I wish I had never gone down to the train station. There are a lot of things I wish I had done differently. I still just don’t understand why Jordyn lied and kept on lying even though she didn’t do anything more than sneak out and try to pull a prank on a friend. She wasn’t the one who sent Cora those fake messages and she wasn’t the one who stabbed and beat her. But still she felt the need to accuse an innocent man, her teacher no less. I tried to get Jordyn to tell me why but she wouldn’t or couldn’t explain it beyond saying that she was scared and afraid they’d never let her come home again.

Tess tells me that we’ll probably never fully understand our granddaughter. She’s had a hard life. Her parents dumped her off on our doorstep. We’ve tried to be good parents to her, but it’s not the same as having your real mom and dad there to sit down with you at dinner and to tuck you in every night.

Mr. Dover resigned from his teaching position and last I heard had moved out of state. Wherever he is I hope he’s been able to make a fresh start.

After I fell on the train tracks and busted up my shoulder, I told Officer Grady about the book bag hidden in the chimney. He fished it out and it ended up there was zero physical evidence that linked Jordyn to any crime. By the grace of God, I wasn’t arrested for tampering with evidence. I guess no one saw the point of throwing an old man in jail for trying to protect his granddaughter.

Once a week we drive to Grayling and I drop Jordyn off at her counselor’s office and then take Tess to her physical therapy appointment. The deal was Jordyn had to go to counseling or be charged for making false statements to the police. The counseling seems to be helping. She’s a lot quieter now, though, stays pretty much to herself. Tess says that in a few months everyone will move on to the next scandal and Jordyn will be surrounded by friends again. But I don’t know. Small towns have long memories.

Beth Crow September 14, 2018

Beth Crow

September 14, 2018