Page 54 of Summertime Forgiveness

The sisters nodded their agreement but chose not to add anything, each lost in their own thoughts as they stared out across the night sky into the vast ocean illuminated by the moonlight, navy blue waves lapping at each other.

“I’ve decided that I’m staying in Oak Harbor permanently,” Jo confessed to the silence that surrounded them.

“Oh, wow, that’s wonderful news,” Andrea expressed happily. She reached over and wrapped her fingers around Jo’s hand and gave it a firm squeeze.

“I’m happy you decided to stay, Jo.” Cora looked at her sister with a genuine smile.

“Yeah, I thought about it, and there isn’t anything left in Tacoma for me. Tracy and Josh are okay and getting ready to start their lives together and the restaurant… I don’t know. As much as I loved working there, it just hasn’t been the same since.”

She felt Cora’s warm hand on her other arm, running up and down, and she turned to give her a grateful smile before staring out at the ocean once more.

“There isn’t anything to go back to,” she admitted with finality. “But here… here I have everything that I need.” Jo looked back and forth at her sisters as she emphasized the point. “I have two sisters that I know now would do anything for me, and the empty space that has been in my heart since our separation is finally healing. And Mom…God, I’ve missed Mom… I’m so happy that I got to talk to her and apologize before it’s too late.”

A small, melancholic smirk graced her lips as she thought about all she’d been through up until this point. “So much has been taken from me in the past year, but I’ve also gained so much, and I’m truly, truly thankful.”

The hands that rested against hers gave her another firm squeeze. “I almost forgot. I didn’t remember seeing Jules when we got home. Where is she?”

“Oh, Jamie, Nikki, and Tracy came to pick her up to go watch a movie,” Cora answered.

“That’s nice. I’m glad our kids are getting along so well with their cousins,” Jo said appreciatively. “Wait, you said Tracy—”

“Kerry’s daughter Tracy,” Cora jumped in to clarify.

Jo nodded in acknowledgment before emptying the contents of her glass.

“It would have been nice if they got the opportunity to grow up around each other but watching them become fast friends and so close is really something beautiful,” Andrea expressed. All three sisters exchanged knowing looks.

“So, you and Jules,” Jo spoke, looking over at her sister, the unspoken question and invitation for Cora to tell them what transpired after her talk with Jules.

“We’re making progress,” Cora revealed, a small smile gracing her lips.

Jo and Andrea returned her smile, relieved that they were working on their relationship.

“She’s decided to defer for a year to put all of her energy into making sure she delivers a healthy baby. She’s going to stay here, too, so that I can help her,” Cora revealed.

“Great, now you won’t have to worry about her as much,” Andrea spoke up.

Cora nodded in agreement. “I remember how hard it was when I first got pregnant with Erin. I wished I had Mom to walk me through the steps, to tell me that everything was going to be okay.”

“I know what you mean,” Andrea added. “It was the scariest experience of my whole life being pregnant with Aurora and alone, but Jules… she’s lucky. She has you, us, and Mom so that she doesn’t have to do it by herself.”

Cora gave her sisters an appreciative smile, but as her thoughts shifted, her expression changed. With furrowed brows and a contemplative look, she turned to them. “I really don’t want to push her, but I wish she would tell me something about the father of her baby.”

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