we keep this love in a photograph

Chapter 33

Friday evening, Jennie found herself on her jet again, heading to Portland for her sabbatical with Alice and Ashley. They were just staying for the weekend, keeping her company as she settled in, and Jennie would've been lying if she said there wasn't some lingering anxiety about living with Clare for the next week or so while she waited for things to blow over. A part of her was relieved though; Taeyeon had left that morning, back to Seattle and her research, and Jennie wasn't quite ready to be left alone in her empty house again.

Her bullet wound was healing well, scabbed over and not quite as sore, leaving her able to walk without relying on someone else - for the most part - and dress herself with only some pain as the stitches pulled. She would've been fine to go back to work, if it wasn't for the arraignment, but she doubted anyone would have let her even without it, Alice and Ashley almost as bad as her mother for fretting over her.

Brooding as she lay stretched out on the leather bench, where she'd been pretending to sleep as her painkillers left her drowsy, Jennie listened to the quiet murmur of Alice and Ashley's conversation from where they sat at the other end of the plane, on opposite sides of the table. Rosie's absence was keenly felt by Jennie, and she felt wallowed in dejected annoyance as she listened to the sounds of the jet, feeling cold and restless as she thought of her girlfriend.

She'd spoken to Rosie every day since the day she hadn't called, Jennie's nettling remark about her not calling making Rosie realise that avoidance wasn't the best option, but they still never broached the topic of what choice Rosie was going to make. Jennie wanted to yell at her, to curse her out for even considering it, but most of all she just wanted to cry at the thought of Rosie going again. She wasn't even back and she was already considering being okay with going again. Jennie was committed to her earlier words though, that it was Rosie's decision to make alone, and she wouldn't tell her what to do. Rosie knew what she wanted her to do, but Jennie wouldn't pick for her and carry the burden of that choice around with her. There could be a day where Rosie would resent her for it.

Still brooding when the captain let them know they were going to be landing soon, Jennie pushed thoughts of Rosie aside and sat up, her stomach flaring up with a dull ache as she raked a hand through her hair and murmured softly to Athena as she scratched her beneath the chin. Buckling herself in, Jennie opened the shades covering the window and looked out at the sprawling pines and the sliver of the coastline, the ocean grey and the sky overcast.

A car was waiting for them when they touched down on the private airstrip and Jennie shivered as she donned a coat and stepped out of the jet. Oregon was already well into autumn and rain lightly dotted the tarmac as they all rushed towards the car, bundling into the back as Athena tried to squeeze in with them, before Jennie nudged her through the partition and into the passenger seat.

Still groggy, she somewhat dozed as they made their way through the forest of coniferous trees, crowding in close on either side of the twisting roads, short cliffs or lichen covered rock and mossy logs making the place feel so green, an alien contrast to San Francisco's dusty browns and greys. Jennie already felt that strange sensation of peace spreading through her chest at the prospect of Portland and all its quiet, small town charm. A break didn't seem like such a bad idea.

She was doubly glad for it when they pulled up outside the house, the car parked on the steep driveway behind Clare's SUV, watching as Clare opened the front door and stepped outside, wearing a puffer vest over a plaid shirt and jeans and holding her arms open. Alice hugged her mom as Jennie took her time getting out of the car, Ashley hovering nearby as she resisted the urge to help her. Slightly out of breath, Jennie emerged and squeezed Ashley's arm as they moved towards the front door, the driver fetching their things and Athena already roaming the front yard.