“Sounds like a weak excuse to me. How about having supper with us tomorrow night? Nothing fancy, I’ll make spaghetti. Luke wants to hear the latest on Alex. When’s he coming?”

“I’m still not sure. I’d love to come, but I promised Darby and Emma Lynn I’d go to the James Brown concert with them.” Jorden knew she stretched the truth, but she couldn’t handle Madison’s questions. She had only mentioned Matt’s name once before Thanksgiving.

“Oh, James Brown—so he’s more important than us?” Madison laughed. “Just kidding, I’d go see him anytime over us. How about next Tuesday night? That’s the twenty-sixth.”

“I can come then.” Jorden pushed her hair behind her ears. She knew there would be time to see Matt afterward.

“Good. I’ll hold you to Tuesday. Come around five thirty.”

***

Four days later, Luke answered the door. “It’s about time you came. You must think we have the plague.”

“Of course not.” Jorden hugged Luke. “Yum! Smells good.” She inhaled aromas as they drifted from the kitchen. “I’m starving. I missed lunch today. One more week to go! I can’t wait for next Tuesday—school will be out.”

Madison walked out of the kitchen with a ladle in her hand. “Do you mean you don’t have to go in after Tuesday? I’m jealous! My last day is Friday, June 5.”

“I meant when the students are gone. My official last day is the same as yours.” Jorden slipped off her sunglasses; it had been a hot, sunny day.

“Oh, you’re right. My second graders will also be gone. Good. I feel better.” Waving her hand in the air, Madison orchestrated the ladle back to the kitchen and into the spaghetti sauce.

“There’s my wife, conducting the New York Philharmonic. Now, how about ladling us some scrumptious sauce.” Luke blew Madison a kiss while he filled the glasses with iced tea. Madison winked and piled the meat sauce over the spaghetti. Parmesan cheese topped it off.

“Delicious!” Jorden declared after taking her first bite. Conversation slowed as they finished their dinner and ate the last slices of crisp garlic bread.

“Where’s Alex? It’s already the twenty-sixth—shouldn’t he be here soon?” Luke asked.

“You tell me—I’d like to know. Alex’s last letter said he hoped to get a flight out of Saigon this week.”

“You never can tell. I was delayed several days before I got out last August,” Luke confirmed. “Is he coming here first?”

“No. He wants to go back to his home in Albany before he drives to Columbus.” Jorden looked at her plate, avoiding eye contact with either Luke or Madison.

“Good logic when you think about it. He’ll have his car when he heads down here,” Luke replied.

“I’ll just be glad when Matt gets here,” Jorden muttered in a frustrated voice.