Going Back or Going Home
GOING BACK OR GOING HOME
J.C. LAYNE
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
About the Author
Also by J.C. Layne
GOING BACK OR GOING HOME
Copyright ©2022
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
Editor: Chelly Peeler at Ink It Out Editing
Formatting: Chelly Peeler at Ink It Out Editing
Cover Art: MiblArt Designs
1
This presentation has to move her up in the company. Somehow, Camille feels as though this is her last chance to show the brass what she’s got.
She’s been here since college, fifteen years now, and while she has been promoted to a mid-level contributor, promotions to partner only come around once every year.
She’s becoming dissatisfied and restless watching numerous male co-workers be promoted around her. She’s good at her job, she knows she is, but she’s beginning to wonder if this is where she wants to be.
She’s had offers from numerous mid-size firms across the country but to date, hasn’t accepted any.
As the conference room fills, Camille pours herself a glass of water from the carafe on the side table. Damn, she hates when she gets nervous.
As she mentally goes over her notes, she silently says a prayer, not that she does well, but that she definitively knows after this presentation if she should stay or go. Suddenly, a shiver courses down her spine and her head becomes dizzy for just a few moments.
Boy, that was strange.
She blows out a breath, accidentally spewing water into the air. She’s such a spaz when she’s nervous, always has been.
Only one of the people in the room saw her. Her long-time associate and BFF, Andrea, who looks around the room before touching Camille’s shoulder.
“Take deep breaths, without water in your mouth this time,” Andrea whispers.
Nodding, Camille swallows hard then breathes in deeply.
“Are you all right, Cam?” Andrea asks.
Looking over at her, Cam answers, “I honestly don’t know. I’m just on edge, y’know? I know this project like the back of my hand. But, do I want to?”
Her eyes flashing wide, Andrea says, “What do you mean?”
Motioning with her head, Cam says, “Look around.”
As Andrea scans the room, Cam whispers in her ear, “All men, except for Mr. Bingham’s and Mr. Kinston’s daughters. Nepotism at its finest.”
Andrea nods and turns back to Cam. The look on Andrea’s face immediately makes Cam launch into a fit of giggles.
After a moment, Andrea joins in, both ladies laughing until they realize the room has gone silent.
Straightening herself, Cam tries to regain her composure by clearing her throat.
“Miss George, would you like to share with the group what you find so amusing?” Leon Kinston asks, his eyebrow quirked in question.
“Well, sir, I was just telling my associate here how very blessed and honored we should be to work for a company who regards their female associates so highly.”
Kinston’s brow furrows as he stammers, “Well, of course, we do, Ms. George.”
Standing, Camille agrees with a smile. “Of course, you do. That’s evident. I mean just look around this room.”
Everyone looks around. The obvious discomfort of the room is palpable. Clayton Bingham says with agitation, “Ms. George, what is the meaning of this?”
“No meaning, sir. Just pointing out that our partners either have a penis or were created by your and Mr. Kinston’s penises.”
Murmurs erupt around the room as Andrea jumps to her feet and wraps her arm around Cam’s shoulders. She feels Cam’s forehead with the other hand. “Oh, dear, you have a high fever, Cam. We knew you were coming down with something.”
“Thank you for trying to cover, Andrea, but I think this has been the giant elephant in the room since I joined this firm fifteen years ago.”
She turns back to the audience. “It doesn’t really matter what I say in this presentation, does it, gentlemen? I won’t be promoted to partner no matter what.”
Just as Bingham’s gruff voice begins to respond, Cam cuts him off by holding up her hand. “You know what, sir, it doesn’t matter. I’m tired of saving your asses with clients and being taken for granted.” She picks up her laptop and closes it before slamming it onto the floor. “Figure this contract out yourselves. I quit.”
Breathing in the first deep, cleansing breath it feels as though she’s taken in fifteen years, Cam grins as she exits the room and jogs down the hall to her office.
She closes the office door and screams, “Yeehah!!!”
Andrea frantically enters the office behind her. “Camille, are you all right?”
Grinning, Cam replies, “I’m the best I’ve been in years. I’m sorry, Andrea, I just couldn’t do it again.”
Pulling the recycle box from underneath her desk, Cam dumps the contents on the desk and sets the box on top.
Retrieving the few personal items from her desk, she places them in the box. She adds in several reference books, a few photos of herself and her family, and a crystal clock her parents had given her for her college graduation.
She pulls on her long, grey tweed coat, wraps her scarf around her neck, slips on her gloves and hugs Andrea. “Thank you for everything, my dear friend. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Of course,” Andrea replies, as tears slip down her cheeks.
Releasing Andrea, Cam says, “Don’t be upset for me. I’ll be fine.”
Swiping the tears from her eyes, Andrea asks, “What will you do now?”
With a broad grin, Andrea picks up her potted plant and responds, “I’m going back to North Carolina.”
* * *
Just as she’s leaving her office, she almost runs over Mr. Bingham and Mr. Kinston.
“Goodbye, sirs,” she grins as she sidesteps the men and continues down the hall.
The two men follow on her heels, awkwardly trying to keep up with Cam’s quick pace. “Ms. George, we need to have a discussion,” Kinston barks.
“Nope, no discussion,” Cam says, not turning around.
When she reaches the elevator, she presses the down button with her elbow and looks up at the floor display.
Bingham grabs her by the elbow. “You will come speak to us, young lady.”
She jerks her arm from his grip. “I wouldn’t touch me again if I were you, sir. There are about ten people witnessing this little display right n
ow.”
Abruptly releasing her arm, Bingham scans the room before whispering, “We would like to talk to you before you go. You owe us that.”
Raising her eyebrows, Cam blurts a laugh. “I don’t owe you shit. You owe me about fifteen years of decent raises, a partnership, and respect for all the contracts I’ve landed for you. Me, I don’t owe you jack shit.”
Just then, the elevator door slides open. “Have a great holiday,” Cam says as she steps on the elevator, presses the lobby button and grins. As the doors slide shut, she sees Bingham’s face so red, she’s anxious to find out if maybe it explodes but she wouldn’t go back up to that floor if she forgot her favorite pair of pumps. She makes a mental note to ask Andrea about that the next time she speaks with her.
* * *
As she unlocks her apartment door, she is greeted by the tiny space making up her foyer, dining room and kitchen.
She sets everything down on the kitchen table which is about an arm’s length away from the door. This apartment is so damn small, her dad always jokes she could stand in the middle, hold out her arms and touch the walls. He’s just about right.
As she looks around, she says aloud, “I hate this damn apartment.”
A grin slowly stretches across her face. “The good news is, I only have to hate it for a few more days.”
Taking in a deep breath, she slowly blows it out as she goes into her bedroom to change her clothes. The bedroom is tiny, too. She definitely won’t miss this place.
After pulling on her lounge pants and cozy knit top, Cam sits on the edge of her bed and slips on her socks.
Returning to the kitchen, she takes a package of frozen spaghetti sauce out of her freezer and sets it in the microwave. Tracing her finger across the words written on the sauce package, ‘love Grammy Ninny,’ Cam smiles to herself. Yep, she’s ready to see her family.
As she heats up the sauce, Cam pours herself a glass of wine. She surely needs a drink tonight.
Once her dinner is ready, Cam sits at her dining room table with her laptop open. She’s got some shit to do.
Taking a bite, she groans with delight as she chews the spaghetti with her grandma’s top-secret sauce. Family members have tried but no one has been able to recreate Grammy Ninny’s spaghetti sauce.
Grammy says she puts a little special magic in her sauce that no one else can create. Of course, Grammy Ninny also thinks she’s a ’witch’, too.
As far as Cam is concerned, when it comes to comfort food, Grammy Ninny is definitely a magical being.
Thinking of her family as she eats, she smiles. Going back to Boone will be just what she needs to figure out what she’s going to do next.
Without warning, a wave of dread washes over her and the smile fades. She’s failed. When she moved to Chicago fifteen years ago, her family was dead against her moving to the big city up north.
Her male cousins even took bets on how long she’d last up there. She’d outlasted all their expectations but even so, she’s failed.
She didn’t make it to a cushy office, or partner, or even a nice apartment downtown. She’s made it to a mid-level job where she has landed a bunch of accounts and worked with some cool companies. After fifteen years, she’d expected more than to still be in her tiny office and in a tiny apartment where the rent has continued to increase every year she’s lived there.
Suddenly, she feels very down. She was riding high when she walked out of the firm today.
Maybe she screwed up. Maybe she made a hasty decision. But when she’d done it, she felt one hundred percent sure of her decision. Well, maybe ninety-five percent sure but still overwhelmingly sure.
Panic grips her. Shit! What’s she thinking?
She sighs as tears well up in her eyes. Dammit, she hates to cry.
About that time, she hears a knock at the door, startling her.
Jumping to her feet, she looks through the keyhole to see Andrea’s distorted face.
Wiping her eyes in an attempt to gather herself, she opens the door.
“Andrea, are you all right?” Cam asks.
“Assholes fired me,” Andrea responds, her voice filled with anger.
“Oh, no, Andrea!” Cam exclaims, covering her mouth with her hands. “You got fired because of me. I’m so sorry.”
“No, honey, it wasn’t because of you.”
Furrowing her brow, Cam removes her hands from her mouth. “Then, why?”
“Because after you left, they came to my office demanding for me to call you. I told them no,” Andrea replies, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Bingham continued to demand I call you. He got so angry, his whole head was bright red and he was shaking. Finally, I’d had enough and told him they didn’t deserve you and they’re a bunch of jackasses for never making you partner. His face got redder and redder until he screamed that I was fired and turned around and rushed out. I packed my crap and got the heck outta there.”
“Oh, Andrea, I’m so sorry,” Cam apologizes, hugging her.
“It’s okay, Cam, I’ll be all right,” Andrea replies, pulling away from the hug.
“Come have some comfort food with me. My Grammy’s spaghetti sauce can cure anything,” Cam says, walking toward the kitchen.
“That’d be really nice. Thank you.” Andrea follows her.
As Cam puts a helping of pasta on a plate, she says, “I’ve got a bottle of wine over there in the wine rack I’ve been saving for a special occasion. I think today is that occasion.”
Andrea selects the only bottle of wine in the rack. “Oh, Cam, that is a nice bottle.”
Cam nods. “Yeah, it was a gift. Corkscrew is in that drawer nearest you.”
Taking the seal from the wine bottle, Andrea positions the corkscrew in the top of the cork.
As Andrea opens the bottle of wine, Cam puts a helping of spaghetti sauce on the pasta.
She sets the plate down on the kitchen table next to hers and Andrea follows with the open wine bottle.
“Have a seat. I’ll get another glass and we’ll have some dinner. I’ll heat mine back up,” Cam says as she takes her plate back into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Cam settles in beside Andrea at the table.
Looking over at Andrea, she sighs, then holds her glass up for a toast.
Holding up her glass, Andrea says, “To us and a new start without misogynistic assholes.”
Cam chuckles. “I’ll drink to that. Cheers!”
2
Andrea takes a bite of her spaghetti and groans, “Goodness gracious, great balls of fire! This is amazing!”
Grinning proudly, Cam says, “Told ya. This is the ultimate comfort food. Besides Grammy’s chicken and dumplings.”
“You weren’t lying. Holy hell,” Andrea says with a full mouth. Chewing slowly, Andrea savors the bite in her mouth. After a very brief shoulder shimmy of happiness, Andrea asks, “So, what are you going to do now?”
Twirling spaghetti noodles in her fork tines, Cam replies, “I’m going to go back to Boone for a while to figure out what’s next for me. I mean, I’m 37 years old and sort of starting over.”
“Me, too, girl,” Andrea agrees with a sigh, dropping her utensil-filled hands on the table.
Thinking as she takes another swallow of her wine, Andrea asks, “What if I go with you to Boone?”
Raising her eyebrows, Cam stops chewing and with her mouth full, says, “Weawy?
“I was thinking maybe. I mean, I have absolutely no plans now and my lease is up on my apartment in two months. Maybe a change of scenery would help me clear my mind. And besides, I would really miss my BFF,” Andrea says with a shrug and a smile.
“Oh, oh, that would be fabulous! Thank you!” Cam jumps to her feet, bumping the table and almost spilling their wine glasses.
She grabs Andrea awkwardly in a hug from the behind her chair. “Oh, that’d be so wonderful.”
Giggling, Andrea replies, “Okay, okay. I’m in.”
“My BFF is go
ing to North Carolina with me. That’ll be so awesome. Omigosh! Thank you,” Cam says, a tear slipping down her cheek as she reaches for Andrea’s hand. “Seriously, thank you.”
With her brow furrowed, Andrea asks, “Okay, what’s going on? Are you having second thoughts?”
“No, not second thoughts exactly. This is just a big change. And, Andrea, you need to know my family can be a lot to take. I love them all so much but they can be over the top and I have no idea how they’ll take my coming home for a while.”
“They’ll be thrilled, Cam, you know they will.”
“Yeah, I know,” Cam replies with a sigh.
“Do they have room for us both?” Andrea asks.
“Oh, yes. There is an extra cabin at the lodge set aside for family. It’s plenty big for us both.”
“Then, what is it?” Andrea presses.
With another long sigh, Cam replies, “My family is—well, let’s just say there are a lot of colorful characters.”
“Everyone’s family has characters. Come on, girl,” Andrea replies with a laugh.
“Not like this,” Cam says, staring at Andrea a moment. “Aww, hell, Andrea, they can be straight up insane sometimes.”
Andrea stares at her a moment before she bursts out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Cam snaps, her face tensed with irritation.
“Girl, whose family doesn’t have their share of questionable members?” Andrea says with a grin.
Cam’s shoulders relax a bit. “I guess that’s true.”
“One hundred percent true. I have an uncle who refers to himself in the third person. James Haverty went to the grocery store,” Andrea explains.
“Really?” Cam asks with a chuckle.