Page 80 of The Summer Request

Chloe and Kelly had spearheaded the rescue of the Emerald community, and they had been quite successful. They did away with expensive sessions and instead focused on what made the organization great to begin with: the community, and the earnest human effort towards trying to improve, to make life more bearable, if not a tad bit easier.

They were able to eliminate much of the debt fellow Emeralds had accumulated, and paid for others through restitution from Lou. In the end, they had a thriving community of people who supported each other, which is exactly what Justine would have wanted.

Chloe had asked Lisa, Michelle, and Val to attend as guests of honor for the Emerald banquet that evening. It wasn’t a lavish affair – much humbler than what Lou would’ve put together – but there were drinks, a taco truck, and music.

Best of all was the unveiling of the Justine Emerald Fund. The money was reserved to help anyone down on their luck, whether it be to help pay for childcare, school, or a deposit on an apartment.

Michelle joked that the three of them were the first recipients of the fund, and their trip was the first disbursement.

“That’s actually sort of true,” Lisa said.

Val scoffed. “We were definitely not the most deserving candidates.”

“No, maybe not.” Michelle smiled. “Still. Justine brought us together again.”

“She did,” Lisa said with a heavy sigh.

Val grabbed each of them by the hand. “Now let’s promise never to mess it up again!”

She pulled them to the dance floor without any protests. That evening, they danced, sang karaoke, and carried on into the wee hours of the morning. They were the last ones at the banquet, leaving only when the sun threatened to break into the horizon.

They made their way back to San Juan Island on an early ferry, braving the cool morning air to admire the stunning orange and pink skies from the deck. The three of them stood quietly, silent not from anger, but from the understanding that comes only once everything has been said.

Even in death, Justine had managed the impossible: she had reunited them, strengthened them, and inspired them to rise, rise again.