by Gerri Hill
“Got here a little while ago,” Jordan said. “How’s the headache?”
Annie smiled. “None today. I had my caffeine fix earlier,” she said. “You want a cup?”
Jordan shook her head. “I’ve already got one, thanks.”
She went back into the office and Annie followed. She stopped and stared at the empty space. She looked over at Jordan.
“When did you move the sofa?”
“Had a couple of guys come get it. They just left.”
“I guess they were quiet. I didn’t hear a thing.” She took a sip of her coffee. “New one?”
“Yes. On the way.”
Annie was glad to be rid of the old one. While she didn’t mind the memories of Matt, she didn’t like that her mind went immediately to that night each and every time she looked at it.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Well, I did promise I’d get rid of it,” Jordan said. “You weren’t the only one having visions when you looked at it, you know.”
Annie felt her face turn to what she assumed was a bright red. “You did not just say that!”
Jordan laughed. “What?”
Annie shook her head. “Can we rearrange the office while we’re at it? Turn it into something completely different?”
“Sure. Whatever you want.”
So before the guys came with the new sofa, she and Jordan moved the desk against the side wall where they would now have a view of the door leading into the store. The bookshelf was moved to where the sofa used to be. She vacuumed while Jordan hooked up the printer again.
When they came with the new sofa, Annie got out of the way and let Jordan guide them inside. It was a smaller sofa and much nicer than the old one. While the old one was a drab beige cloth, this one was smooth dark leather. She couldn’t wait to sit on it. The guys made quick work of it and Jordan tipped them both before closing the back delivery door behind them.
“Well?” Jordan asked.
Annie sank down on the sofa and nodded. “Nice. Really nice,” she said as she ran her hands across the cool leather. “It makes it look like a real office now.”
“Good. I thought you’d like it,” Jordan said.
Annie got up again. “I do. Thank you.” She walked over to her and touched Jordan’s arm, letting her fingers linger on her skin. “You didn’t have to do that, you know.”
“Trust me. I did,” Jordan said with a smile.
Annie was aware of their closeness and knew she should move, knew she should remove her hand from Jordan’s arm. But she didn’t. Her fingers tightened of their own will as she met Jordan’s eyes. How many seconds she stood there, she didn’t know. Long enough. But when the back door opened, she took a quick, guilty step away, separating them. She was surprised by the slight blush on Jordan’s face.
“Just a head’s up,” Jessica said. “A church bus stopped out front.”
Jordan frowned. “What? Are they going to protest or something?”
Annie laughed. “I think she meant to warn us that we’re going to be overrun with customers soon.” She patted Jordan’s arm as she walked past, heading out to help Jessica and Molly with the crowd.
* * *
Jordan let out her breath when Annie left. Unconsciously, she touched her arm where Annie’s fingers had been.
“What just happened?” she whispered.
Okay, yeah, Annie liked to touch. She’d learned that weeks ago. But since when did she like to be touched?
She shook that thought away and sat down at the desk, pulling the laptop closer. Thursday was the day they did inventory and placed orders for the next week. Matt had normally placed orders once a month, but Annie had convinced her to do it weekly for T-shirts. That way, they would know which ones were good sellers and which were not. No sense in having their inventory stocked with shirts no one was buying.
Their normal Thursday routine had Jordan coming in at noon. Annie would have already finished the inventory, thanks to Steven and the new system he’d built for them. Jordan would then decide on quantity and place the orders.
She’d thrown a kink into that today by arriving early. Truth was, it was a rather hot day and instead of being outside, she had decided to head to the store. Well, that was sort of the truth. It was quiet and lonely at the house, and she found herself staring out at the bay with no desire or motivation to do anything, even though the lawn needed to be mowed. She’d also talked to her father about having a new pier built. When they came out on Sunday, he was going to take a look at it. She had offered to split the expense with him, but she doubted he would take her up on the offer.
She looked up as the door opened. She liked this new setup of the office. The desk had a view of the open area and the door. It was Annie.
“The church group didn’t stay long,” she said. “Thankfully. It was mostly kids, and they managed to make a complete mess of the T-shirts.”
“Good thing it was too early for popcorn,” she said.
Annie leaned her shoulder against the doorframe. “Are you managing inventory or do you need me to help?”
Jordan could have managed just fine. But she’d rather have Annie’s company. She got up and pointed to the laptop.
“Do your thing.”
Annie smiled as she walked past her. “My thing?”
Jordan returned her smile. “Well, you do your thing better than I do.”
Annie’s laugh was nearly contagious. “I’m not going to touch that statement.”
Chapter Seventeen
Annie paced nervously in the living room, back and forth across the rug. They would be arriving any minute, she knew, and she wasn’t really prepared.
“Relax.”
She looked up, finding Jordan watching her. She shook her head. “I can’t. I’m nervous.”
Jordan came closer. “They’ll be shocked. Then they’ll be excited.”
“You don’t know that. They could hate me. They could—”
“Annie, they’re not going to hate you.”
Annie plunged her hands into her hair. “I’m not ready. I’m not—”
“It’ll be fine.”
Annie’s “easy for you to say” reply was stuck in her throat. Jordan had taken her hands and linked their fingers, holding Annie’s arms to her side. They were standing only inches apart, and Annie was having a hard time catching her breath.
“Look at me.”
Annie blinked several times, trying to focus on Jordan’s gaze.
“We’re going to have a nice, casual dinner. They’re going to get to know you better. They’ll love you, Annie. How could they not?”
Annie tilted her head. “Do we have to tell them?”
Jordan laughed, then pulled her into a tight hug. Annie sank against her, loving her strength, loving the security she felt in her arms. But something else was just below the surface, just out of reach. She closed her eyes, trying to find it, but it eluded her. Instead, gentle hands rubbed her back, and she let out a contented sigh. She could have stayed there for hours, but Jordan loosened her hold and Annie took that as her cue to take a step away from her.
“So? You okay?”
Annie nodded. “I guess.”
“Good. Because I think they’re here.”
Annie’s heart beat nervously as Jordan went to the door to greet her parents. Annie had met them before, of course, but it was always at the store and their conversations had been short and polite, nothing more than a greeting really. Now, here she was about to have dinner with them, about to tell them that she was carrying Matt’s baby.
“Oh, dear God,” she murmured. But then, it couldn’t be any worse than her own parents’ reaction. And she had survived that. So she plastered a smile on her face and waited while Jordan greeted them both with hugs and a kiss on the cheek.
“You know Annie, of course,” Jordan said.
“Yes, of course. How are you, dear?”
Annie greeted Jordan’s mother with a smile and then a quick handsh
ake with her father. “I’m good, thanks,” she said, hoping the words sounded a little less formal to them than they did to her own ears.
“How do you like living out here on the bay?” Jordan’s father asked.
“Oh, I love it. Jordan was a lifesaver,” she said, taking a quick glance at Jordan, who smiled back at her.
Jordan’s mother took her arm and led her into the kitchen, and she looked over her shoulder, hoping Jordan would join them. Instead, Jordan and her father headed out to the deck.
“I heard about…well, about your mother not taking the news too well.”
Annie stared at her. “News?”
“About you being pregnant. I try to put myself in her shoes, but you just can’t deny your children, no matter what. I’m glad that Jordan offered the spare room to you.”
“Thank you. My mother, well, she’s not quite ready to accept it yet. I’ve found the less we talk, the less we argue.”
“She shouldn’t miss out on this. You look beautiful, Annie. I’d even say glowing.”
Annie blushed. “Mrs. Sims, I don’t know that I’d say glowing, but at least the morning sickness has subsided somewhat.”
She laughed. “You will call me Loraine. None of that Mrs. Sims nonsense,” she said with a wave of her hand. “And David goes by Dave to his friends.”
“Thank you.” Annie couldn’t believe how totally at ease she felt around her. Of course, once she told Loraine who the father was, that all could change.
“Now, I know Jordan,” Loraine continued as they stood in the large kitchen. “She’ll have steaks and baked potatoes and nothing else.”
Annie laughed. “Yes, you do know her. But I did pick up some vegetables to steam. I hope that will be enough.”
“Oh, good. I meant to bring the fixings for a salad but completely forgot,” she said. She went to the fridge and opened it. “It looks so different than when Matt lived here. Beer and a carton of milk were usually all you’d find.”
The mention of Matt’s name brought a nervous flutter to Annie’s heart. Should she just blurt out the news?
But Loraine was sporting a smile, and Annie didn’t want to chase it away. “I like to cook, so you can blame me,” she said.
“Then I’ll quit worrying that Jordan is eating takeout every night.” She surprised Annie by taking two beers from the fridge. “For Jordan and Dave,” Loraine explained. “I can’t stand the stuff.”
“I drink sparkling apple cider when Jordan has wine,” Annie said. “I will admit, I do miss having a glass of wine from time to time.”
“Yes, I like wine too. Matt used to keep a stash here for me,” Loraine said.
“I think Jordan has already gone through all that,” Annie said with a laugh. “She thought it was Matt’s stash, not yours.”
“Oh, he would join me, but he was like Dave and preferred beer.” Her smile faltered somewhat. “While I’ve finally accepted that he’s gone, I sometimes miss him so much.”
“I know. We miss him too,” she said.
Loraine’s smile was gentle. “You and Matt were…close?”
Annie nearly panicked. She knew what Loraine meant by that question, but she had no idea how to answer it. No, they weren’t close, not like that. But yes, there was sex involved. Thankfully, she heard the back door open and she let out a relieved sigh when Jordan came in.
“Ah, just what I was looking for,” Jordan said, taking the beer from her mother.
“Did you show him the pier?” Annie asked.
“Yep. And he agrees with me. He’s going to have some guys come out to look at it next week.”
“It needs repair?” Loraine asked.
“It needs replacing,” Jordan said. “Why don’t you come out on the deck? The breeze is nice.”
“I think your mother would like a glass of wine,” Annie said.
“Merlot?” Jordan asked.
“Whatever,” Loraine said. “Something red.”
Jordan handed the beer to her mother. “Here. Take that out to Dad. We’ll be right out.”
As soon as Loraine was out of earshot, Annie turned to Jordan. “Thank you. She was about to ask if Matt and I were dating,” she said.
“How did that come up?” Jordan asked.
“We were just chatting,” she said. “I like her. She said I should call her Loraine.”
Jordan nodded as she turned the corkscrew. “Then that means she likes you.”
Annie watched as Jordan pulled the cork out, then she went to the cabinet and took down two wineglasses, one for Loraine’s wine and one for her cider. “Do you want me to bring the frozen mugs for your beer?”
“Just one for me. My dad likes the bottle.”
They joined Jordan’s parents out on the deck, and indeed, the breeze was nice. Annie didn’t think they even needed the ceiling fan but Jordan put it on anyway.
“We used to come out here all the time when we were younger,” Loraine said. “Well, when Jordan and Matt were young. Dave’s parents were still alive then.”
“Why did you stop coming?” Annie asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. We just got so busy. And spare time was spent taking care of our home, we didn’t make time for out here.”
“That pier should have been replaced years ago,” Dave said. “I wonder why Matt never said anything.”
“You know how Matt was,” Loraine said. “Jordan can attest to that. The house was a wreck.”
“Housekeeping wasn’t his strong suit,” Jordan agreed.
“Had you been out here, Annie?” Loraine asked.
She nodded. “A couple of times,” she said. “The last two summers, Matt would have an office party out here.”
“Yeah, she’s trying to talk me into having one too,” Jordan said. “Annie thinks they might like me better if I do.”
Loraine frowned. “Why don’t they like you?”
Annie gave a quick laugh. “Because she has rules that Matt never did.”
“Yeah, like showing up to work on time,” Jordan said.
“So? Business has been good?” Dave asked.
Jordan shrugged. “I guess. Annie would know better than me. I’m not sure what summer crowds are supposed to be like.”
Annie nodded. “Yes, it’s been good.” She turned to Jordan. “Which reminds me, we need to order some more Fat Larry T-shirts. Brandon said he gave out a lot of them yesterday.”
“If we give out free T-shirts, doesn’t that deter customers from buying them?” Loraine asked.
“Matt said it put them in a good mood and then they were more apt to buy something than not,” Annie said. “Not sure if that was just his opinion or an actual marketing strategy,” she added.
“It seems to work,” Dave said. “I love seeing those T-shirts around town.”
“We’ve got a new design,” Jordan offered. “Fat Larry is still the same, of course, but with a new background.”
Annie noticed the expression on Loraine’s face and quickly added, “I think you’ll love it. I know Matt would have.”
Jordan gave her a nod and a subtle smile—a silent thank-you.
Loraine’s expression softened a bit. “I know we said for you to run the store as you wanted,” she said. “I just don’t want to change up too much. Matt had everything running smoothly.”
“I’m not changing stuff, Mom. A few tweaks here and there, that’s all.”
“She can handle it,” Dave said. “I have to agree. Matt was a little lax sometimes with his employees. There has to be accountability. You know that from the restaurant.”
Loraine nodded but didn’t reply. There seemed to be a little tension in the air, and Annie assumed it was because they were discussing Matt as much as they were.
“I should get the steaks going,” Jordan said. “Want another beer, Dad?”
“Thanks.”
“Mom?”
“I’ll take another glass of wine.”
Annie stood quickly. “I’ll get it.”
She followed Jordan back inside, through the living room and into the kitchen. Their eyes met and Annie felt a little relief.
“I guess talking about Matt…”
“Yes, Mom still has her moments. But she’s a lot better.”
“Right before you came in earlier, she asked me if Matt and I were close,” Annie said. “I nearly panicked. Should I lie? Should I tell her we were dating?”
“I don’t think you have to lie, Annie.”
“So I either lie to her or she thinks I’m a slut.” She covered her face with her hands. “God, she’s going to hate me.”
She felt Jordan move closer, and she let her take her hands from her face.
“It’ll be okay.”
“You keep saying that. I’m not sure I believe you.”
Jordan’s fingers tightened around her own. “Trust me.”
Annie nodded. “I will. But there’s no easy way to tell them. Before dinner? During? After? Regardless of when, it’ll still ruin dinner.”
Jordan smiled at her. “Let’s make it after dinner. Don’t want to waste those expensive fillets.”
Chapter Eighteen
For all her brave words, Jordan was actually nervous. Of course, she knew Annie was as well. They’d had a nice dinner with pleasant conversation, and she and her mother had finished off the bottle of wine. She could tell by her father’s demeanor that he was now ready to go home. She glanced over at Annie and raised her eyebrows. In return, Annie blew out a nervous breath and nodded. But before Annie could speak, Jordan decided to take the lead.
“Mom…Dad…there’s something we need to tell you,” she said. “Well, Annie…but still.”
Her mother frowned and glanced between the two of them. “What’s wrong?”
Annie stood up, twisting her hands together nervously. “There’s no easy way,” she said. “And I so wish there was.”
“Okay, girls, you’re scaring me,” her mother said. “What is it?”
Annie looked over at her and Jordan nodded.
“As you know, I’m pregnant,” Annie said. “What you don’t know is that…Matt is the father.”
Her mother’s face turned ashen. “What?”
“I’m so sorry,” Annie said immediately.