Jordan wasn’t surprised when EJ wasn’t at church on Sunday. He knew it took longer for her to get to the inner-city service than it took him, which was one of the few downsides of living where she did.
But for her not to answer his call about meeting up for lunch like they’d promised seemed a little strange. He hadn’t gotten the chance to say anything at the wedding. Harriet was always there; then Aidan and Ben had joined them, and the music got too loud for real conversation. He’d tried to speak to her, but she’d apologised and said she needed to go. He’d hoped to maybe say something today, but she hadn’t answered his calls, and he didn’t want to look desperate, so he left it. Instead, he called his mum for their weekly check-in.
“Hey, Mum, how’s it going?”
“Oh, Jordan. I do hope you’re faring better than we are here. Your father and I both have colds, even despite getting our winter flu injections. One would think they’d keep us from getting sick, but it doesn’t seem to have worked this year.”
“Maybe it’s a new strain of flu,” he suggested.
“Maybe. Anyway, why don’t you tell me what’s been happening in your part of the world? The photos from the wedding yesterday looked wonderful.”
“It was a good day.”
“I saw a picture of you and EJ.”
Ah, that. “She was there.”
“I could see that, Son. Have there been any developments on that front?”
“What do you mean?” She didn’t know about his feelings for EJ—did she?
“Well, I’ve seen a few pictures of her with that very rich man.”
“Oh, you mean Eric Churchill,” he said grumpily.
“My, what a handsome devil he is.”
“That about sums him up.”
“Oh, Jordan, you could at least sound a little bit pleased about it for her.”
“Pleased about what? Look, I have to admit I have a few questions about him.”
“You mean why a man of his status and reputation is pursuing our EJ?”
“Exactly.”
His mum was silent for a long moment. “Do you like her, is that it, Son?”
He closed his eyes. Nothing like being embarrassed by his mum. This felt even worse than the time as a ten-year-old when he’d gone to school wearing shorts with a hole in the back, displaying his Superman undies to the world. Except right now he felt like a bigger laughingstock than when the whole population of Wattle Vale Primary School had pointed at him and laughed.
“You know we’ve only ever been friends.”
“Oh, honey.”
He clamped his lips together. Today seemed a day when way too much honesty was spilling. He had no wish for any more. “It’s fine, Mum. Really.”
“Okay. If you say so.”
Could a response be filled with any more doubt?
“So, when do you think we’ll see you at the farm again?”
“I’m hoping to come in a couple of weeks for the June long weekend.” Maybe a bit of fresh air would help clear his head and heart.
“Good.” She sighed. “I still can’t get used to calling it the King’s Birthday weekend. Not when it was the Queen’s Birthday for so long.”
“I still can’t believe we get a public holiday for their birthday, on a date which is neither of their birthdays.”
