First Love (31 page)

Jordan shook her head. How would this ever work? “Her name is Drew, Dad, and her family already offered for you to come visit.”

“Fine! I’ll arrange with security, but you better be ready to explain yourself.”

The end of the week arrived too soon. Jordan prayed that, whatever her father said, she could survive this meeting. She had made her decision and now she might have to have consequences. She was not leaving Drew. Ever.

A fleet of black SUVs came flying up the road. She felt Drew’s hand on her back offering support. Drew’s parents and younger brother stood on either side of them. “I’m fine,” Jordan said. She hoped she sounded surer than she felt. The vehicles stopped, and soon her father was stepping out.

“Chuck.” Her father nodded at Drew’s father. “Mrs. Hamilton. I need to speak to my daughter privately.”

“Harry, you are here because Jordan wanted you to visit. This is our ranch.” Charles Hamilton’s voice was as unyielding as her own father’s. “This is her show.” He hooked his thumbs in the side pockets of his jeans. Jordan wanted to hug him.

Jordan needed to take control of this. “Father, I don’t mind talking to you privately, if you want to take a walk. I am not getting in the car with you and I am not leaving here without Drew.”

Her father was fuming, but he nodded. Jordan squeezed Drew’s hand and then walked out toward the pasture with her father.

“What has gotten into you, Jordan? You were brought up to be God-fearing. You’ve never done anything like this. I have to believe she’s done something to you.”

“You’re wrong. The only thing Drew has done is love me and trust me, even when I probably didn’t always deserve it.”

“We didn’t bring you up for this…this kind of life. You were brought up to know better.”

“Dad, this is part of who I am. The part of me that has changed is that I now know why I’ve always felt different.”

“You come home with me.” Her father’s voice had softened. “We’ll get some help for you. I’m sure you’ve been under a lot of stress at school.”

He put his arm around her, but Jordan stopped walking and turned to face her father. “I am home. You and Mom have always told me that one day I would fall in love and I would know it in my heart. I’m with the person that I love and want to spend the rest of my life with her. I love you and I love Mom and I love Drew. If you make me choose, I choose Drew.”

“You really love her that much?”

“Absolutely. I can’t imagine my life without her.”

“What kind of power does she have over you?”

Jordan laughed. “Dad, I’m the one that chased her. She kept thinking of me and my reputation and what my parents would think.”

“Shows she has more sense than you are showing. It’s obvious you’re not thinking what this is doing to your mother, to me.”

His words were stab wounds to her already fragile heart. She wiped tears and stood straighter. “I am not doing this to hurt you or Mom. This is not about you. I’m doing this because I love Drew Hamilton and cannot and will not live without her. She’s told me to have faith that you both still love me. I do. And I’m not willing to give up on you. Drew’s helped me to find my faith and give me strength. She just wants me to be happy.”

“She must love you, then.” Her father scratched his head and stared out at the horizon. “Jordan, I don’t understand, but your mom and I don’t want to lose you, either. Are you sure this isn’t just a phase or something you are going through?”

Jordan smiled, thinking about Drew. “Absolutely. I love her. I can’t imagine a day going by without her in it.”

“Is this something your mother and I did?”

“No, Dad, this is who I am. Who I have always been.”

Her father touched the side of Jordan’s face. “Honey, I don’t understand, but I can see you do love her. Guess I’m just going to have to figure out how to deal with that. Jordan, I’m not happy with your decision, but this is your decision.” Jordan nodded. “Your Drew is a smart one. We do love you. We just don’t understand. Don’t give up on us yet.”

“Trust me, I understand. It took me a while to understand, but I’ve never been happier. I love Drew and I am blessed that she loves me.” Jordan took her father’s hand and they walked back to the ranch house where all the Hamiltons were still standing. Drew had a questioning look. Jordan smiled and stood beside her.

“Mr. President,” Drew said, “it’s getting late. Would you like to stay and have dinner with us?”

“Please, Dad?”

Marcia Hamilton nudged her husband and Jordan looked away so she wouldn’t be seen grinning. “Harry, we would like you to be our guest. We assure you we have enough food for the entire crew.”

Assured he was welcome, her father agreed to stay for dinner and overnight at the ranch. Much to Jordan’s surprise, he even went riding in the morning with Drew and her family. When he got ready to leave, he promised to come back.

“Drew, it’s obvious you care very much for my daughter.” He shook her hand. “Take care of her.”

“Yes, sir. You can count on it.”

Her father then turned and said good-bye to the remainder of the Hamiltons. He hugged Jordan. “Honey, we do love you. Drew does seem like a good person. Give us some time to get to know her.”

“Yes, sir! And will you come back?”

Her father chuckled. “Let’s get used to all this first.”

“Don’t take too long because Drew and I want to get married next year.” Her father’s eyes grew wide. “After all, you stressed how important the family is.”

Her father looked at Jordan, then at Drew. “What is it you young people say? Too much information.”

Jordan hugged her father again. “I love you.”

“Jordan, I still don’t understand, but I have to say I’m proud of you. You’ve grown up. You are now your own person.” He hugged Jordan one more time and got into his vehicle.

Jordan leaned against Drew. She had hope.

October

“What am I going to wear?” Drew asked. She was staring at the invitation to Jordan’s brother’s wedding. “I need to ask for the time off.”

“Will that be a problem?” Jordan asked.

“Not when I tell them where I’ll be going. I can’t believe we got an invitation to the wedding.”

“My family is trying.”

“Honey, I know. I can’t believe they even sent me a birthday present. Can you believe my dad asked your dad to go hunting with him? And, my parents were really surprised they were included in the invitation,” Drew said.

“That’s because my parents want to spend time with yours. You know, doing the in-law thing.”

“I’m not so sure I want our parents doing the in-law thing, yet. This is still too weird.”

*

Drew laughed. Jordan had spent thirty minutes trying to decide on shoes while both their mothers were having drinks in the penthouse suite. Weirdness was becoming the new normal.

“Time to go,” Jordan said. “You look very handsome.”

“Thank you. I’ve never had a custom-made suit before.” She continued to turn and look in the mirror. The navy blue silk suit was much too expensive. Jordan’s mother insisted on having it made. “The jacket’s kind of short, but I can always wear it to work parties. Or to take you out.”

Drew turned to see Jordan in her royal blue velvet bride’s maid dress. She was part of her brother’s wedding. “You are gorgeous. That color blue makes your eyes seem bluer. I still can’t believe I’m going to be sitting with your family during your brother’s wedding.”

Jordan walked into her arms. “Maybe we can finally start planning our own wedding. We may have to wait a little while. Just to give my parents time to adjust.”

“And stop trying to end marriage equality?”

“That, too. I still think we can get married in the spring.” She smoothed the collar on Drew’s jacket. “Thank you for being here with me.” She kissed Drew. “Time to get into the church.”

Drew walked into the church with her parents. They were seated in the third row, two rows behind the pew set aside for the President and the First Lady. The church was packed. Her parents were looking around and discussing the luminaries present, including Wyoming politicians. Drew didn’t care. She only had eyes for Jordan. She wasn’t sure where, or when, but she was more determined than ever to marry Jordan.

After the ceremony, she rode over to the wedding reception in one of the limos reserved for the First Family.

“A year ago I would have gotten angry with anyone who even joked about my shaking hands with Thompson. Now, I’m in his limo, at his son’s wedding.” Her father laughed. “I can’t wait until I can tell everyone. I noticed the Wyoming delegation quite wide-eyed when we were placed close to the First Family.”

“Darling, I think you have new status in Wyoming.” Her mother patted his arm.

He looked at her and smiled. “Fitting retribution. Just need to survive long enough.”

“Well, Dad, does this mean you’re getting back into politics?”

“Hell, no!” He turned toward Jordan. “Sorry, Jordan, for the language.”

“It’s nothing I haven’t heard from Drew many times.” She squeezed Drew’s hand. “Thank you for being so patient with me and my family,” Jordan said.

The limo stopped and they exited into the underground garage of the hotel hosting the wedding reception. Jordan held tight to Drew’s hand. Drew was so proud of her. The large reception hall was set for over six hundred. Drew and her parents were guided to their table near the front. Her father was enjoying the Wyoming politicians who were coming up to him, plying him with drinks, trying to figure out how he had gained such favored status.

“I must say I’m enjoying this,” her father said. “Folks who didn’t want to talk to me four years ago suddenly want to do lunch when we’re back in Wyoming.”

Drew smiled.
Maybe things will work out after all.

Jordan walked over and took Drew’s hand. “Come on. Jack and Sandra are arriving and there will be a reception line. You are standing next to me.”

“Jordan, do you think that’s a good idea? People are going to ask questions. They will want to know who I am.”

Jordan smiled. “I’ll tell them you are my wonderful, amazing partner. If they still don’t get it, I’ll tell them you are my lover and life partner, and next year, we’re getting married.”

Drew smiled. “You’re the amazing one. You’ve come a long way.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you.” Jordan became serious. “I love you, Drew Hamilton. For the first time, I feel like I can do anything. I’ve discovered something more important than being the First Daughter. That’s being your lover. First, last, and always.”

Drew stood in line next to Jordan. The first guests were starting down the line. The bride’s parents, the bride, the groom, the President and the First Lady, Jordan and Drew. Drew had given up on normal.

The first guests had reached Jordan’s parents. They spoke briefly and then turned to Jordan. “This is our daughter, Jordan, and her partner, Dr. Drew Hamilton.”

Drew shook hands with the guests.
Okay, so life could get weirder.
Then she remembered she and her parents were having lunch at the White House tomorrow.

*

Conversation had been cordial. Drew couldn’t wait for the dessert to be served and they could leave. She really wanted to get back to her residency, the ranch, and some semblance of sanity.

“Jordan looks wonderful. Thank you for taking such good care of her.” Marcia Thompson reached for Jordan’s hand. “I don’t think I’ve seen her so happy.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Drew answered. “I love her.”

Jordan leaned into Drew’s embrace and whispered. “Well, my first love may be my last love, but there may be five little loves in between.”

“Five?” Drew said, surprised at how loud she had spoken.

“Five what?” the president asked.

Jordan turned red. There would be plenty of time to explain. She squeezed Drew’s knee. “Sorry, sir, just thinking out loud. Just something we were talking about doing.”

“Can we just get through the first one?” Drew said in a voice she hoped couldn’t be overheard.

“First what?” her father asked.

“Drew, of course,” Jordan said. “She’s my first and only love.”

In front of both of our parents, Jordan said that. Too much information.
Drew gave up. Life with Jordan would never be normal. It didn’t matter because she loved Jordan and Jordan loved her. She would just accept the weirdness. What could be better?

The End

C. J. Harte was born in New York but has lived many places, courtesy of living in a military family. Her college education was completed in Florida, where she quickly became involved in labor union organizing, civil and women’s rights, as well as LGBT issues. She worked in education and health care, which allowed her to continue her activism.

Writing has always been a passion. She sees words as magical. She wrote her first poem in elementary school, her first play in high school, and had her first poem published in college. C.J. is the author of two novels, several short stories, poetry, and is co-lyricist for the LGBT musical
Am I Blue?
a tale of a young boy dealing with his identity.

Today, C.J. lives in beautiful Wyoming with her two curious dogs and tries to write in spite of their occasional comments and additions to the story. When not writing or working, she is still working for human rights.