We Are Family Who: Gabby and Jo Where: Rented Beach House When: Friday, July 6th - Early Evening
After taking the kids out to grab some food for dinner (and for the weekend), as well as giving Jo and Mal a chance to be alone for a little while; Gabby took the first chance that she got to get some time alone as soon as she got to the beach house. She loved the kids, don't get her wrong - but having to listen to three teenage girls talk for an extended period of time was enough to make her insane. She stepped out onto the balcony around the back of the beach house and let out a heavy sigh when she looked out toward the ocean.
Noticing a half full beer bottle on the railing (presumably left by Mal), she looked at it (perhaps for longer than she should have, given her addiction), then picked up the bottle and tipped out the contents over the railing with a sense of satisfaction.
“It is a lovely view, isn’t it.” Joanna voiced as she stepped out onto the balcony to join her sister. The kids, after their return from town, had decided to play out on the beach, and Mal deciding to cook up a quick meal on the deck below on the grill, left Jo with a little alone time of her own.
Gabby startled when she heard Jo's voice (having not heard her approach), then turned and gave her sister a small smile. "It is," she agreed. "I've always liked it here," she commented as she threw the empty bottle into the trash. She then reached a hand out to her sister. "Hopefully he doesn't burn anything," she commented lightly, smelling the various meats cooking below.
"I heard that!" Mal called from below, which made Gabby smirk.
Joanna smiled when she caught her husband response from the deck below. Catching her sister’s hand, Jo stepped closer to the balcony railing. “I do too,” she commented then, “gives everyone,” meaning specifically her husband, Malcolm, “a chance to relax and just enjoy things.”
Gabby smiled. There were times that she envied her sister's happiness, yet at the same time she was grateful for it. She only hoped that her daughter, Jackie, was happy, or found some kind of happiness as well. By focusing on her family, her thoughts didn't turn to darker things. To addictions. It worked most of the time. "I tried to keep the kids out as long as I could," she told her sister, knowing what she and Mal likely would have done on their alone time.
“We appreciated that.” She said with a brief glance over to her sister. With a full house who knew when next they would be able to catch a few moments of alone time. “So, how are you doing, really?” Jo asked of her sister. Sure they ran the diner together, but that didn’t mean they talked about anything in depth.
Some days they worked on alternating hours, or were so busy that they didn't really get the chance to talk at all. "Bit lonely," Gabby admitted, giving Jo's hand a light squeeze. The last time that she'd had a major slip was seven years ago - at Christmas. Those times were the worst for her. "But being here with you and the kids helps."
“Oh sweetie.” Jo said then, giving a gentle rub to her sister’s arm. “You know you’re always welcome at the house.” She told her then in a sympathetic tone. She loved her sister dearly, and wanted only the best for her.
"I think that I'll take you up on that. Maybe babysit Henry sometime soon?" She suggested. She knew that Jo and Mal liked to go to a hotel for some alone time occasionally, and with it being the summer, the girls would likely be off doing god only knew what. It would do well to keep her thoughts from turning inward, at the very least.
“You don’t know how much that would be appreciate.” Joanna smiled warmly to her sister then. An occasional night out with her husband was a rarity, and Jo would snatch up any chance to get away, even for a few short hours, with her husband. And she knew that Malcolm held the same sentiments.
"Then I'll do it soon," Gabby assured her, moving to wrap an arm around Jo since it was starting to get chilly. "It'd be nice to spend more time with him, actually. Does he still like building forts, or has he moved onto something else now?" She asked, curious. Kids never stayed on one thing for too long.
“He is definitely his father’s child.” Jo said in response to her sister’s inquiry. Like Malcolm, Henry seemed to enjoy working with his hands, building or constructing anything. Currently back home Henry and Malcolm were in the process of building a boat, more like a canoe, but Henry seemed to find them to be one and the same.
That made Gabby smile. In some ways Jackie was like her, but for the most part, she wasn't - and Gabby was glad for that. "Let's get the kids inside before they turn into prunes," she suggested, giving her sister a light squeeze.</li-cut>