Chapter 28
Epilogue: One Month Later
Sarah Beth’s mother laughed. It wasn’t the first time, but it was the first time in a long time. She and Sarah Beth had both turned over new leaves. It was amazing for Sarah Beth to have her mother back. The smell of mac and cheese and hamburgers filled the air. Her mother had never been one to cook since her father had left, but she was slowly beginning to.
“Beth can you please get the table set?” her mother asked. Sarah Beth got up and walked to their pale blue colored dining room. Her mother had liked the idea of painting it blue because she said she enjoyed having a sky inside on rainy days. Sarah Beth had once hated the light shade, and the lights that made it look like the sun, but now she smiled at all of it. Pink, red, and yellow flowers overtook the middle of the table, and the smell of the hamburgers lingered throughout the whole house.
“How many seats?” Sarah Beth asked.
“Isn’t everyone coming?” answered her mother.
“Yes,” she said, and she began counting on her fingers, “There’s Eugene, Maria, Jorgina, C.J. , Cody, Charlie, Luna, Cindi, Jack, Katherine and her kids, and of course Jacob. It seemed like a lifetime since they had all been together. As soon as the table was set, the door bell rang.
“Beth, go get the door please,” her mother said as Sarah Beth sprung towards it. Jorgina walked in carrying a cake.
“Wow that it totally epic!” exclaimed Sarah Beth as she admired it.
“Yeah, I know. My mom called Cake Boss, and they made it look just like Camp Clearwater. Look they made every single one of us,” Jorgina said beaming. After setting it down, she started pointing to the main entrance, the base camp, their bunkhouse, the rapids, and Jack’s cabin. Everything was perfectly proportioned.
The next person to arrive was Cody. He looked more grown up. Of course, his hair looked perfect. After giving the girls a hug, he studied the cake, and he too couldn’t believe all the precise details.
“Luna’s here,” said Sarah Beth. “Her mother never came for her, and so my mom offered to adopt her. It’s working out great to have her here.”
Luna came down the stairs, smiling and looking like a million dollars. She stood tall and proud and was pleasant to Cody although she really didn’t want to be around him. He was shocked by how good she looked. Turning on the charm he said, “Are you a parking ticket? ‘Cause you have fine written all over you.”
Luna rolled her eyes, admired the cake, and went to answer the door. Eugene had gotten contacts and some new clothes which were stylish. He was more social and real, not so much of a know-it-all. He seemed different to everyone and in a weird way almost as cool as the cake.
C.J., Cindi, and Jack all came together. Jack looked so handsome after he had cleaned himself up. The three of them had driven together instead of flying even though Jorgina’s parents offered to pay for their plane tickets. They stopped on the way in Odessa and got things Jack had in storage that he would need to set up a clinic at Camp Clearwater.
Excitedly, he started telling everyone about his new plans to enlarge his cabin. He was adding three more bedrooms, a den, another bathroom, and making his kitchen and dining area larger because he wanted to have plenty of room for guests. He extended an open invitation to everyone there.
Everyone couldn’t take their eyes off of C. J. who had her red hair combed in a French braid. She was wearing a cute top and jeans. She seemed peaceful and happy as she told everyone about the papers being filed for her adoption. Dale had been writing her and was coming the following week to visit her. She was more than excited to see him and babbled on to everyone about all the changes at Camp Clearwater.
Jack beamed and had his arm around Cindi the whole night. He never left her side. They, along with C.J., smiled the entire evening. They looked like they all belonged together.
“Hello,” Sarah Beth said as three kids came barreling inside. “We were just talking about you guys.”
“Yes, my kids are just excited to see everyone again,” said Katherine as she told her kids to calm down. Her flight had arrived a little later than expected. Her daughter Daisy, headed straight over to Cody and he started in on a series of his many pick up lines.
The doorbell rang again and outside stood Maria and Charlie who were holding hands. Maria looked a little embarrassed when everyone looked at them. She released Charlie’s hand instantly, but he immediately grabbed for it again. “I’ve got you. It’ll be alright,” said Charlie as they both entered and smiled at everyone.
“I hope no one will be mad at me,” whispered Maria.
“They’re not mad,” assured Charlie. He began telling about how Maria’s family had sold their farm and had moved to a neighborhood close to Charlie’s. Then they told everyone about how they were taking martial arts classes together. “It seems like someone is missing?” said Charlie.
Sarah Beth was growing tense. At last, Jacob arrived. He had been nervous and eager all day to see Sarah Beth. Not ever having a girlfriend before, he felt awkward and didn’t know what to say or do. “Yeah, Sarah Beth you look beautiful tonight. Thanks for having all of us over.” With his cast off, he had one of his arms behind his back.
“Did you bring me flowers or something?” asked Sarah Beth.
“No, it’s just a football. I was wondering if anyone wanted to throw the ball around,” said Jacob.
Sarah Beth looked disappointed.
“I’m only kidding. Yes, I have flowers for you.” And then he presented her with a beautiful bouquet of mixed flowers, which she loved. She drew them to her face to hide her blushing smile and twinkling eyes. “Sorry I’m late. I wanted to get these for you,” Jacob said as he blushed too.
All night, everyone talked and laughed reliving each moment shared together from when they first got off the bus, until they were rescued. Katherine invited everyone back to Camp Clearwater, and said they all deserved to go white water rafting and do everything the brochure promised. They agreed they would.
Each person there exchanged numbers and promises that they would return to Camp Clearwater every year on the last weekend in June. Plans were made to also meet there the week after Christmas. Everyone agreed Camp Clearwater changed their lives and created a bond that could never be broken.