Corporate Affair (23 page)

“Oh, did Aiden take you to see the boat? Beautiful, isn’t she? Remember when we took her out to Long Island in the far end of the bay and we got stuck in that storm coming back in?” She tossed her hair and laughed heartily. “Do you sail?”

Jordan sensed open warfare, but she remained unruffled. “No,” she said.

“Well, I guess that’s not surprising. Vermont is landlocked, isn’t it? What do you do there for fun?”

Aiden opened his mouth, but Jordan spoke first, sitting in the chair nearest the kitchen door so she could hear Grace. “We do have Lake Champlain. A lot of sailing goes on there. Interestingly enough, it’s where the United States Navy began. And of course I ski. We’re all born skiing in Vermont.”

“Well, welcome to Maine,” said Jennifer, leaning forward, “or, at least to one of Maine’s premier companies. Do you intend to stay with Chat?”

“I do,” said Jordan, choosing not to elaborate.

“Good for you! I’m sure you’ll find these two gentlemen a pleasure to work for.”

Now Aiden spoke up, “Jordan is working
with
us, Jennifer. She’ll maintain her position as CEO of that branch. Chat will technically remain the same operation. We’ll just expand on it.”

Aiden’s tone was not lost on anybody in the room. Everyone was a just a bit uncomfortable except for Gordon, who seemed to be enjoying himself, entertained by the emerging drama. It was then that they heard a small squeak from Grace.

“Excuse me,” said Jordan, rising from her chair. “My daughter’s waking up from her nap.”

“There’s a daughter?” Jennifer smiled, blinking her eyes in an exaggerated manner. “You’re full of surprises!”

Jordan ignored her and went in to tend to Grace.

Jennifer stood up suddenly. “Well, I’ve got to get going. After-hours business at the bank.” She raised her voice and called into the kitchen, “Nice to meet you, Jordan.”

Jordan came to the door; a sleepy Grace, her head cuddled into her mother’s shoulder, sat on her hip. “Pleased to meet you too. Hope to see you again,” she lied politely.

“I’ll walk you out to your car,” said Aiden.

“Thank you, Aiden,” said Jennifer. “Good-bye, Gordon, good-bye, Nell.”

“Bye,” echoed the two together.

Aiden hurried her along the walk to the driveway. As much as Jordan knew she shouldn’t, she positioned herself near a window overlooking parking area. She watched as the two of them stood close to each other, deep in conversation. Aiden seemed agitated, but Jordan couldn’t be sure. Then, the woman leaned forward and drew Aiden into a passionate kiss. Jordan gasped; this was not a casual kiss good-bye.

It appeared that Aiden pulled back in anger, but the woman laughed as she got into her car, spun the wheels, and raced out to the main road. Aiden stood for a moment and then glanced toward the house, a look of guilt on his face. Jordan quickly stepped away from the window, her heart aching at what she’d seen. She busied herself as Aiden rejoined his father on the porch, not sure what she should say or do. As she put shoes on Grace, she couldn’t help but overhear the conversation between the men just outside.

“That was an unexpected visit, I take it,” he said dryly to Aiden.

“I don’t know what she was up to,” Aiden replied.

“She likes to cause trouble. She’s always been like that. Are you still seeing her?”

There was a pause before Aiden said, “No,” he said simply. “No, I’m not seeing her anymore.”

Nell came out onto the porch followed by Jordan who led Grace by the hand. “Aiden,” she said, “why don’t you and Jordan take Grace outside for a bit to play? Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes.”

“That’s okay, Aiden,” Jordan said. “You don’t have to come. I’m only going right out here so she can walk around for a few minutes.”

Jordan didn’t look at him as she spoke. She had seen the kiss Jennifer given him, had seen Aiden pull back. It was obvious they had, or at least used to have, a relationship of some kind. She struggled with her feelings as she led Grace down the steps onto the lush grass. Grace let go of her hand, plopped on her fat little bottom, and began to pick at the grass. Jordan’s mind raced on. Of course, he must have had numerous relationships before theirs. Was he the kind of man who could juggle more than one at time? Did he pull back because he didn’t want to kiss Jennifer, or because he didn’t want Jordan to see him kiss her? Suddenly, she felt confused and lonely. She wanted to be home. She was a total stranger to these people, no matter how nice they appeared. They had a working relationship, and they were doing the polite business thing to do. And now she couldn’t be sure of Aiden. Suddenly, she couldn’t see their future path. How would it work out? How could it possibly work? She lived in Vermont; he lived here. They had businesses to run, responsibilities that had been in place long before they met. Panic began to seize her.

“What are you thinking about?” Aiden had approached silently and was now standing close behind her.

“I saw that kiss,” she said, trying to sound light.

“You read my mind,” he answered. “I hope it didn’t upset you. She was just trying to make trouble.”

“Are you dating that girl?”

Aiden stared at her. “No, Jordan. I love you.”

“You did date her, though.”

“Yes, I’ve dated her off and on for years. Since high school.”

“That’s a long time.”

“Well, there were other women in between, and after all those years, our relationship hasn’t progressed past a certain point. When I met you, I knew why.”

“Why?” She knew she’d added a sarcastic edge to her voice.

“Because I didn’t love her.” He stepped toward her. “Jordan, I—I didn’t invite her here. I haven’t even thought about her.” He paused. “What’s bothering you? Is there something more going on than just a visit from an old girlfriend?”

“When did you sleep with her last?” Jordan hadn’t meant to say it. It was a silly, immature thing to say, but it slipped out.

“I can’t remember.”

Jordan shot him a withering look, and he took a deep breath. If Jennifer had been in his life on and off for years, he’d certainly remember their last time together.

“Dinner is ready,” called Nell from the porch door.

Aiden and Jordan looked at each other. Neither one spoke. Aiden scooped Grace up and started in to the house, and Jordan was glad her daughter felt so comfortable with him. She tried to relax her face, tried to banish the tension in her shoulders as she followed them.

Dinner was lovely, and Jordan wished she could have enjoyed it more. It was the perfect meal for the warm spring evening. There was lobster risotto with a fresh green salad and asparagus from Nell’s garden. Dessert was a creamy cheesecake drizzled with mashed strawberries. Grace sat on Jordan’s lap, tasting bits of the food and gurgling happily. Jordan made an extra effort to bury the fear and confusion building up within her and concentrated on feeding Grace her own dinner of sweet potato and chicken puree.

After dinner, Aiden helped his mother clear the dishes. Jordan could hear him in the far corner of the kitchen, his voice rising and falling, but she couldn’t make out the words. As she sat holding her daughter, she turned her attention to Gordon, who sipped scotch from a snifter.

“One of the first things we’ll do,” he was saying, “is take a detailed census of the territory. Vermont is seeing that the whole state is set up for DSL and cable. We need to sort through the economic loopholes and figure out what to spend where and when.”

“I totally agree,” Jordan remarked, glad to have her attention on something so concrete and impersonal. “I was planning on calling a meeting with our board and our comptrollers when I get back for just that—”

“Excuse me.” They both turned to look at Aiden, and Jordan sensed something different in his tone. She could see fire behind his normally tranquil deep brown eyes. There was more of a connection between the two of them than she had realized. She could read his look. It wasn’t anger. It was more like he was asserting himself. More like resolve. She wondered, nervously, what it was he had to say. “I’d like to talk to Jordan for a few minutes, Dad. Jordan, can you leave the baby with my mother? We won’t be too long. We’re just going to take a walk while it’s still warm.”

Nell held out her arms for Grace. “Come with me, Gracie,” she cooed. “I have a magnificent set of measuring cups I just know you’ll be crazy about!”

Jordan followed Aiden out into the night to the end of the lawn again. They stood silently for a few minutes at the head of the stairs that led down the rocks to the beach, and they watched the lights twinkle far out over the water, illuminating the islands in Casco Bay.

“What is it, Aiden?” asked Jordan. The night air seemed to clear her mind and sweep her earlier anxiety away. She felt once more her own woman, and Aiden was the man she loved. She reached out and put her fingers lightly on his forearm.

“It’s time for full disclosure,” said Aiden quietly. Jordan said nothing at first, listening to the comforting sound of the waves slapping on the rocks below and the
whoosh
as they receded again. Over and over they would repeat this motion until the tide was in, and then the motion would take the tide out again and it would go on like this for eternity.
Who are we?
thought Jordan.
What do our lives mean? Are we meant to be together?

Aiden took her hands and turned her until they were facing each other. “I’m going to tell you all about myself,” he said. The moon had risen. It was not yet full, but bright none the less. It reflected off the sea and lit Aiden’s face so that his noble cheekbones were highlighted and his eyes shone like pools of sweet water in the brown leaves of the forest floor after a rain. Jordan gave a little gasp. He captivated her so much in that moment, she forgot to breathe.

“I’ve had a lot of women. I always liked women. I always preferred to be in the company of a girl than getting drunk with a bunch of guys. Jennifer and I have known each other since high school. We dated pretty steadily until we each went off to college; then we saw different people. When we were both home at the same time, we’d get together. I guess it was just habit. She’s got a bite to her, but she’s not a bad person. I think everybody expected that we’d get married one day. I think she began to expect it herself, but I just kept thinking I wasn’t ready. And I wasn’t. What I didn’t know was that I would never be ready…for her. I didn’t love her. She’s convenient, yes. I guess I’m guilty of that. I kept telling myself I loved her, but now I know I don’t and never did. I confused familiarity with love. And I have slept with her recently. I slept with her last week. Before I met you.” He paused. Jordan was looking down at their clasped hands.

“Jordan, look at me.” She raised her eyes and he searched her face. “Jordan, in a little less than a week, my life has changed entirely. Last week, I had sex with Jennifer Webb on the couch of her apartment. It was just like the sex we used to have when we were teenagers. It was just sex. And to tell you the truth, I had a date the following evening with a woman from Boston. I was supposed to drive back here after I met with you. I couldn’t wait to sleep with her because I hadn’t before and I was hoping for something different and exciting. Except I met you. And then I couldn’t even think about Jennifer or the girl from Boston or anything except you. You affected me. You changed me from the minute I met you. I could only think about touching you, kissing you, but it was different because it wasn’t from a conquest standpoint, like all the others had been. It was…it was something else. It was a connection. Am I making sense? Are you listening to me?”

“I’m listening, Aiden,” she whispered, squeezing his hands.

“So I asked myself, was it because it was all wrapped up in the business? Was it because you were so young and looked so vulnerable? I don’t know. I only know how I felt when we first made love. As long as I live, I will never forget that feeling. It’s the first time in my life I felt like that, and I feel like that every time I look at you. I love you, Jordan, but you’re holding something back. You’re not where I am. Do you love me? I knew right away I loved you. Maybe it doesn’t work that way for you. I don’t care. I’ll wait. You’ve just got to be honest with me. I’ve told you everything. You’ve got to tell me. We can only make it if we’re honest with each other. I don’t want any secrets between us. Love can’t be like that. What is it?”

Jordan sighed. She knew this day was coming. It had hung over her head for days now. The only time she didn’t think about it was when Aiden’s arms were around her, when he was filling her emptiness with himself. When they were joined as one. “Aiden, I’m a simple person. You know everything about me. I’m a single mother struggling to raise my daughter and help my family. I didn’t count on falling in love with you. I didn’t plan it. And I don’t know how to handle it. I can’t turn my back on my responsibilities.”

“I’m not asking you to do that,” said Aiden, exasperated now. “I’m asking you, do you love me? I’m asking you, what is holding you back?”

She dropped his hands and turned away from him, wandering up the grassy edge of the rocky drop-off. “I—I don’t know. I have Grace. I—”

“So what? I love Grace, too. I know she comes with you. I’m willing—eager, even—to take that on!” Then he asked the question she’d been dreading, the question that must have been haunting him. “Jordan, tell me about Grace. Who is her father? I don’t care, but I’ve got to know. Is it Gene Palmer, like Fenton said? Is that why you won’t talk about it? Is it? Tell me, please!”