Chapter 31
"I am," he insisted and left the kitchen to go and talk to his wife.
"Jordan, what gives?" he asked when he got to the dining room.
"I don't know what you mean!" she snapped as she practically slammed the silverware down on the table.
"Are you upset that I invited Mac to dinner?"
"NO! Why would I be upset to come home and find my husband here alone with a beautiful woman, laughing and carrying on in the kitchen?!"
"Jordan, we were making dinner for the THREE of us! Not romping in the sheets! If I didn't know better I would almost think you were jealous. But since that's not possible, all I can figure is that this might be a…"
"If you dare to accuse me of hormonal things, I will do something drastic!" she claimed, gesturing a butter knife in his direction.
Instead of looking terrified or at the very least worried by her threat Woody had the gall to laugh! Normal Jordan would have seen red at that reaction, but because she was being hormonal, she started to cry instead.
Woody approached her without fear of the knife she still held in her hand, and wrapped her in his arms. "Jordan no matter how you feel about me, it is you that I love and that will never change. Mac is a friend and college nothing more. I know I should have called and told you about inviting her to dinner. I am sorry I didn't, and I promise it won't happen again. Okay?"
She gave a nod and hiccupped while saying, "Yes."
At that moment, Mac came out of the kitchen with the salad and placed it on the table. "Is there anything else I can do?" she asked.
Surprisingly it was Jordan that answered her, "There are several different bottles of dressing in the fridge. If you could get them while I finish setting the table…I would have been done by now, but Woody had to have his 'welcome home hug'.
Woody stood there slightly stunned at the blink of an eye change in Jordan's mood, but decided to go along with it rather than question it!
The three of them enjoyed their salad while waiting for the enchiladas to bake. By the time the oven buzzer went off they were more than ready for the wonderfully aromatic dish that Woody brought to the table. Mac commented on just how great they smelled. Jordan smiled and said, "Woody is a great cook if only I could control the amount of cheese he puts on things!"
"Oh!" Mac exclaimed, "Is that why he put less cheese on one end of the baking dish?!"
Jordan looked at the casserole dish in surprise and then up at Woody. He grinned sheepishly, "I guess you can teach a Wisconsin boy new ways."
"Isn't that supposed to be 'old dog, tricks'? Not 'Wisconsin boy, ways'?" Mac questioned.
"Yeah, but I don't feel old, so I thought I might get away with a word change."
"We'll forgive you, if you stop talking and dish up the food!" declared Jordan.
Woody gave a beleaguered sigh, "Never be slow to feed a pregnant woman!"
"Or a hungry Marine!" Mac added emphatically.
"I'm glad this recipe makes so many!" he stated as he filled the plates of the two hungry women in front of him.
The meal was delicious and a recipe that usually fed Woody and Jordan for two meals was polished off by the three of them that evening. There had been talk about the cases that had brought Mac to town and each of them had shared stories about their work as time had slid by. Before long Jordan couldn't stop her yawn and Mac apologized for staying too long. She asked for the number of a cab company and Woody said he would drive her back to her hotel. A good natured argument ensued with Jordan trying to end it by suggesting Mac use their guest room.
"Thank you Jordan, but I don't have anything with me," Mac said.
"You can borrow something of mine, if you like and we even have a couple of new toothbrush in the guest bath," Jordan offered.
"I appreciate it, but I really don't want to inconvenience you. Please let me thank you both for a pleasant evening and just let me call a cab."
Woody was about to protest again when Jordan put her hand on his arm and recommended a cab company to Mac. While she was making her call Woody questioned his wife about her actions.
To be continued…