“Great. I had fun . . . but I missed Kyle. Tell you what—I’m going down to see if he’s here. These suitcases can wait.”

Darby drove in around six. Her entrance contrasted Emma Lynn’s boisterous one. Jorden figured the return home must have been hard. She came from a small town where everyone knew she had called off her wedding.

“How are you?”

“Okay. It was difficult, but Mama and Daddy were great. It was refreshing to have them treat me like an adult.”

Several days went by without a word from Matt. He knew she was going to Hawaii to see Alex, so Jorden figured he was wisely backing off. Still, it hurt—but she knew she needed to let go.

Move on! Jorden told herself. The visit with Alex took precedence over all else. She couldn’t wait to see him. Her scheduled departure was set for seven thirty Friday morning. Madison promised to take her to the airport.

Chapter 20: In-Flight to Hawaii, Friday, January 16, 1970

Chapter 20

In-Flight to Hawaii, Friday, January 16, 1970

A bright day greeted Jorden on her journey to Hawaii. She had waited eight months for this moment; she could already picture a Hawaiian sunset. The first leg of the flight took her to Atlanta, then to Chicago, over to Los Angeles, and ultimately on to Hawaii.

The aerial view of Columbus was stunning. Gazing out the window, Jorden watched the city vanish from sight. Her mind drifted back to the fall of 1968, more than a year earlier. She remembered the first time she met Alex. It was a Wednesday night late in September. A party was underway at the Julian Apartment complex. She didn’t want to go, but Madison, her roommate, and a couple of neighbors insisted.

***

Previous Year – Columbus, Georgia – September 1968

“Come on, Jorden!” The tall girl insisted.

“We don’t want to walk in by ourselves,” the short redhead piped up, “we need you.”

“You don’t need me. It makes no sense,” Jorden retorted.

“Think of it as helping out friends,” Madison replied.

“I said I don’t want to go,” Jorden reiterated.

“Yes, you do. I want to listen to music and write Luke in peace and quiet,” her roommate declared.

Jorden shot Madison an outrageous look as the two girls swept her out of the apartment. “I hope you’re happy!” Jorden called back.

“I am. Thanks.” Madison laughed. “Take her away! She needs to get out.”

“Hey, where’s the place we’re going?” Jorden asked.

“It’s in the recreation room. Straight ahead.”

Jorden heard voices and laughter as she stepped inside. The two girls she came with disappeared into the crowd. Looking around, she didn’t recognize anyone.