This week we continue with 'Jordan's Second Chance.' Jordan's confession has shocked Wynter. What will his reaction be and will he like the answers when the truth is revealed? I hope you enjoy this latest installment.
Happy reading,
TC
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Jordan’s Second Chance 3.2
Wynter
blinked, uncertain if he’d heard correctly. “What do you mean, you killed her?”
Jordan did not seem the murdering type.
Jordan
sighed, leaning against the porch railing. He stared across the expanse of the
backyard, silent. Finally, he shook his head and turned to face Wynter. “A few
weeks before Lucas was born, his mother wanted to visit the cabin in the
mountains that her family has owned for generations. It was their tradition to
hire a midwife and have the baby there.”
Jordan
fell silent once again. Wynter reached over and entwined their fingers
together. “Go on,” he urged softly.
“Sarah
Marie—Lucas’s mother—and I were supposed to go up to the cabin together, but a
client called at the last minute and requested a meeting. Sarah Marie begged me
not to take the meeting and to go with her. But I … I,” Jordan paused, looking
at the landscape once again.
“Couldn’t
she have waited for you to finish your meeting before heading to the cabin?”
Wynter asked, stepping back and wrapping his arms around Jordan’s waist.
Jordan
leaned back into Wynter and sighed. “The midwife had called earlier that day
and told us she going to be at the cabin earlier than we’d originally planned.
Sarah Marie wanted to make sure the place was aired out properly and
straightened up before the midwife showed up.”
“Was
it all right for her to do that?” Wynter asked, trying to picture an eight-month-old
woman bending down to clean without toppling over. He also couldn’t believe
Jordan had allowed Sarah Marie to do such physical chores while close to her
due date.
Jordan
chuckled, the gloomy atmosphere lightening marginally. “Sarah Marie was a very
stubborn woman, she did what she wanted, when she wanted. A cleaning crew had
already taken care of the cabin but she wanted to check on it for herself. You
have to remember, that cabin had been in her family for generations and she was
having our first child. She wanted everything to be perfect.”
Wynter
smiled, he could appreciate that. He wished he had something like Sarah Marie’s
cabin that would remind him of his parents. “I can understand that.”
“Indeed.
Family was very important to her,” Jordan said. He turned around and pulled
Wynter against his chest, tucking Wynter’s head beneath is cheek.
“You
loved her,” Wynter said quietly. He’d expected to feel anger or jealously. But
strangely, he felt at peace. He was glad Jordan had had someone to love and who
loved him in return.
Jordan
nodded. “I did, and I still do. Sarah Marie will always hold a piece of my
heart and I hope you can understand and accept that. She was my first love. We grew
up together and started dating in middle school. It was a given that we would mate
when we turned of age. So when we graduated from high school, it felt like the
natural course of events to mate and move into our own place.”
Wynter’s
fingertips traced the broad expanse of Jordan’s back. He nodded his
understanding. “Of course, I understand, Jordan. I’m happy that you had someone
to love you.”
“You
are so good to me. You’re the best.” Jordan leaned back and captured Wynter’s
lips in a soft, gentle kiss. Wynter’s breath caught in his throat. The kiss
conveyed every ounce of longing Jordan had for him. Wynter’s body melted,
surrendering to the intense emotions that intoxicated him like a drug. Jordan broke
the kiss and buried his face into the crook of Wynter’s neck.
“Will
you tell me the rest?” Wynter asked in a soft voice after several minutes of
silence.
Jordan
inhaled and stepped back, dropping his arms. Wynter followed, tightening his
embrace and refusing to break the connection between them. “Sarah Marie went
ahead and drove to the cabin by herself, but only after I made her promise to
call me as soon as she got there. Only … she never called. After my meeting, I checked
my phone and noticed she hadn’t called. I called her cell phone and the cabin’s
phone, but there was no answer. The midwife hadn’t seen or spoken to her—she was
still at the restaurant where she was supposed to meet Sarah Marie. I drove
home, hoping she’d decided to wait for me instead and had just fallen asleep or
something. It was only after …,” Jordan broke off and turned away.
Wynter
released him this time, knowing Jordan needed the space. He stayed silent,
allowing Jordan to regain his composure. “When I got home, there was a police
squad car in front of my house. They told me a drunk driver had run a red light
and hit Sarah Marie. She was rushed into emergency surgery where they performed
a cesarean section.” Jordan paused, his eyes damp with unshed tears. “She lived
long enough to bring Lucas into this world and then she.” Jordan turned away,
unable to continue.
“You
said you killed her. How was this your fault?” Wynter asked, confused.
“Because
I wasn’t there! If I’d scheduled the meeting for a different time, then I could’ve
saved Sarah Marie! I could’ve …” Jordan growled, his hands clenching.
“Don’t
be ridiculous! That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!”
To be continued …
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