Jorden felt Alex stiffen. He raised his hands and slowly pushed her shoulders back until their eyes met—his were steady, unwavering. “I can’t come. Those are my final words! Please, Jorden, don’t ask again!”

Immediately, she recognized the abruptness of his words—the barrier was up. She saw the signs; there was no reasoning with him.

“We have to go.”

Jorden watched him hurry down the hall. She couldn’t speak. Her legs barely moved forward.

“I’ll pick you up in front,” Alex stated firmly from the staircase.

Jorden looked back at his room and shivered. For a split second she wondered about their future.

Chapter 38: January 1970

Chapter 38

January 1970

The gentleman next to her had fallen asleep and leaned toward the aisle—this gave Jorden a few more inches to stretch out. A furrow was etched between her brows as she reflected on what Alex had said to her.

***

Previous Year – Albany, Friday afternoon, May 16, 1969

“I can’t come. Those are my final words!” The declaration cut her to the core. Why be so cold? All she wanted was for Alex to return to Columbus for a couple days. Was she asking too much? She stopped by the guest room and laid down on the bed. She looked up at the canopy—anything to distract from her thoughts. Would she ever understand Alex?

Jorden lost track of time before remembering their lunch date. She wouldn’t let Alex spoil the rest of the weekend. “Get up—deal with it. Get some spunk,” she coached herself. She touched up her makeup and regained her composure. Standing in front of the mahogany mirror, she muttered words of encouragement. “It will be all right. It has to be.”

Meanwhile, Alex had parked the car in front of the house. Tired of waiting, he went back inside. From the hallway he spotted Jorden on the staircase, but she couldn’t see him.

Jorden had decided to use the main staircase leading down to the entrance hall. Despite being upset, she couldn’t help but grin when she looked down at the graceful steps. This was her chance to make a grand entrance—especially when no one could see her trying to do this. She stepped forward, attempting to glide down the stairs. Her cotton skirt floated up as her leather flats sailed down the steps. At the bottom, she majestically bowed her head and threw up her arms.

“Bravo!” Alex cheered, acting as if nothing had happened between them.

His voice startled Jorden, causing her to trip. She fell onto the entryway’s hardwood floor.

“I didn’t mean to make you trip!” Alex rushed forward and leaned over to help her up.

Jorden pushed back and looked up at him—she didn’t know how to react.

He held out his hand. She wavered but slowly reached for his fingers. The tension seemed to ease—with an unspoken truce.