Their eyes met. “That’s not the point. I thought I was pregnant and it scared the wits out of me. When I wrote you about my worries, you didn’t seem to care. Last spring you weren’t very concerned about me getting pregnant. I should have been stronger but I was so much in love with you.”

The more she spoke, the angrier she became. As if a revelation came over her, she knew they weren’t going to work—too many doubts had taken hold and shattered her illusions. “I can’t listen to any more of this.” Without thinking, Jorden scrambled into her clothes, found her shoes, and purse.

“What are you doing?” Alex grabbed her.

Jorden jerked out of his grip. “Right now I need space to think.” But, what was there to think about, she asked herself.

Brushing the tears from her face, Jorden rushed out the door. She drove away in a daze. Going back to her apartment wasn’t an option. She couldn’t face Darby or Emma Lynn. The next half hour Jorden drove aimlessly, trying to decide what to do. She was approaching an intersection when the traffic light turned red. The streetlight reflected off the emerald in her bracelet. What happened to the man who gave this to her? She unlatched the silver chain and let the bracelet slip from her wrist.

The light turned green. Jorden stepped on the gas. They had too many differences. Finally, she could see it wasn’t going to work. It is better it happened now—just keep driving,” Jorden told herself.

Chapter 65: June 1970

Chapter 65

June 1970

“It’s over! No wedding!” Jorden declared. She drove without direction until she noticed she was close to her apartment complex. Still, she couldn’t face her roommates and drove past the entrance. After several miles she realized she was headed back toward Fort Benning. At the next intersection she instinctively turned right when the light turned green.

As she drove, the streets and houses began to look familiar. She knew the area. A streetlight illuminated her watch; it was late, almost two thirty. She drove through the neighborhood and stopped when she came to the house on Monticello Drive. Jorden never thought she would see Matt’s place again. His white Dodge Dart was parked in the driveway. What was she doing? At this moment, she didn’t care as she steered her VW Bug to the curb, running over it slightly. Her heart raced while her eyes darted from Matt’s car to the one story house. No lights were visible. What now?

Jorden’s hand trembled when she opened the car door. Silently, she approached the rear of the house, hoping not to alert the neighbors. The shrill sound of crickets sent a chill through her; she didn’t want to be reported to the police.