Healing Her Soul (Mayflower Series #2)

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Julia tore her eyes away from her worn-out sneakers. She followed the voice and looked up at the lady with dirty blonde hair who sat beside her. She wore a simple black shirt paired with her weathered denim jeans. No one would have suspected that Judy Hopkins was a police officer. She had asked Julia a question that some would consider simple, yet Julia found it hard to answer. It was a simple question, yet it weighed on her more than it should. It wasn’t a matter of want, but a matter of need. She wanted to do a lot of things, like start a family and raise a house full of dogs and cats, but life had trapped her in a corner. ‘This’, however, was something she needed to do, because it was the only thing she could do before she accepted her unpleasant fate. “I need to make sure she’s okay,” Julia replied before shifting her eyes back down to her sneakers. What was so interesting about her worn-out sneakers? Nothing. But keeping her eyes focused on them seemed to calm the nervous chaos that whirled inside her. She had thought that there was plenty of time, not realising that things could change so drastically and so fast. Now here she was, seated at an airport, near midnight, with a target on her back. She could hear Judy’s sigh, loud and clear, from beside her. She understood the woman’s frustration. Judy had tried countless times since they first met to convince her not to go back to her hometown, but to go straight into witness protection. Despite her pleading, Julia could not do it. Not yet. She had one regret in life, and she had to make things right before she could disappear. She had to protect her sister, Maddie. She had to make sure Maddie was safe and that her life was settled before she could vanish for good. Julia felt a twinge of sadness fill her heart. She had promised to stay with her sister all those years ago, to protect her from their abusive father. Instead, she had left the first chance she got, thinking that she could earn enough money with her degree to get Maddie out in no time. But who knew adulthood could be so difficult? She could hardly make ends meet with her student loans, house rental, utility bills, and other adult financial responsibilities she had to fulfil. She worked two jobs almost every day of the week, yet she could hardly save a dime for herself with her student debt. She did see the light at the end of the tunnel almost a year after her graduation, but then things had to turn south so fast that in a blink of an eye, she was stuck in her current predicament; trapped. “If it’s any consolation, keeping my father away from her should be the easy part,” Julia tried to assure her even though she could not look Judy in the eyes. “The hard part is getting her through school and helping her stand on her own two feet.” She wondered about the things she had to do. Would Maddie be able to trust her now that she had become a stranger? She could only hope. If she didn’t, maybe it wasn’t a bad thing either? She would be able to leave quietly again. Julia broke from her thoughts when she felt a slight nudge on her arm. She looked back at Judy, who gently held out a passport towards her. She eyed the small booklet before looking back at Judy. “You have my number,” she said as Julia took the passport from her and flipped it open. “When you’re ready, call me as soon as possible, and I’ll send you the location of the extraction point.” Julia read the details of her new identity and frowned. “Who came up with these names? They should be fired.” Judy threw her head back and laughed. Julia couldn’t help but smile at that. It was rare for them to be so at ease when, for the past six months, they had been on high alert. Judy gave her a pat on the back and chuckled, “Well, Martha Haigs, it’s nice to meet you too. When we next meet, I’ll have a new one ready for you.” “Make sure to come up with a better name,” Julia teased, just as the announcement of her flight was heard over the PA system. Both ladies stood. Julia slung her duffel bag over her shoulders. Everything she owned was in that dull dirty duffel bag, and nothing else. She looked over at Judy for the last time, and felt a little sad. She was no more than a few years older than her, yet out of everyone in her life after Mayflower, Judy had made her feel safe. She had been there from the moment Julia had her bruises, to the day she spoke in front of a judge and jury, and finally, to right now. She was the only person in Julia’s current life that stood by her and sent her off to the airport. “You be careful, you hear?” Said Judy as she walked Julia to the departure gate. “Call me if anything happens and always keep in touch every now and then, okay?" Without much thought, Julia pulled her into a tight hug. She was going to miss her only friend. No. She was going to miss this woman whom she considered her sister. “Yes ma’am,” replied Julia as they pulled apart. “You take care too.” “Goodbye, Martha Haigs.” Julia rolled her eyes yet the smile plastered on her face gave her away as she responded, “Goodbye, Officer Hops.” There was no way she would use that name wherever she was going. People in that small town knew her from the time she had lived there. If she introduced herself as Martha Haigs, there would be too many questions. Besides, she didn’t know if she could refrain herself from flinching every time she said the name ‘Martha Haigs’. That, in itself, would definitely raise eyebrows. Julia headed to the departure gate and handed over her boarding pass to the officer. Once she was cleared to enter, she took one final look back. Judy gave her a reassuring smile. With a final wave, Julia entered the gate. This was it. She was on a mission, and her mission began at that very moment. It was time to go back and face her past in the town of Mayflower.