Page 28 of In Their Hearts
The celebration is over. It should never have started.
It's all over.
He’s not coming back. Ever.
There is nothing more to say that would change anything, and I no longer feel the need to be understood. Grief has given me the guidance I need.
I’m removing you from my memory. I can’t allow you to exist there.
Eight years is long enough.
This is the end of the story.
SJ
* * *
“This is absurd. Seriously. Do I need to call his mom? Maybe it would get her to stop?” Jo shakes her head. I can see the panic rising behind her mask. This is more.
“Who's mom? Who is he? What's going on, Jo? I can’t wait any longer for answers.” Clay presses, and I nod in my agreement. We can’t go on without knowing.
I pull Jo over to the couch with me to sit down.
“My fiancé’s mother, Sherry.” Jo takes a breath, then continues. “She's the one who sends me a letter every year on what our wedding anniversary would’ve been.”
“Fiancé? What the fuck, Jo? We were just intimate, and you have a fiancé?” Clay bursts out.
“He’s dead!” She yells right back at him.
Well, fuck.
I lean in to get closer to her. Trying to offer some support. This is obviously what’s been causing her pain.
“Why would she do that?” I ask quietly, knowing this isn't easy for Jo. And it’s causing Clay pain. I don’t like this.
“She blames me for his death. Even though I had nothing to do with his death. I was in love with him. I thought we would be together forever. We were planning our wedding. Talking about kids.” Tears start down her face, no longer able to keep them in or the pain.
“Jo, I'm so fucking sorry.”
She keeps going, like she just needs to get this all out in the open.
“It's why I moved up to Whispering Waters. Got a new job. New place to start over, but she followed me in a way I never expected. Hurtful letters every year. Making sure I never forgot. Except this is new. She’s never sent more than one, as I said.” Jo pushes her face into my chest, trying to hide.
I grab a tissue and start to wipe them away.
“We are going to figure this out. If it's his mom, we will get her to stop. If it’s not, we will figure that out too. I've already messaged Derrick.” Clay says quietly and joins us on the couch.
“None of this makes any sense. I'm so confused. She might hate me, but this is new. I can't move and start over again. It's just too much. Once was hard enough."
“I know. I don’t want to put more stress on you. I will go to the office later and let you know what I find out. Then we can make a plan from there. And Jo, I don't want you going anywhere but staying here.”
“You shouldn’t be alone, and we want to help you with this. This is too much to deal with by yourself. We can watch movies and rest, while Clay does his thing.”
Jo gives a weak smile. “I think I like the sound of that.”
Clay kisses her, "I'll be back as soon as I can. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t with Grant."
“Okay." She laughs again. Not sounding as defeated as she was moments ago.
