Chapter 7: (But) I’ve (Still) Got (Some) Sand in My Shoes
Contains spoilersOverview
Jo woke up at her parents’ seaside house with a hangover, reeling from the announcement that the Revelry would close. Over coffee with her mother Wyn, Jo heard about her drunken arrival, fielded hometown gossip, and received a reminder for coffee with Georgia "Gigi" Simmons. Wyn briefly acknowledged the closure decision and thanked Jo for being understanding, while showing signs of memory slips. As Jo tried to recall the prior night, she remembered the mysterious male voice—and then heard it again in her head.
Summary
Jo described her parents’ quirky blue seaside house and noted that her childhood room remained unchanged. The morning after the Revelry announcement, Wyn brought Jo strong coffee and asked about the tough night. Jo’s memories were blurred, but she recalled the Revelry’s impending closure and her parents’ retirement.
Wyn teased Jo with a video of Jo drunkenly crawling up the stairs and celebrating at the top, which Wyn had already posted to Facebook. Their banter turned to local names and memories, including Wyn’s joking comments about past pill use in the family and a slip where Wyn said "Ami" before correcting to "Cheryl," signaling a memory lapse.
Wyn suggested that Van was back in town and complained about good neighbors moving away, replaced by Airbnbs, noting that Mitch and Gigi could not afford a nearby house. Jo felt she was forgetting something from the previous night but could not place it.
Wyn then found a sticky note reminding Jo about a 10 a.m. coffee with Gigi at Cool Beans. With her back turned, Wyn broached the Revelry news, saying she and Hank did not know how else to tell the family and thanking Jo for being understanding, which stopped Jo from voicing her objections. Wyn went out to garden, leaving Jo alone with her thoughts.
Jo massaged her hangover and tried to piece together the night at the piano, recalling the disembodied male voice. She mused that talking to an imaginary voice was better than worse drunken behavior and imagined what the man might look like. The moment ended with the same deep, soft voice speaking again in her head, confirming it was not a one-off hallucination.
Who Appears
- Joni "Jo" Lark
protagonist; wakes hungover at her parents’ house, remembers the Revelry closing, receives a reminder for coffee with Gigi, and hears the mysterious male voice again.
- Wyn Lark
Jo’s mother; shares a video of Jo’s drunken return, posts it on Facebook, shows memory slips (mixing up names), acknowledges the Revelry closure decision, and goes out to garden.
- Hank Lark
Jo’s father; not on-page but mentioned as being worried when Jo came home late and as co-decider of the Revelry’s closure.
- Georgia "Gigi" Simmons
Jo’s best friend; not on-page, but leaves a reminder for 10 a.m. coffee at Cool Beans.
- Van
Jo’s past acquaintance/interest; mentioned as being back in town.
- Mitch
Jo’s brother; mentioned in relation to the Revelry being home and local housing costs.
- Mysterious male voice
disembodied voice in Jo’s head; reappears at the end, speaking to Jo again.