Chapter Three

Spring time in Boston. The winter had finally loosened its hold on the city and the flowers were blooming and the temperatures climbed their way out of double-digit negative numbers.

It was warm.

Probably not as warm as it is in LA, Jordan thought, but it is nice. They were at the park...an impromptu picnic ordered by Lily. It was far too nice to stay in the morgue on a Saturday, even if they were swamped. Picnic baskets had been ordered. Lunch had been eaten. And now football was being played.

"Come on, Jordan," called out Nigel. "Let's at least give it a try...what you say, love?" Jordan slowly got up from where she was sitting to join in the game. Of course the guys wanted to play tackle. Of course, they also wanted to play shirts and skins....which they couldn't do. So it had to be tackle, not touch, just to keep the guys happy. Jordan soon found herself on the receiving end of the ball and being brought to the ground by Nigel. They giggled and laughed and she let him plant a kiss on her lips. Nigel was nice. Nigel was sweet.

Nigel was also one of her best friends and she could only think of him as that – a friend. And he knew it. But bless him, he was trying to somewhat fill the void that was left in her life. She let him pull her up off the ground. "Want to try that again?" he asked, picking her up and twirling her around...easily taking in her slight weight.

"I don't know big guy....you may not be able to handle me this time," she replied.

Nigel looked down at her and grinned. He hoped she was having a good time. He hoped she was forgetting Woody. She had been far too quiet all winter...now it was spring. Maybe she would come out of her shell and realize that she was alive and have the guts to do something about it. Maybe even with him.

Maybe he'd paint himself blue and fly south next winter, too. Despite the fact that she was trying hard to hide it, Jordan's heart was still Woody's. Nigel wondered when she would reclaim it as her own...or if she would at all.

The California beaches were hot...in more than one way, Woody thought. He was sitting on a towel at the beach, watching the waves, watching the boats....and watching the girls. The bikinis get tinier every year, he thought, nearly absent-mindedly looking at the girls beside him.

They were cute...pretty even. But not as beautiful as her. He had never seen her in a bikini. He didn't think he ever really seen her in a bathing suit. Her pajamas, yes....what there was of them....but that was about as much of her as he had seen. He had no doubt that underneath the jeans and long-sleeved shirts or scrubs she used to wear, her skin was like porcelain. But other than that red dress or an occasional low-cut shirt, he hadn't any chance to make a further observation. When they were in Vegas, she had even offered to go with him to the topless pool. At the time, he was too caught up in the casinos. He wished now he would have gone with her...that might have at least started something.

He wished a lot of things about her now.

He had dated enough of the "beautiful" people out here to know...that he had no idea shallowness could exist in so many different ways. He loved his job....he liked his co-workers....he loved some of the other things that LA offered....but as far as relationships go, he was frozen in time and the California sun could do nothing to thaw him out. He would be drawn to a leggy brunette with brown eyes and end up bitterly disappointed because she wasn't her.

So he had given up. Decided he would become nearly as shallow as they were just so he wouldn't have to sit home on the weekends. Just so he would have some company.

Just so he didn't have to spend too much time thinking about her. He thought that the more time passed, the easier her memory would become....but it hadn't. It hadn't grown fainter or smaller.....just more bittersweet. He could remember her perfume....her jokes...her compassion....her realness....the sweetness that clung to her soul. But in the next instant be filled with regret that he never did anything about it. Never told her exactly how he felt...never e-mailed her again, or phoned her...

Left Boston without at least a goodbye kiss to remember. They had kissed in the dessert nearly four years ago...but he hadn't tasted her lips very often since.

He sighed....and wondered what spring was like in Boston this year. He wondered if she was happy.

He knew he wasn't. Not really.

Apples and leaves and school starting back...all of these signaled fall for Woody. However, LA was different. It was still warm...there were oranges instead of apples....but school was back in session. He stared out the window of his office. He had been in LA over a year now.

He fit in well. Too well. Unless you just knew he was from Wisconsin, you'd swear he'd always lived in LA. He dressed like it. He had the look. And the car...and various girls that would help with the description...blonde...blue eyes. He had given up on brunettes...they broke his heart.

A year... a whole year without snow....without ice....without the Charles...without Eddie Winslow riding his butt....without being in an autopsy room...

But mostly without her. He had survived...but his heart wondered just how well. It still would lurch when he would run across a news story with a Boston dateline...or a stray picture of them in a photo album. He had meant to call...but lacked the courage. He should have e-mailed more...but didn't know what to say. Hi this is Woody...wish you were here...miss you? Is that what he should say? He didn't know.

Sighing, he felt the need to make contact again for some reason. Was it to say, "Hey, look at me...I made it without you a year and I'm utterly and completely miserable?"

No. A thought struck him. Her birthday. This month was her birthday. He'd send flowers. No. Jordan wasn't really a flower person. And that might be too obvious. Besides, she may have found someone by now....a card. He rose from his desk and went down the street to the drug store...a card. At least a birthday card....he looked through every card until he found the right one. He wrote a note in it and signed it and mailed it on the way home from work. He didn't know if she was still on Pearle Street, so he sent it to the morgue. Happy Birthday, Sweetheart, he thought, as he dropped the card in the mailbox.

Jordan stopped by Emmie's desk on her way to her office. "Any messages?" she asked.

"A few, Dr. C. And you got some mail." Emmie handed her a stack of envelopes. Jordan thanked her, took the stack, and walked back to her office. She was tired. She had just finished testifying in court today. She began to wade through her messages and return calls. Then she attacked the mail. Advertisement. Bill. Bill. Newsletter. Card.

Card?

The handwriting was familiar. Her heart caught in her throat. It was Woody's. Not hardly daring to breathe she opened it up.

Happy Birthday....the card said on front.

On the inside, it read:

May you find everything you're looking for,

Want everything you find,

And have happiness the rest of your life.

And he had written a note. Told her he was doing well at his job. California was nice...she could come out to visit. He'd make sure nothing bad happened to her this time. He had settled in...had new friends...but missed his old ones in Boston pretty badly.

He even said he missed her. Missed the trouble they used to get into...there was no one out here that would let him get into that much trouble and have that much fun doing it....Then he had said it again. I miss you, Jo. So much. Love, Woody.

She swallowed hard, fighting the tears in her eyes. She turned to her computer and sent an e-mail to him.

Thanks for the card. It was the first birthday card I received this year. And I'm 35, not 36... Do the math right, Farm Boy. Maybe I can get out there this summer, if work allows. As usual, I'm covered over and due to budge cuts, we're not getting an additional ME. So we're all working hard.

Boston is beautiful this time of year, you know. And it would be nicer if you were here...I miss you, too. Very much. If you can make your way home, my apartment door is always open for you. Love, Jordan.