First Love (15 page)

Jordan could see the love between her brother and his fiancé. The way they looked at each other. The casual touching. The interlocked fingers when they were standing or sitting. She wanted what Sandra and her brother had, a best friend, a partner. She wanted someone she could respect, trust, and love. An image of another person jumped into full focus…a woman. Jordan swallowed hard and forced her mind back on the conversation.

*

The evening before she returned to campus, Jordan and her mother planned time alone. Her mother helped her pack and then sat on Jordan’s bed. “Mom, I know how excited you and Dad are about Jack’s marriage. Have you ever missed not practicing law?”

“Heavens, no! I practiced law for ten years before I had Jack. I continued my private practice until you were born. That was another five years. I enjoyed staying home with my two babies. And by then I was forty. After I sold my practice, we had enough funds to live comfortably for several years. Your father was doing well with his insurance business and his political career had taken off. No, dear, I have no regrets.”

“I want to work, Mom. I’m excited about engineering, and I’m not anxious to give it up to marry. Will you and Dad be disappointed if I don’t follow my brother and marry right away?”

Her mother leaned over and hugged her as she spoke. “Of course not. We know that sooner or later, you’ll meet the right boy and then you’ll want to settle down. Now get some sleep. Just remember, we love you whatever you do.”

Jordan counted herself fortunate to have loving parents. She hoped they would love her no matter her friends or her choices in life. She was beginning to doubt if there would be the “right boy.”

June

The summer semester was shorter and more intense. Jordan continued to do well. The first week went by and she hadn’t heard from Drew. She could no longer justify Drew as a tutor nor deny her feelings for her. She called Drew but got the answering machine. After the third attempt, she left a message and hung up, frustrated. It was the next day before Drew returned the call.

“How was break?” Drew asked.

“Okay. I spent most of the time with my brother and his girlfriend. They want a simple, small wedding. My parents want a political event. It’s more a circus. What about you?”

“Doesn’t sound like fun. My brothers came to visit,” Drew said, “and I took a few days off. I always enjoy my family, but now it’s back to the grind.”

“Oh.” Jordan couldn’t decide whether to continue. “I, uh, was wondering if you had any plans for this weekend. I know you’re probably busy and studying and…” Jordan hesitated, anticipating rejection.

“Mark and I planned to go hiking in the Ocala National Forest on Saturday. It’s the first weekend we both have off.”

“Oh. Well, I, uh, I just thought….”

“Why don’t you come over tomorrow night and have dinner with us? It’s the only night this week we both have off.”

Jordan was glad no one could see her smile. She was sure it would raise questions. “I’d love to, if you’re sure it’s okay with Mark.”

“You know Mark loves having you around. He can’t wait to share recipes.”

Jordan laughed. She would soon see Drew.

*

“I’ve never been camping, hiking, anything like that,” Jordan admitted reluctantly. She passed the salad to Drew. This was the first time she had been invited for dinner at Drew’s and Mark had cooked.

“Never?” Mark asked

“Never.”

“Well, are you willing to try? I’ve never been camping either.” Mark had a pleased look.

“Absolutely.” Jordan was willing to try if it meant spending time with Drew.

“Are you sure you want to do outdoor camping overnight?” Drew asked.

“I guess so. What does that mean?”

Mark answered. “It means you and I are going to get along wonderfully.”

Drew rolled her eyes. “What the hell have I gotten myself into? I can tell this may be more adventure than this poor little heart can stand.”

“Camping can’t be that difficult,” Jordan said.

Drew shook her head. “I can’t believe this conversation. We’ll talk about this after we get back. Why don’t you come over Friday night and spend the night? We can talk about how easy camping is and then get started around six.”

“In the morning?” Jordan and Mark asked.

“In the morning. God, what have I agreed to?” Mark said.

“I hope that you were praying out loud and not swearing,” Jordan said.

*

Drew put her head down on her arms and moaned. This weekend was going to be a disaster. It was a good thing Jordan would have the Secret Service around. It was the only way Jordan and Mark were going to survive.

Saturday morning, they headed south to Ocala. They were followed by three government vehicles and two motor homes. Drew could barely restrain the laughter. Having the President’s daughter along ensured they had an excellent campsite, no neighbors, and lots of quiet with arrangements made in advance of their arrival. Mark flirted with one of the young agents and volunteered to sleep in the air-conditioned camper. Drew had long ago learned that Mark’s heart was solid when it came to David, but he was an incurable flirt.

“Okay, let’s get our tents set up. I have a cabin tent that’s large enough for all of us, or I can set up a separate smaller tent for you, Mark.”

“What do we sleep on?” he asked.

“Air mattresses and sleeping blankets.”

“On the ground?” asked Jordan.

“Well, we could probably figure a way to attach ropes to some of the trees, wrap you in a sleeping blanket, and then tie you off the ground with the ropes.”

“But I thought that was why we brought the campers.”

“Jordan, if you and Mark want to sleep in the campers, that’s fine. I came out here to camp. Staying in those motor homes is like staying in a motel room, a nice motel room, on wheels. That’s not camping.” She pitched her small cabin tent and carefully rolled out three sleeping blankets. She was determined to spend the night in the tent regardless of where Mark and Jordan chose to stay.

“You city folks. You come out to this beautiful forest and then want to sleep in air conditioning.” She smiled and then went on. “I guess you didn’t want to have to dig a hole every time you had to go to the bathroom.”

“Dig a hole?” Jordan asked. Her eyes were wide as she looked around.

“Out in the woods, you dig a hole when have you have to go to the bathroom and then cover it up.” She pulled out the small shovel she always carried in her camping pack. She could see that Jordan and Mark were eating this up. “Part of keeping the area clean. Where are your shovels? You surely don’t expect Secret Service to dig a hole, wait for you to relieve yourself, and then cover the hole?”

Jordan looked over toward the motor home and her security detail. Stunned was the only word Drew had to describe her expression. “What happens if you can’t remember where you dug your last hole?”

“You have to mark your spot. You’ve heard the expression ‘X marks the spot’?”

Jordan put her hands on her hips and glared. “I think you’re putting me on.”

Drew dropped her camping gear. “What?”
She didn’t say that!

“You’re teasing, aren’t you?”

Drew sighed with relief. “Yeah, I am. I saw the restrooms on the way in. We’re not far. Most campgrounds have very nice restrooms and showers. Besides, the motor home has a restroom. I just used it.”

Jordan glared and tried to keep from laughing. She and Mark had just begun to fix lunch. She threw a potato at Drew.

“Hey, you can’t leave food on the ground.” She picked it up and tossed it in the trash. “Encourages bears and wolves.”

“Bears and wolves?” Jordan asked. “There aren’t any bears and wolves here.” She didn’t seemed convinced.

Drew grinned. “There are bears but no wolves. Let’s eat. I’m hungry.” She lit the camp stove and showed them how to adjust the flame.

“I’m not sure I can believe anything you tell me.” Jordan was cooking a hearty stew in one pan.

“Mmm, that smells good. I guess it’ll be okay for you two to sleep in the motor home as long as I continue to get such good food.”

“Since they’re my motor homes, we can stay in there anyway and I can cook on a real stove if you don’t behave.”

“I’m always good.” Drew formed a halo circle above her head with her hands.

Jordan tried hard to frown, but it didn’t work. “You’re too much.”

Drew had a smug smile. She was surprised at how much she was enjoying Jordan’s company.

After dinner, she offered to clean up while Mark and Jordan sat and talked. When she was finished cleaning and storing the food and gear, she sat next to them. “Smell the air. Can you smell the pine?” She turned to Jordan. “Now that is definitely something you can’t smell in D.C.” She leaned back against the picnic table. “Listen to the quiet.” The silence was broken by the hooting of an owl.

“What’s that?” Jordan moved next to Drew and grabbed her arm.

“Probably an owl. Don’t worry. You’re too big to be carried away. Anyway, if you stay in the motor home they won’t even try. I’ll stay in my tent here and you two can go sleep in the camper if you want.” She moved her gear into the tent.

“I’ll stay with you.” Jordan didn’t sound convinced.

“Are you sure?” Drew asked.

“No,” Jordan said, “but I’d like to try. I’ve never slept in one. If you’re going to sleep in one, then I’m willing to try.”

Drew’s admiration for Jordan went up another notch. Jordan was a trooper.

“I think I’m calling it a night then. I’ve got all three bedrolls out if you still want to try the tent.”

Mark chose the motor home when he realized it had actual beds. “Good night, you two. Don’t let the bears bite.” Mark marched off.

Drew secured her sleeping bag on the air mattress and crawled in. She unrolled Jordan’s sleeping bag and opened the zipper.

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“No. First, all our food is put away. Second, with the army outside, we have nothing to worry about except that young agent flirting back with Mark.”

“Does he fool around?”

“Never, but he does flirt. Says he may be attached, but he’s not blind.”

“Do you feel that way?” Jordan whispered.

“I’m not attached and not looking.” Drew tried to feign fatigue, but Jordan’s last question resurrected queasy feelings. “Good night.”

Drew heard Jordan tossing and realized her air mattress hadn’t been inflated. “Shit.”

“What’s wrong?” Jordan asked, panicked. She looked around to see if something had crawled into the tent. She jumped up and started brushing herself off.

Drew tried to keep from laughing. “I forgot to inflate your mattress. It’s the only way to keep the critters off the sleeping blanket.”

When Drew laughed, Jordan realized she was again being teased. “Oh, you. You need to be taught a lesson.” She pushed Drew down and sat on top of her.

Drew tried rolling back and forth to toss Jordan off her back. No one had ever pinned her down, but there was not a lot of room in the tent. Finally, with a quick move, Jordan was tossed to the tent floor. Drew quickly grabbed Jordan by her foot.

Jordan couldn’t get up or reach Drew.

“Give?”

“Not fair. You’re stronger.”

“And faster.”

“Let go of me.”

“And faster,” Drew insisted.

“Never.”

“Okay. Guess I’ll just hang you on the tent ceiling.

“No!” There was more of a plea in her voice.

“And faster, then.”

“And faster. Now let me down.” By now Jordan was laughing. No one, including her brother, had ever played with her like this.

“Come on.” Drew pulled Jordan up. She got out her battery-operated pump and filled Jordan’s air mattress quickly. “Sorry, I forgot to fill it earlier. I really didn’t think you would want to sleep on the ground.” She patted the bedroll. “Come on and try it now. I think you’ll find this much more comfortable.”

Drew enjoyed teasing Jordan, but she also wanted to be gentle. Jordan brought that out in her. She was carefully pulling the zipper on the sleeping blanket when Jordan reached up with a free hand and caressed Drew’s cheek.

“You are such a great friend. You’re so different from anyone I’ve ever known.” She slipped her hand back into the sleeping blanket. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She finished gently tucking Jordan in. Jordan’s touch had been like fire on her skin. It would be so easy to lean down to kiss her. And so wrong. “Good night.” She quickly moved over to her sleeping blanket.

“Suppose I have to get up in the middle of the night?” Jordan asked. “How do I get out without waking you up?”

“Well, you could inch your way out of the top until you finally had your whole body free. Most people just unzip it, though. There is a zipper puller on both sides.”

Drew grinned as Jordan explored the zipper. She crawled back into her own sleeping bag and wondered if either of them would get much sleep. Jordan was so close she could smell her somewhat sweet, almost flowery perfume. She could hear every breath. Her brain was filled with too many thoughts.

*

Shortly after sunup, she dressed and used the motor home’s bathroom. When she returned to the tent, she found Jordan sitting outside. “Want to go for a walk?”

Jordan nodded, ran to the bathroom, and quickly returned. As they set out, Drew noticed agents in jeans and dark glasses not far behind. They remained far enough back to allow them some privacy but close enough to intervene. Drew needed to be on her best behavior.

Jordan spoke first. “Do you like me?”

Drew tripped on a root and nearly fell into Jordan. This was not a way to be on her best behavior. She stood up and moved a few inches away.

“I mean, am I just someone you tutor? Or am I a friend?”

“I hadn’t thought much about it,” Drew lied. Jordan was frequently in her thoughts.

“What?” Jordan stopped walking.

Drew smiled. “I’m teasing.” They resumed walking quietly