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“Hey, I support it.”She holds her hands up in surrender.“She’s a lot more relaxed since you moved in, and she seems happier.Well, as relaxed as Carleigh can get, you know.She really, really needs more of that in her life.So, you have my endorsement.”We reach the door of the coffee shop; Molly lets out a loud, “Oh, this smells so good, I hope they have bagels."
A little underfour hours later, once we’ve grabbed food, walked around the town, seen some of the Olympic sites, and loaded a few more groceries into Bishop’s car, now it’s time to head to the finish line.We managed to snag glimpses of Carleigh at the seven- and nineteen-mile marks; she’d been doing well, running at a decent pace, and on track for what I know her goals are.I hope the final miles have also been good to her, because she’s been working so hard and if she comes in over five hours, she’ll be disappointed in herself.
Carleigh’s parents are there when me, Sawyer, Molly, Bishop, and Quinn arrive.They report that they saw Carleigh not long ago at the twenty-three-mile mark, and it shouldn’t be long before she arrives.I check my watch and am happy to see that it means she’ll make a great time.I scan the arriving runners, watching person after person slip across the line.
“They all look exhausted,” Molly comments.“This is weird, self-inflicted torture.”
Carleigh’s father laughs.“Yes.Perfect for Carleigh.She never met a challenge she didn’t like.”
At a distance, I think I see her.The person - definitely a woman - is wearing the same fuchsia colored tank top as Carleigh.As the blur nears, I can see a bit more clearly, and - yes.“It’s Carleigh!”I say loudly, pointing.“Coming right up.Come on, Carleigh!”
The rest of them begin cheering as well as she approaches down the last half-mile.She looks tired, but there’s a look of determination on her face that is unmistakable.She won’t be defeated, my Carleigh - not by a marathon and not by herself.
She spots us as she nears the finish line, all yelling and cheering for her, and she waves excitedly.Our group hurries over to meet her, and when we get close, Carleigh’s father gives me a little push on my back.
“Go on, Bryson.She’ll be excited to see you,” he says.
Carleigh’s a few feet away now, and when she crosses the finish line, her arms lift in victory.Molly and Carleigh’s mother are both taking pictures, still yelling excitedly; behind them, Sawyer, Quinn, and Bishop are clapping.I step out into the road, waving at her, and when she gets close enough Carleigh essentially collapses into my arms.
I hold her up easily, my arms solid around her waist and shoulders, and squeeze tightly.“You did so amazing, Carleigh,” I say.“I’m so proud of you, you did it!”
She’s still panting, her chest heaving to catch her breath from the last burst of energy she’d put through to cross the line.I can feel her nodding against me.“What was the time?”she asks breathlessly.
“4:18-something,” Molly pipes in.“They’ll have the official times if we go check.”
Carleigh smiles at her and let’s go of me to give Molly a hug.“Sorry, I’m so sweaty and vile,” she apologizes, as she makes her way down the line.
Carleigh’s father produces a modest bouquet of flowers, which he hands to her when she reaches him.“Congrats, sweetheart.You set your mind to it and you did it.”
“Oh Dad, you shouldn’t have.”Carleigh gives him a quick hug.“I need - can we migrate to the food tent?I need a banana or something.”She turns, scanning the group of us, and exhales when her eyes fall on me.“I still can’t believe you guys are here.It means so much, it really helped.When I was running, all I could think of was that you were all here, and that if I just kept going, I’d get to see you all.”
“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world, Carleigh,” Sawyer says.“Though I have to say, now that I’ve been here, I don’t know if a marathon is in my future.”
“Oh no, Sawyer, you have to,” Carleigh says, falling in line beside her as we all walk over to where several baskets of fruit and sandwiches and water are set up for the runners.They talk shop for a little while - Sawyer, apparently, has been looking into doing something like this as well - and Carleigh gives us all a bit of a play-by-play in between bites of banana and watermelon.
Eventually, Carleigh looks over at her parents.“I should go take a shower and pack up my stuff before you have to check out of the hotel, huh?”
Her father is looking at his watch.“I hate to break up the party, but - yes, it’s getting to be time for us to go.”
Carleigh looks over at the group of them.“Where are you guys staying?”
“We’re camping at Saranac, fifteen minutes away,” Quinn answers.
“And so are you - if you want,” Molly adds.“Bryson let me into your room, and I packed you a little bag, if you want to stay with us.We’re here ‘til Wednesday morning.We’ve got everything else - food, an extra sleeping bag, the works.”
“No pressure though,” I interrupt, meeting her eyes to let her know that it’s fine if she doesn’t want to.“It’ll be a lot of fun, but if you want to just head back to the city and relax, that’s also-”
“No,” she breathes, shaking her head.“No, I’ll stay.”
