BACK WITH YOU
Epilogue

Santa Monica, California
June, 1935

Jessamyn looked out across the outside auditorium, her eyes gazing over rows and rows of tightly packed chairs and hundreds of people crammed into them. She didn’t find her parents in those few minutes, though, and had to quickly turn her attention back to the dean, who at that moment started the ceremony. She listened, somewhat impatiently, as he made his generic "I am very proud of each and every one of my students…" speech. She doubted if he even knew more than five of their names, let alone what they had accomplished.

It was graduation day and Jessamyn was among the many students receiving degrees. Hers was in journalism, and already she had received offers from newspapers all around the country, including one in New Orleans, where she planned on moving to, with Charlie, of course. His father had announced his retirement that spring, and had offered the law firm to his son, which Charlie had gladly accepted. He had asked Jessamyn to marry him just a few weeks ago, and they were planning on moving to Louisiana in July. The wedding wouldn’t be until October, however, so they would have some down time--as Charlie called it; Jessamyn saw it more as planning time--before the ceremony.

Unconsciously, Jessamyn twisted her ring around in a circle on her finger. She was utterly bored out of her skull and was hot from the sun, which was shining right in her eyes. Having to wear the heavy gown didn’t help matters, either, and a small amount of sweat was beginning to glaze her temples. Sighing discreetly, her eyes once again drifted out into the audience as the dean continued the speech.

She found her fiancé first, and managed to catch his eye. He smiled and waved a little from his seat, and Jessamyn smiled back softly. It was then that she noticed that to the right of him was the rest of her family. First it was the Calverts, who had come down from Maine the week before and were staying for just another day. It was the first time Jessamyn had seen them since she had left, and it had been a bittersweet reunion. Her younger brother and sister seemed to have grown like weeds, and her older brother had already eloped with his longtime girlfriend, who was here as well. They had met Jack and Rose, and then there had been more tears. Rose couldn’t get over how thankful she was that they had taken in her little girl, and kept wanting to do things for them. Jack, too, expressed his gratitude, and even took James out for a couple of drinks. They got along pretty well, and for this, Jessamyn was happy. She hadn’t known what she would do if they had hated each other.

Her eyes moved to Rose, who was sitting back in her seat, looking rather uncomfortable, as she held two-year-old Josephine, who was squirming and trying to get away from her mother. Jack sat on the other side, looking quite the opposite of his wife as Josephine’s twin brother, John, lay asleep in his lap. Jessamyn looked with pride upon her younger siblings. Poor Rose had suffered through two miscarriages their first year of marriage, and then it had taken her almost another year to get pregnant again. It was a miracle that she had delivered not only one healthy baby, but two, and Rose often said that she believed that God felt guilty for taking two babies away from her, so he had given them back.

The twins were certainly different people. Josephine had been born with Rose’s wild hair, Jack’s eyes, and both of their personalities put together--a lethal combination. She always wanted to be on the move, couldn’t stand to just sit down and stay there. In fact, Jessamyn was the only one who could get her to behave and settle down. But John, however, seemed to have inherited the milder side of his parents. His hair was a soft, strawberry blonde and again, he had eyes like his father’s. He was chubbier then his sister--something Rose groaningly blamed herself for--but that didn’t stop him from keeping up with her. However, he was already the person of reason, from what Jessamyn could see. They were both precious children, though, and shared that bond, if nothing else besides their birthday. They did love each other, though, best friends already.

Jessamyn/s mind was brought back to reality when she heard her name being announced. She blinked a few times and then rose from her chair. It was she who was giving the student address that afternoon, based largely on her peer’s high opinion of her and also of her speech that she had composed and sent in. With trembling hands, she crossed the stage to the podium and stood facing the audience. Charlie gave her a little thumb’s up and then Josephine waved wildly. Jessamyn could see Rose’s face turn white when her daughter did so. But when Josephine didn’t say anything, she saw her mother breath a sigh of relief.

Taking a deep breath, Jessamyn pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and spread it out on the podium, running her hands over the creases a few times. She was nervous, but she had also done this enough to know that once she started talking, it would turn into productive adrenaline.

"Anon said, ‘Is life worth living? That depends on the liver.’ We sit there today before you all as we prepare to graduate from college and step out into the real world. But each of our journeys depends on what we ourselves make of them…"

With triumph, Jessamyn ran through her speech like a pro, pronouncing words as they should be, pausing when she needed, and using the right things at the right time. It was a motivational speech, not meant to be sad, but she noticed some people reaching for their Kleenexes. An odd feeling came over her as she read the familiar words; they were beginning to finally sink in. The nature of one’s journey did depend on what one made of it. Jessamyn had written the speech from an outside perspective, but now she saw. She had put her heart and soul into finding Rose four years ago; she had made it her own. Now she was going to start a new life, in a new city, with a fiancé. Would she have the drive to do the same things she did to find her mother?

As she wrapped up her speech and walked back to her seat as a round of applause erupted from the audience, she thought of what she was about to do. The next part of her journey would be whatever she made it. If she failed, it was her own fault. And if she succeeded, that too was her fault.

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blurry haze. Jessamyn numbly stood up when her name was called to receive her diploma, and numbly sat back down again. All she could think about was the future. There were so many possibilities just out there, waiting for her. Finally, when the final cheer was sounded and caps thrown up into the air, Jessamyn was brought back to reality. She had other things to think about now.

It took her a few minutes, but she finally found her family in the throng of people. Josephine bolted from Rose when she saw her sister and threw herself around Jessamyn’s legs.

"Hi!" she yelled, staring up at Jessamyn with big eyes and a wide grin.

Jessamyn laughed and picked up Josephine with the arm that wasn’t holding the diploma. "Hey, you. Did you see me up there?" she asked her sister, knowing full well that she had.

Josephine didn’t have time to answer, because Rose had finally caught up and gave Jessamyn a big hug, taking the diploma away from her to look at. She was slightly jealous of her daughter, never having gotten to attend college herself. But she was excitedly proud of her. With soft hands, she traced Jessamyn’s name and then smiled at her.

"Congratulations," Rose said, handing the diploma back to her and then taking Josephine into her own arms. "Jo, don’t run off like that again," she chided softly.

Jack came up all of a sudden, having been separated with John in tow. He hugged his daughter tightly with one arm, the other holding onto his son, and gave her a soft kiss on her cheek. "I’m so proud of you," he whispered happily.

Jessamyn gave her father a soft smile. Oh, how she hated to leave them again! But they had babies to take care of now, their own lives to lead. Jessamyn knew that she would be busy enough. However, this did not stop her from longing to stay in Santa Monica. It had become her home, a place of familiarity. It was going to be hard to leave it behind.

The Calverts came along soon enough, and then there were more congratulations, hugs, and tears to be shed. Of course, everyone had to get pictures taken with everyone else, and that seemed to take forever. It wasn’t until an hour later that the two families told Jessamyn that they would see her back at the house and then left, leaving her alone to find Charlie. She hadn’t seen him since that morning.

It was he who found her, however, discreetly sneaking behind her and then grabbing her around the waist. "How’s my favorite fiancé?" he asked, before she could become frightened.

Jessamyn grinned and turned around in his arms. "Well," she answered. "Although I’m a bit concerned that I may not be your only fiancé anymore," she teased lightly.

Charlie responded by kissing her lightly on the lips, pulling her tighter as he did so. "You know you’re the only one," he whispered when their mouths broke apart. "Congratulations, baby," he drawled. His accent was always thicker when he spoke in hushed tones, or when he shouted.

"Thank you," Jessamyn whispered back before returning his soft kiss. "I can’t believe I’m finished with school."

"Now we can get on with our lives," Charlie responded, grinning and raising his eyebrows.

"Life," Jessamyn corrected softly. Their life. Soon they would move, get married, and then start a life together. It was scary, but then, most things she had cherished the most in her life had been. The thought of starting over again gave her that excited-nervous feeling that made her want to throw up and jump for joy at the same time.

"My mistake," Charlie said seriously. And then his lips were upon hers again. Jessamyn allowed herself to melt into his arms and together they stayed for some time. It was she who finally broke away and removed herself from his embrace.

"They’re expecting us," she whispered, taking his hand and starting to lead him away. Charlie followed, caught up with her, and draped his arm around her shoulders, hugging her close to him. Jessamyn let him hold her, her mind flashing back to that night when he had walked her home and done the same. She had just found Rose’s shop’s address then, and the future had been very hazy. And while the future was hazy once again, at least this time she had some direction, not to mention a loving family who was supporting her all the way. She could only hope that their family turned out half as good.

The sun was starting to set as they approached the house, and Jessamyn took a mental picture. She wanted to remember this moment for the rest of her life. She was in the best place in the world, with her fiancé and her parents--both sets--waiting. She had found a mother, and a father, and had still saved room for those who had raised her and given her a better life. The future was uncertain, but the present was wonderful. She was back with them, though, and that’s what mattered most. The Calverts had all been a big part of her life, but for so long she had been searching for something more that until her eighteenth birthday she never knew could be found. The revelations the Calverts had presented to her had opened up a whole new world. When she found Rose, it was a miracle. And Jack had been more than what anyone had expected. But the last thing she had wanted to do was cut out her old life. So she had combined them, it had worked, and now she was back. She was back with all of them.

The End.

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