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“I’m just happy that you’re here,” Becky simply stated.
Jo gave her mother a tight-lipped smile, aware of the double meaning of her mother’s statement. “I think I’m going to go for a run and get some fresh air,” she announced, pushing away from the island to bring her cup to the sink and wash.
Becky didn’t say anything but continued to stare at her daughter’s back with saddened eyes. When Jo turned back to her, she quickly plastered on a small smile. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for Cora? She usually goes for a run around this time as well; maybe she’ll be down in a bit,” she reasoned with her.
A look of uncertainty flashed through Jo’s eyes before she declined. “No, that’s fine, Mom. I really just need some time to clear my head and get in a few miles by myself.”
Becky nodded in understanding. “Okay, sweetie, be safe out there.”
“I will, thanks.” With that, Jo headed for the front door, ran down the three short porch steps, and took off for the road that would lead her off the property and onto the highway.
A half hour into her run, Jo felt the tension finally start to leave her body and mind as her breathing became less labored and the fast beating of her heart decreased to an even tempo. Her focus was now taken to her surroundings as her feet took her past the Oak Harbor Marina and the city's main strip on SE Pioneer Way toward Windjammer Park. She ran past the baseball fields, the basketball courts, and splash park, past undefined open fields, and made her way toward the beach.
The moment her sneaker-clad feet hit the sand, which formed the perfect boundary between the park and the water, Jo slowed her pace until she came to a full stop. The sun was now much higher and brighter against the cloudless, light blue sky that intersected the blue waters of the pacific extending for miles. The slight wind brought with it the fresh smell of salt that tickled her nostrils.
The picturesque view before her, coupled with her run, had effectively taken her mind off the radiating hole of sorrow that was permanently lodged in her chest since the loss of Charles and Nicholas. Just being out in the open and away from everyone gave her clarity, peace, and an escape from the reality she now lived in for a while. In the past year, running had become a major part of her daily routine— it gave her time to reset.
As she looked out across the horizon, Cora’s words from last night seeped into her mind. She knew that this would always be her home. If she was honest with herself, she knew it always had been. Still, with all the bad memories that came with it and the loss of her estranged father, who she had thought still resented his daughters for abandoning the path he had chosen for them to pursue their own up until recently, she wasn’t sure it was a wise idea to provide more opportunity for the hole in her chest to widen even more. There were just too many regrets, too many unspoken apologies, and missed opportunities to remind her that this was yet again one more area she would not get full closure from.
She wrapped her hands around her torso as a wave of sadness chilled her. Perhaps this had been a mistake from the beginning, as she had originally thought.
“I’ll give it until Mom’s birthday then if it still doesn’t feel right… I’ll figure something out,” she reasoned with herself.
She turned and made her way toward the park, preparing to start her run home when she exited. As she ran along the marina, she made a mental note to visit the fish market to get some deep-water catches. The chef in her raved at the thought of buying and preparing some of the freshest seafood that one could ever get in the Continental US. She made a note to revisit for that sole purpose. As she made her way toward Maui Avenue, she noticed another jogger not too far from her heading in the opposite direction. The woman’s eyes were laser-focused on her and made her self-conscious. Even after they passed each other, she could feel her gaze boring a hole in the back of her head.
“Jo!”
Jo’s steps faltered as she turned to look back at the stranger that had just called her name, but the closer she came, the more recognizable she became. The woman removed the knitted hat on her head to reveal her auburn-colored hair pulled back in a low bun. Her facial features hadn’t changed that much over the past twenty or so years either. Apart from filling out and a few laugh lines around her mouth and eyes, she was the same, just an older version.
“I can’t believe you passed me like that. Like we didn’t just see each other a few months back. I know it was brief with you jetting off after the funeral, but still…” the woman spoke in a hurtful tone even though her eyes glinted with mischief.
“Kerry.” Jo broke out in a huge grin as her cousin stepped up and placed her arms around her in a warm embrace.
“I’m so glad you came home, Jo,” Kerry whispered with relief against her shoulder.
Jo’s smile wavered.
