Chapter Seven

It had been a long, hard week. Jordan was thankful that the university's school week ended at noon on Fridays. She was always back home by two, ready to ease into her weekend….helping Caroline with the household tasks…going into the small town to pick up a few groceries…talking with the neighbors. And this Friday was especially good because it began a week of Spring holiday for the college students. She had a whole week off from work. She eagerly began her ride back home.

As villages go, Caroline's was an exceptionally pretty one. Jordan had even begun making inquiries about purchasing a small house of her own. She was beginning to make plans to settle down here long-term…much to Caroline's and Kathleen's delight. She really saw no other way. She had asked Bill Crahen how the case stood. Bill had told her bluntly that there had been no arrests, Max hadn't been found, neither had James, and if she came back, she would once again be the target of the investigation, despite lack of evidence. "I don't trust Douglas Baker as far as I could throw him," Bill had told Jordan. "I know you want to come back, but it's not safe. Stay put. I'll let you know when and if it's okay."

So Jordan had resigned herself to the fact that it may be a while, if ever, Boston would surface again on her horizon. She realized that more than anything, she craved a normal life. One without being sought for a murder she didn't commit, one with stability, one with roots. One where she didn't have to run and keep running, constantly looking over her shoulder, worried about the "what ifs" that may happen.

At least in Ireland she could do this. She was accepted here for who she was, not what she could do. Caroline and Kathleen were great. Her students loved her. It was peaceful. It was healing to her scarred soul.

But she missed her friends….she especially missed Woody. Seeing Nigel a couple of months ago only served to heighten that emotion. She had tried to shake it after returning to Ireland, but it didn't go away. Her dreams of Woody were once again disrupting her sleep. She missed him a little more each day, if that was possible. But she couldn't put him in a position where the DA would run rough-shod over him like what had happened to her. She wouldn't do that to him. She feared she had told him too much in her letter to him…the one that she slipped to Nigel before they had parted ways in London…Nigel going to the airport and she to climb in her jeep to go back to Dublin.

Sighing, she pulled her jeep into her aunt's driveway. Funny, she didn't recognize that car at the curb. Maybe it belonged to one of her neighbor's relatives or friends. She got out of the car, grabbed her briefcase, and entered the front hallway of her Caroline's modest home. Kicking her shoes off in the entry way, she called out to her aunt, "I'm home…Caroline? Where are you?" Jordan had headed for the kitchen…where her aunt was at usually this time of day.

"In the den. We have a visitor. Come here." Jordan thought her aunt's voice sounded strange.

Jordan cautiously entered the doorway to her aunt's den. It was still early spring and chilly, so there was a small fire in the fire place. She saw her aunt sitting in a chair by the fire. Across from her, on the opposite side, a tall figure stood up from his seat on the couch. Jordan nearly choked. "Woody…" she whispered.

She didn't know if he crossed the room to her, or they met half-way, or exactly what happened. All she knew was that she was in his arms and he held her. And her mind kept asking itself if this was a dream or was this really happening. When he finally released her to kiss her, she knew…he was here…and real.

"How….?" She began.

Woody grinned. "Never underestimate the power of Nigel Townsend and a computer. You told me just enough in your letter to get him started searching…"

Jordan smiled. "So you're here…for how long?"

"A couple of weeks."

"And who knows you're here?"

"Just Nigel. Believe me, we have buried this so deep, no one can find me. Everyone from my chief, to Dr. Macy, to Douglas Baker thinks I'm in Kewuanne fishing with my brother," he replied, noting the worry that was surfacing in her eyes. "Don't worry, Jo," he softly whispered. "It's fine. I had to see you…make sure you were all right."

Caroline cleared her throat. "You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend in the States, Jordan…one that has missed you a great deal, I think."

Jordan looked at her aunt guiltily. "That's okay, lass," Caroline said, smiling at the couple. "Enjoy your time together the next couple of weeks. As I said, Woody, I have a spare bedroom, next to Jordan's. You're more than welcome to it. The nearest hotel is in Dublin, anyway."

"So you're staying here?" Jordan asked.

"Seems that way…any problems?"

She knew there could be…the DA could possibly find out…Nigel could let it accidentally slip…but for right now it didn't matter. All that mattered was that he was here…and would be for two weeks. Any problems could go to hell. She may not see him again after this. "No," she said. "No problems. So what would you like to do first?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" he asked suggestively.

Jordan had worried that Woody may be bored with the slow pace in the village, but he soon disproved her doubts. He was there to see her and didn't care where they were. The first night he was there, he had waited until he was sure Caroline had dozed off in her downstairs bedroom and then he crept into Jordan's bedroom, catching her in his old Boston PD t-shirt, brushing out her hair.

"Woody," she had softly protested, "We can't… not now. Not with Caroline…"

"I know," he had replied. "I just want to hold you….I'll go back to my room before morning."

The next day, Caroline told Jordan she was going into Dublin to shop with Kathleen. "I'll be gone about all day…I will probably stay with Kathleen tonight, so don't worry if I don't come home."

"I can take you into Dublin, Caroline," Jordan had told her.

Caroline gave her niece a long look. "I may be old, but I am no prude. You and your young man need some time alone…and I'm giving you that. You can thank me later." And with that, she was gone.

Jordan turned and looked at Woody, with her mouth open and her cheeks bearing a faint blush.

"I like your aunt," Woody said, before he threw her over his shoulder and took her upstairs.