Page 90 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

“What does Garrett have to do with what happened with Elise?” she asked.

“I don’t know. You’re just different there and I want to see you myself. I’ll crash on the couch. I’m fine with that.”

“I’ll be on days next week. I can see if I can switch shifts too with someone, but not sure.” She pulled her schedule up on her phone and looked at it quickly. “I’m off on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday next week. I didn’t realize it. I’m going to try to see if I can switch with whoever is working Monday or Wednesday to get at least three days off with you.”

She was all but jumping in her apartment and hoped she could swing it.

“I’m happy with the two days,” Jordan said. “Remember, I’ve got studying to do. Don’t be messing with your schedule too much if you normally have plans with Garrett on Saturday. I’ll be gone.”

“He’s not going to care,” she said. “Why didn’t you tell me you had all that time off?”

“Because I just arranged it now before I called you back. I had a feeling something might be going on and it felt right to visit. It’s time.”

She sniffled some more. “I’m glad you were able to do it. Text me your flight plans when you get them. Then I’ll let you know the ferry schedule. We’ll figure it out.”

“Don’t worry,” Jordan said. “I’m a big girl and can find my way to my older sister. I’ll see you in three days.”

Justine was dancing around her apartment when she hung up. It was exactly the news she needed.

27

FALL INTO THAT TRAP

“I’ll call Egan and we’ll see if we can get your sister picked up at Logan on one of the helicopters and brought right over and then returned the same way.”

“What?” Justine asked later that night. “You’re joking, right?”

“No,” Garrett said.

He watched as she was shaking her head. “Who just calls up helicopters?”

He snorted. “My family.”

She rolled her eyes. “I want to say that is ridiculous, but considering the short amount of time that she has to visit and the logistics of it all, it really isn’t.”

“Once you find out her flight information, I’ll call Egan. We’ll see if we can get it arranged.”

“I can do that,” she said. “And she’s going to set it up today. She might have already, but just hasn’t had a chance to let me know.”

“The sooner you know, the sooner we can figure out whether or not he can have a helicopter get her at Logan or not. She might have to get a ride to the docks where it’d be easier. Faster than the ferry if there wasn’t one departing right then.”

“Let me text her and find out if she knows yet and I’ll explain why.”

He watched while Justine pulled her phone out and composed a text to her sister. He’d come over after work when she said she was up, but they were going to his place tonight.

He was looking around the apartment and smiled at the red cardinal next to the couch, then turned to look at her while she sat there.

He hadn’t planned on stopping, but it was on the way and she’d said she was up. Normally she slept a bit more and since her text came in so early, he wanted to see if everything was okay.

“Give me a kiss,” he said. “You look so excited over this.”

“I am,” she said. “I need this visit. It cheered me up after the call with Elise.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Your stepmother called you again?”

“Yes,” she said. “I’ll explain it all. Why don’t you go home and shower and change? I’ll stop and get dinner. I said I’d cook, but I’m too excited about Jordan being here in a few days.” She leaned in to kiss him one more time and then pushed him toward the door. “Go. I hadn’t even known you were stopping.”

“Sorry,” he said, laughing. “Just wanted to make sure you were okay with how early you texted. Maybe you were horny and needed me and you didn’t want to wait.”

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