“Thank goodness! You’re not rushing into this. I think you’re wise to wait.”

“There is a drawback.” Jorden sucked in her breath before she continued. “Alex is Catholic, and I agreed to raise our children in the Catholic faith. I know Dad won’t be happy, but somehow it will work out.”

Another silence. Jorden waited for her mother’s response.

“Thank you for letting me know. Your dad will come around in time. I’ll spread your news.” And . . . her mother did.

***

March 1969

Bobbette, Jorden’s sister, recently called with a warning. “Don’t tell Mom you talked with me, but I had to forewarn you.”

“About what?”

“Mom called Aunt Stephanie after she talked with you this past week. The two sisters are scheming to get Mom down to Atlanta.”

“So?”

“So—looks like you’re going to have a visitor. You shouldn’t have told Mom about Alex coming to see you at the end of March.”

“You mean Mom is coming to Columbus when Alex is here?”

“You got it.”

“I can’t believe it!” Jorden snapped back, slapping the countertop.

“Well you better believe it. Not even you can change her mind. Mom’s determined to get to know Alex better,” Bobbette stated as she ended the call.

Frustrated, Jorden ran her fingers through her hair. In the five years she had been in the South, her mother had only come to visit when she graduated from the university. She paced the room, then stopped and looked at Madison.

“I can’t believe it. How can Mom even think about coming when Alex is here?”

Madison returned Jorden’s look. “She’s your mother, so she’s concerned. When’s she coming?”

“Friday night. I assume she’ll return to Atlanta on Sunday. She knows I have to teach on Monday.”

“Well when does Alex get in?”

“Late Friday night. With Mom here, we won’t have any time alone.”

“You shouldn’t get so upset. She just wants to get to know Alex.” Madison tried to lessen Jorden’s fears but seemed to upset her more.

“She will ask Alex every possible question. I dread it. I wanted this time for us—not to be shared with my mom.”

“Jorden, look at yourself. You’re a mess! Your mother is coming, so accept it. Tell you what, I’ll go home for the weekend, and your mother can use my room.”

“Thank you.” Jorden smiled.

“Where is Alex staying?” Madison asked, with a curious look.

“I assume he’ll stay at Tom’s place. There’s no way he can stay here. Mom would never approve. She would assume a lot more is going on between us.”

“I know it’s none of my business, but have you and Alex worked out your differences on birth control? I’ll be blunt. Is Alex using a condom?”