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CHAPTER 27
Nick woke to a stinging sensation. It took a moment to figure out that his butt was stinging. He turned over to see Jordan with a towel getting ready to pop him again. Instead, she went back to towel drying her wet hair when she saw his eyes were open.
“Mornin’ sunshine. Your turn for the shower.”
“What time is it?”
“7:30.”
“AM?”
“Yes. Get up.”
“Why,” he asked, covering his face with the pillow.
“I’ve got a fun filled day planned for you.”
“Doing what?”
“Fishing.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Now get your butt in the shower.”
“Alright.”
She left him to his own devices and headed back to the kitchen. Her dad was already gone. Her mom was in the process of making more biscuits.
“You should have let him sleep. He looked so tired yesterday.”
“He’s fine. Besides he loves fishing. It will do him some good to be out on the lake.”
“Are you going with them?”
“No. I’m going to get settled in at the house.”
“You could stay another night. What with Nick here and all.”
“I know, but I want to get settled.”
“Does he know?”
“No.”
“Jordan,” scolded her mother.
“I’m telling him today.”
“I still don’t understand why you quit a perfectly good job.”
“What,” interrupted Jordan with a snort. “Tell me does this sound familiar mom…Don’t come crying to us if you get pregnant!”
“You knew we were concerned. It is not a safe environment.”
“It was fine. Anyway, I would think you and dad would be giddy with the prospect of having me back home.”
“We didn’t raise you to jump from job to job. Now you think you can just live off my mother’s money!”
“You would assume that wouldn’t you? I can never know what I’m doing or be trusted to do the right thing,” said Jordan. “Look. Nick is coming so this stops now.”
“Fine,” relented her mother, before turning to greet Nick. “Good morning Nick! Did the bed sleep OK for you?”
“Yes ma’am. It was wonderful.”
“I’m glad. Sit. I’ve got breakfast for you. Jordan pour him some juice.”
Nick didn't miss the tension as he walked into the kitchen. He tried to catch Jordan’s eye, but she wouldn’t look at him. Janis sat warm biscuits on the table. The three joined hands and prayed. The meal was quiet. After they finished eating, Nick helped Jordan clean up.
“Nick grab your bag. We’re heading out,” instructed Jordan.
“We’re going back to Nashville?”
“No. We're staying at my grandmother’s house.”
“So I get to meet more of your family?”
“No. My grandmother died last fall. We're just staying at the house. I’ll explain later. I’m getting my bag.”
“OK.”
Once bags were collected, Jordan and Nick said goodbye to her mother. Nick thanked her for the good food and letting him spend the night. She handed him a picnic basket full of leftovers from the previous night’s meal. He thanked her again and they were out the door. He held the basket over his head to keep Buddy out of it. Nick noted all of Jordan’s bags being in the car when they loaded up.
Jordan drove through the small town of Hollow Lake, which took five minutes. She pointed out points of interest. He’d never been in a town that didn’t have even one stoplight. They drove out to the lake. Winding down to the dock past several cabins and houses.
“It’s beautiful,” Nick breathed, when he got his first good look at the water.
“Wait until you look down into the water.”
“Clear.”
“Like green glass.”
Jordan parked and waved at a truck driving past, pulling a fishing boat. The driver of the truck expertly turned and backed the boat on its trailer down into the water. Killing the engineer, he jumped out and jogged up to meet Jordan and Nick.
“Dan! Bout time you came home,” greeted the man, while pulling Jordan into a hug.
“I know,” agreed Jordan. Pulling back she said, “Andy Teeter I want you to meet Nick Carter.”
“Hey Nick.”
“Hi Andy.”
“So you fish much?”
“Every chance I get.”
“Andy, Nick’s into deep sea fishing.”
“Man! You’re lucky. I would love to do it sometime.”
“Well if you’re ever down in the Keys, I’ll take you out.”
“Now I’ll hold you to that offer! Dan sure you won’t change your mind about going out with us?”
“Nah. I’ve got things to do. Besides if I go you will have to share more of mama’s fried chicken.”
“She sent her chicken with you?”
“That and a bunch more.”
“Dan go do what you need to. Nick and I will take care of the food. Where is it?”
“The car. I’ll get it while you two get the boat in the water,” laughed Jordan.
It took a few minutes, but soon the guys were watching Jordan’s car move back up the hill. Andy maneuvered the boat away from the dock. Nick sat in front and enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine. Something caught his eye. He looked closer at the big bird taking flight near the bank.
“That looks like an eagle.”
“It’s an eagle, so I hope it does. I guess Jordan didn’t tell you this area is a sanctuary for American Bald Eagles.”
“No she didn’t.”
The conversation was interrupted by Andy’s phone ringing.
“Teeter…Dan didn’t you just leave us?…He does?…Alright I promise…later mom.”
“What did she want?”
“So you got some art done the other night.”
“Yeah?”
“She made me promise that you won’t expose it to the sun. Also you have to stay out of the water.”
“I swear!”
“I know. She was always the little mama of the bunch, but heaven help ya if you tried to do something for her.”
“I know.”
“So what did you get done the other night?”
Nick raised his tank to reveal his back and said, “The Kaos on my spine.”
“Bet that hurt like a bitch.”
“Not too bad.”
“Yeah right,” chuckled Andy. “So no sun on the ink or Mama Dan will have my ass.”
“She can be tough.”
“That she can. She’s the toughest I’ve seen and that's sayin' something.”
“Why?”
“My cousin Danny once dislocated her shoulder.”
“Why?”
“She wouldn’t say uncle. He didn't realize how much he had her arm torqued until pop. He felt horrible and he was scared shitless, because Buck would have killed him.”
“Would have?”
“Well it happened on a weekend. Jordan made us take her to Doc Anderson’s house. She made Doc swear he wouldn’t tell her parents. He agreed to set it, but said he doubted she could hide how much pain she was in. She looked him in the eye and didn’t make one sound as he set it.”
“Shit!”
“You said it. Alright, we’re here. Let’s get the poles out and start catching dinner.”
They spent a lazy morning fishing without a single nibble. Andy managed to make it until noon before attacking the basket of food. After eating, he started the boat and they moved to another spot. Moving past the dock, Nick looked at the houseboats tied at the side dock.
“See the one on the end,” asked Andy.
“The one with the greenish trim?”
“That’s now Jordan’s.”
“It is?”
“Yep. She got it when her grandmother passed away.”
“We’re staying at her grandmother’s tonight.”
“Her grandmother’s? Well it use to be.”
“You mean…”
Andy said, “Yep. The place is now Jordan’s. I see Jordan is still not sharing much about herself.”
“I guess not,” answered Nick with a frown.
“That girl was always standoffish. She hated people being all up in her business, but damn this is a small town. She got more secretive when she left for college.”
“But she was only 2 hours away.”
“I know but it could have been half the world away. I cant’ blame her. Buck and Janis were always so high strung. She kept her injuries from them for good reason. She fell once rollerskating when we were six. She landed on a piece of glass and cut her knee deep enough for five stitches. You would have thought she’d been shot with the way they came unhinged. That was the last time she rollerskated.”
“They stopped her?”
“Yep. Jordan learned fast to hide pain. If they knew she got hurt doing something it was the last time she did it.”
“That sucks.”
“Tell me about it. The longer she was in Nashville the less she came home, until she didn't come back even for Christmas one year."
"Weird."
"You said it. When she did come back, she headed straight for her grandmother’s.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know the details, but she was hurt when she got there. I know Doc Anderson made a late night visit. A guy was involved. It took some time for the old Jordan to come back.”
“What do you mean?”
“Can’t explain it. She was just different. Most of the time the light was gone from her eyes. It took awhile to get it back. Also, she would get this look in her eye when she was mad. It made me shiver the couple of times I seen it. Hey Nick! You’ve got one!!”
All conversation halted. Nick reeled in a catfish. It wasn’t quit big enough so they let it go. They had no luck in catching fish, but they did enjoy the time out on the water. Jordan had given Andy strict instructions to treat Nick like any of his friends. Andy had and was glad to see Nick was a normal guy. He didn’t act like a snooty star. Nick for his part was glad to have a day away from being the persona.
Jordan called mid-afternoon and said she was on her way to get Nick. They docked just as she drove down the hill.
Chapter 28
"Nice place."
"Thanks."
"So its yours?"
"Where did you hear that?"
"Andy."
"Figures. Yes its now mine."
Jordan had driven to her new home. Her Grandparents had kept the old house up. It looked liked something out of Southern Living. The wrap around porch sported a swing. The hardwood floors inside gleamed.
Jordan put Nick's things in one of the guestrooms earlier in the day. They enjoyed dinner on the screened in back porch. It over looked the lake from on a hill not far from the dock. The longer they sat and watched the water the bigger the knot became in Nick's stomach. Finally, he screwed up his courage and asked what he didn't want the answer to.
"You're not going back with us, are you?"
"No."
Nick didn't speak. He took off out the back door and rounded the house. Jordan cut through the house. She had to literally tackle him.
"Get off me Jordan!"
"NO!"
"I hate you Jordan!"
"No you don't!"
Nick planted his hands on Jordan's hips and moved her off him as he yelled, "YES I DO!"
"Why?"
He turned and looked at her with tears streaming down his face. "If you don't know then we weren't ever friends."
"Yes we are Nick."
"NO. You lied. You said I wouldn't lose you!"
"You haven't."
"Will you stop fucking lyin' to me!"
"Nick I will always be here for you."
"No you won't. If that's true then you won't be leaving me."
"Baby I'm not leaving you. You would lose me if I came back out with your guys."
"Why because of Kevin?"
"Yes because of Kevin and me…and this messed up situation I caused."
"I hate Kevin!"
"No you don't."
"Why can't I hate someone?"
"You can, but deep down you know you don't."
"That's not true…I hate Mandy!"
"Well there ya go. That's a good one to hate."
"How do you that," he asked as he wiped his eyes.
"Do what?"
"Sidetrack me when I'm pissed."
"It’s a gift. Seriously, Nick you're not losing me."
"Jordan I lose everyone. No one wants to stick around for long."
"Guess what I do. So you're stuck with me. Its just Kevin and I need some distance. I can't be around him. He doesn't function well when I'm there."
"That's his problem."
"No it's everyone's problem. Or it will be if I go back. If I don't walk away now, then I won't be able to at all."
"Great Kevin does his thing and I lose my friend."
"Nick listen to me. You haven't lost me. I'm a phone call away and I will be calling you too. Also if you ever need me there, I will come no questions."
"It's not the same."
"I know, but if I'm there then you don't have anywhere to come to."
"Huh?"
"I want you to have somewhere to go. You know where you can get away from everything. My door is always open. I don't want you to ever think you don't have somewhere to go."
The night Nick called her from Boston was still pretty fuzzy, but he remembered saying he didn't have anywhere to go. At that moment Nick realized he had finally found someone who listened to him. She not only listened but she heard what he was really saying. It didn't have anything to do with being in a relationship. It was about friendship. Real friendship and caring for another person and not because of what they could do for you. Jordan didn't need anything from Nick. She only wanted his friendship. Again tears spilled onto his cheeks, but they were happy tears.
"Baby I didn't mean to make you cry," said Jordan, reaching out to wipe his face.
Pulling her into a hug, Nick replied, "I'm not sad Shaq. I'm happy. You make me happy."
"That's all I wanted Shorty."
"Wait," he said pulling back. "I want to make sure I'm gettin' this right. You're sayin' I've got a home here?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying. You have a home here until you find your own home. Even then the door will always be open."
"Thanks Jordan."
"Thank you Nick. You give me just as much."
Nick looked back up at the house.
"It really is a cool old place. Are you going to leave it as is?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I don't know. It just seems you would want to make this place your own now. I mean it's pretty and all, but…"
"It doesn't scream Jordan?"
"Yeah."
"You're right. Come on. I want to show you someplace before it gets too dark."
She grabbed her keys from the house. They took a road, which curved round the lake. Jordan turned down a small side road. It led to a one lane bridge. Nick could see the bridge cut across a small inlet of the lake. He was surprised when Jordan turned onto a gravel road and drove to the top of the hill looking across the inlet and bridge to the main part of the lake. Stopping the car, Jordan got out and Nick followed her.
"Isn't it a great view?"
"Yes it is."
"You know my mom's family once owned all of this."
"Wow."
"Did Andy tell you this is a great place to scuba dive?"
"For real?"
"Yep. This is one of the best places to get certified in the middle of the country. Also there are some really cool things to see underwater. Some boats have sunk. There is even a town."
"A town?"
"My great, great grandfather owned the land Hollowville was built on. The government wanted to build a dam and create a lake."
"Why?"
"It's a great power source. We supply electricity for most of the Tennessee Valley."
"So what happened to the town?"
"It was in the valley that is now Hollow Lake. The valley was perfect to create a lake. The government bought the town and relocated everyone. Built the dam and created the lake."
"That's really cool."
"Yeah. My great grandfather sold a large portion of the remaining land to the government in order for it to be preserved as a natural habitat. Grandmother is responsible for it being declared a natural sanctuary for American Bald Eagles in the 70's."
"I saw one of the Eagles this morning. It was beautiful."
"Yes they are."
"So do you have much land left?"
"About 200 acres. It starts at the road we took to the house and runs over to the bottom of this hill on the far side."
"What are you going to do with it?"
"Leave it as is for the most part. However, I'm thinking this would be a good place for a house."
"You want to build up here? What about your grandparents house?"
"Well you see, grandmother and I talked a lot before she died. She had thought about making it a Bed & Breakfast."
"You want to turn it into a B&B?"
"This county has the highest percentage of unemployment in the state. We just had a little garment factory close which didn't help. I was thinking it would be nice to let the folks around here run it. I would oversee it, but they could do the day to day things."
"You have the cash to fund it?"
"Yes. The money from all the land sales was invested wisely. My grandparents also did well in business. My grandfather had connections with the Government. His best friend retired from the CIA."
"Ok I'm going to say it again. Wow!"
"Yeah. So I figure if this is done right it will help the area's economy. I pay the employees a decent wage and they will take more pride in what they do. It will be their special little touches that will make the place successful. It will also bring tourists in and that means more money for local businesses."
"But Jordan I thought you couldn't wait to get out of here when you were younger."
"I couldn't. I needed to go away to see what I had. Does that make sense?"
"Yes it does."
"Besides once it's up and running I can take off any time. Also I think, this place is far enough off the beaten path to give me some privacy."
"Sounds like you have it all thought out."
"Not really. I still have to get the zoning changed for the house. I have to sell the town on it and hire a staff. We have missed most of this year's business. I will have to get publicity and figure out overhead. Oh and the budget! How could I forget the budget?"
"Jordan stop! You're freaking out."
"You're right. I've got time to deal with all of this. One nice thing about having the money is not having to stress about day to day things. Well not stress as bad."
"You want to do this, so it'll happen."
"You sound very sure."
"I know you. You'll make it happen. Sign me up for a weekend."
"You got it. Besides you'll have a room up here when the house is built."
"Good. Jordan I'm really glad you're doing this. I'm going to miss you when we go back out, but I think this is the right thing for you."
"I'm going to miss you too," she said as she began to tear up.
"Hey no crying. I'm not gone yet."
"No you're not. Come on lets go back to the house. Did Andy also show you the houseboat?"
"As a matter of fact," replied Nick with a grin.
"So you want to spend the night on it?"
"Can we?"
"We can."
"Hell yes! Come on," he exclaimed as he ran for the car.
Jordan took one last look around before leaving.
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