Jessalyn was up at the crack of dawn the next morning for her last run on the beach with Clark. The sky was a beautiful red color and a light breeze sent chills down Jessalyn’s spine.
She sat on a large rock and watched as Clark had his fun in the water. She was going to miss this place when she leaves. She was even going to miss the smell of salt and seaweed.
As she stared out at the open sea, Jessalyn wished she could see Caleb one more time. His eyes, his smile, his body, even his scent. Everything about him was attractive and gentle and mystifying. At the end of the day he was just another guy…wasn’t he? To Jessalyn, she wasn’t so sure.
It was seven thirty and Jessalyn already had a text from Nina. At least she wasn’t the only early bird. Her mother wasn’t awake yet and Jessalyn wouldn’t be the one to wake her up. Instead, she packed up all of her belongings and brought her suitcase into the living room.
To pass the time while her mother slept, Jessalyn snapped pictures of the interior and exterior of the house and a couple of the beach and sky above the water. She wanted to capture as much of California as she could. It’s too bad she couldn’t get one of Caleb before he left.
Upon walking back into the house, Jessalyn saw Diana going through the cupboards near the stove. She was fully dressed and Clark was eating out of his bowl.
“Hey, Mom. Sleep well?”
Diana turned around, smiled, and said, “I did. What do you say to us heading home early? It’s an eighteen hour drive back home.”
“I’m ready whenever you are. All of my stuff is in the living room ready to go.”
“Go into the refrigerator and throw away stuff we can’t take with us.”
“Sure.”
I’ll eat some of those things.
You’ll eat anything, Clark. Don’t worry, I have plenty of food for you.
Food is good.
Jessalyn looked at her dog’s goofy grin and scratched behind his ears. His large tongue fell out of his mouth as his head pushed against her hand.
It was eleven thirty when Jessalyn and Diana backed out of the driveway. She was able to say goodbye to Nina first before heading toward the highway for Seattle.
“Promise me we can come back,” Jessalyn said as she stared out the window.
“I’d like to come back, too” Diana responded. It wasn’t a promise, but it was good enough for Jessalyn.
Bat dog! Dunna nunna nunna nunna bat dog!
Jessalyn looked in the side mirror and watched as Clark’s ears flopped in the wind. He tried to eat the air and she started to laugh uncontrollably. Even Diana giggled.
As the hours passed, Jessalyn thought about Caleb and the night before. She thought about their kiss and embrace. She thought about how he made her feel. She knew in her mind that she wouldn’t see him again, but her heart was telling her different. It was crazy! She didn’t know him!
It wasn’t until seven thirty that Jessalyn and Diana switched seats. They wanted to avoid getting a hotel room. The less stops they made, the faster they would get home.
Are we almost there?
We have about ten hours to go boy and then we’re home.
Open the window again.
No problem.
Jessalyn lowered Clark’s window enough for him to stick his head out. She found a radio station playing a song by The Fray and listened as she kept her eyes on the road.
