20. Jo
CHAPTER 20
Jo
It's just Jo's luck that the contract for her first book comes in the day before Bill's launch. She stands at the mailbox, holding the official looking manila envelope that's addressed to her from Snell the kids back at school and settling in; Bill's launch the following day… their lives are overflowing with good things. The bounty of this life they have together is rich. For the rest of the day, Jo smiles to herself happily as she goes about her tasks, and not once does she stop to think about Jeanie Florence, about Bill not wanting to see Dr. Sheinbaum with her, about the dangers of Bill's job. She simply counts her blessings, and counts the hours until her family is home with her again, safe and sound.
* * *
Dinner is poolside, and it's comprised of everyone's favorites: steak and mashed potatoes for Bill; macaroni salad for Jimmy; Jello for Kate; Shirley Temples with extra maraschino cherries for Nancy.
"This was quite a feast," Bill says, leaning back in his chair as they sit in the twilight, listening to the hum of the pool filter. In a neighboring yard, they can hear young boys tossing a ball back and forth, and Jimmy's eyes light up at the sound. "Yes, you can head over and join them," Bill says to his son before he can even ask.
"Thanks for dinner, Mom," Jimmy says, standing up and looking like he's ready to bolt.
"Dishes, son," Bill says to him, nodding at Jimmy's spot at the table. With a mild grimace, Jimmy stops, gathers his things, and races them into the kitchen, where Jo knows she'll find them deposited haphazardly on a counter or on the kitchen table. "Hey, I'm trying to get him to participate," Bill says to her with an apologetic shrug. "Can't have him making more work around here for you."
Jo smiles at Bill as she sips her watered-down Shirley Temple. The ice had melted quickly, but the festive feel of the dinner has been a balm for her soul. Even the girls are chatty and in good spirits, and everyone toasted Jo when she'd casually mentioned that her book had received a contract.
"I'm proud of you, hon," Bill says now, watching as Kate and Nancy stand and gather the rest of the dishes to take inside. Jo has agreed to let them indulge in an hour of television before bed, and they're eager to watch I Dream of Jeannie . "I don't know how you manage everything around here, and write books that big New York publishers want to acquire. You amaze me."
For his part, Bill has been subdued all evening. Jo can imagine that he's experiencing a heightened sensation of what one feels the night before embarking on a big journey: anticipation, excitement, maybe a bit of dread mixed in. The feeling of nervousness must be so overwhelming that it nearly silences a person, and Jo watches him carefully, noting how he sits extremely still, just looking around as if seeing things for the first time.
"Thank you," Jo says, reaching for his hand and clasping it on the table. The light goes on in the kitchen and through the window, they can see the girls moving around, laughing as they clean up and do the task their father has assigned to them. "I know it's been hard for everyone in different ways--us coming here and starting a whole new life--but I really took some time to adjust, and you were patient with me. I appreciate that more than you know."
Bill rubs her fingers as they hold hands. He looks almost remorseful. "I should have been easier on you, Jojo," he says in a voice roughened by emotion. "You wanted to volunteer at the hospital to get a foothold in this new life, and then you wanted to write to work out your own feelings, and I should have honored that more."
"Oh, you did alright," Jo says, dismissing his apology. "We learn things all the time, don't we?"
"We sure do," Bill says. "About ourselves and about each other. And what I've learned about you is how strong you are."
Jo flushes with the sensation of being seen. She looks down at their hands, knotted together there on the glass tabletop as stars emerge in the sky above. Bill has lit the tiki torches that are stuck in the grass for this occasion, and the little blazes of light that dot the pool area flicker and cast light on their faces. Jo looks up and into her husband's eyes.
"I think you're strong, too. You’re amazing, Bill. You wanted this for so long, and you made it come true. You got chosen by NASA, and you've jumped through all the hoops, and now you're going..."
"...to space," Bill finishes for her. "I'm really going."
Jo nods, squeezing his hand but trying not to let on how much this scares her. "We'll be here," she says, aiming for a lighthearted tone. "We'll be here waiting for you when you land--I promise you."
Bill's eyes shine by the light of the tiki torches, and he tugs on Jo's hand, pulling her up and out of her seat at the patio table. He guides her gently into his lap, wrapping his arms around her as she sinks into him with a sigh, their warm bodies pressed together as they look up at the heavens. Inside the house, their girls talk and laugh as they wash dishes, and from over the fence, they can hear Jimmy's voice mingling with the other boys' voices as they toss a ball around.
Bill presses his lips to the warm skin of Jo's shoulder and kisses her there. "I can't wait to come home," he whispers. "I can't wait."