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The email arrived shortly after Jo had opened the office for the morning. All the repairs at the university had been completed, and the administration felt that students should no longer have issues in their own communities along the coast, so classes were to begin in a week’s time. For upper class students, there would only be a day of moving in. Schedules and all other pertinent information would be sent by e-mail.
At that moment, Jo felt very ambivalent about things. She was definitely ready to get back to classes. She missed the stimulation in the classroom and seeing her friends. She would be especially happy to reconnect with her roommate, Justyna. They had been friends for many years, having attended the same boarding school for middle and high school. Justyna was also from Raleigh but had family in Poland which was where she’d spent her summer. They’d have plenty to talk about when they got back together.
Jo sent her a quick text to ask her about her return plans, and then texted Dare to let him know she’d likely have to leave as soon as the weekend was over. Labor Day would be frantic, and Jo would not leave her grandmother in a lurch. She’d stay to work the office. She knew it would be a tight time frame but if her mom or dad could pick her up on Monday around noon, she could be back in Raleigh late that afternoon. It would take her just a few days to gather things together, load her own car which she had left in Raleigh for the summer, and head down to Wilmington. With luck, she’d get there Wednesday evening and have all day Thursday to settle back in before classes started on Friday. She wondered why they just didn’t wait to begin the fall term that following Monday, but she realized having lost time due to the storm, every day they could get in was important.
She wondered if the later start would mean cutting out some of the breaks they normally would have. She had fully intended to come back and see Gran as much as possible. Maybe SeaAnna would actually be visiting more now, and that would relieve some of the burden from Jo. She felt they both needed to be somewhat available to help Susan through the fall and winter. Jo was pretty sure Susan would eventually get her old self back, but she wanted to be sure. The whole thing with Chris had clearly taken a toll on her spirit.
When her phone pinged back with a message from Dare, she was surprised. She expected him to be out on a charter, and there was no time to text on that job.
Dare:Hate to think about you leaving. Our charter canceled for the day. Doing a make-up half day. Dinner?
Jo:OK. Make it later – I want to spend some time with Gran after work. Lauren comes at 5.
Dare:7 ok?
Jo:7 is good. Rest of this weekend is slammed so this is it.
He added a sad face emoji. Jo would surely miss him too. Dare was truly her best friend. She was glad for his cancellation, otherwise they might not have been able to connect in person for any length of time at all. She was absolutely going to spend her free time with Susan over the weekend, what little time there was. It was great to have Lauren to take the night shifts.
She called rather than texted Susan at lunchtime. She needed to hear her voice and make certain she was doing OK.
“I’m alright, I suppose. Just taking care of things around the house. Thought I’d go for a walk later, maybe on the new walking trail they put in the village. I think my ankle can handle it now. And I won’t push it.”
“I’ll be by after work. Lauren is working from five until close tonight and for the weekend. And, Gran, I’ll be heading back to school. Got the official word this morning. Need to get home Monday. I’ll check to see if Mom or Dad will come to get me. Dare and I will have dinner tonight around seven so that gives you and me some time together after I get off. Then I’ll be with you in the evenings through the weekend. OK?”
“That’s fine, Jo. I’ll need to come into the office and reacquaint myself with some things since I’ll start working days again on Tuesday. How about I fix us some appetizers this evening before you go to see Dare? And if you’re going to Marcie’s…”
“I will bring you back a shrimp basket,” Jo laughed. “I don’t think we’ll be late as he has another charter first thing tomorrow. Make me some of those stuffed mushroom things, please. See you later.”
As Jo ended the call, she realized she had said that either Mom or Dad might pick her up. For years it had always been her dad, but maybe this time SeaAnna would come. At any rate, home was the next call on the list. And so, the afternoon was spent making arrangements for Monday (she was delighted to hear that it would be her mom coming to retrieve her), texting back and forth with Justyna, and making lists of the things she’d need to buy and the things she didn’t want to forget to pack.
Between doing those things and taking care of business, it seemed like no time that Lauren was walking through the door.
“Lauren, I’ll be leaving Monday afternoon,” Jo told her as they finished going over the check-in list for the evening. “I think Gran is hoping you’ll continue with the evenings, at least through September.”
“I’m pretty sure it will work. We really need the money, Tim and me, so tell her I’ll be available.”
“Great. And thanks again, Lauren. You’re a lifesaver.”
Jo pedaled off, and before she knew it, she was showered and ensconced on a couch eating her grandmother’s delicious mushroom bites along with some cheese and crackers.
“I think I’m part mouse,” laughed Jo. “You won’t be buying nearly as much cheese when I’m gone.”
Susan smiled sadly. “I’d rather have you and the cheese around the house. It’s just so hard to believe how the summer has flown by. This summer and all the summers. I remember when I brought you here the first time. I think you were five. Every little thing on the beach fascinated you and we spent hours arranging your ‘findings’ on the porch railing. That first year, it was the purple shell pieces. The next year, I think it was the huge scallop shells. Then whelks, scotch bonnets, and coquinas. But that year we had the big jellyfish show up on the beach, there must have been tons of them, you were beside yourself. Do you remember?”
“I do. And I remember you telling me there was so much to learn from them. And that you hoped one day I would study them so that I could share all their secrets with you.” Jo sighed. She knew how much she’d miss her grandmother. “ So, you know I have to go, Gran, as much as I’d love to stay. I’m not sure how much break time I’ll have this fall but you know I’ll pop back when I can. We can always video chat. And maybe Mom will drive over. Who knows?”
Susan actually broke into a grin. “She wanted me to keep this a secret but... She’s driving here Sunday so she and I can spend some time together. Then the three of us can eat dinner Sunday night before you finish up at the motel Monday and go home.”
“That’s great, Gran. I am so happy that with everything else this summer brought, it brought the three of us to our senses and closer together. It feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed,” nodded Susan. “Shouldn’t you be heading off? Are you biking to Marcie’s or do you want to drive?”
“Neither. Dare texted me just as I was getting out of the shower. He’ll pick me up, so I imagine he’ll be here soon. He’s never late.”
No sooner had Jo said that, she heard the crunch of the gravel in their driveway.
“See you, Gran. I won’t be late. We both have to work in the morning. I won’t forget to bring you that shrimp.”
