Page 66 of The Keeper and I

“I trust your discretion by sharing this with you,” Gene said, a knowing look in his eye.

Jordan nodded. “I won’t say anything to Laci.”

“I appreciate that.”

“I admire what you did,” Jordan said. “I wish…well, not every family is as lucky as yours.”

“All circumstances are different. Just as all people are different. Love isn’t always enough to keep people together, but forgiveness? That is a powerful thing. And sometimes, all it takes is one person to make that choice in order to restore what’s been broken.”

Unsure of what else to say, Jordan nodded. Gene stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

“I’ll give you a moment,” he said. “When you’re ready, Laci’s in her room packing.”

He left. Jordan let his head fall back and his eyes close. His mind raced with the events of the morning, he wished all of it had gone differently. He wanted more than anything to go home. But that wouldn’t solve anything. He needed to apologize to Laci. But there was one thing he needed to do first.

He pulled his phone from his pocket. His lock screen was a picture of Laci in his kit and added another gut punch of guilt as he opened up his messages. He opened a new message and typed in his mother’s name.

Laci sniffled while carefully rolling Jordan’s jeans and tucking them into his suitcase. She’d left some comfortable things out for him to wear on the drive home, and she had dirty clothes in a separate packing cube, also in his suitcase. She’d already packed her things, but she needed more to do so she wouldn’t keep hearing his voice ringing in her ears with all those horrible things that had happened to him.

She winced at her foolishness. The difference in their upbringing suddenly mattered like it never had before. She was so privileged that she couldn’t even conceive of something like what his family endured. So she had pushed him into revealing parts of himself he might have otherwise kept private. What she said to him was true, she did want to be his friend, but that didn’t entitle her to his entire family history, did it?

She knew she would apologize. She hoped he would as well since he lashed out so harshly, and it was hurtful, but she wouldn’t hold it against him if he didn’t. After all, he was already doing so much for her. He hadn’t even stayed at his own house for weeks. She wondered if that was part of it. Maybe he was getting tired of playing this game and of sacrificing so much of his life for her. The possibility scared her.

A knock on the door made her turn her head.

She got to her feet. “Jordan.”

He grunted back at her, looking uncharacteristically sheepish with his head ducked down and his eyes on the floor.

“Are you alright?”

He grunted again, toeing the hardwood with his shoe.

“I’m sorry about what happened outside. I never should have pushed you about your mum. It’s your business, and I should have kept my nose out of it.” She paused for a beat. “I’m also sorry all of that happened to you, and to Ava. This isn’t pity or anything, I just…I wish it had been better for you.”

Another grunt, but this time, he met her gaze. She waited several long seconds for him to reply, but he didn’t. She shrugged.

“Alright, well, when you remember how to speak, let me know.”

She returned to packing. She heard Jordan step further into the room, but she carried on as if she didn’t know any better. She gave a start when she felt his arms wrap around her from behind. Quickly, she relaxed into him, letting some of her weight rest against his chest.

“Is this alright?” he asked, almost like a child after being scolded.

She nodded, putting her hands on top of his. “Of course.”

“I’m the one who should be apologizing,” he murmured into her ear. “You were only trying to help, and I acted like a fucking arsehole. I’m sorry.”

“You were right though. I had no idea what I was talking about.”

“Doesn’t matter. Shouting at you wasn’t the proper reaction.”

“Apology accepted.”

She felt his muscles relax against her.

“Not to make excuses,” he went on. “But this place has got me on edge. And I had this fucking dream last night…I was trying to shake it off.”

“What kind of dream?”