“Mum, I’m supposed to be working. Not talking about my personal life.”
Her eyes gleamed. “So, thereissomething going on between you two.”
“Nope. She’s involved with Eric Churchill, remember? The billionaire’s son. She doesn’t have time for small-town peeps anymore.”
“Oh, but—”
“Sorry, Mum, I don’t want to talk about it more. But hey, here’s some real news. I just got asked by my boss to go to LA on Wednesday for work. How cool is that?”
“Oh! That’s, uh, very exciting. But how are you going to get everything organised in time? Don’t you need a visa or something?”
“An excellent question. Which is why I need to return to work right now, okay?”
“Of course. Sorry for interrupting.”
He felt like a bit of a heel, but he knew if he allowed his mother’s constant enquiries, he would never get all the things done that needed doing. And while Maree might be rearranging flights and bookings into his name, he still had plenty of things he had to do himself.
Which may just include talking with EJ like he guessed his mum had been hinting at.
He flicked open his phone. Then saw a litany of missed calls and messages from a certain number. He sighed, then prayed.Lord, help me be brave enough to deal with this. Please show me what You want me to do.
He tapped open the most recent one.
“Hey, Jordan, there’s an important meeting this Tuesday night for Dream Match that I really feel you should be at.”
He scoffed. “Seriously, God?”
Could God make His intentions any clearer? What were the chances of a sudden work trip requiring his presence in Sydney on Tuesday night exactly when EJ—and Dream Match—needed him?
Chances were pretty good if God had orchestrated things.
“Great.” His heart tensed. So, Elinor and Katie and both mothers would be relieved. As apparently Jordan was now going to go to Sydney to see EJ.
Tuesday night Jordan took a train from the airport hotel to Circular Quay station. It was only a short walk to the Opera House from there. A short walk to Bennelong, where—of course—tonight’s “meeting” would be held.
He hadn’t answered EJ’s phone calls. Had only just managed to respond to her emails and texts, and only enough to get the barest details about where and when. Keeping her at a distance like that had allowed time for him to sort out some of his feelings. He needed to keep his emotions from getting in the way of what had to be done. And after letting the other Bennett sisters know that he was going to see EJ after all, giving some of the details, a lot of emotions were already flying around.
Katie had apparently gone down several rabbit holes and found further proof of more of Eric’s affairs. Not while with EJ, but other women, other breakups, a constant stream of women that reinforced the man was a commitment-phobe. Which made the whole idea of Eric investing in Dream Match feel a little hypocritical. Or at least ironic. How could Eric support an app that claimed to help people find true love when Eric couldn’t keep it in his pants?
He shuddered, hoping, praying, it hadn’t come to that with EJ. Not that she was the kind to go there, but Jordan wouldn’t put it past Eric to try.
“Lord, keep her safe.”
He hurried past a gelato store, popular with tourists no matter what the weather. Even on a cool Tuesday evening in winter a few punters were licking gelato from waffle cones. The idea of eating gelato made him sick. Or maybe that was knowing what he had to do. Which was show EJ the photos that proved her boyfriend wasn’t faithful. Poor EJ.
A group of seagulls squawked at some unsuspecting tourists. Foolish tourists, who didn’t realise that feeding one seagull a hot chip would soon see a flock of them demanding more. Not that he had time or energy to care. With all that had happened this week, it felt like a miracle that he was still able to think. And hopefully, still able to communicate in a way that would display some of that wisdom and grace he’d prayed about near the lighthouse weeks ago.
He didn’t feel like he possessed much light. He probably possessed even less wisdom. As for grace, that felt a stretch too far.
“Good thing You’re with me then, isn’t it, God?” he muttered, as he finally reached the Opera House’s famous steps. The Monumental Steps, apparently. And it sure felt monumental, as his footsteps slowed. The main entrance doors to the restaurant were on the box office level, near the foyer.
His nerves hammered as he prayed for the millionth time about what to say.
Further discussions with EJ’s sisters had suggested everything from confronting Eric directly to showing EJ the pictures. In some ways, he’d wished one of them would step up to be his wingman, to look after EJ when things were finally brought out into the open.
Another part wished he could do all of this privately. But he knew this couldn’t wait a second longer. Especially if tonight was the night that Dream Match might finally be something Eric got his claws into.
Lord, give me wisdom and grace. Wisdom and grace.
