Chapter 42
The buzz of an incoming phone call sent a jolt of hope through Jenna. She closed the microwave door and checked the screen.
Upon seeing the image of her mother, the adrenaline surge came to a crashing halt.
She accepted the call and injected enthusiasm into her tone. “Hi, Mom.”
“How’s my baby girl doing?”
“Just great. Had a great first week on the job, and I’m about to watch the Braves game.”
“You’re loving your job so far?”
“It’s great!” Jenna rolled her eyes. Maybe she could say great one more time. “The people are nice and my boss is—terrific.” Of course this week had mostly been spent learning what was
what, which was never a true indicator of what a job would really entail. But she was trying to be positive.
“I’m so glad to hear that. I’ve been praying for you.”
“I appreciate it.” Jenna settled at the kitchen island where she could eat and keep tabs on the game. She let her warmed-up
leftovers cool for a minute. “What are you up to?”
“Oh, I have the game on too. Just got back from the grocery, and I’m making a batch of oatmeal-raisin cookies.
” A lonely note lingered in Mom’s voice.
She’d gotten used to baking for Gordon’s sweet tooth.
But he was gone now. “I thought you might be going out somewhere fun to celebrate your first week on the job.”
That was a great idea. Except she was basically starting over when it came to friendships. It was a bit overwhelming. And
heartbreaking, since she’d left all those close relationships on the island for this. “I had some laundry to catch up on.”
Well, didn’t that just sound pathetic? “I do have plans Sunday with a new coworker, though.” She’d invited Jenna to church
because yes, Jason had also gotten that in the split.
“That sounds wonderful. Just let me know when you’re ready for weekend company. I’ll come up and we can go on a shopping spree.”
“I’d love that.” Jenna paused as a Braves batter slugged a ball that went almost to the wall. Unfortunately it was caught
by the center fielder.
“How are you doing otherwise, honey? You must be missing Tyson, hurting. I hate that for you.”
Jenna didn’t want to think about her heartache. She’d done everything she could to stay busy this week. And fortunately her
new job made that easier. But the long weekend stretched ahead. “I’ll be fine, Mom. I just need some time and space.” She
was clinging to Ty’s words, though she doubted it would be that simple.
Leaving the island had been so much harder this time. Back then she’d had her whole future ahead of her. Now she could only
think of the future she was leaving behind.
“Have you seen him? How’s he doing?”
“He started back to work on Wednesday, though Chief Jones has him on light duty. I thought I’d take over some cookies tomorrow.”
Jenna was glad Mom was looking out for him. “That’s nice of you.”
“You know how I love to bake.”
And now she didn’t have anyone to bake for. Thanks to Jenna. She hated to ask because she was sure she already knew the answer. “Have you heard anything from Gordon?”
Mom sighed softly. “No, I haven’t. I’m thinking he’s probably moved on, sweetheart. I guess my doubt triggered all those issues
from his marriage, and now he’s just afraid to take a chance on me.”
The sadness in her voice made Jenna’s wobble. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Well, aren’t we a pair? But Jenna, I didn’t have any choice in the matter. I made mistakes, but it wasn’t my decision. You, though . . . that boy loves you.”
Jenna shook her head. “That’s not the problem, Mom.”
“I know it must’ve been scary seeing him hurt in the line of duty. Trust me, honey, I know all about that. But love never
comes without risk. As much as losing your father hurt, do you think I would’ve traded one minute with him? I treasure every
day we had together.”
Jenna wished she could view it that way. Maybe she wasn’t as brave as her mom. Jenna shut down at just the thought of losing
him. “I wish I could, but I just can’t.”
A beat of silence passed. “I won’t press you. I hate seeing you so heartbroken, that’s all.”
Jenna could relate. Seeing her mom so despondent was hard to bear. Of course, some of that was brought on by the guilt.
They talked for a while about the goings-on around the island and the Pony Swim coming up in less than three weeks. But Jenna’s
mind was only half on the conversation.
The other half was problem-solving. She had a free day tomorrow and an idea that could possibly change her mom’s situation.
By the time she got off the phone, the plan was firmly cemented in her mind.
The row house appeared the same as it had a few weeks ago, except someone had removed the withering ferns from the porch. Jenna swallowed hard as she walked up the porch steps. Memories of her visit with Tyson intruded, but she shoved them firmly away. She had to focus on her objective.
Rosalind’s car was out on the street, but Jenna had no idea what kind of car Gordon drove. She wanted to catch him at home,
but also . . . ugh. This was not going to be fun. But the hope that she could repair the relationship between Mom and Gordon drove her on. And
even if she couldn’t, she at least owed the man a direct apology.
She knocked on the door, her heart hammering. A glimpse of the mailbox elicited an image of Tyson withdrawing the mail for
his perusal.
Before she could follow the memory, the door opened and Rosalind appeared in a pair of denim shorts and a periwinkle tee.
“Can I help you?”
“Uh, hi. I’m Jenna, a friend of Gordon’s. Is he home by chance?”
“He is.” Smiling kindly, Rosalind pushed open the screen door. “Come on in. He’s out back trying to find some peace.”
Music blared from upstairs. At least Jenna thought it was music. Hard to tell.
“I’m his sister, Rosalind,” she said over the noise, then glanced at the ceiling. “And that’s my son’s loud, obnoxious music.
Excuse me while I go handle that. Just go straight back and you’ll find the door—and some blessed peace,” she mumbled.
“Thank you.”
A quick peek in the living room offered a glimpse of soothing neutral tones, brown leather furniture, and original mahogany woodwork. All in all a well-kept, inviting environment, if a little on the masculine side.
Jenna headed the way the woman had directed. Rosalind seemed nice. Just like Gordon. If only Jenna had taken him at face value
all those weeks ago, she could’ve avoided all this pain and suffering.
When she reached the back door, she opened it and spotted Gordon sitting on a well-appointed patio. He was reading a newspaper,
a mug of coffee resting at his fingertips.
The city noises infiltrated the shrub-lined yard, covering the sounds of her arrival. She stepped down onto the patio and
closed the door behind her. “Gordon?”
He turned and his eyebrows hiked at the sight of her. “Jenna.” He dropped the paper, and his chair scraped the cement as he
stood. “What are you doing here? Is your mom okay?”
“She’s fine.” His obvious concern for her mother buoyed Jenna’s spirits. The man must still have feelings for her. “I’m sorry
to drop by unannounced. I needed to talk to you and I—I guess I was afraid you wouldn’t see me.”
“Of course I’d see you. Have a seat. Would you like a cup of coffee? It isn’t as good as your mom’s, but it’s not terrible.”
“Thank you, but I’m probably overcaffeinated as it is.” Maybe that accounted for the way her heart jittered in her chest.
When he gestured her toward a chair, she took the one across the table from him and studied his face. Perhaps it was just
the direct sunlight, but he seemed a little older. Perhaps a bit tired. But his eyes were kind and curiosity shimmered in
the green depths.
This wouldn’t be easy, but it had to be done. She took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “You must be wondering why I’m here.
The gist of it is . . . I came to apologize.”
His brows shot up again. “Whatever for?”
He seemed genuinely stymied. While she’d always been cordial toward him, she’d never exactly laid out the welcome mat. Shame
pricked her skin. “I haven’t been fair to you, Gordon. From the start I was . . . suspicious of you, I suppose is the best
way of saying it. Your relationship with my mom happened so suddenly, and then you were moving in with her, and I started
to wonder what you were up to.”
His countenance fell, tugging on his skin as if earth’s gravity had increased a hundredfold. “Oh. I didn’t realize.”
“I was worried about my mom. Afraid you were, perhaps, up to no good. I tried to share my concerns with Mom, but she wasn’t
very receptive.” Jenna swallowed. “I was afraid you were rushing things along for some—some nefarious purpose. I didn’t give
you a chance, Gordon. I can see that now.”
His brows furrowed. “Well. You didn’t know me at all, and your mom and I did fall for each other rather quickly. Of course
you’d want her to be careful with her heart.”
Very gracious of him. Especially when she could see the hurt in his down-turned eyes. Jenna cleared her throat. “A while back
I found out Mom was footing the bill for your outings, then I overheard you on the phone talking to someone, telling her you
loved her.”
“Probably my daughter.”
“I realize that now. But at the time it just fed my distrust. I—I was so suspicious of your motives that I looked into your
background.”
He blinked. “Oh. I can’t imagine there was much to find. I’m a pretty boring individual.”
“That’s not true. I mean, yes, there wasn’t anything to find. But I’ve since come to believe you’re a kind, decent man. I
don’t think there’s anything boring about that.”
“Well, thank you, Jenna.” He scratched his head. “I guess.”
“I’m afraid that’s not all.” She swallowed hard. This was where she’d gone way over the line. She dreaded telling him, but it had to be done. “Remember when I went to Alexandria for a couple days?”
“Yes, for your interview, with Tyson.”
“Right. But Ty and I didn’t just go to Alexandria.” She forced herself to meet his gaze. “I also dragged him up here—to check
out your story.”
An excruciating beat of silence passed. “Well. My goodness. I don’t know what to say.”
She wished he’d get angry—she deserved it. But instead he just seemed befuddled. Saddened. She launched into the whole story.
Arriving here, finding mail addressed to Rosalind. Seeing her leave the house the next morning. Jenna’s suspicions about him
having a wife. By the time she was finished, the temperature seemed to have shot up fifty degrees.
“I guess . . .” He gave his head a shake. “I guess I can see how that might’ve looked . . .”
“I’m sorry to say I went home and confronted Mom about my concerns. But she was quick to point out that Rosalind was your
sister. She was very defensive of you and upset with me for interfering in her love life.”
“She never mentioned any of this to me.”
“I’m sure she didn’t want to throw me under the bus—though I definitely deserved it. I’d learned my lesson by then. And that
probably would’ve been the end of it, except—”
“The credit card statement.” His tone was heavy.
“Right. She was upset when she found it. Confused. And I don’t think I helped matters much. I remembered overhearing you tell
someone on the phone that you were in Maine, and I told Mom about it.”
“That was my niece.”
“I realize that now. But it put doubt in her mind when she was already wavering. I put doubt in her mind. And when she confronted you, she was carrying the weight of my skepticism. Not her own.”
Gordon sat back in his seat as his attention drifted over his small yard. “I see.”
He didn’t seem relieved. He seemed burdened and despondent, as if the memory of her mother’s confrontation brought him great
despair.
She had to make him see this was her fault. “Gordon, Mom told me a bit about your ex-wife. And I want you to know my mom is
a very trusting person—almost to a fault. Without my interference she never would’ve jumped to that conclusion about the credit
card bill. That was all my doing.”
He seemed to be digesting her words. If only Jenna hadn’t started down this road. If only she’d given the man half a chance.
So what if they’d fallen for each other so quickly? Why had she been so determined to see fault in him at every turn? Sure,
she’d wanted to protect her mother from heartbreak, but she’d gone way over the line.
That familiar pinch in her chest returned. Was she so afraid of grief and loss that she’d projected that fear onto her mother?
Had Jenna been trying to protect her mom from her own paralyzing fears?
Oh, that was messed up.
Was she that troubled? That wounded? That she’d risk her mother’s perfectly good relationship due to her own irrational fears?
Gordon leaned into the table. “I appreciate your honesty, Jenna. It took a lot of courage to admit what you did.”
“Please don’t hold my mom accountable for the way she reacted. She loves you so much. She misses you.” Jenna’s eyes burned
with tears.
“I miss her too. I realize my sudden departure was a bit of an overreaction. I wish nothing but the best for your mother. But I have a lot to process. Some things of my own to work through.” He gave a wry grin.
“Believe it or not, I’m actually an analytical and pragmatic sort of guy.
Falling for your mother so quickly was a complete aberration—although a very delightful one. ”
His gentle tone when he spoke of her mother gave her a smidgeon of hope. “I understand. I’ve dropped a lot on you. And in
case I wasn’t clear enough—I really am so very sorry for my actions. You didn’t deserve my suspicion. I feel horrible to have
come between you and my mom. She was so happy with you—happier than she’s been in years, and I ruined it.”
He reached across the table and patted her hand. “I appreciate your apology and I’ll think about what you said.”
But when they said good-bye a few minutes later, the lingering sadness in his eyes only left Jenna with a quiet sense of dread.