Till Dark

The flowers had beautiful yellow roses with a variety of wild flowers in pinks, purples, and fuchsia. The bright colors made her heart leap. He was always so thoughtful. Her mind leapt back to the afternoon they had shared and a flush settled over her entire body. She wanted to call him but knew that it just could not work. For one thing they lived in different states and for another thing they were much too different. Solemnly she walked over and put the kettle on the burner. Alex had been watching her from the bar. So do you want to tell me about this Andy guy or am I going to have to come to my own conclusions?" Jordan smiled and shook her head as she looked out the window at Cody now playing on his swing set. He was such an active child. Always on the go. He would certainly enjoy the beach near Andy's home. Giving herself a mental shake. She focused on him playing pirates by himself. There was never a dull moment with him around. She smiled at him. He had Jordan's looks and personality to the tee but he received his father's height and strength. "Earth to Jordan, are you listening to me?" I'm trying not to." She said laughing as she turned and gave her best friend a look. She sat down on the barstool facing Alex. "While Cody seems to be occupied tell me what happened." "Okay but I won't go into too many details because it would take to long." "What difference does it make we have all day and evening and I'm not going anywhere till I know everything." Jordan smiled because she knew just how serious her best friend was. "Okay it all started when I passed out on the beach and that guy Andy found me." She waved her hand toward the flowers at the other end of the bar. "Go on I'm listening." She urged her to continue. "Well he called the ambulance and then took me back to his house." "Wait. This guy calls an ambulance and then takes you home with him?" "Sort of. He convinced the doctor that I would be better off at his house with a bed side nurse." Alex stared at Jordan in disbelief. "The doctor agreed to this? What kind of quack hospital was this anyway?" Jordan rolled her eyes at her friend. "You always were the drama queen. Can I tell my story please?" "Okay I'm sorry you were saying."

Jordan continued with her story till the kettle halted it. She walked around the bar to the stove and fixed two cups of Earl Gray. She and Alex had been drinking tea together for as long as she could remember. Whenever they had a problem a cup of tea was always the first thing they got before having a great conversation. It was a tradition with them like mistletoe on Christmas. "So what else happened? I mean this guy really sounds great why would you let him go? What exactly is wrong with you?" Alex asked teasingly as Cody burst into the room. "Mommy I want some Kool-aide please. Did you see me out there playing on the swings?" "Yes honey, you're really getting good. Are you having fun?" He grabbed the drink she offered and answered with a nod gulping the drink down as fast as he could swallow. After finishing he gave her a hug and a kiss and headed back out the door. Jordan smiled at him as she watched him playing. He was such a wonderful child she didn't know what she would do if she lost him. She smiled and walked over to pick up the cups of tea; setting set Alex's tea in front of her and sat back down. "Look Alex I'm not ready for anything I mean I just found out that my whole marriage to Darien was one big lie. He lied to me about everything. Now I have to explain to his son someday exactly who he was and just how he died. That's enough for me to handle at the moment without adding a relationship on top of that; especially one that would be long distance. What if he turns out to be worse than Cody's father? I'm just not ready for that." "Okay if you say so but I still think that opportunity only knocks on your door so many times before it gives up. Tell me the rest of what happened." Jordan sipped on the hot brew for a moment letting it give her strength and warmth because the story she had to tell made her blood run cold. Sighing she began again filling Alex in on every detail. They talked till it was nearly dark and she called for Cody to come inside. He cried and complained but came inside and she ushered him into the bathtub. They decided to go out for dinner at Cody's favorite pizza place. Jordan knew that her conversation with Alex was not finished but it was nice to have something to take her mind off of the whole ordeal for a while.