Page 96 of Balancing Act

They ended the call, and Jamie stood in the quiet house. Her mind raced, and she could almost hear her heartbeat thudding against her ribcage as she stood there, momentarily frozen on the spot.

Lily.

She fumbled with her keys as she grabbed her jacket from the back of the couch. The boxes that still needed to be packed were forgotten as she moved on instinct, focusing entirely on Lily.

The car’s engine roared to life, cutting through the stillness of the day. Panic clawed at her chest, but Jamie shoved it aside. There was no time for fear—only action. As she pulled out of the driveway, one thought pulsed relentlessly in her mind: find Lily.

It wasn’t long before Jamie was stepping into the train station, her boots clicking against the marble floor. The hum of voices mingled with muffled announcements as she scanned the room, weaving past polished wooden benches. A wave of unease washed over her—how easy would it be to miss Lily in this crowd?

She positioned herself near the doors, her heart racing as she scanned the crowd. A grainy voice crackled over the station’s intercom, announcing the train’s arrival from Seattle. At the same time, a text came through from Beth.

Beth 3:55 PM

Her phone’s back on. She’s at the train station.

Jamie 3:55 PM

I’m here. I’ll let you know as soon as I have her.

Jamie watched the doors with an eagle-eyed focus.

There.

She spotted that familiar blonde ponytail bouncing as Lily moved toward her, unaware of Jamie’s presence. Her heart squeezed as relief and realization washed over her. Lily seemed fine. Unfazed, even. But seeing her among the other passengers disembarking, Jamie realized how small Lily still truly was. For all her strength, skill, and passion, she was still a fifteen-year-old kid navigating pressures that most adults never would.

“Lily!” Jamie called out.

Lily’s head whipped around, her eyes widening when she spotted Jamie. For a brief moment, a guilt flashed across her face, only to be replaced with confidence as her shoulders stiffened, and she offered a small, regretful smile.

“Jamie? How did you know I was here?”

Jamie crossed her arms, giving Lily a stern look, but it softened as Lily reached her and hugged her tightly. “Did you seriously think your little disappearing act would go unnoticed?” Jamie said gently, pulling back to meet Lily’s gaze. “Your mom has been so worried about you. I’ve been so worried about you.” She searched Lily’s eyes, hoping to find answers in the blue depths.

“I-I didn’t mean to scare anyone,” Lily said.

Jamie’s expression softened further. “I know. But, Lily, I’m curious—what exactly was your plan?”

Lily shrugged, her face a mixture of defiance and regret. “I don’t know. It felt like something I needed to do—to get away from things. You said you liked being here, in Oregon, away from everything because you could think, and I feel like I need to do some thinking.” She held up her phone so Jamie could see the screen. “I was going to take an Uber to your house. I got your address from Mom’s phone.” She shifted her weight slightly.

Jamie nodded as she listened to Lily’s thought process. “I get the feeling of needing to get away and clear your head, but we need to talk about responsible ways of dealing with life when it gets too overwhelming.” She peered at Lily, whose expression was still sheepish. “Come on, let’s get you in the car. Your mom’s waiting to hear from you.” The edge had slipped from her voice as the pair began walking toward the parking lot.

As they walked in silence, Jamie sent a quick text to Beth, letting her know that she had Lily, that Lily was safe, and that they would call once they got to the car.

“Are you mad at me?” Lily’s voice was quiet and timid, even as she asked the question Jamie had been waiting for. She could hear the fear behind her question. She heard it because she knew it all too well: the fear of disappointing someone.

“I’m not mad,” she responded, her eyes searching Lily’s face once more. She had the faintest dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose, just like Beth, but a little less pronounced. “I am, however, worried about you, kid. Running away from your problems isn’t the answer?—”

Jamie stumbled over her words, the irony not lost on her. She’d run from her problems more times than she could count, but if there was one thing she’d learned, it was that they always caught up.

“I mean, running from things only delays what you need to face, you know? But talking about things and making a plan—that’s how you can make all those things that seem big and scary feel a little more manageable.”

Lily was quiet momentarily as she sat with her words. “I guess that makes sense,” she said, slow and measured, as if she were trying to make up her mind. But whatever it was, she decided it wasn’t worth saying.

Once they were settled into the car, Jamie handed her phone over to Lily. “Here, give your mom a call. She’s worried sick about you.”

Lily took the phone reluctantly, bracing herself, and Jamie tried to hide a smirk as she overheard Lily’s side of the conversation with Beth.

“Yes, Mom. I’m sorry. I know, I just—I didn’t mean to. Yes, I know. You just don’t understand! Jamie gets it?—”