A Reunion to Remember Read online

  “No. It’s my job to keep you safe and this is how I can do that right now. It will help me if I know you’re out of harm’s way.”

  Rhonda watched as Jo fought an internal struggle. Rhonda imagined she was weighing wanting to stand up for her mom and doing what her mom asked of her. Finally, she turned to Rhonda. “Okay.”

  “I’m sure we’ll figure some of it out as we go along. But for right now, I’ll bring you here after you and Christie finish soccer practice and you’ll talk to your mom at some point every day to figure out the plan. If the coast seems clear, Bill or I will drive you home. While you’re here, you’ll contribute to the household chores just like our kids and you’ll follow the same house rules. Any decisions about activities or trips, we’ll run by your mom. Neither Bill nor I want to take the place of your parents. We’re just a safe harbor when you need out of the storm. Fair enough?”

  Jo looked at her mom and then between Bill and Rhonda. Then she nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

  Rhonda watched Jo hug her mom good-bye. Tears streamed down Patty’s face and Jo murmured reassurances. After the door closed, Jo turned to face them. “So, what now?”

  “Are you hungry?” Rhonda asked.

  Jo thought for a moment. “Starving.”

  “Why don’t you run up and take a shower. When you’re done, meet me in the kitchen.”

  “Okay.”

  When Jo came into the kitchen ten minutes later, Rhonda was at the table. Across from her, on the table, was a plate with a sandwich and chips. “Hi.”

  Rhonda looked up. “Hi. I didn’t know what you’d want to drink. You can help yourself.”

  “Thanks.” Jo took the glass from the table and filled it with milk before sitting down in front of the plate. Jo took a couple bites of her sandwich and washed it down with a swallow of milk before looking back at Rhonda. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Yes, and for the record, you never have to ask to ask a question.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  Rhonda stopped and looked up at Jo. She put her papers aside. “First, because your mom asked me to, but also because this is how I can help.”

  “Why do you want to?” Jo asked.

  “Because you’re a special young woman, and it never hurts to have support in your corner. You’re a great friend to Christie and Julie, and I hope they are to you too. But you have gone through a lot in your life and if you ever feel like there’s something you can’t talk to them about, I hope you’ll talk to me.”

  Jo looked as though she wanted to say something but seemed to catch herself. “Thanks.” A few minutes later, Jo stood, cleared her dishes, and loaded them into the dishwasher. “Thank you for the sandwich. Good night, Rhonda.”

  “Good night, Jo.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  Jo strolled down University Avenue in the heart of Hillcrest, a trendy neighborhood in San Diego. With only a hint of breeze in the warm air, the late summer evening was perfect. She contemplated her life, something she’d been doing a lot lately. The invitation to Amy’s wedding had made her start thinking about where she wanted to be, what direction she wanted her life to take. Perhaps after she returned from Massachusetts she would need to take a long hard look at things.

  She shook off the mood and walked through the gates at Gossip Grill, ready to put her heavy thoughts aside and have some fun. She handed over the small cover charge and made her way inside. It was late enough that the DJ already had the crowd into the music. She glanced around the room as she walked to the bar. She was happy to see her friend Cam dancing.

  It was great to see her out having fun. After Cam lost Melanie nearly eighteen months ago, she’d lost herself for a while too. If Cam was here, then likely…yep, she saw the rest of them too. Kate and June danced together, in their own little love cocoon. The three of them had been practically inseparable since they were freshmen in college.

  Once she had her beer in hand, Jo meandered around the room. She stopped and kissed her friend Laura Jane on the cheek. Laura Jane wrapped her in a hug. “Hey, stranger, will I see you this week?” Laura Jane was the Karaoke Maestro for the Gossip Grill on Tuesday nights.

  “I’m going to try, but I have a crazy week. Then I’m headed out of town.”

  “Well, I hope you can make it. Save a dance for me later?”

  “You got it.”

  By the time she made a circuit of the room, her friends were taking a break away from the dance floor. She received hugs all around when she made it to their table. She joined them and talk quickly turned to Amy’s pending nuptials.

  Cam said, “I still can’t wrap my head around Amy getting married. The only thing stranger would be you taking the plunge, Jo.”

  “Ha, ha. Very funny, don’t even joke about that.” Jo used to think there would never be a day she would be willing to be with just one woman for the rest of her life. But lately, she’d been thinking a lot more about that. The majority of the past decade had been a series of one-night stands, with a few long weekends thrown in for good measure. The closest she got to anything serious was the two-year thing she had with Aideen. Relationship seemed like too tame a word for what they’d had, but it was the closest she’d come to one. They had lived together briefly, but in the end, decided they were better as friends. She wasn’t sure she was built for a long-term relationship, but she had started to ponder the wonder of having someone to come home to at the end of the day, someone to share her time with, beyond the bedroom. Sex had always been easy to come by. She never had to look far for a willing partner. But it no longer felt like enough and that scared her more than a little. Luckily, her friends pulled her back from the precipice direction of her thoughts.

  “So, when do you head out?” Kate asked.

  “Friday, I’m going to help Amy with last-minute details. How about all of you?”

  “A week from Friday,” June answered for all of them. “Did you find someone to watch Kona?”

  “Yes, Aideen’s going to stay with her.” Jo ignored the raised eyebrows of her friends.

  “It will be fun to have the gang back together again,” Cam said.

  “Yes, it will. Now enough wedding talk. I need to dance.” Jo joined the throng of women moving to the fast beat. She was soon surrounded by lovely, luscious ladies, and she let all her deep thoughts drift away.

  After she said good night to her friends, she walked home alone. Her thoughts returned in full force. Why was this on her mind so much these days? She knew the answer though. Thinking about Amy getting married, actually getting the invitation in the mail, it made her yearn for something beyond her reach.

  She let herself into her condo and greeted Kona, who sat by the door wagging her tail. “Hiya, Kona girl, how was your evening? Did you throw a rager? If so, you cleaned up nicely.” Kona followed her to the bedroom where she shed her clothes and showered quickly to wash away her night. Then she slid between the sheets. She gave Kona permission to join her on the bed. Once they both settled in, her mind wandered in a different direction.

  She had been reliving memories from high school ever since she received the formal invitation to the wedding. When she thought about that time in her life, she couldn’t help but think of her parents. Her father’s tyranny had impacted her life in many ways. Fortunately, she also had fond memories of her time with the Blacks. She tried to focus on those remnants in her mind.

  As she lay in bed, her mind played like an old projector screen showing home movies. Wobbly and slightly grainy, she watched snippets of her childhood. Dancing to the latest pop sensation with Christie and Julie in the kitchen while they were supposed to be doing the dinner dishes. Late night talks with Rhonda. Running with Mike, the youngest sibling in the Black family. Learning how to change the oil and tires on a car from Bill. Listening to Christie and Julie fawn over boys. Telling them she preferred girls and their easy acceptance.

  So many good memories. Sometimes it was hard to remember why she’d never gone back.
She’d thought about letting them know she was headed their way, but she didn’t know how busy she’d be with wedding details, and she didn’t want to disappoint them if it turned out she didn’t have time to see them. Her focus this trip had to be the wedding. But maybe one day soon, she’d need to take another trip to see the people who had helped her survive her teenage years.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Tying up loose ends at work the rest of the week took all of Jo’s energy and focus. She barely had a spare moment to think about her trip until she was on the plane. She was going home. Strange that it still felt like home to her even though she hadn’t been there for over ten years. Every time she spent time with Amy since college, Amy had come to San Diego, where most of her family still lived. There hadn’t been any reason for Jo to return to Massachusetts until now, but with her best friend getting married, and as her maid of honor, Jo had duties to perform. She wouldn’t miss it for anything.

  The last time Jo spoke with Amy, she mentioned that Rhonda was going to the wedding. Jo was still trying to decide why that made her a little nervous as the plane touched down. Soon, she was wrapped in Amy’s bear hug. “I can’t believe you’re finally here. This must be strange for you.”

  “It is, a bit. But you’re getting married. I would have gone anywhere to see that. Where’s the other blushing bride?”

  “She stayed home. She wanted to give us a chance to catch up. You’ll see her in the morning.”

  “Great, so what’s the plan?”

  “For tonight, I thought we would get you checked in and drop your bags at the Jeff and then head to Johnny’s for drinks. If you need or want a car while you’re here, you can either use mine or we’ll swing over and get you a rental tomorrow. How’s that sound?”

  “Perfect. Lead the way.”

  *

  Jo had a wonderful time catching up with Amy. They picked up right where they left off, like she had seen her last week instead of last year.

  “Thank you for coming, Jo. I’m glad we finally got you back in the Pioneer Valley.”

  “I couldn’t miss your wedding. It’s a ‘gotta see it to believe it’ sort of thing. Honestly, I’m not sure why I stayed away so long. I love this area. I had forgotten how much. It’s just…complicated.”

  Amy nodded sympathetically. “Sure.”

  Wanting to shift the focus away from her, Jo asked, “Do you ever regret moving here after college?”

  “Never. I never hoped things would turn out so well when I decided to explore the ‘lesbian capital of the US’ that is the Pioneer Valley. But I’ve loved it here since the day I arrived. Then to be able to build my dream in the restaurant and find the love of my life, it’s amazing how life works out sometimes.”

  Jo raised her glass. “I’ll drink to that.”

  “Cheers!”

  Jo had met Randi last year when she came with Amy to San Diego, and she had known this was the last relationship for her friend.

  “So, you said Rhonda is coming to the wedding?” Jo asked.

  “That’s what her RSVP said.”

  “Cool. I didn’t realize you two knew each other that well.”

  Amy shrugged. “Well, after you recommended her to do the designs for the restaurant, we hit it off. Randi and I hang out with her occasionally. She’s great.”

  Jo took a sip of her beer. “Yes, she is.”

  “How long has it been since you’ve seen her?”

  Jo didn’t have to think. “Ten years.”

  *

  The sun hadn’t yet risen when Jo’s alarm sounded the next morning at half past six. She wanted her body to adjust to the time change, and getting started early was the best way to make that happen. She pulled on her workout clothes, brushed her teeth, grabbed her room key and phone, and went to the inn’s fitness center. She had the place to herself. There were definite advantages to getting a jump start on the day. She did a complete circuit on the weight machines. Her muscles were singing as she worked out what was left of her travel fatigue. When she was ready for cardio, she bypassed the treadmill and elliptical and headed for the street.

  She was glad she warmed up before venturing into the cool, New England morning. Running this early back home was certainly warmer. She jogged south on Boltwood Avenue toward College Street. In just a few minutes, she was on the track at Amherst College. She wasn’t alone. There were various athletes. Nobody questioned her being there. She fit right in.

  Running on a track wasn’t her preference, but the roads around downtown Amherst were not the most accommodating for a good run. So for now, she used what was at her disposal. She jogged for the first half mile and then ran harder once her legs felt warmed up.

  Jo loved running. As a teenager, running was the one place she could be completely free from everything happening at home. It cleared her mind and calmed her. It always had. She ran for nearly an hour. Once she hit her seven miles, she slowed back down to a jog to cool down. After a couple more circuits on the track, she moved to the grass infield and stretched. Then, she headed back to the inn.

  As she inserted her key card, her phone rang. She pulled it from her pocket and looked at the readout. Surprised, she answered. “I didn’t expect you up this early on a Saturday.”

  “Times change, my friend. You ready for breakfast?” Amy asked.

  “I just finished my run. I can be ready in twenty.”

  “Perfect, we’ll see you then.”

  With an efficiency that was second nature to her, she washed and dressed with time to spare. She stood for a moment appreciating the view out the window. The peak of autumn was at least six weeks away. She was sorry she’d miss that. She loved fall in New England. She missed having seasons. San Diego was beautiful, but she was still a New England girl at heart. No reason to stay away so long next time.

  As she exited the Lord Jeffery Inn, or the Jeff as the locals called it, she saw Amy’s car pull up to the curb. It barely had time to stop before Randi jumped out. Jo opened her arms and Randi ran into them. She wrapped her in a warm embrace. “I missed you last night.”

  “I missed you too. But I thought the two of you could use some time, just the two of you, before things get crazy.”

  Jo nodded. “It was nice, thanks.”

  Amy walked up. “Where shall we eat?”

  Jo shrugged. “No idea. That’s up to the two of you.”

  “In that case,” Randi declared, “It has to be Sylvester’s.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Perfect.”

  They headed from Amherst to Northampton on Route 9 toward the former home of Sylvester Graham of Graham Cracker fame. The home had been turned into a restaurant nearly thirty years before and was now the premier breakfast spot in the Pioneer Valley.

  As Amy drove, Jo saw what she couldn’t in the dark of night, and she started pointing out things that had changed since she moved away. Hampshire Mall was quite different. Most of the stores had not been there when Jo left for college. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Target were new, as were many others. Hadley had come into its own while Jo was in California.

  The line was already out the door when they arrived at the restaurant. Amy made her way inside to get coffee for the three of them in the coffee bar across the entryway from the restaurant. Randi took the opportunity to check in with Jo. “So, what’s new?”

  “Not much, same job, same condo, pretty much same everything.”

  “Who’s staying with Kona?”

  “Aideen.”

  Randi raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

  Jo shook her head. “We’re still friends and I trust her with Kona. It’s nothing more than that.”

  “Okay. So, are you seeing anyone?”

  “Not at the moment.”

  “Well, there will be quite a few beautiful single women at the wedding. You could get lucky.”

  Jo didn’t tell Randi she wasn’t interested in a one-night stand. She shrugged. “We’ll see.” Jo deflected any additional attention. “So, w
hat about you? Are you nervous? The big day is almost here.”

  Randi’s brows drew together and she touched Jo on the arm. She seemed about to share some deep confidence, then her features lit up. She squeezed Jo’s arm. “I can’t wait. The day cannot get here soon enough.”

  Amy made her way down the ramp and passed out the coffees. “What can’t get here soon enough?”

  Randi stroked Amy’s cheek with her free hand. “The day you become my wife.”

  Amy brushed her lips over Randi’s. “For me either, my love.”

  Jo looked away, not in embarrassment but because she was a bit envious of what Amy and Randi had together. She was happy for them, but as much as she was becoming aware she wanted that with someone, she doubted that kind of love was in the cards for her. Jo shook off the feeling and enjoyed the morning with her best friend and the woman she would wed in a week.

  Over breakfast, they went over last-minute details that needed to be tended to. This was one of the reasons she came out a week early, to help in any way she could. Being here for Amy and for Randi was very important to her. She was honored Amy had asked her to stand up with her, and she planned a heck of a send-off tonight. She thought it wise for Amy to have a chance to recover from her night of debauchery before the wedding.

  Rather than drop Jo back at the Jeff, Amy drove half a mile farther and let her out at the rental car agency. Jo had decided having a vehicle at her disposal would be nice while she helped with preparations.

  Jo hugged Amy. “I’ll pick you up at seven.” Then she embraced Randi. “I’ll get her back to you safe and sound tomorrow.”

  Randi kissed Jo’s cheek. “You better.”

  Once Jo was back in her room, she set about putting things in order. She quickly unpacked and found a place for everything. She placed her tux in the closet over the shoes she had polished to a shine back in San Diego. With that done, she walked to the window. Appreciating the view, she took out her phone and made a couple of calls to make sure things were all set for tonight. With all of her tasks checked off for now, Jo headed out to get reacquainted with the town where she’d grown up.