“It’s hard for me to believe you would go for burgers at two o’clock. I imagined all sorts of scenarios. What am I supposed to think after the young girl asked her mother, ‘Where’s Matt?’”

“Either you believe me or you don’t. What about you? Is there anyone in Albany? Is that why you went there first?”

“That’s crazy and you know it!”

“Is it?” Jorden stood, poised to leave.

“Look, believe me, there is no one in Albany except my family. Let’s stop fighting. I’m trying my best to understand.” Alex walked around the table and put his arm over Jorden’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s go,” he said in a somewhat gentler tone.

Neither said a word on the drive back to the apartment. Thoughts swirled through Jorden’s mind. What was he thinking? The palms of her hands felt clammy. Alex reached Buena Vista Apartments and drove by the B complex. If Nora hadn’t come along none of this would have been stirred up.

Alex parked the car. He placed his hand over hers. “We’re okay, aren’t we? I love you?”

“Yes, we’re okay. You know I love you.” Even while saying it, Jorden knew something was missing. What was wrong with her? Where was the magic? Buck up! This is the man she would marry.

“Let’s put this behind us.”

She leaned into Alex’s shoulder. They sat there for several minutes, each lost in private thoughts.

“Let’s go in and make up for lost time,” Alex whispered. Jorden lifted her head off his shoulder and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Chapter 61: June 1970

Chapter 61

June 1970

Madison and Luke had them over for dinner the night before but now, Wednesday, Jorden felt isolated again. The apartment didn’t have a phone. She didn’t have access to her car, hadn’t seen her roommates since Sunday, and Matt haunted her thoughts. “Put him out of your mind!” she cautioned herself. “Think about tonight!”

Jorden had planned a special dinner for Alex. After lunch they drove to the grocery store. Feeling adrift, she roamed aimlessly around the Piggly Wiggly, barely aware of Alex by her side. The list of ingredients for his favorite lasagna dinner acted as a guide, a crutch for her dazed mind.

“Let’s start in the cheese section. I need ricotta, cottage cheese, mozzarella, and sharp Cheddar.” Jorden stared at the cheese selections while her mind shifted into slow motion, unable to concentrate. What was happening to her? She felt on edge, her stomach churned. Miraculously, the cheeses ended up in her grocery cart.

They moved onto the meat section. “A pound of ground beef is all we need.” Jorden looked for the best quality of hamburger she could find.