Captivated by the Millionaire

“Hello, Clara,” Jess greeted her then waved to the child with her, who waved back with a toothy grin. “You remember Jordan and Sonya.”

Clara’s smile grew wider. “Of course.”

“I’m just showing the two of them around Bimby’s,” Jess explained after the preliminary round of hellos were out of the way. The two children stood shyly trying to avoid looking at each other.

“Oh, how lovely!” Clara declared. “You can’t find a better local to show you around, Jordan.”

“I have no doubt about that.”

Clara leaned down to tousle Sonya’s hair. “And what about you? Are you having fun?” Without waiting for Sonya’s answer, Clara continued. “Teddy and I were just about to head to the petting zoo.” She pointed to the sign behind them on the gated enclosure that housed the farm animals. “Would you like to come with us? My other grandchildren will be there, too.”

Sonya looked up to her brother for approval.

Oh, Clara. She wasn’t even trying to hide her intent to try and get Jess and Jordan alone.

Jordan signed something slowly to Sonya, who nodded slowly.

“You have a taker,” he told Clara, who then took Sonya by the hand. Jess and Jordan could only watch as they walked away and toward the big metal gate.

Jess let out a long sigh. “Clara is not very subtle.”

“So I see.”

“She means well.”

“I suppose she does.”

Several awkward moments ensued where they simply stood watching other people stroll by. This was just silly, Jess thought. They were both adults. They could certainly find a way to pass some time together while they waited.

“Carla has six grandchildren,” she announced, simply to make conversation. “She’s been married to her high school sweetheart for over forty years.”

Jordan looked off into the distance, silent for a moment. Finally, he spoke. “How lucky for her. For both of them.”

“Lucky?”

He shrugged. “To have found the person they each wanted to spend the rest of their lives with. And have grandchildren together.”

A grim tone had settled into his voice. He was clearly speaking from personal experience. But her gut told her he wasn’t speaking about himself. Maybe that was just wishful thinking on her part. She asked anyway. “Are you thinking of your mom and dad?”

Jordan folded his arms in front of his chest before he spoke. “I guess my parents were lucky, too. For a while anyway. My dad certainly wasn’t as fortunate the next time love came around knocking for him.” The way he pronounced the word love had a distinct undertone of disdain. “I’ve seen a successful marriage that crumbled due to illness, and I’ve seen a disastrous one that should have never happened in the first place. One has to wonder if the risk is even worth it.”

He gave his head a brisk shake as if to clear it. Jess didn’t know quite what to say to his last comment. After all, she’d had the same notion more than once since her breakup. Gary’s utter rejection once she’d made her decision to change careers had sent her self-confidence stumbling several notches. It had taken her some time to convince herself that she was simply enough, by being exactly who she was. But to hear the cynical words spoken out loud the way that Jordan had phrased them, filled her heart with sadness.

The conversation had suddenly turned too deep, too serious. The air around them seemed to grow heavy and loaded. An idea struck her about how to possibly lighten the mood. She turned to him. “The contest with the bumper boats could certainly be considered a draw.”

He blinked at her. “I beg your pardon?”

“I mean, we’re pretty much even after my challenge.”

“And?”

“Clearly, we need another test of sorts to settle the matter.”

“Not that I’m ready to concede anything, but what do you have in mind?”

She had to giggle at his serious tone. “That I have another challenge for you.”

“I’m listening.”

“I bet I can beat you at mini-golf.”

His dark gray eyes filled with mirth. “You’re on.”

She beat him soundly on the first hole. But apparently, he was just warming up. By the time they got to hole three, she was already up by five strokes. To his credit, he only taunted her once about it. Luckily, they hadn’t placed any kind of wager.