Chapter Seven
Monday and Tuesday passed in a dull shade of expectancy. Even though her days and nights were full, Skye found several things
she wanted to share with Jordan. Little things. She’d finally broken a seven-minute mile, a goal she’d set for herself a year
before. And of course she wanted to tell him about Billy. And there was one thing he must know that was sure to displease
him.
Wednesday afternoon Skye unlocked her apartment door, slipped off her shoes, and entered her bedroom to change clothes, a
pattern so set it was almost like instinct. She flipped the switch to her radio, a sound to fill the silence. Funny, she’d
never thought of music like that before. Music had been her panacea, filling the void in her life, offering challenge and
purpose. Suddenly it had become a sound to fill the silence.
Later she lay with her head resting against the back of the sofa. Had she fallen in love with Jordan? Was all this longing
for the sound of his voice and the coming weekend love?
She cupped her tea mug with her long, slender fingers and sipped the tea absently.
Her feelings for Glen had been so different from this.
With Glen she’d felt cherished and protected.
But Jordan drew from her something totally different.
Something almost indefinable; a strong, fierce emotion.
She shook her head to dispel her thoughts, unwilling to continue in this senseless vein.
Intent on reading her book, she tucked her bare feet beneath her and placed her mug down just as the phone rang.
“Hello,” she said cheerfully.
“Hello, Skye.”
“Jordan,” she breathed, and her heart skipped a beat. “I’m so glad you called. I was beginning to think my watery charades
had convinced you I was a candidate for the loony bin.”
His laughter was full and rich. “The thought crossed my mind the first time you took off your shoe.”
Skye tightened her grip on the receiver, as if it would make what she had to say easier. “I have some bad news and some good
news; which do you want first?”
He didn’t even pause. “I learned a long time ago to deal with any unpleasantness first.”
“When I got home last week,” she began hesitantly, “I looked on my calendar and I noticed that . . . that I’ve already got
a date for this Saturday night. I . . . promised Sally I’d meet a friend of her husband’s.”
Jordan was silent for so long, Skye wondered if he was still on the line. “Jordan?” Her voice wobbled.
“Break it,” he demanded.
“I can’t. I want to, but Sally has gone to a lot of trouble, and I did promise . . . “ she finished weakly.
Jordan’s voice was sharp with anger. “I’ve already made my flight reservations, and frankly I really don’t care about hurting
your friend’s feelings.”
“It’s not like a real date. I haven’t even met this guy. Sally’s been trying to fix this up for weeks. I can’t let her down
now.”
The silence that followed felt oppressive.
“Just what do you expect me to do? Jump for joy?”
“No.” The word came out squeaky and high-pitched. “I . . . I was hoping we could spend Saturday together, and as much of Sunday
as your schedule will allow.”
“You can’t honestly expect me to come?” he asked forcefully.
“If you don’t, I think I’ll go crazy.” She hadn’t meant to reveal so much of her feelings, to admit quite that much.
He sighed heavily, and when he spoke, the irritation had left. “I think I would, too,” he admitted huskily.
The stiffness left her shoulders. “We’ll have a wonderful day,” she breathed softly.
“Unfortunately it was the night I was looking forward to.”
“Then I’ll have to thank my guardian angel for looking after me,” she said lightheartedly.
She could hear pages being flipped, as if he were consulting an appointment calendar. “What about Friday night?”
Skye had already made plans with the church youth group. “I . . . I kind of have something going that night,” she said, more
than a little apprehensive. “What time could you be here?”
“Around seven.”
She sighed softly. “That’ll work great. Eat a light dinner, because we’re having hot fudge sundaes afterward.”
“After what?”
“You’ll see,” she said, laughing lightly. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”
A male voice interrupted from the background. It sounded vaguely like Bill Malloy, the man Skye had met the day her car broke
down.
“I’ve got to go,” he groaned impatiently.
“Jordan, I have some wonderful news about Billy. I’ll tell you Friday. Good-bye.”
“Friday at seven,” he said in a husky voice that sounded very much like a promise.
Skye had no sooner hung up the phone when it rang again. It was Janey. “Auntie Skye,” she burst out excitedly. “Can you come
over right away? I’ve got something to show you.”
Skye glanced quickly at her watch; there was plenty of time before church. “All right, cupcake.”
Brad and Peggy were doing yard work when she drove up. Janey saw her from down the street and came racing up the sidewalk.
“Come see,” she yelled, running with all her strength.
Brad rose from the flower bed he was weeding to meet her. “Yes, come see,” he encouraged with sparkling eyes.
Janey grabbed her hand, breathless from the run. “It arrived this morning. I was so surprised.”
“Hey, you guys.” Skye laughed, her brow furrowed. “What gives?”
Tugging fiercely at Skye’s hand, Janey led the way around the back of the house. When Brad and Peggy followed, Skye glanced
skeptically over her shoulder, thoroughly confused.
Once they rounded the corner, her gaze focused on a large brown doghouse. Built to resemble a miniature home, it contained
white shutters beside two windows. sampson was painted in book hand above the door. Squatting down, Skye could see that plush carpeting covered the floor except for
a small space of linoleum in the kitchen area that was used for the dog’s water and food dishes.
Sampson slumbered peacefully inside his new quarters. Skye petted the puppy with long, flowing strokes.
“Brad, it’s a darling house. Where did you ever find it?” she asked over her shoulder.
“I didn’t!”
Her eyes widened and swept his controlled expression, but Brad only smiled back. Janey was no help, either. Obviously primed for silence, she pinched her lips closed with her fingers.
“Peggy?” Skye turned her questioning eyes to her sister-in-law.
“Jordan had it delivered this morning,” Peggy said at last, recognizing Skye’s frustration.
“Jordan did?” A warm bubble of happiness surfaced.
“Take some friendly advice,” Brad said pensively. “Hold on to Jordan Kiley. He’s a keeper.”
Her smile was tremulous, but her eyes sparkled with a light of contentment and promise. “I think I will,” she said.
“Aren’t you going to tell Aunt Skye the best news of all?” Janey demanded from inside the doghouse. Sampson was cradled on
her lap and looking disgruntled because his nap and his home had been invaded.
“What news?” Skye’s attention swiveled back to her brother. “You got a job!” She really didn’t need to guess further; nothing
else could have removed the lines of doubt and worry that had furrowed his expression for weeks. He even seemed to stand taller,
as if some heavy load had been lifted from him.
“I start Monday morning.” A grin lit up his boyish face.
“And more money than we dared dream,” Peggy interjected enthusiastically.
“The Lord works in mysterious ways. Funny, I never expected to get that job, let alone be asked to be the foreman.” Brad opened
the back door leading to the kitchen. “Come inside and I’ll tell you all about it.”
The three adults entered the house, leaving Janey contentedly behind, sitting in the doghouse.
The bus was loaded with thirty-five laughing, teasing junior high students. The festive mood intensified as Skye and Jordan
climbed aboard with the bus driver.
“All right, kids.” Skye stood in the front of the bus, calling them to attention. “Hold it down a minute while I go over the rules and introduce you to my friend. This is Mr. Kiley, and he’ll be accompanying us tonight.”
A chorus of hoots and welcomes came from the lively group.
Jordan acknowledged their acceptance with a casual wave of his hand.
“I see you had to twist his arm to come,” one of the boys from the back of the bus shouted, referring to Jordan’s broken arm.
Other jeers followed laughter. “Robert, be careful, I may have to twist your mouth as well,” Skye said, returning the banter
easily.
After reviewing the rules, Skye sat beside Jordan in one of the front seats of the bus. The driver started the vehicle and
pulled out of the parking lot, while the eager bunch sang songs accompanied by Skye on the guitar. What they lacked in talent
was more than compensated for in volume.
The theater parking lot was packed with cars and several other church buses. Some discussion followed on how to locate their
bus after the movie.
“Just remember ours is the yellow one,” Jordan offered.
“Cute, fellow.”
“Funny.”
“Who is this guy, Jeff Foxworthy?” came a sprinkling of wisecracks.
Although the Christian film’s message was geared toward their charges, Skye prayed that Jordan would respond to the invitation
to accept Christ as his personal Savior. At the end of the film the invocation was repeated by counselors at the front of
the theater. Several teens and preteens went forward.
Skye tipped her head back to watch Jordan, but his expression was closed and unreadable.
Sighing, she realized that for Jordan, placing his trust in Christ would not come easily.
Independence and self-reliance were so much a part of his personality, Skye wondered how long it would take him to recognize his need.
From what she knew of him, Jordan would investigate Christianity thoroughly before making a commitment.
Skye wanted him to know and love God as she did.
There was no denying the growing attraction she felt for Jordan, and it was of primary importance that he share her faith.