She and David had talked about it, even before he had lost his job. It was one of the reasons they had decided it was better for her to stay home for a while after Jessie was born, longer than the three months of maternity leave she had planned to take. Even before Jessie could speak, they had noticed things about her. She was moody. She cried in her sleep, more than they thought was normal. She didn’t like the feel of cloth on her skin, or unfamiliar textures of food in her mouth. She drew intricate patterns and shapes long before it was developmentally appropriate for her to do so. She wouldn’t go to bed unless a very specific routine was followed to the letter. More than once they had talked about taking her to see someone. David argued (and she didn’t really try to refute it) that Jessie was just an unusually bright child, and bringing her to a doctor would only frighten her and make the whole thing much worse. She seemed to be better when her mother was near her, and they had finally agreed to extend Helen’s leave from work even longer, and that year had turned into two until suddenly she felt so out of touch that she couldn’t have gone back to work if she wanted to, at least not to the same school where she had worked as an assistant guidance counselor. She hardly knew the kids there anymore, and starting over seemed like a mountain she was unable to climb. Jessie needed her at home, and so she stayed. Actually, she preferred it that way, at least until money had gotten so scarce they were about a week away from food stamps.

Slowly Jessie gravitated towards her father. David didn’t notice it, but she did all the same. He was the one she would come running to when she skinned a knee, or when she wanted to stay up late. Helen supposed it was only natural, since Jessie saw her as the “boss lady,” not so much as an ally.

But now, on the highway, with her husband holding onto her hand beside her, lightly squeezing, with her little girl asleep in the backseat, she was able to relax a little. The new job made everything easier. Already things seemed back to normal, as good as they used to be. And now maybe, just maybe, this new place and new life will stop Jessie’s nightmares. Then we can all settle in and truly start down a different path.