For once in her life, Jordan had been dreading getting off work and it seemed like three o'clock rolled around all too soon for her. She even spent a few extra minutes at the clinic talking to Ann and Tony as they gathered their things to leave. She even walked with them to their cars and then grudgingly walked to her own. Nigel had agreed to pick Eve up, over breakfast, from daycare since he it had been a slow week and it was able to duck out early. She was doing everything in her power to ward off the coming evening when she and Garrett would be sharing dinner. The idea left a bitter taste in her mouth but all thoughts of Garrett was pushed from her head when she arrived home to find Nigel and Eve watching cartoons in the living room. Both seemed to enjoy the yellow sponge on the screen and were oblivious to her arrival. "I see that my daughter is going to be in very capable hands this evening." She raised an eyebrow as Nigel and Eve both startled.
Nigel grinned at seeing Jordan standing in the doorway. "How was work, love?" He questioned as he stood and crossed the distance between them, taking her in his arms and giving her a feather light kiss on her lips. He removed her black leather jacket and left to hang it in the closet nearest to the front door.
"Work was great." Jordan mumbled as she sat down on the couch where he had been sitting. "Don't I get a kiss, angel?" She asked her daughter.
A sheepish smile formed on Eve's lips as she eyed her mother out of the corner of her eye. "Yes mommy." She flung herself into her mothers waiting arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Cartoons now?" She questioned with the childish innocence that she possessed.
"Ya baby. Go back to watching your cartoons." She placed a kiss on Eve's forehead before letting her slide back to the couch cushions. Jordan glanced up when Nigel appeared again from hanging up her jacket.
He smiled at her and sat on the edge of the couch where he was able to reach her shoulders. He proceeded to give her a massage. "You look tired, Jordan. Are you sure you're up to having your little rendezvous with Garrett tonight?" Nigel wasn't a jealous man but tonight he felt a little edgy. Especially now that he saw that Jordan looked tired and not up for a night alone with her overbearing ex-husband.
"Mm." She mumbled as he rubbed her aching shoulders. Jordan knew that Nigel was only looking out for her well being and even considered cancelling her dinner with Garrett but decided against it. "No. I'm not up for it but I have to go. We do need to talk and get some things straightened out. Besides, if I cancel on him...how's that going to look?" She raised an eyebrow, challengingly, and looked up at him.
Nigel chuckled and leaned down, kissing the corner of her very kissable mouth. "It might look like you'd rather spend time at home, relaxing, with your lovely daughter and very handsome boyfriend." He also raised his eye brow having met her silent challenge.
"I'd rather be doing that." She glanced over at Eve who was glued to the tv. "Eve, sweety. Uncle Nigel is going to watch you while mommy is out, ok?" She just blinked at the silent nod she got from the little girl. "She's picking up your bad habits, Nige." She whispered to the man sitting on the arm of the couch.
Grinning, Nigel crossed the room and flopped down in a chair that sat across from the couch. "Don't go blaming me, love. You're the one that keeps inviting me back." His eyes wondered back to the tv.
All three of them sat there in complete, yet comfortable, silence. Nigel and Eve were absorbed in the different cartoons that were playing across the screen and Jordan was lost in thought. When she looked at her watch again, it was almost time for Garrett to pick her up. Sighing she stood, stretching her tired muscles and joints. "I'm going to get ready." She left the living room and padded down the hallway to her bedroom. The closet door was already open since she left it that way when she left for work that morning. She didn't have much in the way of formal wear since she rarely attended anything that would exclude her daughter. And anything that required formal clothes usually didn't include children. She reached out and fingered the fabric of one of Nigel's jumpers. It was soft against her fingers and that made her smile. Nigel had little bits and pieces of himself around the penthouse. He had his own drawer and ever space in her closet were he hung his more expensive jumpers that he didn't want to get wrinkled. Shaking her head, she moved the jumpers to the side so that she could get to her 'forgotten' clothes that hung in the back. Moments later she had picked out a knee length black dress with spaghetti straps and a reasonable neckline. She stepped into the shower, thinking about the night ahead, and wondering how big of a headache she was in for.
Nigel yawned and smiled at Eve who was watching him with her crystal blue eyes. It was frightening how much intellect shone behind such young eyes. "Cartoons boring you?" He asked softly.
Eve looked to the soft where her mother had sat then back to Nigel. "Unca Nige, where's mommy going tonight?" She questioned with a firm voice that almost sounded like her mothers.
Blinking, Nigel tilted his head to the side. He chuckled to himself at the tone of her voice but stayed quiet. "Your mum is going out with a...friend tonight, Eve." He really didn't know how to refer to Garrett. But friend sounded the safest.
"But you mommy's friend." Eve sounded confused now then dropped her eyes to her small hands. "Mommy stay home tonight with Eve and Unca Nige." Her bottom lip was beginning to tremble.
"Hey now. No tears." He moved out of the chair and took a seat beside the little girl, gathering her into his arms. "This is very important to your mum, ok? She'll be back later and then we can spend the entire weekend together!" He tried to make his voice sound enthusiastic but he felt the same way. He wanted Jordan to stay home too. Instead of voicing his agreement with Eve, he just held the little girl for a minute then kissed her forehead. "Well have a good time, I promise."
Eve sniffled but didn't let the tears fall. She hugged her 'Unca Nige' back and gave him a shy smile when he kissed her forehead. "Ok." She turned her attention back to the cartoons on the tv as if nothing had happened.
Nigel just shook his head in amazement. Eve was most definitely Jordan's daughter. Sometimes they acted so similar that it was scary. He released Eve and let her settle back into her place on the couch. He then let his own eyes drift back to the tv.
Half an hour later, Jordan heard her doorbell while she stood at the mirror checking herself out. Nodding approval at what she saw, she crossed the living room, saying a silent thank you to Nigel for not answering the door, and opened the door.
Garrett stood there, speechless for a few moments. His large brown eyes took in the sight of her and what he saw started his blood to boiling. He smiled that lovely crooked smile that she used to loved. "Damn." He said. "You look great!"
Jordan took in his dark brown jacket, tan pants and light brown sweater. "You look pretty good yourself." She commented, politely. She took a step forward but stopped seeing his confused look.
"Whoa, there." Garrett muttered "Jordan, it's kinda chilly outside. Aren't you going to take a coat or at least a jacket?" He heard the tv on in the living room and was curious to see who was watching Eve. He had assumed that Max would be doing it but when he dropped Spencer off, Max was alone. And surely Jordan wasn't leaving her four year old daughter alone by herself.
"Ya. Sorry." She went into the living room to get her purse and to give Nigel and Eve a kiss goodbye. She then joined him at the door after removing a long formal coat from the closet by the door. "Bye Eve." She called out as she shut the door. She was careful not to mention Nigel's name. No one knew they were dating yet and that's the way they wanted it for now. She offered him a polite smile.
Garret smiled back, taking her arm and leading her to his car.
Twenty minutes later they were sitting at a table in Capo's, a very nice restaurant, with a live jazz band. Garret had ordered for her and been such old-fashioned that Jordan had to smile. It was his way of telling her that he didn't want to fight tonight and she was enjoying the peace between them. They talked as they ate, falling into easy conversation like old times. Jordan felt reassured that he wasn't going to act like an ass and even started to relax. Finally, the band signaled they were going to play some slow numbers so everyone could dance. Garret stood up and offered his hand to Jordan. She smiled almost shyly and let him lead her to the dance floor.
Garret quickly looked around the dance floor. There were quite a few other couples, but Jordan was definitely the most beautiful woman there. For a moment, he felt like they were married again and enjoying a night out on the town. He felt his muscles stiff at the stray thought.
Jordan felt Garrett go from relaxed to stiff. That made her put up her guards knowing that something was bothering him. She was now worrying that she shouldn't be dancing with him. Maybe it was too much too soon. They were barely talking to each other and hadn't even established a working friendship yet. "What's the matter?" She whispered so that the other couples on the dance floor wouldn't hear her.
"Just not believing that a woman as beautiful as you would want to dance with someone like me." Garrett mumbled into her hair.
Jordan drew back a little at his words. "Why not?" She questioned for the hell of it. But her mind was screaming for her to stop and get out of there.
"Well...forget it. Just the musings of a old man." Garrett said with a grin.
Jordan rolled her eyes. "You're not that old." She mumbled suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the topic of conversation and the way it was going. "Maybe we should sit down and talk now. That is the whole reason for dinner, right?" She was suddenly suspicious of his motives.
He stopped moving and looked at her. He knew that he had scared her since she was looking at him with guarded eyes. He couldn't read her emotions now like he could earlier, when they were eating. "Ya." Garrett mumbled as he let her back to the table and sat opposite of her. He ordered two coffee's with cream from the waiter only to be corrected by Jordan who wanted her coffee black. "Since when do you drink straight black coffee?" He questioned.
She shrugged and looked down at the white table cloth. "I just like my coffee black." Was her reply when she finally offered it. "So...you want to know why I left right? Why I just signed the divorce papers and disappeared?" Jordan wanted to have this conversation so they could leave.
Garrett knew that they were down to business now and the fun was over. "Ya. That is one of the things I want to know. The other is why you never attempted to fight me in court for Spencer." His voice was quiet since he didn't want any of the other people around them to hear the conversation.
Jordan snorted and traced the delicate pattern that was etched in the table cloth with her finger. She knew that she needed to tell him the truth. "I left because I didn't feel that there was anything left for me in Boston. I needed a new start. A new life where I could start from scratch." She swallowed and took a sip of the coffee that was just sat in front of her. "I was happy with you, Garrett. I loved you. I was ecstatic when I found out I was pregnant. I just never thought that you of all people would act like such an ass about it." She saw him ready to protest and held up a hand to silence him. "Let me finish. This is a conversation that is over due but you must let me speak without interruption." She surprised herself at how mature she sounded and how steady and strong her voice was. "You dumped my work load on Bug and Nigel." She whispered. "That wasn't fair to them so I stayed late to help them. I may have been pregnant but I wasn't incapable of doing my job. I think our marriage ended the first time you accused me of sleeping around and never left me explain. I stayed with you in hopes that it would get better once the baby was born but it didn't. It continued to dump my work load on Bug and Nigel and I continued to stay late and help them. They were my friends and I wasn't about to have them bitter at me for something you were doing." She took another sip of the deep, rich, liquid in her cup.
Garrett stayed quiet and respected her request. He wanted to put his two cents in but knew better.
"I loved Spencer but I was an alcoholic. I admit that I turned to alcohol to escape your unjust accusations. And I was a workaholic because there was so many backlogged cases at the morgue that it required all three of us to stay long hours to get caught up. That's why I never fought you for him. I knew your claims were against me were real and I didn't have a chance." Jordan took a deep breath and swallowed. "I did have an affair, Garrett. But not when you suspected. Our marriage was dead and buried. And I loved him. He made me feel good about myself. He listened when I talked. Made me laugh and held me when I cried. Everything you stopped doing." Again, she sipped at her coffee. "I know you didn't ask me out just to talk about our past and I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong idea by accepting. I care for you Garrett and I think I always will. We created a beautiful child together and that's something I can't forget, even though I tried. But I don't love you. You hurt me too bad for that. I can't take the chance that you'd do it again. That you'd put me through all that pain and hurt a second time. I'm sorry."
Now he was quiet because he was in shock and numb. Here was the answers he had been waiting for but now he had wished he never heard them. She did have an affair but only after their marriage had completely failed. It hurt him to know that she loved the guy. What hurt even more was hearing that he didn't have a chance with her again. He had hoped to have his family back together but now it was never going to happen. All Garrett could do was sigh in defeat. He wanted to be angry at her. He wanted to yell and make a scene that would embarrass her but he couldn't because he knew that everything she was saying was true. He's the one that ruined their marriage but being overly protective. He hadn't even thought about the workload he had left Nigel and Bug with. It never crossed his mind that Jordan would be staying late at the office to help with work that should have been shared by her in the first place. That was the problem. He didn't think. He took a sip of the almost cold coffee in front of him. "I want you to be apart of Spencer's life now. I took that away from you because of selfish reasons and I want to make it right. I made our son suffer without a mother because I thought it would force things to go back to the way they were. I thought I was out of options and there was one staring me right in the face. I should have talked to you and listened. I'm sorry as well." He stood and watched her, awkwardly.
"Is the date over?" She asked with a hint of sarcasm inching it's way into her voice. Garret took her arm and steered her toward the waiter who took his credit card to pay for the dinner. Seconds later they were back in Garret's car, heading for her house. She looked over at him from the passenger seat. "I'm sorry this evening didn't turn out how you had hoped." She said quietly when they pulled up to her penthouse. "I just hope we can be friends, for Spencer's sake." Jordan slid out of the car and watched as he drove down the street. When his break lights faded into the night, she turned to go in. She was greeted at the door by a smiling Nigel who gave her a peak on the lips. "Where's Eve?"
Nigel was watching from the front window when he heard a car pull up. And greeted her at the door before she even had time to look for her key. He was so thrilled to see her that he had to kiss her and he did. "Eve is in bed, love. I'm afraid Uncle Nigel tired the little bugger out." He grinned. "So, how was your date with the charming Doctor Macy?" He questioned with nothing but amusement in his voice. He moved out of the doorway so she could enter.
"Boring." She answered, truthfully. "I would have rather stayed at him with my lovely daughter and very handsome boyfriend." Jordan quoted him from earlier. "But I think we got things straightened out now. He got the answers he wanted. I'm not sure he liked what he heard but at least I can breath easier now. I did my part. I explained myself, honestly, and he seemed to understand." She stopped talking and stepped inside, hanging up her coat in the process. "Let's go to bed." She whispered as she walked towards her bedroom knowing that he was falling after her. Once inside she stripped off her formal wear and changed into her usual pajamas.
Nigel followed her into the bedroom and smiled. While she changed, he also changed. Once they were ready for bed, he pulled the covers down and slid in.
Jordan followed him into bed where she pulled the covers up and over them. She snuggled against side and breathed in his scent. He smelled like herbal tea. Chewing on her bottom lip, she began to speak. "Nige, can I tell you something?" She whispered.
He clicked off the lamp and got comfortable after she did. He buried his head in her hair and took a deep breath. She smelled like jasmine. "Sure, love." Nigel whispered back.
"I love you." Came Jordan's sleepy reply followed by her soft breathing.
Nigel's smiled and pulled his face from her hair. He traced her face with his finger tips and kissed the end of her nose. "I love you too." He settled himself back against the pillow and soon his breathing matched her. Sleep had claimed them both.