Long Time Running - By Hannah Foster Page 0,42

and closed. Her knees trembled and her hands shook and she could not take her eyes from her son. He was beautiful.

And as though cob webs were suddenly being swept away her heart started to beat quickly, filled with a love she had been sure deserted her. At the same time anguish, regret and total fear swept through her and while she wanted to step towards him, she could not. Turning on her heel, she fled from the office and took off down the hall.

"NAT!" Andrew cried as she disappeared from the door. Stricken, he turned and looked at Jack who was staring into the space where his mother had just been standing.

"That...that was my mom," he said bewildered. "And she ran away."

Crouching down, he put his hands on Jack's legs. "Jack," he sighed "I know you're really confused right now and we have....we have a lot of explaining to do but I need to go check on your mom. Can you promise me that you'll stay here - right here in my office - until I get back? I promise we will explain everything to you then, okay?"

"Is....is my mom sick?" he asked, looking wide-eyed at his friend.

Andrew nodded. "Yes."

"Are you taking care of her?"

"I am and that's why I need to go see her."

"Okay," he nodded. "I'll stay here."

Overwhelmed at how this child seemed to possess more common sense than any of the adults involved, he kissed the top of his head. "I'll be back."

He walked purposefully across the room and closed the door behind him before sprinting down the hall to Nathalie's room. While he hated the hell his best friend lived through because of her, he also recognized the devastating unfairness of her finding out about Jack like that. She had her own demons, he knew, and this would only make them stronger. Skidding to a halt, he stepped inside her room.

"Nathalie."

With her back to him as she haphazardly threw her clothes into her small suitcase, she shook her head. "Get out" she said flatly.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going home," she replied, still not turning around.

"You are home" he reminded her.

Spinning around, she pinned him to the wall with an angry glare. "That is....that is my son in your office and don't you dare try to deny it," she told him, taking one serrated breath after another.

"I won't deny it," he answered evenly, stepping quietly towards her. "That is Jack - Jack Grant."

Sniffling, she shook her head. "Did you have a good laugh, the three of you? Did you? Poor pathetic Nathalie-"

"No one is laughing Nathalie." Reaching out he touched her shoulder and was surprised at how violently she shook it off. "Let's go back to my office - you can...you can talk to Jack. And I'll call Sarah and Eric-"

"I'm going home" she repeated, returning to her suitcase.

Seeing her still shaking, Andrew tried a different track. "You can't leave, you need surgery."

"No I don't. I.am.going.home" she stated, trying to keep her tears at bay.

"What do you mean you're going home?"

Turning, Nathalie's green eyes danced dangerously as she came face to face with Eric and her sister. Andrew sighed and covered his mouth with his hand.

"Well, well, well" she greeted them sarcastically. "You're just in time for today's floor show! I mean the last few days have been repeats of 'watch Nathalie turn herself inside out with guilt and remorse' but today - today we have a special show where our performer discovers she isn't the only secret keeper."

"What the hell did you do, Drew?" Sarah hissed.

"Nothing" he answered tightly. "Jack is in my office and Nathalie came by to see me."

"Shit" Eric said under his breath.

"Natty, I can explain."

"Really Sarah? You can explain? You can explain how I asked you - I begged you - to place my child for adoption and eight years later it turns out you just haven't quite got around to it?"

"It's not like that," Eric offered, trying to diffuse the rising tension.

The unadulterated fury in her eyes caused him to take a step back. "It isn't?" she challenged. "I guess not. I mean we have the caring aunt, the loving father, the doting uncle. Add me as the screw up mother and a laugh track and we have our very own sitcom!" Beads of perspiration pooled on her forehead and her breathing continued in ragged spurts.

"Nathalie," Andrew began calmly. "I need you to take a minute, calm down and breathe. You're going to push yourself into a seizure if you