LITMIR.BIZ

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mean Stephen?”

      “Yes.”

      “About Jordan?”

      “Yes.”

      “Well, he met Jordan, of course. But know he’s his son? No, of course not.”

      “But he recognized you?”

      Jill thought about the look on Stephen’s face when realization dawned. “Yes, he recognized me, just as I recognized him.”

      “Oh, my God,” Nora said. “What are you going to do?”

      Again, Jill’s eyes filled with tears, and she angrily brushed them away. Tears were worthless. Right now what she needed was strength and straight thinking. “I don’t know. At dinner last night my head was spinning.”

      “I take it he…this Stephen…didn’t acknowledge that he knew you.”

      “No. And I didn’t, either. I mean, it was such a shock, and I couldn’t think. And then, when I could, it was too late. Even if I’d wanted to say, ‘Aren’t you the boy I met years ago at Padre Island,’ I couldn’t. It would seem strange that I hadn’t said something immediately. Besides, then I would have had to lie, because I certainly couldn’t have admitted that Steve—Stephen—was someone I’d had a passionate affair with.” Oh, God. Did he remember those nights as vividly as she did?

      “And I’m sure he felt the same way,” Nora said reflectively. “I mean, I’m assuming he cares about Elliott.”

      “They’re very close. Elliott admitted to me once that he’s closer to Stephen than he is to his daughter, that he loves him like a son, and I think Stephen feels the same way.”

      “Good Lord,” Nora said. “What a mess.” After a moment, she added, “I wish I was there. Not that I could do anything, but I could lend moral support.”

      “You don’t know how much I wish you were here, too.”

      Nora was a bit older, in her early forties, divorced and childless. She was one of the most centered, stable people Jill had ever known, with a dry wit and the ability to laugh at herself—a trait Jill admired almost more than anything else. People who took themselves too seriously were deadly bores, she felt.

      “Hey, do you want me to come? I’m due for some vacation. And Brian could oversee the gallery for a couple of days…or even a week.”

      “Oh, Nora, that would be wonderful. Would you?”

      “Would Elliott mind?”

      Jill smiled. “Elliott will love that you’re coming.” She didn’t add that Elliott would love anything that made her happy. She didn’t have to. Wasn’t Nora the one who had urged her to marry Elliott?

      “So what about the daughter?”

      “Why don’t I just wait and let you see for yourself what she’s like?”

      “That bad, huh?” Nora said wryly.

      Jill grimaced. “I shouldn’t judge her after just one day.”

      “Hey, I can usually size someone up after just one hour, and you’re no slouch in that department, either.”

      “Maybe, in this case, I’m too prejudiced to be fair. After all, to her, I’m an interloper here, and I’m younger than she is. If I were in her shoes, I’d probably hate me, too. But let’s not talk about her now. I want you to meet her first, give her a chance to settle down a bit. So,” she said more brightly, “when can you be here?”

      “How long a drive is it?”

      “It took us about five hours.”

      “Let’s say tomorrow afternoon, then. If there’s a problem with Brian, I’ll call you back.”

      “Oh, Nora, thank you. Elliott told me he’s invited a few close friends to come and meet me Saturday night. I was a bit nervous about it even before I knew about Stephen, so I’m really glad you’ll be here, too.”

      After Jill gave Nora directions, she said goodbye. Once the connection was broken, Jill sat there thinking. Knowing Nora was coming made Jill feel better. Maybe she was being too dramatic about everything, making a mountain out of a molehill. Maybe there was some reasonable solution to her problem, something she couldn’t see, but Nora would.

      At the very least, with Nora there, Jill would feel less alone.

      Chapter Four

      “I’m so glad you’re here,” Jill said for perhaps the hundredth time since Nora had arrived.

      The two women were dressing for the evening in Jill’s bedroom. Although Elliott had objected, saying they’d be more comfortable if Nora took one of the guest bedrooms in the main house, Jill had insisted upon giving her bedroom to Nora, and Jill herself would sleep in the other twin bed in Jordan’s room for the duration of Nora’s visit.

      “I don’t mind at all,” she’d told Elliott. “It’ll be fun. We’ll probably be staying up till all hours talking.”

      Sleeping arrangements at the ranch were delicate, anyway. Jill knew Caroline was probably convinced that when Nora wasn’t around Elliott would probably sneak out at night and join Jill in her bedroom. Stephen probably thought so, too.

      The truth was, Jill had made it clear to Elliott up front how she felt. And he had completely understood her belief that an intimate relationship between them would be a very bad example to set for Jordan. “We can only be together if Jordan spends the night somewhere else,” she’d explained.

      It was Elliott who made the decision that he could wait until they were married. “It won’t be easy,” he’d said. “But you’re worth it.”

      “You look awfully serious,” Nora said.

      “Oh, sorry.” Jill wished she could stop thinking about her problems. This was supposed to be a happy time for her—the beginning of a new chapter in her life. “I was daydreaming, I guess.”

      “Worrying is more like it.”

      Jill made a face. “You know me too well.” She fluffed her hair, wishing she’d had time to get it trimmed before leaving Austin.

      “You look wonderful,” Nora said.

      Jill studied herself in the full-length cheval mirror. Tonight she wore brown linen slacks and a coral sleeveless sweater. “Do you think so?” she asked doubtfully. “I’m not sure about this sweater.”

      “It’s beautiful. What’s your problem?”

      Nora herself wore black linen pants, a matching tunic top and chunky silver jewelry. As always, she looked sophisticated and classy.

      “I wish I could wear black,” Jill said. She leaned closer to the mirror and inspected her face. Was that a pimple on her chin?

      “Black isn’t your thing,” Nora said. “You look great. Stop stalling.”

      “I’m not stalling. I think I have a pimple.”

      “Oh, for heaven’s sake. Your skin is perfect. And you are, too, stalling. I, on the other hand, can hardly wait.”

      Nora had arrived at the ranch a couple of hours earlier. She had yet to meet Caroline or Stephen and she was unabashedly impatient.

      The words were barely out of her mouth when there was a knock at Jill’s bedroom door followed by “Mom! I’m goin’ over to the house.”

      “Jordan, wait for us.” She walked over and opened the door. “I just have to put on my jewelry and we’ll be ready to go.”

      Jordan, who had spent the entire day outside with Elliott, had showered earlier and was now dressed in clean jeans and a yellow shirt. His first choice had been a much-beloved Brad Paisley T-shirt

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