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Today was the day Jadon and Imani had been waiting for. After months of planning and anticipation, they were finally going to reunite with their mother in Sunderland. Jadon had kept a secret from Imani, though. They would not be traveling alone; they were going to make the journey from London with Jude and Jobe. Jobe had to return to Sunderland to reunite with his team for pre-season training, and Jude had offered them a ride.
Jadon had left his car in Sunderland on his last visit, leaving them without a means to drive themselves. As the sun began to rise over London, Jadon and Imani gathered their bags and headed to Jude's car. Imani, still groggy from the early wake-up call, hadn't asked many questions, her excitement to see their mother overriding any curiosity.
"Ready?" Jude asked as they approached the car, his usual cheerful demeanor attempting to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, let's get going," Jadon replied, trying to sound enthusiastic.
Imani climbed into the backseat with Jadon, and Jobe took the front passenger seat. As the car pulled away, an uncomfortable silence filled the air. Jude fiddled with the radio, settling on a pop station that played familiar hits. Jobe stared out of the window, lost in his thoughts, while Imani leaned against Jadon, her eyes fluttering closed.
Jadon's mind raced. How was he going to explain this to Imani? He had hoped she wouldn't mind, but now that they were on the road, he feared she might feel betrayed. The miles slipped by slowly, and with each passing minute, the tension grew.
Imani eventually fell asleep, her head resting on Jadon's shoulder. Jobe couldn't help but glance back at her through the rearview mirror.
As Jobe stared at Imani, he felt a pang of regret. She looked so peaceful, her delicate features relaxed in sleep. He couldn't help but think about everything that had happened between them. He had messed up, and seeing her now, so close yet so far, made him realize just how much he missed her.
"Quit looking," Jude whispered, ensuring Imani couldn't hear. Jobe snapped out of his trance, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"You really love her, right?" Jude asked, his tone more serious.
Jobe nodded silently, his eyes returning to the road ahead. "Yeah," he muttered under his breath, the weight of his words sinking in.
Jude hesitated before speaking again. "I'm sorry, you know, for not always being there for you. I had to send Trent a lot because of my own commitments. I wish things were different."
Jobe sighed, feeling a mix of emotions. "I know you had your reasons, Jude. It's just...sometimes it felt like you were never around when I needed you."
"I get it," Jude replied, his voice heavy with regret. "I should have tried harder to be there. But I want you to know that I always had your back, even if I couldn't be there physically."
"I appreciate that," Jobe said, feeling a bit more at ease. "And Trent's great, but it's not the same."
"I know," Jude admitted. "I'm trying to do better. I hope you can forgive me."
Jobe glanced at his brother, a small smile playing on his lips. "You're doing fine, Jude. Just...keep trying, alright?"
After about two hours, Jude announced they would stop at a service station for a break.
"Stretch your legs, get some fresh air," he said. "And maybe some food?"
Imani stirred but didn't wake as Jadon and Jobe stepped out of the car. Jude lingered, watching Imani as she remained curled up in the back seat, headphones on.
"I'll grab some food," Jobe said, his voice low.
"Thanks," Jadon replied, feeling a mixture of gratitude and awkwardness.
A few minutes later, Jobe returned, with bags of food. "I got us all something," he said, smiling sheepishly. He handed out sandwiches, crisps, and drinks, making sure everyone had their favorites. The gesture was unexpected, and it broke some of the tension that had been building.
Jadon looked at Imani, who was still asleep. "It's getting stuffy back here. Do you mind switching seats with me?" he asked Jobe.
"Sure," Jobe said, nodding.
They switched seats, and Jadon settled into the front passenger seat, relishing the extra space. Imani, still unaware, shifted in her sleep, her head coming to rest on Jobe's shoulder. He sat still, his heart racing, careful not to wake her. She looked so serene, completely unaware.
When they finally arrived in Sunderland, the car rolled to a stop in front of their mother's house. Imani woke up, blinking sleepily. As she realized she had been resting on Jobe's shoulder, she recoiled, moving as far from him as she could in the cramped back seat.
Jadon turned around, sensing the shift in atmosphere. "We're here," he said softly.
Imani nodded, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and confusion. They all got out of the car, gathering their bags. As they approached the house, the door opened, and their mother stepped out, her face lighting up with joy.
"Jadon! Imani!" she exclaimed, rushing to embrace them. "I've missed you so much!"
"We've missed you too, Mum," Jadon said, hugging her tightly.
Imani joined the embrace, her earlier discomfort melting away in the warmth of her mother's arms. "It's so good to see you, Mum."
As they stood there, reunited at last, the long journey and its awkward moments faded into the background. They were finally together again, and that was all that mattered.
