“So how’s the inn working out for you?”
He lit up at the question. “Oh, it’s adorable. Maureen, the innkeeper, will be hosting a tea later. I plan to hit it up before I head back to the city. I don’t know if you heard me, so I’ll say it again. An actual tea . And I’m invited.” George looked so incredibly excited that Jordan had to laugh.
“She likes to keep things fun over there.”
“Fun doesn’t do it justice. I feel fancy and I love it.”
“Thinking of moving to Applewood, are you?”
He looked thoughtful. “Well, you never know.”
“Whoa. Hold the phone. What does that mean? And there’s a coy little smile on your face. What are you not saying?”
He took a deep breath. “I met someone last night when you ditched me for requisite manual labor.”
“First of all, I told you I had an obligation that I had to keep, and second of all, who did you meet? Seriously, this town is like the size of a shoebox and not exactly overrun with gay men in a conga line down Main Street. Though that could be fun.”
He laughed sardonically. “Shows how much you know.”
They settled onto the bench in front of the library to finish the discussion. “Seriously, Romeo, who?”
His eyes sparkled. “The quiet bartender over at that owl place.”
She laughed. “Please. Little Bobby?”
“That’s him. Unfortunate nickname though, don’t you think?”
“Not gay.”
“Gay.”
“Nope. I’ve known him for years. You couldn’t be more off.”
“Wait and see.”
“Fine. But I’m rarely wrong. And I’m sorry, but I can’t drink this.” She handed him the latte. “I’m on a one-way guilt train to hell if I do.”
George studied her with interest. “Suddenly developed an aversion to your favorite morning pick-me-up? Interesting development.”
She sighed. “Long story. My sister-in-law owns the bakeshop around the corner from here and—”
“That’s who you were with last night, right?”
“Yes. Focus, ADD. We’re talking about Starbucks and how it’s ruining lives.”
“Drastic, but okay. Plus, I’d rather talk about the sister-in-law and why you turned all squirmy when she came up. Go on. Squirm again. I enjoy it.”
Jordan exhaled slowly. “I’m sleeping with her.”
“Duh. But since when does that kind of thing ever get under your gorgeously moisturized skin?”
“Exactly. It’s kind of the ideal situation. Amazing sex. A noticeable lack of strings. My dream scenario, right?
“Right. Perfect.”
She met his eyes. “Except it’s not perfect. It’s not even close.” She lifted one shoulder and let it fall helplessly.
Her mind drifted back to earlier that morning when she’d woken up at Molly’s house. The sun peaked at her through the window and she turned over to meet it, very aware of her body. As details from the night before tumbled back to her, she stretched languidly on and ran her hand across Molly’s pillow.
She knew she should get up and go about her day, but she had to hold on to it just a short while longer, this little bit of wonderful. So she closed her eyes and reveled for a moment, and it felt great.
Finally ready to face the day, she strolled to the bathroom and paused at what she saw sitting there on the dresser. The frame held a simple snapshot that looked as if it were taken on New Year’s Eve. Cassie beamed at the camera while Molly smiled adoringly at Cassie. It was the most natural thing in the world, that photo. But Jordan felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach. She picked up the wooden frame as if drawn to it by a magnet and ran her thumb gently across her sister’s face. As she stood there, reality came crashing down around her, and she was reminded of just how impractical the circumstances were.
Real life was still out there, waiting for her to return. Nothing had changed.
She looked at George. “It’s different with Molly. Everything is different with her.”
His eyes took on understanding. “Wow. I was waiting for this day. Just didn’t think it would come in this complicated little package. So what’s the plan, Stan? What are you going to do?”
It was quite simple. “I get my heart broken, I guess. That’s the plan. There’s no good ending to this one, George. I should run like hell before I’m in any deeper. I really should.”
“Because?”
Where should she even begin? “You’d have to go back quite a ways to understand. I’ve spent my whole life trying to reach the bar my sister so expertly set and failing miserably. It’s the story of my life. My parents wanted me to be more communicative and helpful, like Cassie. To go into the medical profession, like Cassie. At school, it was always, ‘your sister never would have gotten a B. Why don’t you try harder? Your sister was all-state in soccer, but it’s like you don’t want it bad enough.’” She took a moment and then met his eyes. “But I did want it bad enough, George. That’s the thing. I just fell short. And I don’t think I could bear to fall short when it comes to Molly. For her to see me that way, as some sort of consolation prize, that would be too much for me to take.”
“But if the world were perfect?”
She smiled, but her eyes filled. It took her a moment to form the words. “She would look at me and see someone she could possibly, maybe, one day fall in love with. I would measure up this time. That’s the unattainable fantasy.”
George put his arm around her and pulled her in tight. “Well, you do measure up as far as I’m concerned. I happen to think you’re pretty great.”
“Thank you, George.” She gave him a squeeze.
“Ready to go make these numbers happen?”
She pushed herself up and took his offered hand. “Let’s make some awesome movies together.”
*
Jordan woke the next morning to the buzzing of her phone. She checked the clock. It was just past seven a.m. Who in the world would be—and then she grinned as she realized exactly who was wide-awake and had been for hours.
Molly’s text message was simple. “You up yet, sleepyhead?”
She walked into the living room as she typed her response. “Of course. Got an early rise. Cows fed. Chickens walked. They’re getting good on the leash.”
“Impressive. Meet me in the park for lunch later?”
“I think I can swing it.” Jordan smiled as she typed, already thinking about Molly’s chocolate chip cookies. “I’ll bring lunch. You bring dessert.”
“The real kind? Or proverbial?”
Jordan swallowed and exhaled slowly before she answered. “I think I’m a bad influence on you.”
“The worst. I’ll bring both. See you at noon by the picnic tables.”
At eleven fifty-five, Molly rounded the corner into the recesses of the park. Jordan sat atop a picnic table and watched her maneuver the winding sidewalk. She wore faded jeans that sat low and a snug, short-sleeved turquoise scoop neck that had her radiating color and energy.
Molly stopped a few feet away and tilted her head. “Waiting for someone?”
“Nope. Just counting leaves. But since you’re here, we could hang out.”
“Serendipitous.”
“Big word. You must be smart too.”
“Oh, I am.”
Molly took her in. “Riding boots, aviators, and lip gloss. A fascinating combination.”
Jordan let her mouth fall open. “You don’t like my look?”
“I love your look. I’m in awe of your look. I would never have guessed how good those things would look together. Edgy and soft at the same time. Kind of like you.”