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“Good, really good. Mom and Dad came by as they promised and they are well on their way. Should be pretty close to home by now. It was great for Mom and me to part ways actually being OK with one another. I owe you that, Gran.”
“Well, I owe you because your mom and I had some of the best discussions we’ve had in years. I think things may be on the mend there too and I’m happy for that. We had a lot of fences to mend. I’m glad we didn’t wait too long. Time passes way to quickly and things need to be settled.” Susan sighed and Jo heard it.
“Gran, are you OK? What have you done with yourself this fine morning?”
“Now, don’t throw a hissy on me, but I took the car out, drove around, got some groceries, and am safely home. I even got your yogurt.”
Jo thought briefly about saying something but decided against it. Her grandmother was perfectly capable of making decisions and doing whatever she wanted to do. So, she said instead, “How did the ankle hold up?”
“Actually, fine. No worse for wear.” Susan paused. “Um, listen, Jo. I need for you to do something for me. Now that I’m mobile, I need to see Chris. Today. I know he’s working, so maybe like half past four? At the motel beach. Will you do that for me?”
Of all the favors Jo might have expected, that wasn’t one of them. She was quiet for a few second before she responded. “Gran, I’ll be happy to text him and see what he says. I’ll get back to you. Are you sure you’re ready to see him and all?”
“I’ve done my thinking and it’s time he and I have a talk. I’m not ready to share any more than that, but some things just need to be done. Procrastination won’t help me here.”
“OK, then. I’ll get back to you when I hear back. If you want to come by and see me beforehand…”
“No, I think I’ll just park and go out to the beach. I bought some nice wine for us to have later tonight if you’re not too late.”
“Lauren will close tonight, so I’ll have time, Gran. You know if you need me, I’m here. You’ll still probably get home before I do.”
“Yes, I think I will be. Look, thanks, Jo. I’d do it myself but you’re the one with his number. And he knows you. At least you’ve spoken a few times.”
“Sure, Gran, if that’s what you want, I’ll do it.”
“Thank you. Bye, love,” replied Susan.
“Bye, Gran. Love you.” Jo put down her phone and stared at nothing for a few minutes. She knew Susan had told her last night she was thinking, but Jo didn’t have any idea she’d actually want to see Chris so soon. What did this mean? Would they pick up where they left off? Start anew? There were too many possibilities to consider, so Jo took yet another page from Dare’s book of tackling something head-on. She texted Chris. It wasn’t even a minute before she got a reply.
Hey there. Your message took me by surprise. But of course I’ll see her. I can certainly make 4:30. Thanks.
Jo wasn’t sure if anything further was needed from her end, so she just waited a few minutes more and then texted Susan.
He’ll be there, Gran. Love u.
Susan sat for a long time reading and re-reading Jo’s message. It wasn’t that it was hard to interpret. It was just that she was unsure about her own motives for wanting to meet Chris when not forty-eight hours before she had sworn she wouldn’t. But as she said to Jo, some things just needed to be dealt with, and as they always say, there’s no time like the present.
She tried to fix herself some lunch but her stomach wasn’t cooperating. She paced the floor, tried to nap, and finally settled on playing endless games of solitaire on her phone while the time passed. At three thirty, she decided she’d wear a linen blouse and clean shorts and maybe put on just a little make up. She convinced herself she only wanted to look presentable. She wasn’t trying to be the girl Chris knew. She wanted to be herself as an adult woman who had an important conversation ahead of her.
“You can do this,” she said to herself as she looked in the mirror. “There’s really no other option. You’ll be fine. You’ve thought it through. You’re going to be OK.”
She made her way back down the steps and into the car. As she parked at the motel, the shadows were already lengthening in the afternoon sun, so she chose to sit closer to the water’s edge rather than up next to the motel. Besides, there may be guests around and this had to be a very private conversation.
Jo had been looking for her grandmother’s car. She saw her start to walk out onto the beach and then lost sight of her as she walked between the buildings. She thought about going out to talk to her but she immediately changed her mind when she saw Chris’s work van pull in next to her grandmother’s car. He took his time getting out, seemed to pause for a few seconds, and then walked slowly but determinedly out to see Susan.
Susan felt his presence before she actually saw him. She was sitting on a towel facing the ocean, looking to the soothing waves for inner peace and courage. He walked around to face her and she stood up.
“Susan. Oh my God. It’s you. After all these years. You look wonderful. It’s good to see you. How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Susan replied with an edge to her voice. “Well, as fine as I can be, I suppose. I’m sure Jo told you about my ankle. That’s pretty much all healed now. I wish some other things could heal as easily.”
“Susan,” Chris started again. “This has all been unbelievable. If it wasn’t happening to me, I’d think it was a plot in some book or movie. I don’t know where to start. I’ve hardly thought about anything else since I met Jo and we learned the truth. By the way, she’s a wonderful young lady and I know you’re proud. There’s a lot of your spunk in her. And I’m sure SeaAnna is every bit that amazing. If I had only known.” He shook his head. “If, if, if. That’s all that I seem to come up with. Pretty weak, I know, but it’s truth. All these years, I thought you’d just given up on me. I had my hands full. And time passed. We both know it was different then. Jo told me, and Mike too, about all you went through with SeaAnna and your parents.” His eyes turned sad. “I loved you and I let you down. And I don’t know what to say.”
Susan looked at him and saw that wonderful boy/man that she had loved so much. For years, she’d hoped they’d somehow find each other again. Her heart ached and she wanted to just throw her arms around him and let him carry her away. But the reality was this man had also hurt her and she just couldn’t let that go. “I have always dreamed of this day, Chris. You see, I really did love you. Maybe I still do. And I think I can almost let go of Ron Wingate and his stupidity and our lack of trying to get in touch over all those years. But for you to think, to infer, that somehow in the few weeks after you left the island I was off sleeping with every Tom, Dick, or Harry that came along like some kind of slut or tramp or whatever you want to call it, that’s just unreal to me. To ask for a DNA test? Why? To embarrass me in front of my daughter and granddaughter? To question my integrity? It’s more than I can bear, Chris.”
Chris looked down and was quiet. “I know that asking for that test was a stupid thing to do, Susan. It all was on me so quickly, I just thought maybe it would give us all time to sort through our feelings and…and….”
“There are no ‘ands’ on this one, Chris.” Susan had found her stride and now felt there was no holding back. “What made you come back here? Did you want to see what had become of me? Why? I just don’t understand. You’ve made a fool out of me.”
