“Take that silly look off your face. This isn’t anything special. I’m just doing him a favor.”

“Sure you are—and my name’s Marilyn Monroe.” Darby smiled. “I’m going back to bed.”

Jorden ignored Darby’s comment and headed to the kitchen to start the coffee. Fifteen minutes later, Matt’s sleek Dodge Dart pulled up. She heard his footsteps on the stairs. This time, she opened the door with a smile.

“Are you ready?”

“I need to get my purse. Come in.” Jorden’s index finger went up to her lips and she whispered, “Darby and Emma Lynn had a late night—they’ll kill me if we disturb them.” Moments later, Jorden and Matt slipped out the door and into his car. “Where to?”

“I’m going to pick up Eloise, her friend Lisa, and maybe her daughter.”

Jorden looked at the backseat. “Can three fit in there?”

“They can squeeze in.” Matt assured her.

“If you say so.”

“I called just before I left. Eloise said they’d be ready.” Matt tapped his fingers to “California Dreamin” as he drove through an older neighborhood.

“There it is.” The two bedroom house was set back off the street. Jorden watched as a middle aged blond woman stepped out, followed by a younger, dark haired woman, and a teenage girl. The girl looked like a replica of her mother, only taller.

“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“That’s Nora, my student! I mean, she was last year.” Jorden rolled down the window to get a better view. “I can’t believe it’s her.”

At the same time, Matt got out and greeted them. “All set to go?”

“Ready as we can be,” Eloise replied. “This is my daughter Nora and my friend Lisa.”

Matt smiled. “The more the merrier.”

Lisa leaned over and looked at the back seat of Matt’s two door Dodge Dart. “Not much room. Why don’t we follow you?”

“Fine, but let me give you directions.” Matt huddled with Eloise and Lisa and gave them the list of apartments he planned to show them.

Nora turned and did a double-take when she looked in the car. “Miss Marshall . . . Is it you?”

“Sure is.”

“I can’t believe it. Mama, look who’s here. It’s Miss Marshall. You have to meet her.”

Jorden stepped out onto the curb. Eloise turned toward Jorden.

“Miss Marshall, this is my mother, Eloise Butler.”

Jorden extended her hand. “It’s so good to meet you. Nora was one of my favorite students.”

“Oh, she was always talking about you. She and Cheryl had a great time with your stock market project.”

“Those two were the best! They outdid me. I’m proud of them.”

Nora’s face lit up. “Can I ride with them, Mama?”

Eloise looked at Jorden. “Nora’s welcome,” Jorden replied. “I’d love to hear about her high school classes.”