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They were all quiet as they drove back to the cottage. Jenni was pretty sure they hadn’t won anything but that seemed unimportant given the events of the morning.
They were just about to the driveway of the “Mansion” when Caitlin hollered out, “It’s him. He’s here!”
There, parked under the carport, was Andrew.
Caitlin practically flew out of the truck to meet him.
There were plenty of “I’m sorrys” and “I love yous” and on Caitlin’s part, plenty of tears. Jenni thought about how sweet a reconciliation with Caleb might have been had she been able to let go of her past.
When things calmed down a bit, Caitlin breathlessly told Andrew about what had transpired.
He shook Jenni’s hand and then hugged her. “That’s something, Jenni,” he said. “Proud of you, girl.”
Caitlin told him about all the people who had shook her hand on the beach, and those who had applauded.
Jenni really hadn’t realized that. She knew she’d been in a bit of a daze in the aftermath. Now that it was all behind her, she suddenly felt incredibly drained and exhausted.
Caitlin was still talking. “Andrew, you have to come to the banquet with us. I’m sure everyone will want to congratulate and thank Jenni. The fishing was lousy for sure but this, well, this was the highlight of the tournament.”
Jenni didn’t quite feel that way, and she certainly didn’t feel like going to the banquet now. It was somewhat surreal. “I don’t know, CayCay,” she began. “I didn’t do what I did for any kind of congratulations or glory. It was an emergency. It’s just what I was trained to do.” She looked at her phone. “And I haven’t heard from anyone yet about how he’s doing, but I guess realistically it will take a while.”
Barb stopped unloading her truck and turned to Jenni. “I think you should come with us, Jenni,” she said. “I’m certain you’ll have heard something by then, and Caitlin is right. I understand for you this was, well, not routine for sure, but something you’ve trained for over many, many years. You were there when clearly no one else was. That should be acknowledged.”
Jenni looked at the four of them and realized it would be futile to argue. “I am going to take some time to rest, then,” Jenni said. “I’m not crazy about going for any sort of acknowledgment, but, after all, I do have some very important personal business to tend to.”
Caitlin looked at her friend and nodded. “Yes, Jenni,” she said. “Yes, you do.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
When Jenni stepped out of the shower, she heard a text notification. She was still soaking wet when she grabbed her phone and opened the message. Half-laughing and half-crying, she yelled at the top of her voice, “He’s going to be OK!”
She threw on her robe and banged on Caitlin’s door across the hallway. “He’s going to make it. It’s all good,” she exclaimed as Caitlin opened the door. “I just got a text from the brother,Frank. Joe Ritelli is at a hospital in, um, let me look again, Chesapeake. He is stable and has regained consciousness.”
Caitlin grabbed her friend and jumped up and down. “That is the best news ever,” she gushed. “Everyone is going to be so happy.”
Jenni added breathlessly, “I guess Frank was able to see him for just a second. Obviously, they will be keeping him and monitoring him closely, but the doctors have said that he should make a full recovery, with a few lifestyle adjustments.”
By now the rest of the household had gathered around and heard the news. Barb took Jenni’s hand in hers and looked her squarely in the eye.
“Jenni, I know for the past year and a half or so you have considered yourself a failure,” she began. “But I hope you’ve learned that we all have times in our lives where we question our abilities and then something happens to show us just how badly we’re needed on this earth. I hope you will remember that.”
Jenni considered what Caitlin had said. Before her therapy, she probably, in fact she definitely, wouldn’t have believed it, but she could see now that Compy was all wrong for her.
But that didn’t mean she was the problem. Like with fishing, she needed to find the right bait and hook to find the right man for her.
She’d let Caleb slip away. She would try to apologize. Then she could heal.
She knew now that all of the flaws in the world weren’t hers, and that she could accept herself for what she brought into any relationship. And she could still try to make an effort to impress him when and if she saw him. Maybe he’d notice the change?
Jenni smiled and nodded. Then looking down at her robe, she said, “So, I guess a robe is not proper fishing tournament banquet attire. Let me finish getting dressed!”
She practically skipped back to her room and then for a moment sat on the edge of the bed and reflected on what had happened that day and what Barb had just said. Then Uncle Ron’s voice echoed in her head as well.Everything’s an experience. Grow from it. That’s why we have them.
She knew that the dress code was casual for the banquet. Maybe she would develop a new line of clothing called fishing-tournament casual.
She was pretty sure someone, somewhere probably already had. She had saved a nice pair of jeans just for the event, and she coupled that with a light sweater. It would still be warm this evening but with all of the people attending the banquet, the air conditioning would be on full blast.
She lightly towel-dried her hair, which had pretty much air-dried in the time since she jumped out of the shower. She decided to let it hang loosely.
