Chapter 9
Jordan slowly turned as she recognized that voice. Across the living room, standing in front of her window, was Woody. After all the days and nights of dreaming, hoping, there he was standing in her living room. Quickly pulling her wits around her, she dropped her purse and keys on the counter and faced him fully, leaning back against her bar and crossing her arms.
"How'd you get in Farm Boy?" she asked, hoping her voice was nonchalant.
"I have a key, remember?"
"No, frankly, I don't remember. And I'll be wanting the key back before you leave."
"I won't be leaving Boston for a while."
"I meant tonight."
Woody walked over to her, for the first time catching her in full light. What had happened to her? When he let himself into the apartment, he was taken back by the redecorating she had done. Her apartment now looked like something out of a magazine. Everything coordinated and it was spotlessly clean. Her spices were even alphabetized. But what had happened to her?
"Jordan, look at me," Woody said. If she didn't know any better, she would have sworn he sounded concerned. She faced him and he braced both hands on the counter on either side of her and peered closely at her face. "No, look at me," he commanded softly, putting his hand under her chin and lifting her face until he saw her eyes.
And what he saw alarmed him. She looked like she hadn't slept in ages. There were soft, dark smudges underneath her eyes and she looked almost haggard. And thin. Not just small and delicately petite like he remembered. She had lost weight. Weight she didn't need to loose. But her eyes had changed the most. Instead of honey-brown eyes that glowed warmth and laughter, her eyes were sad and lack luster. They stared dully back at him. "Jordan, what's wrong with you?" Woody asked.
Jordan abruptly pulled away from him. "Nothing's wrong. It's just been hectic at work and now all this stuff with the Summer Rapist."
Woody wasn't giving up so easily. He followed her around the room. "You've lost weight because of the rapist?"
"No, it's been hectic at work for a while now."
Woody grabbed Jordan's arm and pulled her back around to face him. "What gives, Jo Jo?"
Jordan winced at his pet name for her. No one ever had used it but him. At this point, she had had all her poor heart could handle. "Nothing. Nothing is wrong. It's been three years Woody. I've changed. You've changed."
"Is that it? Is that all there is to it?"
"Yes."
"Then here." Woody slapped the key to her apartment in her hand. He stormed out of the apartment and slammed the door. Jordan walked to the door to see if once again she could hear his retreating footsteps. She heard nothing. She slumped to the floor, her back against the door and sobbed. He was back and her heart just couldn't take it. It was breaking all over again.