had never found out why.

"Phil?" Jade stared at him in disbelief for a second, then ran forward and pulled him in to a hug. Phil smiled, hugging her back tightly. "Oh my God! How are you?"

"Oh you know me Jade," that smile Jade remembered so well from her school days. Crooked, mischievous, dancing with humour. "Same old stuff, not much knew here! All the better for seeing you of course."

"Wow!" Jade stared at him. "I haven't seen you for six years! Jesus. I have so much to tell you! Can we catch up sometime soon?"

"You bet!" Phil pulled out his phone and within minutes they'd exchanged numbers.

"Sorry," Jade apologised. "I'm on lunch from work at the moment or I'd do it now. What are you doing here? Are you working? Are you living back in Haddonfield now?"

"Yes and yes," Phil smiled at her again. "I'm a coach driver. I was just getting a coffee. He gestured at the huge vehicle parked on the other side of the road. "I do long distance tours. I've just cleaned this beast and taken it for a check drive as I have a big group of passengers tomorrow on thankfully only a day trip this time."

"When will you be back?" Jade asked. "So we can catch up? I would love to sit down and chat! We have so much to talk about, catch up on."

Phil nodded. "Indeed we do. Well like I say, this one's just a day trip. I have three days off then before I am off on another long distance job. I leave Saturday morning. Are you free Friday night?"

"I am now," Jade smiled at him. She could hardly believe her eyes. This man in front of her had been one of the kindest people apart from Jenna following her adoption. Teenage Jade had admittedly had a crush on him, but had never told him. It seemed not much had changed. He sounded like the kind fourteen year old she'd known, even though he was now a man.

A few minutes later they parted ways, Phil boarding his coach. Jade couldn't wait to tell Jenna she'd seen him. Jenna had loved him too, Jade knew it. The sisters had both seen each other staring at him in the school corridors. Jade was sure Jenna too had liked him. How things had changed. Jenna was now happily married to Craig and as for her…

Thoughts of her call with Loomis filled her mind then. She'd never love her husband; she was Positive of that. She'd already decided she wouldn't tell Phil anything about Michael. Not even that she was married. At least not for a while. Jade thought of her comments to Michael. I may date another, but it would only be online and not for a while anyway. She also remembered her comments of how she wouldn't date someone when married. Well, she thought as she finally headed back to her office with her coffee and sandwich. She might just change her mind on that one if circumstances allowed.

…

"No way!" Jenna said that night when Jade drove round to see her and Craig and told her she'd seen Phil Burgess in the street. "Oh my God! How is he?"

"He seems fine," Jade replied, smirking at her sister, who smiled back. It was clear that just for that moment, they were both lost down memory lane with a fourteen year old Phil Burgess. Then Jenna smiled affectionately. "Is he back here now?"

"Yes," Jade said. He's a long distance coach driver. He's got another trip on Saturday. Asked me if I was free on Friday night for a catchup."

Jenna's eyes twinkled. "Which you are of course, eh?"

Jade felt herself blushing and part of her didn't object to that at all. It was nice to feel such things as happiness or teenage embarrassment after the hell she'd been through lately. "Of course," she said to her sister, who smirked at her.

"I'm not expecting us to…" Jade began.

"Bullshit!" Jenna cut her off. "I bloody am! If he's still free and single, give it time and see where it goes! Sod your so-called husband. You said you'd date someone else, here's your chance! It's not like he gives a damn about you is it? Hell you shouldn't even be married to that killer! If you don't, I will!"

This made Jade laugh. She knew Jenna really had eyes for Craig only now, but they had both liked Phil in that way at fourteen.

"He might have changed," Jade began again.

"That's why I say give it time! You never know, he really could sweep you off your feet. You say he looks the same except obviously older?"

Jade smiled now, unable to help it. "Yes," she said. "That smile we both loved, he seems as nice as ever."

"There you go then!" Jenna playfully poked Jade's shoulder. "Get in there girl if you can! God knows you deserve happiness! It's not like you've had much of that lately." That statement at least, Jade knew she couldn't argue with.

…

Jade had expected that Friday night to be awkward. As much as she'd been looking forward to it, she was also nervous. She hadn't seen Phil for six years. But from the moment they sat down in the restaurant they'd agreed to meet at and order their drinks, it was as though no time had passed. As if they'd simply walked away for five minutes as opposed to six years. For four hours straight they talked and talked about their lives. Jade carefully avoided mentioning her marriage, or the situation she was in. But she couldn't resist, casually of course, asking Phil if he was single. He'd smiled at her and said, "yes."

He finally told Jade why he'd moved away from Haddonfield six years ago. His parents had gone through a nasty divorce and his mother had got custody of him but lived in another state. Jade swallowed at the word divorce. She too was trying to get one and hers wouldn't just be nasty, it could be deadly. Phil had then come back to Haddonfield six months ago and got a job as a coach driver.

"I'm sorry I haven't seen you before now," he'd said. "You haven't changed at all. What are you doing now?"

Jade told him about her job as an event organiser and what that entailed. Phil seemed genuinely interested. At the end of the night he insisted on driving her home. Jade had walked to the restaurant as her house was close to it. She tried to argue but Phil was adamant.

"Will you come in?" She asked before she could stop herself.

"Sure," Phil said. He followed her and they shared a final drink before he left. It was midnight by the time they eventually parted ways.