Chapter Thirty-Five
“I’m going to miss you,” Jerome told Joi. “I hope you’ll come back next year.”
Joi zipped her last duffle bag then gave Jerome a hug. She couldn’t believe eight weeks had gone by so quickly. “Of course I will. I really enjoyed myself.”
“Well, you better go say your goodbyes,” Jerome said. “I think Zora and Reggie are here.”
Joi reached to lift her bag, but Jerome stopped her. “One of your brothers will get that for you.”
Joi walked out of her room, and halfway down the steps she was certain she’d heard Jerome crying. She wanted to cry, too. The summer had gone by too fast. When Joi reached the kitchen, she was surprised to find most of the family there. Everyone except Renee and Jerome Jr. She didn’t expect to see Renee, but Jerome Jr.’s absence saddened her. In eight weeks, she had barely spent any time with him.
“Come give us some love before you go,” Zora said. “And don’t forget you can call me any time.”
Joi made her way around the room, kissing and hugging her new family. When she had given out her last hug, Jerome came downstairs.
“We better go,” he said “Your flight leaves in three hours. It’s going to take me an hour to get out to O’Hare from here.”
Everyone followed Joi to the front door, singing their favorite songs to keep from crying. She opened the door and gasped. Standing in front of Jerome’s truck was Jerome Jr. An instant smile crossed her face. Joi wanted to run over to him, but kept her cool.
“This has been hard for me,” Jerome Jr. said. “But I’m glad God has given me a sister. You mind if I ride to the airport with you and Pops?”
Joi couldn’t speak, but she ran into Jerome Jr.’s arms.
“I guess that’s a yes,” Joshua said from the driveway.
Joi hopped into the Yukon for the last time this summer and stared out of the window. As she looked at her Chicago family, there was no longer any doubt that she was blessed. God had given her a large family full of people that loved her.