Chapter 4
Thank you to everyone who has been reading, and thank you for the feedback. I really appreciate it.
The next afternoon...
Charlie got back to the cottage after a day of lectures. He found Jordan in the back yard, sunbathing. "Hey you." He grinned at her.
Jordan immediately got up and went to kiss him. "Hey!" she smiled. "Did you have a good day?"
"Yep, and no lectures tomorrow." he smiled.
"Awesome." Jordan walked inside, taking Charlie's hand and pulling him in with her. She walked into the kitchen and made two glasses of iced tea. Charlie sat down, and Jordan handed him his tea. "Want to grill a couple of steaks and stay in tonight?" She grinned at him over her glass.
"That sounds great." His eyes sparkled.
"Good," she giggled. "I already have them marinating."
Charlie laughed. "So you did go shopping today."
"Mmm Hmm. I found Riley a Florida snow globe. It's really cute. It has palm trees and seashells in it. I'll put it on her shelf." She grinned.
"Sounds pretty."
"It is. I went ahead and shipped it home. She loves getting stuff in the mail." Jordan paused, and then met his eyes. "Plus, I got you a surprise." She grinned at him.
"You did?" He looked at her in surprise.
"Mmm Hmm. I saw it, and I just had to get it."
Jordan crossed the kitchen into the living room, retrieving the bag from the wing chair. She handed it to him. "Here you go. Open it." She couldn't wait to see his reaction.
Charlie saw her eager expression and grinned at her. He pulled the tissue wrapped item from the bag and unwrapped it. It was a small plaque. He read it aloud.
"There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who can do math, and those who can't."
Charlie laughed. "Did you have this made?"
"Nope. Believe it or not, I just came across it. I thought you could put it in your office." She smiled at him happily.
"I love it. Thank you." He stood, put his arms around her, and kissed her.
"You're welcome." She touched his cheek and started walking towards the bathroom. "I'm getting in the shower."
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Charlie, wearing faded jeans and a CalSci tee shirt, stood at the grill. "Be ready in a sec." He called through the door.
Jordan was putting the salad on the table. She wore a pair of jean shorts and a pink v-necked blouse. She walked over to open the back door, so he could bring their steaks in. He followed her back into the eat-in kitchen. Charlie put the steaks down on the table, and watched her slice up a lime for their Coronas. Jordan put limes in the necks of their Coronas, and crossed the room to the television. Charlie watched as she unplugged the television from the wall. She winked at him, and then disappeared into the bedroom. Charlie heard a song by Dido come on. Jordan walked out of the bedroom, and came in to sit next to him. She grinned at him. "Darn. There's nothing on tv tonight."
Charlie laughed. "And I see you've got the cd player going."
"Mmm Hmm." She grinned wickedly. "We'll call Riley after dinner. Then the phone's getting turned off."
"Yes Ma'am." Charlie grinned.
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After dinner, Charlie started clearing the table, as Jordan dialed home. Charlie stood at the sink, running hot water. He listened as Jordan talked to Alan, then to Riley. She came into the kitchen smiling, and held the phone out to Charlie. "Someone wants you, Daddy." She handed Charlie the phone. He sat down at the table and talked to his little girl.
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Jordan was almost finished. She listened to Charlie as he talked to Alan, assuring him that the hurricane was not coming their way. She smiled as she heard Charlie 'kiss' into the phone for Riley.
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Charlie hung up the phone, and turned it off. Then he walked over and turned off the house phone. He grinned over at Jordan. She laughed, and turned her back to him. "Just one more minute," she told him.
Charlie ignored her. "We'll get it later."
"Charlie, let me finish," she giggled.
Charlie gently grasped her, and turned her around to face him. He cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her.
"You win," she whispered, and tossed the dish cloth into the sink.
He grinned. "I always do." Jordan slid her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
Charlie gently pushed her against the wall, his hands sliding down her body. Jordan moaned, and tilted her head back. Charlie buried his face in her hair, kissing her neck and shoulders. Suddenly, Charlie scooped her up, and carried her into the bedroom.
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Unbeknownst to the Eppes', the hurricane was growing to a category 3. Though it was still projected to turn North, there was a voluntary evacuation. They had no idea that the airport had closed, and that classes at UM were canceled for the rest of the week.
