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Post by Cora DeGennaro on Oct 7, 2019 8:38:06 GMT -5
Cora had known it wouldn't be easy to see Brendon off to Australia. She'd accompanied his family to the airport, and the ride there had felt like just any other ride she'd taken with them, chatting with her best friend like she wasn't just about to watch him leave for a year. Ever since they'd met in kindergarten, they'd never spent more than a couple of weeks without seeing each other. And she knew Brendon would have loved for her to join him, but taking a gap year just hadn't been feasible for her. She knew he planned on earning his stay in a few places, but there was still money involved at the end of the day, and she didn't have the funds to spare. Still, she tried her best not to act all mopey, not wanting him to head off through the security gate with any negative feelings. She knew how excited he was for this. Once time came to say goodbye, she gave him a tight hug, allowing herself to hold onto him just a bit longer than she normally would before moving aside so that he could finish saying goodbye to his family. The ride back to their neighborhood was a lot quieter than the ride there had been, and it made it that much harder to hold back her tears. The fact that it'd started drizzling outside didn't exactly help, either. She was ready to hop out and jog the way home to avoid getting drenched once the car stopped in front of the Clarke residence, but Brendon's mum stopped her from doing so, telling her to get back in and that she'd drive her home as the rest of the family quickly headed inside.
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Post by Jessica Clarke on Oct 7, 2019 8:39:11 GMT -5
When Brendon had said that he planned on taking a gap year before starting university, Jess hadn't been surprised. She'd expected it, really - her second child wasn't the type who'd want to jump straight from secondary school to university to a steady job. He had too much desire for adventures for that, and the gap year culture was strong enough in England that it would of course have appealed to him. She had been a bit surprised by his desire to head to Australia for that year, however, because she wasn't sure how he would handle the drastic difference in climate. The fact that her parents lived on the continent did make her feel a bit better - of course, it was a big country, but if something happened they could still get to him faster than her. She had helped him plan a little, because even though she hadn't lived in Australia for years, she was still aware of some of the culture shocks he might encounter along the way, and then she'd also arranged for him to start his trip in Perth with her parents, to give him a chance to land on his feet before he went off to do God only knew what. Eric and Ivy had come to dinner the night prior to his departure, as they were both working the next day and so couldn't see him off to the airport. The rest of the family had joined in, however, as both she and Porter had managed to arrange for the day off and Marissa was off from school on holiday. Cora had also joined them, of course, and it had been easy for Jess to tell that the young girl was taking this harder than she was letting on. Which was part of the reason why she'd offered to drive her home after dropping off Porter and Marissa, even though she only lived a few streets away - that, and the fact that it was now raining. "He'll be okay, you know," she assured the young girl as she started off again. "He'll be back in one piece, and he'll keep in touch," she went on.
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Post by Cora DeGennaro on Oct 7, 2019 8:46:43 GMT -5
Cora had always felt comfortable around Brendon's mum, even since she'd been a little girl. The older woman had embraced her as a honorary member of the family early into their friendship, and she'd come to see her as a second mother figure over the years. Which was part of the reason she'd accepted the drive - if she didn't manage to hold off the tears she felt would be coming sooner or later, she wouldn't feel awkward or embarrassed crying in front of her. Even without actually shedding a tear, Jessica seemed to catch on to her gloomy mood as she spoke up in a comforting manner, assuring her that Brendon would be back in one piece and would keep in touch while he was gone. She managed to give a bit of a smile at that, but she couldn't quite hold in a heavy sigh. "Are we really sure he's gonna be back?" she asked with a light frown, blinking furiously as voicing her actual concern made it that much harder to not cry, and before long it was a lost battle. Sniffling as tears slid down her cheeks, wiping them away with the back of her hand as she took in a few shaky breaths.
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Post by Jessica Clarke on Oct 7, 2019 9:06:51 GMT -5
In all honesty, Jess knew that Cora's sadness had to do with the fact that she wouldn't be seeing her best friend for many months, and not so much her worry for him. Well, knowing Brendon as they all did, one couldn't help but be just a bit worried that something would happen to him in the Australian outback or wherever else he decided to explore without taking the proper precaution. Still, it likely wasn't the main thing that was bumming her out right now. She was a little surprised to hear her question whether they were sure he would actually be back though, and glancing over to see her start crying showed that this was a serious concern of hers. Angling the car slightly so that she could park on the side of the road, feeling like this was something that deserved her full attention as she turned to look at Cora, reaching to gently rub at her shoulder. "What do you mean, honey?" she asked in a soothing manner. "Do you think he's gonna want to stay abroad?" she went on, knowing this wasn't necessarily a crazy idea but also not one she'd really considered. Logistically, Brendon could immigrate to Australia. Would he want to? She wasn't convinced.
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Post by Cora DeGennaro on Oct 7, 2019 9:18:11 GMT -5
Cora had had this fear ever since Brendon had told her that Lacie would also be in Australia while he was there, although not for a few months still. The Hawaiian native was going to a surf camp on the east coast of Australia, where she'd be staying for three months, and although she'd mostly just teased him about how she had no doubt he'd find himself staying in that vicinity for the amount of time she was there, it had also brought forth a different thought. And when they'd started dating, it had sort of sealed it. "Not... in Australia," she said with a shake of her head as Jessica leaned closer and rubbed comfortingly at her shoulder, asking if he thought Brendon would want to stay abroad. "But Lacie..." she trailed off, taking in a few more shaky breaths. "They'll be there together for three months. And he's... the way he is with her, about her, it's different than any other girl," she went on. That much had become clear to her even before their relationship had officially started. The way her best friend felt about the brunette was more than casual, and if he wanted an actual future with her, it wouldn't take place in England.
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Post by Jessica Clarke on Oct 7, 2019 9:48:00 GMT -5
Jess was admittedly a bit confused as Cora started by saying that she didn't think he'd want to stay in Australia, but that confusion went away as soon as she spoke Lacie's name. She knew that the young girl would be there as well for a few months, and she had no doubt that Brendon would try to spend as much time with her as he could, and as she was allowed. She'd never really considered that it would be the start of a much more serious thing between them, one that would actually lead her son to move away to the States. Now that the thought was in her mind, she couldn't deny that it made sense. Cora saying that things were different between Brendon and Lacie than they had been for him with any other girl before was something she'd already noticed. She knew of Lacie's passion for the ocean and surfing though - much of which she'd heard about because of Amanda's worry of that very passion. Jess had managed to adapt to England, but the main hurdle for her had been the weather. She'd been excited to be somewhere new, to be with Porter. And although she wouldn't describe Lacie as a homebody, she couldn't picture the young girl being happy so far from her native island. "I don't know, sweetie," she spoke, her tone gentler as she moved her hand to rub at Cora's back. "I'm sure he doesn't really know himself. I know Brendon isn't one to spend much time thinking things over before doing them, but there's a bit more... logistical challenges to moving to another country. It's something they'll have to talk over between themselves when they're ready for it. But thinking of it as a done deal won't make it easier to see him go, if he does. Don't make yourself unhappy with what ifs," she told her, lightly running her hand through the young girl's blonde hair.
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Post by Cora DeGennaro on Oct 7, 2019 10:21:40 GMT -5
It was hard to think of living in a place where Brendon was not. He'd been such a big part of her life for so long now, she didn't even know how to go about her life without him there. This year in itself would be difficult, but what if this turned out to be the rest of her life? She couldn't exactly just follow him to the US. She didn't have family there, didn't really know anybody there at all, other than her boyfriend's girlfriend. The thought of losing him felt very much the same as giving up any of her limbs - she'd be able to go on, but it would be a lot trickier. As she listened to her best friend's mother, she did try to go along with her point of view. Whatever happened in the future hadn't happened yet, and it wouldn't be an easy feat to accomplish necessarily. Of course, that wouldn't discourage him, but it might give her a bit more time with him yet. "Thanks," she said simply, giving a small smile to indicate that she was doing okay, or at least would be okay. The older woman seemed to get that she had done what she could to make her feel somewhat better, returning the smile before getting her car started back up and driving the rest of the way to her house.
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Post by Jessica Clarke on Oct 7, 2019 10:30:29 GMT -5
Of her three children, Jess' bond was strongest with Brendon. She loved all of her kids equally, obviously, but their temperaments were best matched in a way that made it easier for them to connect, or at least for her to understand him. He was a lot like herself, and she knew she wasn't always easy to handle, bundle of energy and all. So the idea that he might someday move away wasn't one she'd ever stopped to consider, but now that it was being presented to her, it also didn't come as a shock. After all, he was a lot like her, and she had jumped at the opportunity of exploring new places. It would be extremely hard to see him go, if things did turn out to be that way, but she knew on some level that she would accept it and adapt to the change. Giving a light smile as Cora thanked her, knowing the young girl probably wouldn't find it any easier than her to picture a future where Brendon lived in a different country, but knowing it also wasn't her place to say any more at this point. So she drove the rest of the way to her house, stopping the car in front of it and turning back to the blonde once she had. "Don't forget that you're always welcome to stop by, even if Brendon isn't home," she reminder her, leaning closer to give her a hug after she nodded in agreement, and watching as she stepped out of the car and ran up to the front door of her house. Giving a soft sigh as she started back on the way home, wondering if Mel would be working today or if she'd be able to reach her best friend. She suddenly felt the need to talk this over with someone, and she didn't think Amanda would be the person for it - not if she would turn the focus on whether her own daughter would be moving away. She would talk to her husband too, obviously, but she needed her best friend's support as well right now.
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