Chapter Four
The Ghost of Birthdays Future
With a wave of Nigel's hand, Jordan found herself back in her apartment. Her empty apartment. Not a ghost or semi-ghostly person in sight. She sighed in frustration. She had some serious questions she needed to ask this next specter, although she feared him and his answers more than she had any other of the ghosts. Dejectedly, she made her way towards her bedroom… to the shower….when the lights in her apartment began to flicker on and off. Yes! She thought. The Ghost of Birthdays Future is here….
Well…maybe.
"Say, Jordan…you really ought to have your apartment manager check your wiring. I think you have a short in there…did you know you can't run your microwave and your coffeepot at the same time?" asked a voice coming from her kitchen.
"Peter?" she asked incredulously. If there was someone other than Devan who could possibly qualify for a real ghost, it was Peter. "Where have you been, man? It was like one day you were at the morgue and then BAM! You were gone the next day. And no one said a word. Not the writers…not Tim…not Allan…not the directors….We haven't had a clue. I thought something bad had seriously happened…"
"Nah…just thought a sudden vacation to Hawaii would be a good idea… what with that short third season…"
Jordan looked at him for a beat. "Series didn't make it, did it?"
Peter shook his head. "Nope….so this is the gig I got in the mean time…the Ghost of Birthdays Future."
Jordan eyed him up and down. "Well, you did get a good tan out of it, at least. But where's the grim reaper costume? I thought all ghosts of the future wore those…"
"Nope. Not me. Too cumbersome…and we need to move fast if I'm going to get you back here early enough for you to catch a few hours of sleep before your early shift tomorrow, I remember how mad Macy used to get when we were late…"
"Some things never change, Pete. So what's your message from Devan?"
Peter looked at her with those big, brown eyes…and Jordan winced just a little. She read sympathy….a feeling she wasn't comfortable with. "Come with me, Jordan…and I'll show you…"
"Can't you just answer some of my questions about what's going to happen to me…and we'll let it go at that?"
"No, Jordan. You need to see…for yourself….what could happen in your future."
Jordan began to take a few steps backwards. "I….I…don't think I want to know….sometimes mystery is good…you know…creates tension…"
Peter shook his head again. "No…" He reached for her hand. "Hang onto me…don't let go. We've got to move really fast if we're to go all the way to the future and back to the present tonight." He pulled her towards the window and Jordan soon felt herself hurdling headfirst into the night, feeling like she was plunging off a cliff. She soon got over that feeling when they landed back in the morgue.
Gee…my past, present, and future are wrapped up in this place, she thought as she surveyed her surroundings. Suddenly, she was taken aback with the vision of an older version of herself rounding the corner….and entering Macy's old office. "I'm chief ME now?" she asked Peter, not believing it. "When did I get to be so responsible?"
"Time has a way of maturing folks," Peter said, watching from behind Jordan. "Now pay attention…" Soon an older version of Nigel and Bug came to her door.
"It's nearly quitting time," Nigel said. "Feel up to going to the Beef and Brew for a drink and some late supper?"
"I can't….I've got two reports to finish and then I need to talk with the new girl about her paperwork….she's three months behind."
Bug chuckled. "The new ME's name is Leslie. You hired her a year ago…can't you remember her name?"
The older Jordan shook her head. "Sometimes I can't remember my name, Bug."
"And you're one to talk about paperwork…Leslie reminds me a lot of you at that age," Nigel rejoined.
Jordan saw herself grimace. "I was never that late with reports….and I never got myself into that much trouble…and I never flirted shamelessly with detectives."
Bug and Nigel both grinned. "Yeah, right…." Nigel said. "Well, we're going to head out….if you can, join us, okay? All you do is work, Jordan. And all work and no play makes for a very dull girl."
The older Jordan watched them leave…. "So I'm dull now?" she muttered. "It really doesn't matter…."
Jordan observed herself work relentless for another hour and then grab her coat and pocketbook. In another whirl of motion, she, Peter, and the older version of Jordan found themselves in a townhouse. "Where are we at now?" Jordan asked Peter.
"Your home."
"I don't live on Pearle Street anymore?"
"Nope…you traded up when you became chief ME."
"Sweet!"
"Not so sweet. Take a look around, Jordan."
Jordan watched the older version of herself fix a sandwich for supper and sit down in front of the TV to watch the news….a large, yellow cat came ambling out from a bedroom and sat beside her. Absent-mindedly, that Jordan petted the feline and made room for it in her lap. In a few minutes, both owner and cat were sound asleep….the TV blaring.
And no one else in sight.
The real Jordan went from room to room, looking for someone….surely she wasn't alone? "Peter," she finally asked, "where is everybody?"
"Everybody?"
"Yeah…"
Jordan watched Peter's eyes grow sad again. "There isn't anyone else, Jordan. Just you and the cat."
"You mean I'm alone now? At this point in my life, I'm alone? Surely, I've been married…and maybe divorced or something now….I have kids…tell me I at least had children…"
"Take another look. Do you see any pictures of anyone?"
Jordan didn't. Except for a few art prints here and there, the walls and surfaces were devoid of any personal objects. "I'm all by myself…my worse fears do come true….I never find anyone…I never have a family…I end up all alone…"
Peter caught the catch in her voice. "You know, Jordan….it's like Nigel said…these are just visions of what may occur…"
"So this may not happen to me?"
"Life is all about the choices you make….and their consequences…" Peter took her hand again. "Hang on…we've got a couple of more places to go." Jordan felt herself once again being hurdled ahead in time…coming to a stop in front of an unfamiliar house…It was a two-story white house with shutters. Fenced in backyard complete with swing set.
"Where are we?" she asked, noticing the lights in the window and hearing the excited voices of children coming from inside.
"Your home…or what might be your home."
"Can we go in?"
"Sure…" Peter took her hand and they went inside. Jordan watched as three chestnut-haired children were running wild in the family room.
"Hurry and get the candles on the birthday cake before Mom comes downstairs. We want to surprise her…" called out the oldest-looking child. It was a girl and reminded Jordan so much of herself at the age of ten she nearly had to smile.
"I am hurrying," said a small, chubby boy who looked to be no older than five.
"Don't think you can boss us just because you're the oldest, Emily," said another male child that appeared to be between eight and nine. "Besides, we can't give Mom her birthday presents until Dad gets here. He's got them."
Jordan continued to watch the children set up what was obviously a birthday party…and obviously hers. A smile began to play at the corners of her mouth. A house. A family. A husband….so she might not end up alone after all. The children's activities held her attention for moments longer and Peter just let her soak it all in…until a voice called from the back of the house, "Hey kids…I'm home…Got your mom's birthday presents." The kids took off toward the direction of the voice, and then Jordan saw a slightly older, pregnant version of herself begin to descend the stairs. "I'm pregnant…" Jordan whispered to Peter, somewhat awed at the prospect. "Me…"
"Well it happens sometimes, you know? Especially when you're married, Jordan."
"And I'm married… "
"So it appears…"
"And this is what could happen to me depending on the choices I make?"
"Yep. Cool, huh?"
"Cool," Jordan began to slide towards the back of the house, easing away from Peter, towards the area where she still heard a man's voice. She was getting so close she could see his shadow….just about to round the corner and discover exactly what "choice" she had made for a husband, when Peter's strong arm came around her and pulled her back.
"No."
"No? I've seen my kids and I can't see my husband?"
"Exactly."
"Why not?"
"Because that is a choice you're going to have to make with your heart and not your head. If you see who you marry, that may cloud what your heart is feeling. So no, you can't go back there. Besides, we need to go one more place before I take you back to your apartment."
"I don't want to leave…can't we stay a little while longer?"
Peter shook his head and took Jordan by the hand. "Hang on…we'll be finished soon."
This time Jordan found herself at a very familiar environment. It was the Pogue. She had sold it months before, but she would still go over there quite often for a beer. She was back there now…again with an older version of herself…along with Bug, Nigel, Lily, and Garret. They were having a few drinks and playing pool … laughing and having a good time.
Jordan felt right at home. "So why are we here?" she whispered to Peter. "I don't see the need to make a choice here. These people are my friends now. They'll always be my friends."
"Ah…that's true. You've made a good choice here. These are good people and you have chosen to be their friend and be a friend to them. I think it's obvious you continue to do so."
Jordan sighed with relief. At least she would have her friends. But after seeing what could happen with a family…there was a sudden ache in her soul for something she had never coveted before. "But the other two choices…to be alone or have a family…"
"Are up to you," answered Peter. "Just remember…the direction your future takes depends on the choices….the actions you take now. Today." He looked deep in her eyes. "This afternoon…." His voice trailed off.
"Oh my God. Woody. I've got to get to Woody."
