A/N: THANKS FOR ALL OF THE GREAT REVIEWS…SORRY FOR THE ANGSTY CLIFFIE(BUT IT DID GET YOUR ATTENTION, DIDN'T IT?). THIS CHAPTER IS SHORT AND WILL TAKE PLACE THAT SAME DAY, BUT WILL START IN THE MORNING AND FEATURE ONLY JORDAN….SORRY, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH MILLIE. AS ALWAYS….THE CHARACTERS ARE NOT MINE AND NEITHER ARE ANY OF THE LANDMARKS, BUSINESSES OR PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER. ENJOY!
CHAPTER 7: MY KIND OF TOWN
Jordan aimlessly walked down the busy sidewalk, the hubbub of the busy city streets, passing before her. She watched the crowd of people come her way, business people hurrying to work, parents getting their children off to school, tourists taking pictures to remember their trip. She admired the tall landmarks, impressive buildings and expensive shops. Everything she saw started to remind her of home.…right down to the wet slush that was seeping into her boots.
Jordan had been here for ten days now, jumping from motel to motel, trying to save as much of her dwindling cash, as she could. She ate only one meal a day and fueled herself with as much caffeine as she possibly could. She walked this same route everyday…coming closer and closer to her final destination.…but never fully reaching it.
Jordan brought her head up as she inhaled the intoxicating smell of freshly popped popcorn, she looked in the window.…Garrett's Popcorn. "Two t's", she whispered to herself, with a slight chuckle….Garret hated when people spelled his name with two t's. Jordan caught a glimpse of herself in the window….What does Garret think of me now?, she wondered.
She continued her journey passing a Disney store with Buzz Lightyear and Sheriff Woody in the window, she laughed out loud when she thought of Nigel and Dolly's last Halloween party. Nigel always hosted a costume party on Halloween to celebrate his favorite holiday and his birthday; last year, when the family dressed up as characters from the movie Toy Story. Woody was, of course the sheriff, while Jordan went as Little Bo Peep and Millie was dressed up like the little three-eyed alien character. Her mind began to wander and she wondered how Dolly and the twins were doing.
Jordan began to walk faster, her stomach wrenching with guilt…she tried to block out any thoughts of her husband and daughter.…she had convinced herself that they were better off without her. She came up to a park, keeping her head down to avoid the wind. "Mommy?", a little voice called out. Jordan stopped dead in her tracks and turned toward the voice.…a little pink snowsuit clad toddler was walking toward her. "Mommy…..Mommy", the girl called out, Jordan looked around, but could see no one to claim the child.
She scooped the little girl up and walked in the direction she had just come from. Just then a frantic mother started calling out "Molly….Molly, where are you?". The woman saw Jordan and her daughter and ran up to them. "Molly, thank God", she cried as she grabbed her child and held her tight. "I-I just turned for a minute…to feed the parking meter…and she was gone.…she's only two…. Thank you so much for finding her", the mother exclaimed through her sobs. Jordan smiled. "I have a little girl too, she twenty-three months. I understand", Jordan replied sadly, pictures of Millie flashing before her. Jordan suddenly felt dizzy and sad down on the nearest park bench. Her heart ached for her family, she wanted, so badly, to go back home.…but she couldn't, not until she got her answers.
Jordan stood in front of the old brick building, she looked up at the cold, uninviting doors.…not sure how she had even got here. Dread crept up on her, with each step she took, she swallowed hard and grabbed the door handle….the cold metal could be felt through her leather gloves. She stepped into the building, a blast of warm air, hitting her cheeks. Jordan looked around at the mint green walls of the small lobby. She walked up to the admittance desk and stared blankly at the woman behind the desk. "Can I help you dear", she asked politely. Jordan nodded and cleared her throat. "Yes, I'm here to see a patient", she replied looking around the room again, her answers were right behind those big wooden doors. "James Cavanaugh….I'm his sister".
A/N2: LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO POST THE CHAPTER WHERE JAMES AND JORDAN TALK, OR IF YOU WANT HER TO COME HOME IN THE NEXT CHAPTER…I HAVE BOTH OUTLINED ALREADY. I WILL TRY TO UPDATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, NOW THAT THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL.
