another life beyond the line

[The drive winds up being a little longer than expected, with lots of stretches of farmland and dirt road. Eventually though, that muddy dirt road turns to pavement. It's right around the time they seem to hit a piney woods stretch of scenery, with trees nice and tall and smelling like spring. Chrissy can't get enough of breathing in nice deep breaths of air, even when Johnnie laughs at her for doing it so often.

You can smell how they're coming back to life! She points out, but laughs at herself because it is pretty silly.

As the hours tick by, crude pavement turns into something a little better. And eventually the radio even comes on from the static. Chrissy isn't sure what time period they're in, but as the forests give way to water, she's an absolute bundle of energy. She knows his leg is hurt, but can't stay entirely still in the seat. Wriggling in anticipation, she finds this setting so much more pristine and beautiful than anything New York had to offer.

By the time the waterways give way to actual beach towns, Chrissy's beside herself with joy. The ocean air smells amazing, and she swears she can hear the sound of the waves crashing. It doesn't matter that they're not right at the ocean yet. She knows she can hear it over the sound of his radio finally playing something. It sounds old, which means they're probably still in the past.

But colorful little strips of tourist areas and cute little beach cottages tell her that it's not an entirely miserable time period. Whenever this is, they can make this work. Johnnie seems to just know what's best to impress her, because he pulls up outside the cutest and most secluded little cottage out of all of them in the town they're in. And he makes her stay put while he hobbles over to check things out.

When he comes back to help her off the bike, she doesn't ask him if he broke in. She knows he has. Whoever stays here isn't around right now, and they're far enough away from any nosy neighbors that no one is likely to ever take notice. Of course, she has to reward him for being so perfect. The cottage is right on the beach, sand all around. The water is so close they can just walk right outside and enjoy it whenever they want.

They'll have to get their things inside eventually. But at first she helps him along through the sand until they're standing right at the edge of the ocean. It's so beautiful, she can't stop the tears that come to her eyes.]

This...

[She can't really put it into words, how she's feeling right now.]

You have no idea how long I've wanted to see this.

[The words are choked up, and she wipes at her eyes so she won't actually cry and ruin a perfectly good moment with tears.]