CHAPTER 3: COFFEE AND SMALL TALK WITH FARMBOY CHARM ON THE SIDE
Garett was more than willing to give Jordan a month off. She had built up plenty of vacation time and although the circumstances were crappy it was about time she took some. Jordan never realized how much she missed coming home to that big,red, funky door. Expecting to see cobwebs and dust aboutsix inches deep,she slowly opened the door to reveal that her apartment was in excellent condition.
"Wow,someone must really like me." Thinking that she was the only one there she was suprised when Lily exclaimed,"Jordan,you're home!" Squeeling all the way from the bedroom across to the doorway to give her old pal a huge hug. "It's so good to have you back,Jordan. The whole gang has missed you sooo much."
Tossing her small bag to the side Jordan hugged her back. It felt good to have human contact again. Months of silent running had left her feeling alone and abandoned.Although she knew the latter wasnt true,her friends back home had been doing all they could to bring her back safely as a free woman."God ,Lily,it feels good to be home.Have you been taking care of this place the whole time?",Jordan asked.
"It's the least I could do,Jo. I hope you're not mad that I got your spare key from Woody. It's just that I felt useless not having the ability to find you or to help clear your name,so I kept up your apartment because I knew youd be coming back."
It was at this moment that Jordan felt the tears starting to burn at her eyes. Lily was the sister that she never had. Even though there was no blood relation to anyone at the morgue they had all become a close knit family. "No Lily.Why on Earth would I be mad at you for this?I appreciate it more than you know.It's one less thing I have to worry about doing and I can actually relax for the next month.Thank you so much." With that being said a tear slid down her cheek.
Reaching up and wiping it away Lily replied,"Oh no,please don't cry.I don't think I could shed anymore tears for the things that have happened in the past few months.This is a happy time for us all having you back where you belong.Besides,I wasn't the only one who helped keep this place intact.You might want to thank Woody for helping.It did both of us some good just to be around 'you' even if you weren't really here."
Jordan didn't know what to say to this."I guess I'll have to give him an I.O.U. the next time I see him." Lily smiled widely and giggled. "Well,I guess I better head off to work.I just came by to make sure everything was in order for you."
Jordan thanked her friend and asked right before she headed out the door,"Hey Lily,if youre not busy after work,would you like to come by for some coffee and small talk?I'd like to kinda catch up on things so I don't feel so out of the loop."
With another huge grin,"I'd love to Jo.There's so much I can't wait to tell you about. Me and Bug are dating...oh, and Nigel has been acting weird so theres been alot of juicy gossip about Nigel having a new girlfriend,but hes keeping pretty hush-hush about it.Oh I just cant wait!" and with a squeel she was out the door and down the hallway.
"Well,good to know there hasn't been too much change since I've been away"Jordan thought and turned to make herself at home.
Making her way back to the bathroom she decided she deserved a long hot bubble bath."Why not go all out and spoil myself".She lit some cinnamon scented candles and turned the radio on low.She figured some light rock would suit the mood she was in.Taking her clothes off and throwing them haphazardly into the hamper she pulled her long curls into a loose bun. Stepping into the tub a long low sigh escaped her lips."Man,I've been needing this."
It seemed as though,if just for a moment,this was her own little piece of heaven on earth.This was a different kind of alone time.She wasn't running or looking over her shoulder.There wasn't a reason to be secluded,she was home safe and she could do what she wanted when she wanted.With this as her last thought she had slowly drifted to sleep.
Falling asleep in the tub was not what she had planned.It was a little more relaxing than she figured it would be,but she hadn't even realized what happened until she heard someone calling out her name...from inside of her apartment. Before she could even think about getting out of the now cold water a figure appeared in the doorway of the bathroom
"Hey Jordan,where...woah,woah,Im so sorry" was all that poor Woody could get out while stammering back out into the hallway.A still groggy Jordan asked,"Geez Farmboy,you ever heard of knocking?"
"Well,I tried that and when you didn't answer after about,oh...10 minutes I figured you were either pissed at me for hanging out at your apartment while you were gone or trouble had found you again." Even though she was busy trying to dry off and throw on her bathrobe Jordan could tell that he had that famous dimpled smirk on his face. If there was anyone that could be as big a smartass as Jordan it was Woody.
"So you just decided to let yourself in anyways,huh?",she asked sneaking up behing him and goosing him in the side.
Finding Jordan in a playful mood after all that had happened seemed a good sign in his eyes and so he continued to push forward. "Well,we all know Jordan that trouble is your middle name and so I thought I'd just play it safe.Besides,we both know you can't resist my 'farmboy charm' and even if the first part were true and you were mad at me..." looking at her with those cool blue eyes while flashing that dimpled grin, "you'd get over it."
Jordan couldn't resist busting out with laughter.She could never resist that smile or those crisp blue eyes. With a playful smack on the arm, "Ya,Lily told me what you guys had done and I just want to say thanks.At least someone was able to keep my plant alive.You may end up taking it home with you cause now that I'm back it'll probably revolt against me." It was Woody's turn to laugh now.Everyone knew that Jordan didn't possess a green thumb.
After about an hour of playful banter Woody thought it best that he finally head to work as well."It really is good to have you back,Jo.I know it'll take some time to settle back into a routine but I like having you home where I...we know you are safe." On his way to the door he couldnt help but add,"You sure can be a headache Cavanaugh."
With a pretended hurt look Jordan couldn't help herself,"Ya,I know...but you'll get over it." A smile and a kiss on the forehead later Woody was out the door and walking to the elevator.
"Hey, Woods!"
"Ya, Jo?"
"I...O...U."
"Yes, Miss Cavanaugh,you owe me B..I...G" and with that the elevator doors closed.
