JORDAN RAN DOWNthe Everwood stairs, then bolted out the door and across the lawn to the cottage. In the kitchen, she found both Pru and Simon sitting at the table, eating turkey sandwiches and sipping iced herbal tea.
“Sweetie,” Pru said, looking at her through royal-blue glasses, “are you all right?”
“I’m great. I’m amazing.” She fell into the chair across from her brother. “Call Trish what’s-her-name, Simon. Tell her we’re not selling.”
“What?” he asked. “Jordie, we have to.”
Jordan shook her head, then told them about Natasha’s phone call, about the opportunity for Jordan to design for the network. Pru started to gush, but Jordan cut her off, saving the most important news about theOrchidfeature for last.
“It’s not an episode onInnside America, but it’s something,” she said. “It’s enough. Right?”
Pru beamed at her, tears shining in her eyes, but Simon frowned.
Because of course he did.
“Jordie, this is amazing,” he said without looking at her. “Really, I’m so proud of you. But I’m not sure it’ll be enough to keep the Everwood up and running. We need a whole new business plan. We need a new manager, a new cook.”
“So we make a new plan. We find a new manager. It can’t be that hard,” Jordan said. “There has to be a way.”
Simon shook his head, but Pru reached across the table and took her hand. “We’ll find a way. We’ve found a way for over a hundred years. We’ll find a way now. You did it, sweetheart. I knew you could.”
Jordan frowned at Pru, something in her tone giving her pause. “Did you... Grandma, did you know the design was mine?”
Pru sighed and sat back. “I suspected. I know you, and the design... it felt familiar, like family.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Maybe I should have.” Pru picked up her tea and took a sip. “But I could tell you and Astrid meant something to each other, and part of me didn’t want to interfere, because she made you happy. Also, I wanted to give Astrid a chance to do the right thing. And she did. In the end.”
Jordan shook her head, eyes stinging. “Without even discussing it with me.”
Pru reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “I know that hurts, honey. But love doesn’t always think through the details. Sometimes, love justdoes.”
That word—love—lodged itself in her throat. Love had nothing to do with her and Astrid. If it did... well. She’d be on her way to Astrid right now to share her news. She’d bewithAstrid. And she wasn’t.
Before Jordan could think on it a second longer, Simon pushedback from the table so suddenly, the plates and glasses rattled. He mumbled an apology and left the room.
“What’s wrong with him?” Jordan asked.
Her grandmother took off her glasses, polishing them on her blue sweater. When she placed them back on her nose, she tented her fingers and smiled at Jordan. “He’s a big brother.”
Jordan frowned, then stood up and went looking for her twin.
SHE FOUND HIMon the front porch, leaning against the railing and gazing out at the overgrown rosebushes.
“What’s up with you?” Jordan asked, settling next to him and nudging his shoulder.
He sighed and shook his head. “Sorry. I just needed a minute.”
“For what? Simon, I know you’re worried about Grandma and money stuff, but we’ll figure it out. And I—”
“I know we will,” he said, then he turned to face her. “I knowyouwill.”
She tilted her head at him.
“Jordan, I owe you an apology. A few apologies, in fact.”
“Simon, you—”
