No You Didn't!

The party was well underway; everywhere I looked people seemed to be having a good time.

Jordan was still down with the kids, running around and laughing with them; he looked like he was having the time of his life. Lindsay and Natalie were running around with him as well. Zack had slipped away from the crowd with Mary; they were standing in each other’s arms, talking. Mary was gazing up at him, her lips turned up in a smile; they looked like they were flirting. Chad stood with his arm around Susan while they talked with a group of guys from his work - Wade was among those people. Josh was down where the kids were, he wasn’t taking part in the fun, he was sitting on the grass with Jesse in his lap; they were playing together.

Armed with pop and food, I headed towards the house, to the front yard where Cassie and her friends were having their own little party like I used too when I was responsible for everyone leaving the party safely. I rounded the corner, glanced around quickly and stopped short, a smile on my face as I spotted my niece.

“Hey guys,” I walked up and dumped the drinks and food on the table. “How’s it going? Are you having fun? Did you need anything?”

“We’re having a blast!” One of Cassie’s friends squealed. “You guys always throw the best parties!”

I smiled as Cassie came over to me. “How’s it going with you?” I asked, wondering what was up with her and Ben - they seemed to be deep in conversation as they sat together when I walked up.

“I don’t know,” she grinned. “We were just talking and…” she shrugged happily.

“Well I hope it works out the way you want it Cass,” I gave her a quick hug. “I’m going to head back, unless you need me?”

“No, we are fine,” she started to shoo me away. “I’ll call you if I need anything else.” I started to turn away when she stopped me. “Aunt Anna? Do you think that we can talk tomorrow?” She glanced over her shoulder briefly. “I think I might need someone to listen.”

“Of course!” I exclaimed. “I’ll be ready whenever you are! Just find me when you are ready.”

I watched as she returned to her seat next to Ben. When she was seated, he flipped his hand over, resting it on his knee, as he held it open for her. Cassie hesitated for a moment, and then she smiled as she slipped her hand into his; his fingers curled around her hand. If you didn’t know them, you would be surprise to learn that only a couple months ago Cassie sat in Jordan’s living room swearing up and down that she would never be with him again. Yet, that’s what it looked like was happening. I knew she was missing him - she told me that much a couple weeks before. I knew that Ben had begged her for forgiveness and asked for another chance; swearing he would do anything she wanted if she would give him that chance.

As I thought about them, I started to wonder how Jordan would react to my break up. Would he be the friend I need him to be? Or will he start to push for me to give him a chance? I guess I’ll find out after I tell him, I thought.

After telling the kids to have fun, movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. “Heather? Hank?” I started forward. “Oh my, I haven’t seen you guys in forever!” I hugged them both, “What are you doing here? Are you here for the party?” I didn’t give them a chance to answer, I linked my arms through both of their’s and tried to lead them to the party.

“We just came for Jenna,” Heather explained. “Jordan asked for a couple extra hours so that he could bring her out here for the party.”

“Oh,” I frowned. “I thought he had her for the night?”

“I could go get Jenna if you two want to talk,” Hank said about the same time I asked my question.

“That would be great,” Heather gave him a kiss before he walked way. “Jordan wanted her tonight,” she told me once Hank was out of ear shot. “But we are going to visit Hank’s family for a couple days and we’ll be leaving early in the morning.”

“Oh, well, that makes sense.”

“Uh huh,” she nodded but didn’t say anything else; even though she looked like she had a lot on her mind.

“So? How have you been? How are the wedding plans -?”

“I can’t believe you are letting him go to California!”

“Excuse me?” I blinked in surprise. “Why do you think I have any control over what Jordan does?”

Rolling her eyes she told me that I had more control over Jordan’s actions than he did. “I can’t believe you aren’t trying to talk him out of this ridiculous flirtation with the Cali girl! He can’t do this! I’m not going to send Jenna off to California to visit her dad.”

“Wait a minute Heather,” I pulled her away a little further away from Cassie’s group so they wouldn’t hear what we were talking about. “First off, Jordan isn’t looking to move there, he’s just trying to find a woman to make him happy.”

“Have you met her?” She crossed her arms. I shook my head. “Well I have,” she informed me. “I dropped Jenna off while she was here, and I have to say, I wasn’t too impressed by her. I don’t know what Jordan sees in her, she’s not that pretty and she’s not that smart. She isn’t good enough for him Anna, you have to do something.”

I found Heather’s reaction a little over the top. Shouldn’t she be glad that he’s seeing someone? I asked her that and she scoffed. “If he was seeing someone he really liked, instead of someone who he’s using to kill time, then no, I wouldn’t have a problem. Anna, who he sees has an effect on my daughter and I don’t like the vibe that woman was giving off when I met her.”

“Heather, Jordan is a 24 year old male; he is probably going to date a few women before he settles down. You can’t expect him not to introduce any of them to Jenna when he feels the time is right. She means the world to him, he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her but it’s unfair to ask him not to see someone because you don’t like her ‘vibe’.”

“How can you be so calm about this Anna? Jordan is talking about doing something he’ll regret and you are just going to let him?” She groaned in frustration. “I thought you loved him Anna but I was wrong.”

“Of course I love him Heather but he deserves to be happy and if trekking halfway across the continent for some whore makes him happy then I guess it’s all good.”

Suddenly a smile appeared on Heather’s face. “Ah ha!” She pointed at me. “You aren’t happy about the Cali girl! You called her a whore.”

“Well,” I crossed my arms. “I didn’t meet her, so I really shouldn’t make rash judgements like that.”

She gasped, “You didn’t meet her?”

“Nope and it seems like I’m the only one who hasn’t.” Heather was floored by that, she asked me why and I told her I didn’t know. “I guess I wasn’t available to meet with them while she was here.”

Hank came back with Jenna and Jordan so that pretty much ended our conversation. I wandered off as Jordan started to share with them what Jenna did over the weekend.
I didn’t get too far into the crowd when I heard Wade’s voice as clear as day, “Nice to meet you Josh, I’m Wade - Anna’s next boyfriend.”