Chapter 20

The two of them were having a quick breakfast when Harm's cell phone rang. When he heard the caller's voice his face filled with concern. "What is it, Frank?" he asked, and then in an aside to answer the question in Jordan's eyes, he told her, "It's my step-father."

"What? WHEN?" was the response to whatever Frank had told him.

"I was just about on my way to the airport when you called, so I can leave as soon as I can get a flight."

"No, not to come to San Diego, Jordan and I were going to Virginia for her Aunt's bridal shower, but that's not important right now. I'll explain that when I get there."

Hearing only one side of the conversation Jordan still knew two things. Something was going on in California, and Harm wouldn't be going to Virginia with her.

"I'll make sure she gets off safely and then will catch the first flight I can to San Diego," Harm's words confirmed her thoughts. "I'll call as soon as I know when I'll be there."

He hung up and with a worried look told Jordan, "Darling, I'm so sorry, but I can't go with you again."

"I gathered that, Harm. What's going on?" she asked, reaching out to take his hand in hers.

"My mother has had a heart attack, and was rushed to the hospital."

"Oh no! Harm, that's awful! Listen, I can skip the shower and we can both go to California," she offered.

"No, you've worked too long and hard to plan it and you should go. If it looks bad, I'll call you and you can fly out as soon as the shower is over."

"I know Aunt Merry would be disappointed if I couldn't be there, but I am sure she would understand, and Sarah can handle things without me. I should be there with you to help out!"

"Jordan, that's really sweet, but I don't know what situation I'll find when I get there. Mom and Frank don't know about us yet and I'm not sure a shock like that on top of a heart attack is such a great idea. Give me a chance to see how she is and I will prepare them for you if the situation allows. Then you could fly to California after the shower. Okay?"

"Well, if you really think that's best…I know how much this means to Aunt Merry, but I want to support you too…"

"I know and I love you for that. You go to Virginia and tell everyone our news. Tomorrow night you can meet me in California. Okay?"

"All right," she conceded.

Jordan put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher and turned it on while Harm quickly tossed a few more clothes in his bag, then they headed to the airport.

Assuring him that she was perfectly capable of checking in on her own, Jordan urged him to find out the first flight he could get to San Diego.

Harm caught up with her after she had her boarding pass and told her that his flight would leave in about ninety minutes. He promised to call her as soon as he got there and had any kind of news at all, and swore that if he needed her he would tell her to come. Jordan kissed him as her flight was called and headed down the hall with a sad wave.

She fretted the entire flight and had to make several trips to the tiny bathroom on the plane first to empty her stomach of the breakfast she'd had and then after that so the other passengers wouldn't have to listen to her dry heaves. A sympathetic flight attendant offered to bring her some club soda to settle her stomach and that seemed to help. However, it didn't relieve the worry for Harm's mother that Jordan couldn't shake.

By the time she landed, Jordan was regretting that she was meeting Meredith and AJ for lunch. She was sure that with her stomach as upset as it was that she wouldn't be able to eat a bite.

To be continued…