3 Days To Forever

Chapter 8: Painful Memories

Jessy remembered that morning like it was yesterday, and she doubted any amount of time would ever dull the memories or feelings she had tried to capture with the photo.

It had been years since she had been to their country property. Jessy had managed to keep herself busy the last five years, too busy to come up here and visit the home that she had grown up in. But her mom's birthday was coming up, and the ache to go home was stronger than her want to stay away.

She had gotten in late last night and drank enough vodka until she went to sleep easily. Her bladder had woken her early, and as she stepped into the kitchen to start some coffee, she saw the scene out the window.

When DEAN looked down at the photo, she found it impossible to look away from. The sun had just popped over the trees in the distance. A light fog was sitting on the hills of the open valley, but not enough to cover the beautiful green of the grass and trees.

On a far rise stood a single tree, and just to the side of the tree, stood a horse with its head down at a lone tombstone that was just visible in the fog. DEAN quickly looked up at Jessy whose head was still down and tears were now falling. DEAN opened her arms and Jessy stepped right into them.

"That's home," Jessy whispered against DEAN's neck. She didn't look at the photo often, but when Jessy felt lonely or unsure, the photo was what always seemed to center her and help her find peace again.

She would always remember her mom's words of wisdom when they would take their early morning walks through the field with the horse.

"No matter where you end up or how old you get, remember it is your responsibility to make sure you are happy, no one else's. If you're lucky enough to meet someone like I did with your father who can make you even happier, then you can't ask for much more out of life than that."

Her mom had told her that when she was thirteen. Within a month, she was killed in a car accident on the way home from work. She and her father tried to continue on at the ranch after, but it just wasn't the same. Anyplace either one of them looked, Barbara stared back at them. Eventually Jessy's dad sat her down one evening after supper and asked her if she was happy living at the ranch.

They both ended up in tears by the time the conversation was over, but they agreed that moving to the city would be easier on both of them. With Robert working more, and Jessy heading into high school the next year, they started looking at houses in town and eventually bought one and moved their lives into the city. Robert never sold their first home or the land. Jessy now owned it and had lived there before moving for her new job.

"I'm sorry honey. I didn't mean to upset you." DEAN kissed Jessy's head and held her close as she thought back to her home and her mother.

"I'm sorry DEAN. I know what you were asking when you mentioned home, but that was what I thought of. That will always be home, and it's one of the few places where I can always go and find myself." Jessy pulled herself back and wiped her tears. "But that's not really the scene you were looking for was it?" Jessy let her head fall back and took a deep breath.

"Not quite, but I am honored that you shared it with me. Will you tell me more about it one of these days?" DEAN brought her hand up and captured one last tear that had managed to slip past Jessy's defenses.

Jessy nodded and agreed to share the story when the time was right. "Why don't you use your imagination and surprise me," Jessy said and nodded toward the surfboard that had been secured on top of the table.

"I can do that. I already have something rolling around up here anyway," DEAN said tapping her temple. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for letting me lose it there for a few minutes." Jessy turned and picked up a finished board that was leaning against another wall. "How long have you been surfing?"

DEAN answered all of Jessy questions, and asked some of her own as they finally locked up the store and headed back the few blocks to the club.

Jessy had left her car there instead of driving to the beach, and DEAN wasn't going to let her make the walk back by herself. She handed Jessy's phone back over to her after she had entered her phone number into it.