By ten o’clock, Mary looked exhausted. “Thank you for having me. I know you cherish your time with Alex. I just want to get to know him—and I promise not to ask him a thousand questions.”

Jorden squeezed her mother. “I’m glad you came. Alex also wants to get to know you. I think you’ll like him.”

“I’m sure I will.” Mary embraced her daughter and went to bed. Jorden read until midnight. Alex still hadn’t shown up. She cleaned her face, changed, and put on her robe. By then it was almost one. She wished he’d call. Lying on the couch, Jorden’s eyes became heavy. A sound woke her. She heard knocking, got up and looked out the peephole.

Alex was beaming! He embraced her, kissed her lips and neck. “I’ve missed you. I can’t believe I’m finally here. You smell so good.” There was sleep in Jorden’s eyes and a warm glow on her face. He lifted her up and hugged her again. Jorden melted in his embrace.

“Is your mother here?” Alex whispered.

“Yes. She got in late this afternoon. She’s in Madison’s room.”

“Good. The three of us will have to do something special tomorrow.” Jorden and Alex talked into the night. The late hour didn’t faze either of them.

Jorden’s mother did her best not to dampen Jorden and Alex’s short time together. Saturday morning, Alex drove them to the picturesque Callaway Gardens. The majority of the spring flowers were in full bloom, displaying a breathtaking view.

“It’s almost twelve thirty. Who’s hungry?” Alex piped up, “I sure am.”

Jorden nodded in agreement. They had a tasty lunch of sandwiches and chips at the Callaway Gardens Lodge. Mary had quite a way of telling stories. When she wanted to, Jorden’s mother could be hilarious. Alex couldn’t stop laughing; he was almost howling. Jorden loved this side of her mother. Maybe she should have been a comedian—even the waiter was cracking up.

After lunch, Alex drove them to Warm Springs to take a tour of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Little White House. Jorden suggested it since it was close to Callaway Gardens. After arriving, Alex checked at the admission desk; the next tour began in a half hour. He led them along the paths while Jorden read from a display of the historical information aloud.

‘“This was the personal retreat of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He had it built in 1932. Roosevelt first came to Warm Springs in 1924 to take advantage of the eighty-eight degree natural spring water to ease the pain of his paralysis. He had contracted polio in 1921. The hot springs helped him to engage in physical exercise. By 1927, Roosevelt purchased the springs and a surrounding 1,700 acre farm.”’