“Planning our route to Trenton. Want to come with us?” Jorden replied.

“No way! You can have that cold weather. Macon’s fine for me. Besides, I wouldn’t want to get stuck in a snowbank.”

“Hey, sounds like fun!” Alex laughed.

“Fun my foot. You don’t really think we’ll get lost in a snowstorm?”

“It’s not possible with me at the wheel. Look at these great directions.” Alex waved them in Jorden’s face.

“I’ll leave you two to bicker while I make a sandwich. Want anything?” Madison called out as she left the room.

“We’re fine,” Jorden replied.

“Well I’m not. Let’s go for burgers. It’ll give us a break. Besides, I need to fill up the car,” Alex piped up.

“Okay. Give me a second, I’ll get my coat.” Jorden caught Madison out of her peripheral vision. “We’re going for hamburgers. Want anything?”

“No thanks. I’m good.”

A half hour later Jorden and Alex were finishing their Cokes and burgers in the car.

“That hit the spot.” Alex reached for her hand. “I’m excited. Let’s get an early start. How about six?”

“Too early! How about seven?”

“Too late! But for my special girl—let’s go for six thirty.”

Jorden laughed and pushed him away. “Okay—six thirty.”

Jorden finished her teaching duties later than usual for a Friday afternoon. She wanted to get home and finish her packing, but she had more papers to grade when the bell rang. Students scurried down the halls to get to their lockers before they left for Christmas break.

Jorden was concentrating on checking answers when she heard a voice call out her name. She looked up and saw Nora.

“Miss Marshall, aren’t you going home?” Nora asked.

“Soon. I’m trying to get these papers checked. Actually, they’re for your fifth period class.” Jorden flipped through them and found Nora’s. “Here’s yours. Looks good. You’re doing much better. You might get an A if you keep this up.”

“If you say so, I bet I can.” Nora eyed her paper and smiled. “I just came by to wish you a merry Christmas.”

“Thank you. Same to you.”

“Gotta go.” Nora waved and vanished.

Jorden sat and thought about what a puzzle Nora was, but she was sweet to stop by. Then thoughts of Nora evaporated when Jorden looked at the rest of the papers. She didn’t reach her apartment until five. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow. Thinking of the trip with Alex gave her goosebumps.

Madison had already left for home. Scott O’Brady’s news forecast came on when the phone rang. It must be Alex; he planned to come over around seven.

Jorden reached for the phone on the second ring. “Hello?”