CHAPTER TWO
Woody had adjusted to his new life. He had refused to return to Wisconsin, and even the job offer in California reminded him too much of Jordan. So he moved to New York. He took a job at the NYPD, and was soon promoted to a lead detective on homicides. He had a deluxe apartment with a view of the city and right by Central Park. It was the ideal life for any bachelor of the 21st century.
But something always seemed to be missing. Woody knew he missed Boston, his old work, his friends, and of course he missed Jordan. But he would never admit it. So he stayed in New York and drowned out his loneliness with parties and blondes.
Meanwhile in Boston
Jordan had never gotten over Woody leaving. She cried for weeks, shut herself in even more. Nigel understood, he was the only one. He knew how much Woody meant to Jordan, how much she loved him, they all did. But Nigel knew more. Nigel knew that Jordan was pregnant. And more importantly, Nigel knew the father was Woody.
Months passed and slowly Jordan gained a little of herself back. She told the rest of her friends about her pregnancy. Lily was so excited for her, then shaken by the absence of the father. She talked to Jordan everyday and was her womanly support. She was the one who went with Jordan to Lamaze and to the doctor appointments. Nigel became a protective brother, not letting anything happen to her that may threaten her or the baby physically or emotionally. Garrett took the role of the father. He encouraged Jordan and shared his experiences from Abby. He helped her prepare and rebuild her independence and yet realize she was far from alone.
On October 19, Jordan gave birth to twins! Cassandra Faith and Noah William. Cassandra because it's a beautiful name (to be nicknamed Cassie), and Faith for the faith Jordan still held for her father. Noah because her son just mirrored it exactly, and William for his father's late father. She fell in love with them instantly. All mothers do of course.
Jordan had done a wonderful job with Cassie and Noah. They were good kids, smart and polite and adorable beyond belief. Cassie had her mother's dark, curly hair and her father's crystal blue eyes. Noah had his father's scruffy school boy hair with his mother's whisky eyes. For fall break, well a make-believe fall break for kindergarteners, Uncle Nigel and Uncle Garrett took the kids on a little vacation. To New York City, the Big Apple. Jordan had a break for awhile, time to relax and not worry. That of course did not stop her constant worry about her kids, but she trusted Nigel and Garrett enough to only call four times a day.
Unfortunately for the dear uncles, Cassie was her mother's daughter. She persuaded Uncle Eddie (Winslow) to find her daddy and when she found out he lived in New York, she began to plan.
Nigel and Garrett took Cassie and Noah to Central Park for the day. Luckily for mischievous little Cassie, the NYPD is right across the street. Being the daring little five year old she is, she waited for Noah or something else to garb her uncles' attention. And they were soon distracted by Noah's flirtation with a little girl by the park bench (he was his father's son-always a charmer). Cassie crossed the busy street with a huge crowd of adults and snuck into the precinct.
"Excuse me? Is Detective Hoyt here?" she asked innocently to the front desk receptionist, putting her best cute face on.
"Ya, corner desk. White shirt, blue tie…" she replied after a curious pause. She poked her head around the corner… "and apparently asleep. Go ahead over there, you can wake him."
"Thank you very much" Cassie skipped off.
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Meanwhile, Nigel and Garrett had successfully separated the young lovers. Garrett turned around to tell Cassie not to ever kiss boys she didn't know.And that's when he noticed she wasn't there…..
Cassie slowly approached Woody's desk. She gently tapped his shoulder and he flinched a bit in his sleep.
"Excuse me Detective Hoyt!" Cassie whispered.
"Jordan?" he mumbled in his sleep.
"Detective Hoyt!" Cassie said a little louder tapping his arm. When he still didn't wake up, she shook his arm. "Detective Hoyt!" She said again.
He woke from his slumber in a daze. He looked up for who was calling, and didn't see anyone until he felt the tapping on his arm again. It was then he looked down, and saw a little girl staring at him.
Confused he mustered out.. "Are you lost kiddo?"
"Nope, my Uncle Nigel and Uncle Garrett are at the park across the street with my brother. I came to see you."
"Nigel, Garrett… Why did you want to see me?" Woody asked her, now officially confused and he couldn't help but think she looked a lot like Jordan, except for those eyes. Those blue eyes. His own eyes widened as he looked at her.
"How old are you hon?" he asked quietly.
"I'm Cassie. And I just turned five."
"Oh my god!" Woody exhaled.
Nigel grabbed Noah and raced across the street to the police station after he and Garret searched the whole park for Cassie. Garrett kept looking at the park and Nigel went to file a claim for her since she was missing in NYC.
"Oh my god. My niece, she's missing. She ran off, or was taken, I don't know. Please help me!" Nigel exclaimed as he set Noah down and ranted to the receptionist.
"Cassie!" Noah called, spotting his sister.
"Thank you! You found her. Thank you so much!" Nigel shouted and ran to the little girl scooping her and her brother up at once. He was so relieved to find Cassie he didn't even notice Woody.
"Cassandra Faith Cavanaugh! Don't you EVER run off like that again. You scared your uncles to death!" He disciplined between hugs.
Garrett ran inside the station looking panicked having not found his niece. Then he saw them, and the reunion. And Woody.
Garrett approached cautiously.
"Well if it isn't Woodrow Wilson Hoyt." He gritted.
Nigel looked up in shock.
"Uncle Garret! Be nice. He's out daddy!" Cassie exclaimed in childhood innocence.
"What?" all three adults said at once.
Then Woody looked at Noah, and Cassie, and Noah again. Oh ya, they were his kids. And he never knew.
"I'm their daddy!" Woody thought out loud.