First Love (29 page)

“Ms. Thompson wanted you to have this.” She handed Drew a small package and quickly walked away.

“They’re all spooks.” Mattie disappeared so quickly she couldn’t follow her. Drew slipped the package in her pants pocket and went back to her seat. “Wonder what it is?”

“Was that Mattie?” Mark asked.

“Yeah. She gave me something. Hope it’s from Jordan.”

“If it isn’t, I’d call the bomb squad.”

“Hush, Mark.”

“They can make them small now.”

“In that case”—she reached into her pocket and pulled out the box—“let me give this to you. That way you can make a statement loud enough for the university to always remember. Meanwhile, I’m outta here.” She put the box in his hand and started to stand.

“What? Don’t you dare leave now.”

Drew smiled at the stunned expression on his face. “Guess I’ll just to have to hang on to it and hope I can get it out of here before it blows up. If it’s from her father, it probably won’t go off until there are enough Democrats around. Probably has some type of liberal sensor on it.” She put the small package back in her pocket and then feigned intently listening to the names of the remainder of her classmates.

*

Jordan sat in a secure area with some College of Medicine officials not on the stage. She agreed to represent her parents at the spring graduations but refused to sit on the stage for this particular ceremony. She wanted to see Drew one more time without being noticed.

In the midst of thousands of people, she felt completely alone, even with a full complement of security. She watched Mark and then Drew walk across the stage. No, Drew didn’t walk. She loped. That long-legged stride that had become so familiar.

Jordan wiped a tear. She wanted to run down there and wrap her arms around her.

She watched as Mattie used her Secret Service identity to get close to the stage. She then handed the package over and quickly left. Drew just pocketed the gift.
She must know it’s from me. Maybe she just doesn’t care anymore.

“Package delivered, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” Jordan whispered. She didn’t expect a reply. She wondered how much longer she could go on this way.

*

“I can’t believe we made it,” Mark said as soon as formalities were over. He hugged Drew. “Thank you.”

“Me, too. We survived. Man, thank you for being such a good friend. I’m glad you and David are coming back out this summer.”

“I won’t be starting my residency for a couple of months. We deserve a small vacation.”

“You may have a vacation, but we have a working ranch. I’ll be busy until my residency starts. Well, you better start running because I am going to open the package.” She pealed the paper off and read the note on the box.

Don’t forget me, please. Soon.

Soon. What the hell did that mean?

Inside the box was an expensive new watch. How many times had Jordan complained about her worn leather band and cracked watch crystal? She lifted it out and noticed the inscription on the back.

Always believe.
How many times had she said that to Jordan? Was Jordan telling her to have faith? To trust?

“Oh, Jordan. Trust what?”

“Nice present. Is that a real Cartier watch?” Greg asked.

“It would probably be better if it were just a Timex.”

“Well, it’s practical but expensive.”

Drew stared at the inscription. “Very practical.” She patted him on the shoulder. “Very practical indeed.” She could not count the minutes she was missing Jordan. There were too many to even contemplate.

*

Summer Semester

Jordan stayed in Gainesville over break, in spite of her parents’ pleas and demands. She had one more semester and she could graduate in August. It meant she had to get special permission to take twenty hours. She had two general studies classes she needed to complete as well as the remainder of her engineering. She managed to enroll for one of the general studies online. She hoped to finish it during break. And it made a good excuse to stay in Gainesville.

Her last two visits with her parents had been disastrous. Her father was talking of undoing the marriage equality gains in many states with a federal law. Eventually, discussion wandered around to Drew and Mark and how the whole family had been taken in by the perverts. Jordan had enough. She looked at her parents across the dining table. “Drew has always treated me with respect. Without her, I would have struggled and may not be where I am. I understand how you feel, but I will not listen to you talk disparagingly about Drew or Mark.” She stood to leave.

“Young lady, do not talk to your father that way. And sit back down.”

“Mom, I love you and, Dad, but I’m going to my room. If you feel I was rude, I apologize.” Her parents didn’t stop her. The next day, she flew back to Gainesville. She had talked to them several times by phone but had kept the conversations neutral. She needed to concentrate on finishing her courses and graduating. Jordan felt like she was holding on to her sanity by a thread. She was tired of fighting.

August

The sun beat down on Drew’s back. She only had three more fence posts to repair, but the heat was unbearable. She put the posts and tools into the bed of the pickup and climbed into the truck. She would begin again in the morning. She had been working since five when it began to get light. It was nine and she was hot and tired. Drew drove on back to the ranch.

“What’s for breakfast?” she asked.

Her mother placed a large glass of iced tea and breakfast on the table. “Your dad had to run into Cheyenne. Hayden went with him and they should be back around four.”

“It’s hot out there and not much of a breeze. That’s unusual. I have three fence posts left, but they’ll have to wait. Maybe I’ll get Hayden to help and we’ll knock it out in an hour.” Drew drank the entire glass of tea and then went to refill it before she finally sat down. She felt her body temperature begin to cool.

“You’ll never guess what’s been on the news this morning. The president’s going to be in Jackson for the week. Some kind of economic summit.”

“I feel sorry for the tourists. Jackson’s not that big, and I’m willing to bet it will be a real circus.”

“I don’t doubt that. You should have heard your father.”

Drew leaned back and laughed. “I can imagine. Probably something along the lines of fawning Republican sycophants and maybe naysaying nabobs of nihilism followed by reminding us they wouldn’t know the broadside of a barn if they ran into it.” She cleared off the table. “And a lot more colorful language.” The phone in her pocket began to vibrate. She jumped up and pulled it out. “Mom, I’m going up to take a short nap. Don’t let me sleep more than thirty minutes.”

*

Jordan looked at her watch. By now, her father would know she was missing and they would be looking for her. The rental car she had arranged for was delivered the first day.

“Dad, I’ve never been out there. It would be a great chance for me to visit Yellowstone and maybe for us to get some pictures of the two of us in our first national park.”

“We’ll be really busy, honey.”

“Harold, wait a minute.” Jordan’s mother was the better media planner. “Pictures of you, without your tie, in a relaxed setting might be good for the campaign.”

“The conference schedule is tight, but I guess we could find some time. Maybe the first day.”

Jordan saw an opening. “Please. It would mean a lot to me. I’d make sure to have security. I’d just like to be able to drive myself.”

Her father reluctantly consented. The pictures were taken and her father spent the evening talking to other members of the economic summit.

She checked the GPS. Only twenty more miles. Soon, she was coming into the town of Dubois. Putting the GPS locator in Drew’s graduation present made this so much easier. Drew would be waiting for her. She drove into town, and the GPS locator told her Drew was near. Flashing lights up ahead elicited a smile. She had been driving for hours in unfamiliar territory on two-lane mountain roads. She was tired, thirsty, and anxious. The months of separation were ending. She was not going back.

She slammed on the brakes and parked the car on the side street. Drew was out of the truck and opening the door of the rental. Jordan felt free for the first time in her life. “I’ve missed you. Thank you for coming.”

“I made a promise. I keep my promises. Now let’s get your things in my car and get on the road. We still have a long drive. Did you have any trouble finding this place?”

Drew’s behavior was not what she had expected. She changed the topic. “I have a confession. I had a GPS locator put in your watch so that I could always find you. I probably didn’t need it because my heart would always find you.”

“That’s nice. You kept tabs on me and I had no idea where you were or what the hell you were doing. Come on, we’ve got a long drive back to the ranch.” She looked at Jordan and shook her head. “Is this all you brought?” Drew asked as she loaded Jordan’s bags. “I know you have more pairs of shoes than can fit in one suitcase and one small carry-on.”

“I just brought the things I got last time I was out here plus some underwear and one dress. I doubt if my heels would be much use out here.”

Drew nodded. “I’ll lock the rental and leave the keys in the car. The rental agency has duplicates. They’ll find it from the GPS locator. Now let’s get going.”

“How long to your ranch? I don’t care.” Jordan put her hand on Drew’s leg. She looked around at the quaint small town. It was the middle of the night, but the full moon helped her see. Suddenly, they were back out on the open road. “There’s not much out here is there?”

“No. That’s why I have an extra tank on this. It’s expensive, but I can go a long distance before I have to refill. Don’t worry. I made sure that both tanks were filled at the last open gas station. There won’t be another one until we get to Interstate Eighty.”

“Drew, do your parents know I’m coming?”

“Nope. I told my mom I needed to run an errand and I would be back by morning. Dad was in Cheyenne.”

“Oh.”

“What about your parents?”

“They don’t know. I’m worried about what my father might do when he finds out.” She squeezed Drew’s knee and stared at her profile in the moonlight.

“Jordan, what do you want to do?”

How many times had she had asked herself that question? “I want my life back. I didn’t start living until I met you. No matter what he tries to do, he no longer has control of my life.” Jordan sighed and leaned back against the seat. She was going home. “I want to be with you.”

“Are you visiting or staying?”

Jordan felt her throat tighten. Didn’t Drew want her to stay? “I was hoping I was staying. I thought that was the plan.”

“What plan? What fucking plan, Jordan? I haven’t heard from you in months and suddenly you call and ask me to come pick you up. No discussion, no planning, nothing. Hell, if I didn’t know this area, you’d probably be driving around lost until you ran out of gas. This is not the big city and there may be hundreds of miles between towns.”

“I thought we agreed that we would be together when I finished school?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t get the memo. When was that decided?”

Jordan stared at her and wondered what had happened. How had they gotten here? She swallowed the emotions nearly choking her and tried to fix whatever was wrong. “When I saw you in Colorado, I told you to trust me and that things would work out. That’s why I gave you the phone. In case I couldn’t figure out how to get here myself.”

Drew clinched the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were turning white. “Wow, I must have been in an alternative universe. What I heard is that I am not to get in touch with you and that, if you wanted to get in touch with me, you could use the phone. Oh, and, sometime in the future, you would decide whether or not to pursue any relationship with me.”

“That’s not true.”

“Are you calling me a liar?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“How else can I interpret that? Of course, I am just a dumb, liberal cowgirl from Wyoming. I wouldn’t understand the political doubletalk of Washington.”

Jordan stared. “Why are you being such a…a…a bitch?”

“Excuse me?” Drew’s eyes were wide. “What did you call me?”

“I’m sorry. I am frustrated and angry and have been worrying about you. Why are you giving me such a hard time?”

“What the hell do you think I’ve been through, sitting and wondering if you’ve changed your mind? Wondering if your parents have convinced you of the correct path. Now you call me a bitch. Tell me why I shouldn’t turn the truck around?”

“If that’s the way you feel, why did you agree to meet me in the first place?”

“I gave my word. I never go back on my word.”

That sounded so cold. Had she lost Drew?

“I still care for you, believe it or not.”

Jordan hoped it was more than mere caring. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. That’s not what I was thinking.”

“Well, I’m all ears. I can’t wait to find out what the D.C. version of that word is.”

Jordan took several breaths and tried to calm down.

“Drew, I’m sorry. I was wondering when you had stopped believing in me. That word slipped out. I’m so sorry. I’ve always loved your sense of humor, but tonight…tonight, it hurts.”

*

It was Drew’s turn to feel like a shit. Jordan was right. She was using sarcasm to shield her heart. So many nights Jordan had occupied her dreams. Here she was finally sitting next to her and Drew was tearing her apart. She was being a bitch.

“My turn to apologize. I’m sorry.” She put her hand on top of Jordan’s. “Can I start over? Are you visiting or are you planning to stay? I hope you’re staying.”

Jordan squeezed her hand. “I’m yours for as long as you want me.”