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“And poor Chloe,” Laurie added with a meaningful glance. “She was so sure they were the perfect couple - destined to be together forever. I’m sure it rocked her world a little bit.”
“Yeah,” he muttered, more to himself than to her. “I guess it did.”
“She really is a wonderful person. I don’t think you’ll ever find someone so passionate as Chloe. She wears her heart on her sleeve.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded solemnly.
“Well, don’t let me interrupt you.” Laurie plucked a pair of sunglasses from her top desk drawer. “I’m sure you’ve got to get on the road. It was lovely meeting you, Jordan Davis. I’m sure we won’t forget you.”
And just like that, she was gone, leaving him to finish packing the last few remnants of his life in New Hope.
It didn’t take Jordan long to pick up his motel room. As much as he hated to admit it, he was going to miss the dying singing elf and the Santa bedspread and the reindeer hand towels. With his suitcase in hand, he walked toward the front office and found Ed sitting out on his favorite bench, smoking a Marlboro light.
“Have a seat. Rest a moment,” he grunted. Plucking the cigarette from his mouth, he patted the open space next to him. “You young people are always rushing off, never taking a moment to enjoy the day.”
Jordan dropped his stuff and willingly grabbed the seat. Ed had become a sort of grandfatherly presence over the past couple weeks. Despite the fact that he smoked like a chimney and could talk your ear off, he was a good man with his heart in the right place. Jordan would miss the slightly sweet scent of his cigarettes drifting on the wind.
“I sense girl troubles,” Ed said with a slight chuckle. He glanced over at Jordan with a confident nod of his head. “Yep, I recognize that look in your eyes. It’s the same one we all get. A sort of dull trauma that shocks the system. Yes, I know that look all too well.”
He couldn’t help but smile. The man knew his stuff. “Yeah, I guess. My boss wants me back early and I have to skip out on Chloe’s big play. She hates me.”
Ed took a long drag and blew it out between his puckered lips. “Now son, I doubt she hates you. Probably the opposite. She’s just hurt and confused. You should talk to her.”
“She pretty much gave me my marching orders,” Jordan said with a shake of his head. “Plus, she just found out her sister’s fiance was cheating on her. I think the best thing to do is give them all some space.”
“Hmmm.” Ed pressed his lips together and hummed as he considered. “Women are complicated creatures, Jordan. They often want the opposite of what they say. My Edna would say she didn’t need an anniversary present. But you can bet, supper that night would be more than a little burnt if I didn’t show up at the very least with flowers. Turns out, what they want and need are completely different things.”
Jordan leaned back and sighed in annoyance. “Why isn’t there some kind of rule book for these things?”
“Because, as soon as you write it down, the rules change.” He gave a gruff laugh that turned into a chesty cough. Drawing on his cigarette again, he turned his gray eyes to the young man. “But let me tell you this - every day it took to learn those rules was worth it. My Edna was worth every single moment. She still is - even if our moments are dwindling.”
Jordan looked up sharply. He’d assumed Edna was waiting in the office, handling the paperwork. But, all this time living at the motel and he had yet to meet her. “Dwindling? What does
that mean?”
“It’s what the doc said. She won’t make it to the spring. Been fighting Alzheimer’s for five years now.” His eyes moistened as the smoke curled around his head. “The last time she recognized me was last Christmas Eve, when she spent a few days at home. Those Christmas decorations in your room have been up for an entire year. Now, all my Edna does is stare at the walls. I couldn’t bare to take the decorations down. She’ll be going home soon and that’s all I’ll have left of her.”
He watched as several cars drove by - a yellow Dodge pickup, a blue van, and a tan Subaru hatchback. All those people, going about their daily lives, never realizing the agony they were passing. In the weeks he’d been living here, consumed by his tiny life, he’d never thought to even question Edna’s absence. He hated himself. How could he be so clueless?
“Now don’t you go feeling sorry for me.” Ed was watching him, the cigarette burning low on his fingers. He dropped it on the ground and snuffed it with the toe of his worn out Redskins boot. “We’ve lived our lives. Had a heck of a time doing it. You need to do the same. If this girl, Chloe, drives you crazy in the best of ways, don’t give her up.”
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. Chloe certainly did know how to drive him crazy. She was the sassiest woman he’d ever met - the only person he wanted bossing him around. He had memorized her every curve and the feeling of her body pressed to his. Every minute they’d spent together had be spent in conversations that flowed unlike any he’d had before. And he couldn’t get enough of her. Every ounce of his being was telling him he’d never find another woman like her.
He couldn’t give up on them, yet.
Ed turned a piercing look toward him. In his eyes was a strength Jordan hadn’t seen before now. “Don’t give up on love, son. If it’s within your reach, grab onto it and don’t let go. Don’t squander it. Life’s too short to focus on worldly things. Don’t let love slip between your fingers.”
Without another word, Jordan jumped to his feet and grabbed his bags. Tossing them back into his vacant motel room, he nodded his head at Ed and ran toward his car. He had to think of something.
They weren’t finished - not if he had any say about it.
Chapter Fourteen
Chloe pressed her forehead against the wooden door frame of the church and gazed at the Christmas Eve service. The citizens of New Hope had packed into the pews, like sardines in a can. Every spot was full - even that pew in the very front that church members avoided on Sundays. They were nearing the end of the service. Pastor Steve had just asked them to stand for the last hymn.
Tonight was supposed to be the big musical performance. Her cast was all here - all except for one important member. Empty stage settings sat in the back of the church, useless now without her star.
She hadn’t been able to make it through the whole service sitting on those hard pews. It felt like the air itself was suffocating her, pressing in heavy on her lungs. About halfway through, she’d rushed toward the back to get some air. Gemma and Laurie had spotted her hasty exit and followed her to the foyer. They’d wanted to know what happened to Jordan.
