Think Of Me

Chapter Four

The sun was hot, creating pink faces and shoulders. Jeanna called her daughter away from her new best friend and reapplied sunscreen on her small body and face. When she was coated thoroughly, she took off towards Kerry Ellis to finish building Elphaba's castle. Whether it was because Risa thought Kerry didn't have any friends, like in the musical, or if she genuinely liked her, Jeanna didn't know, but she remained glued to her side all afternoon.

Jeanna took a sip of her water bottle and sat down on her beach towel that was spread across the sand. Amy had long deserted her to converse with the casting director since acting was her first love and what she really wanted to do instead of nannying, but Jeanna didn't mind. She actually liked the time being alone to think.

She had been extremely embarrassed to show up with Aaron to the barbeque. At first, she had mentally accused him of treating their daughter like any other child, but the afternoon at the beach was starting to change her feelings towards them. He had played with Risa for a long time, letting her bury him in the sand and not getting angry when she accidentally tossed sand in his face and even helped make her plate. Jeanna brought her fingers up to massage her temples. Why did this have to be so confusing?

“Can I join you?” She started at Aaron's sudden voice, but moved over to allow him a seat on the towel. “She's a great kid.”

“Thank you,” Jeanna smiled. “I'm not going to lie and say it hasn't been difficult raising her on my own.”

He chuckled and leaned back on his elbows. “Yeah, she's a pistol alright.”

Silence passed between them and the sea breeze picked up, tossing Jeanna's curls into her face. She aggravatingly pulled them back into a ponytail.

“Hurry, Risa! Go get us some water for our moat!” Kerry's voice carried back to them and Jeanna perked up, watching carefully as her daughter scurried to the water with her pail.

“It's a shame her father isn't in her life,” he apologized.

“Yeah,” Jeanna frowned. What game is he playing at?

Aaron jumped up from his spot beside Jeanna when he heard a little voice yell, “Fiyero!” Leaving Jeanna alone again, he jogged down the shore to where Risa sat, scooping sand out of the moat. She thrust a shovel at him and made digging motions, recruiting him to help.

Jeanna laid back on her towel, her thoughts swimming. How could he not know he's her father?

~*~

Ithaca College was beautiful and surrounded by trees, much like her home in South Carolina. The fountains on campus became a sanctuary for Jeanna to sit and think or study. Ithaca had been the highlight of Jeanna's life. She met her best of friends there. She met her first love there. She could still remember her first day.

Her parents had followed her the whole way from their home in the Appalachian foothills of South Carolina to make sure their baby got to her destination safely, and also to help carry her things. Her roommate, Allesha, had not yet arrived, so Jeanna had the luxury of taking up the whole room with her stuff while she arranged the supplied furniture the way she wanted. Once her belongings were set in their new places, Jeanna pulled out pictures of old friends and family and posters and began decorating her side of the room in an attempt to make it a little more homey.