“Things are not always as they appear,” Skye admitted cryptically.“But I do know that one has to walk through the valley to know the exultation of a mountaintop.”
Sally looked far from appeased but changed her line of questioning.“What did you bring for dinner?”she asked.“Yogurt and sunflower seeds again?”she teased lightly, and added, “I certainly hope you’re not planning to wear that outfit to visit Jordan Kiley.”
“What?”Skye exploded.“Who said I was visiting him?”Her suspicions immediately bobbed to the surface.How like Jordan to try to outwit her.He must have guessed she would change her mind and back out of her promise.But involving Sally seemed underhanded and unfair.
“Yousaid you were visiting him.”
“I most certainly did not,” Skye denied hotly.
“It seems to me I distinctly recall you saying you’d visit him and clear away any half-truths Billy and I may have inadvertently spread about you,” Sally insisted, annoyed.
“Oh.”Skye sighed in relief.“I guess I did say something to that effect.”
“Well, are you going?”
Skye knew from past experience there would be no appeasing her friend until she conceded.If she made a quick stop onthe third floor and left a message for Jordan saying she couldn’t make it after all, she’d be satisfying him and at the same time satisfying Sally.
“I suppose a few minutes wouldn’t hurt,” she said with a twinge of guilt.
A bubble of elation rose from Sally.“You’re not wearing that, are you?”
Skye’s gaze slid down over the cream-colored silk blouse and caramel wool suit.She hadn’t changed clothes, coming directly from school to the hospital.“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“Have you got a year?”Sally asked with an exasperated sigh.“You really should think about going home and changing.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” Skye said with a bit of disbelief.The outfit was one of her best.Although plain and practical, it suited her.
“Well, we’ll just have to make the best of what we’ve got.”
“Sally”—Skye expelled the name in a long, drawn-out breath—“I look fine.I’m going exactly as I am.”It was easy to read the disappointment in Sally’s eyes.
“Unfasten the top buttons at least,” Sally entreated.
“No.”Skye shook her head but couldn’t help smiling at her friend’s insistence.
“Okay, but at least let your hair down.I never have understood why you insist on wearing it up when it’s so pretty down.”
“I very seldom wear my hair down.”Skye flushed slightly, remembering she had done so the day before.No, it would be far safer to keep her hair in its tightly coiled chignon.“Another time maybe.”She smiled gently.
The large doors of the elevator glided open silently, welcoming Skye to the third floor.The nurse she’d met in Jordan’s room the night before nodded in recognition.
“Hello,” Skye said, and smiled.“I wonder if it would be possible to leave a message for Mr.Kiley in room 324.”
Dark eyes stared back at Skye blankly for a moment.“I’m sorry, dear, but Jordan Kiley was discharged this afternoon.”
“Oh.”Skye felt at a sudden loss for words.
“It’s my understanding he’s returning to Los Angeles.”The nurse continued, “Perhaps the hospital can relay his address if you care to contact administration.”
“No, that’s fine.”Well, that was that, she mused.A confused mixture of relief and disappointment settled over her.“Thank you,” she said, and smiled weakly at the nurse before turning back to the elevator.
By Friday evening Skye still hadn’t shaken the feeling of melancholy; instead of being pensive and a little depressed, she should be grateful.She’d never intended to continue seeing Jordan and should be counting her blessings instead of dealing with this deep sense of disappointment.
She was mixing together a chicken salad for dinner when her doorbell rang.Sighing heavily, she abandoned the salad, wondering what John wanted to borrow this time.Did the man ever do any grocery shopping?
She crossed the living room, wiping her hands on her apron as she went.When she opened the door, the good-natured, tolerant smile froze on her face.Shock closed her mouth, and for the life of her she couldn’t utter a single word.
“Hello again.”Jordan smiled, not in the least affected by her obvious surprise.His arm was in a cast and supported by a sling, but that did little to mar his compelling features.Skye had always considered herself statuesque, but he stood four or five inches taller, seeming to dwarf her.
