This Too Shall Pass

Chapter 19

I don't know exactly where I am going, I'm just running wherever my heart tells me to go. I know my way around LA pretty well by now, having spent so much time here as a kid and living here the last 8 months. I find myself at the entrance to Springfield Park, a small patch of land hidden behind a few restaurants. Annabelle, Signe, Daddy and I used to go into these restaurants every day we were visiting for a root beer float and pie. I wonder if anyone there will recognize me.

"Oh, my! Who are you?" A man with graying hair says as he opens the back door. A smile rises on my lips and I wave.

"Hello, Mr. Jacobson! I don't know if you remember me, mute my name is Claire, I used to come in all the time with my family!"

He gasps. "Claire? Is it really you, Monkey?" He smiles, "Come In, come in!" I laugh and step forward, he embraces me and I instantly recognize the familiar scent of cinnamon and nutmeg on his apron. I enter the kitchen area and admire all of the busy workers food they are perfectly preparing.

"Evan, Jocelyn, Addie! Look who came back!" Mr. Jacobson calls to three workers. A thin woman with long blonde hair I instantly recognize as Addie, Jocelyn looks a bit different, with a short bob of brown hair and a larger figure. And Evan, with his greasy salt and pepper hair and dazzling smile that never failed to make my day. I missed these four.

"Claire?"

"Monkey?"

"Oh, my!" They scream at the same time, they each come rushing forward to tackle me into a large group hug. I laugh.

"It's been too long!" Jocelyn squeals.

"Gosh... 3? 4 years?" Evan adds.

"Well, I'm just glad you stopped by! How are you doing?" Addie says, bending down to my height.

"I'm doing great! How are you guys?" They each answer quickly that they are busy but doing alright.

"Where is Signe and Sean? Oh, can't forget Annabelle!" Mr. Jacobson asks.

"Oh, Annabelle is off somewhere or other, I don't know where though. Daddy actually was deployed a few months ago and Signe is still in Brighton." I answer.

"Brighton? Didn't you live in Ireland?" Addie asks, shaking her head.

"Oh, yeah! We moved! God, there is actually so much to tell you guys, my life is so different now!" I chuckle "But I wouldn't have it any other way!"

They all nod before apologizing and returning to their work, promising to talk again another time. Mr. Jacobson hands me a piece of packaged cherry pie and a water bottle with a root beer float in it. Specially made the way I love it.

He leads me back to the door and opens it for me, he wishes me the best with a long hug and starts to close the door.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" He pulls out a small white envelope, "Good luck!"

I smile, of course the next envelope would be here! This is OUR spot! They found it, they loved it, they took the rest of us.

It's just special...

I open the envelope quietly while I sit on the grass under a large oak tree that shields me from the sun's heat.

This is last of the notes you will read

By the time you reach the sea

You will find someone that you miss

And get something you thought you could only wish

Make your way to the Only Bay

Where your only memories are fun and the sun...

I stand. Wondering, I was never really allowed to a beach, because I always had wires and devices attached to me because of the tumor. But where else have I been?

Wait. The day I was announced clean, my only wish was to go to the beach with Mark, Daddy, Signe, Amy, Annabelle and Chica.... That's the last spot! I pull out my phone and search up the name of the pier we visited all those years ago. It tells me it's about 10 miles away and I groan in annoyance and open Mark's contact.

"Hey! What's up!" Amy's voice greets me.

"Okay, 1. Why are you on Mark's phone? And 2...I need a ride..." I sigh.

"Okay, where you at, hon?" She asks sweetly.

"Around the park area were we used to go as kids... Remember that spot?"

"Yeah, be there in 5!" She hangs up and I lean against a tree, sipping the root beer out of the container slowly waiting to see the white van pull up. 5 minutes comes and goes and I look to see that it has been 15 minutes.

Classic Amy, always late... I think to myself, chuckling.

Finally the van pulls up and I jog over, throw open the passenger door and hop in.

"Heeeeeellloooooo!" Amy greets cheerfully "where we off to?" She asks.

"The pier we went to when I got out of hospital. Nani Bay? Does that ring a bell?" I ask skeptical. Amy is the master at forgetting things.

To my surprise, she nods and puts the car into drive. I know what is waiting for me at the pier, so I can't sit still. Amy notices and puts on the radio, my one escape from nerves and anxiety and shit. Smiling, we start to sing as loud as we can, screaming the lyrics and dancing insanely, well, as insane as you can get in a car.

Once we pull up, I almost throw myself out of the car and go into an all out sprint towards the shore. I look to my right but see no one. To my right is a Gazebo with 3 figures standing in it. I recognize Mark and Annabelle immediately, but it takes me a moment to realize who the third is. With her shoulder length hair down around her shoulders and wearing a pleated skirt and button up blouse.

"SIGNE!?" I scream. Her head turns and I break into an all out sprint towards her. Tears streaming down my cheeks as I jump into her arms like a little kid. Her embrace is warm and familiar and she smells of lilacs. Exactly how I remember her. I missed her so much.

"Oh... Claire..." She sighs, holding onto me tightly "I love you."

"I missed you so much, Signe!" I say between sobs of pure happiness.

"I missed you too!" She giggles.

"I love you.... Mom..." I whisper soft enough so that she can barely hear. He breath hitches and I feel her smile, and her arms become slightly tighter around me and we stand interlocked as two lost souls have found each other again.

Mom...

Signe, can you be my mom?