Robin and the Red Crow

Chapter Twenty-Three ~ Train to California

"Well, no time is ever wasted when learning, loving, or trying something new." Jo recited.

"And who taught you that?" Holly scoffed with a smile.

"Aunt Margo," Jo admitted sheepishly.

"Well, Aunt Margo is usually right about most things." Holly mused, carefully rising off the ground to hug the small girl, and passing Jo her bag of packed clothes. "And I'm sure she's right about that, too. Now let's head to the station. We don't want to be late."

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When they arrived at the Adel train station, Robin spotted Jo's aunt right away, as she looked like the spitting image of a grown version of young Jo. However, much unlike her spunky young niece, Aunt Kathrine appeared to be a very timid and unassuming woman. She was dressed modestly, wearing a plain white and gray dress that matched her eyes, her dark hair pulled back into a low ponytail. At the sight of the three of them, Aunt Kathrine gave them a quiet, polite nod in greeting.

With a shout, Jo ran up to her aunt and hugged her, speaking to her in a language that Robin assumed was the Tang language, prompting a small smile from Aunt Kathrine as the woman gave the young girl a gentle pat on the back.

After a moment of hesitation, Jo let go of her aunt and turned to run back to Robin. Robin quickly knelt to her height as she threw her arms around his neck in a big hug.

"Please say this won't be the last time I see you," she pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes.
Robin chuckled, reassuringly patting the small girl's back as he kept his arms around her. 

"At this rate, you might return to Sunshine Acres before my brother does," Robin muttered, prompting the little girl to giggle as she pulled away, a single tear falling from her eye.

Robin quickly reached up to blot it away, as his smile faltered. "Besides, you promised to come bother me in Kingsbury, didn't you? You'd better plan on keeping it. Just be sure to practice your accent before you come, or they won't let you in. Okay? You promise?" Robin said solemnly as he held out his pinky for Jo to shake.

Jo nodded her head with a sniff before she let out a sad giggle. "That's pishposh and hogwash, Not-Pear-Man."

"Keep practicing, whatever that is," Robin mocked back with a smirk, giving the small girl a light pat on the head.

Aunt Kathrine approached, lightly touching Jo's shoulder. "It's time for us to go, Jo."

"Okay," Jo mumbled sadly, before turning to Holly in one quick motion. Putting her hands on her hips and glaring at her mentor. "Wait...Miss Holly, I'm worried about leaving the two of you alone and all by yourselves."

Holly laughed and bent down to be at eye level with the young girl. "Don't worry, Jo, we'll be fine. We're both adults."

"That's exactly what I'm worried about." The girl whispered behind her hand as she leaned towards her mentor.

Holly scoffed, grumpily turning and pushing Jo toward her aunt. "Alright, well, thank you, Jo...I'll see you next year. Have a safe trip."

Jo let out a small giggle and turned back around to hug Holly. Holly cradled the young girl for a moment before she pulled back to tuck her young apprentice's hair behind her ears, adjusting her small metal tulip earrings so they were the right way up. The young girl smiled at her mentor's touch, reaching over to fix Holly's signature red and green teardrop earrings in response.

"Bye-bye, Miss Holly. Thank you for everything... And bye-bye, to you too, Sugar Cookie," Jo said, bending down to pick up the small dog that sat at Holly's feet. Jo scooped up and squeezed the poor hound so hard it let out a small cough before aggressively licking the girl's face. "I'll miss you the most..."

As Jo and her aunt boarded the train, Robin could feel a dull ache in his chest. It was in that moment, Robin began feeling the shift in life at Sunshine Acres. Which was something that hadn't dawned on him until this moment. Robin already began to miss the little troublemaker who kept him company with her constant morning chatter, always demanding sunny-side-up eggs and never failing to have some sassy remark when her request was denied.

Cookie, who let out a slight whine as the train departed, lowered her tail as Jo's waving figure faded from view. Holly quickly picked her up and tried to cheer up the small dog, giving her reassuring kisses on the head, though there was a sad look in her eyes as she watched the train fade over the horizon.

Holly looked up after a moment and took a step back, startled, as if she had forgotten Robin was with her momentarily, before giving him a sad smile.

"Well... shall we grab some tarts on the way home?"