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“Wow.” Jo found she didn’t have anything to add. Then she asked, “Well, Mom, this is kind of exciting in a way. Is Dad going too?”
“No, just me. But we’ll have a long talk when I get back and I’ll fill you in if I can. I know this will be an emotional time.”
“That’s probably putting it mildly.”
“I honestly don’t know what I think or how I’ll feel when the time comes. But it is exciting and terrifying for sure.”
Jo looked at the time. If she was going to call both Chris and Susan before her next class, she’d need to end this call. But SeaAnna was already a step ahead of her.
“Jo, I’ve got to run. Thanks for calling me. Love you.”
“Love you too, Mom. Bye.”
Then she called Chris. Texting was usually their method of communication. Calling was another level of personal. But he asked her too. She first thought he wasn’t going to answer and expected voice mail, but at the last second, she heard his voice.
“Jo, thanks for calling. I suspect you know, but your Mom is coming to the island this weekend.”
“I know, Chris. She and I just spoke. Your texts came just about on top of one another. I figured it was about the test results. Wow. She just told me it’s kind of exciting and terrifying at the same time. How are you feeling?”
“I’m very glad this is over. I keep hoping that now that this is going to be behind us, the test results I mean, that the passage of time will soften your grandmother’s heart a little bit. Maybe she’ll forgive me. And I can’t wait to meet your mom. I mean, my daughter. It’s surreal. But I told you before, if she’s anything like you, and after all she raised you along with your dad who I like a lot, we’ll be able to begin to work through this. I know it will be a process. It’s kind of like what you and I are going through. A little bit at a time, eh?”
“That’s right. I’ll be on pins and needles this weekend but I think Mom is in a good place now. You’re right about time. It helps. At least it did in this case. And thanks for sending all the jellyfish photos, by the way. It’s actually good practice for me to try to ID them myself before actually looking them up. You’ve seen some amazing stuff.”
“Yep. It’s been fun to get to know Dare a bit more too, when we go out on theCarefree.You know, he’s really wound up about his testing, but honestly, I think he’ll be fine. It’s nerve-wracking in the run-up to the exams but I feel like he can do this.”
“I do too. I’m proud of him,” said Jo. “Hey, I hate to cut this short but I have a class coming up and there’s one more call I need to make.”
“Understood. I’ll let you go. Thanks for calling, Jo. I’ll keep in touch. Bye.”
She ended the call with Chris and sat for a few moments before calling Susan. Obviously, Susan knew what was happening and had made her feelings pretty clear to SeaAnna. What should she say?
Maybe nothing at all. Just listen, Jo,she told herself.Let Gran work through this on her own.
Susan must have been waiting by her phone because she picked up on the first ring.
“Aw, Jo, I miss you. I guess you know why I’m calling. We got some news this morning. Can’t say I’m surprised as I knew all along. Just some people didn’t want to believe me.”
She waited for Jo to respond and when Jo didn’t, she continued. “I am looking forward to seeing your mom. This will be her second trip this fall. Can you believe it? We’re moving toward normal. That makes me happy.”
Jo relaxed. She wasn’t prepared for a diatribe about Chris, so she was happy to change the subject. “Yes, she told me what fun you both had a few weeks ago. And she and I are talking regularly on weekends. It’s been fun.”
“It’s a shame they cut out your fall break. It’s been real pretty here. I’d been looking forward to seeing you.”
“I know, Gran. But at least by the university doing this, we can keep our Christmas break intact. You know I’ll see you then. Maybe Thanksgiving too. One way or the other, I’ll see you. Either in Hatteras or in Raleigh.”
“I hope it’s here, Jo. I just don’t feel like making that drive anymore.”
“Well,” Jo said. “We have plenty of time to discuss all of that. I’ll see what Mom and Dad think, OK?”
“OK. But keep calling me. I love hearing from you and I’m so interested in your classes. Maybe I can get my degree just by learning from you.”
Jo laughed. “You don’t need a piece of paper, Gran. You’re plenty smart. But I’ll give you a degree from the University of Jo any time.”
Susan laughed too. “I’m sure you have a class to go to or some studying or something, so I’ll say goodbye. You always cheer me up. Love you, Jo.”
“Love you too, Gran,” and she ended the call. She wasn’t sure how she’d keep busy over the weekend knowing what was happening. She decided to volunteer at Fort Fisher. They had a great jellyfish exhibit. Nothing better than spending time with pulsating blobs to keep your mind occupied. She laughed to herself and went on to class.
ChapterThirteen
