Page 94 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

“No,” Jordan said, laughing when they pulled into the parking lot of her apartment. “Your couch has to be better than the cots at the hospital.”

“It’s a sleeper sofa. I hadn’t realized it. I figured I’d tell you today. I noticed this morning when I was moving the cushions around.”

“Sweet,” Jordan said. “Even better. See, it’s working out fine.”

“I want to say I’ve got our time planned out, but I don’t. I just want to spend it with you. If you want to go to Boston or Plymouth one day we can take the ferry over.”

“No way,” Jordan said. “Why would I do that when we are on an island? If you decide to return to Boston I’ll see the city then.”

“If?” she asked.

“Are you thinking maybe you won’t?” Jordan asked. “Or trying not to think about it at all?”

Justine sighed. She knew there was no avoiding this conversation.

“I’m not sure what to think. I’ve got three months left. I’m supposed to be here until the end of September. Garrett told me he loved me.”

“Oh, my God,” Jordan said, slapping her arm. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

She laughed. “It just happened Friday night. I told him everything that had happened that day. He didn’t push, but we talked about Dad. He’s just so gentle with me.”

“Gentle is good and has its place.”

“He’s not always gentle,” she said, giggling.

“Listen to you,” Jordan said. “Not that I’d want anything that has happened in our life to have taken place, but you look so good. You look happy. That is all I wanted to see.”

“I feel happy. And guilty.”

“Oh no,” Jordan said when they were climbing the stairs to her apartment. “Don’t even go down that road. I’ll put up the road closure signs and force you to turn around. I mean it. Don’t do that.”

“I know,” she said. “I think it helps not being back home where I could feel judged for feeling happy after what we went through. It’s only been about seven months.”

“You’re entitled to have some happiness even during the grieving process,” Jordan said. “Don’t be a martyr. Dad would be pissed off if he heard you talking like this.”

“Talk about guilt,” she said, shoving her sister slightly when she opened the door.

“You never do silly things like that either.” Jordan put her bag down and moved over to hug her. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Justine held on tight because she needed the comfort of the only close family she had.

“I’ve missed you too. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

“Which is why I made you order that pizza when I landed. How long does delivery take?”

“On a Monday night, shouldn’t be much longer,” she said.

“Good,” Jordan said. “Then while we wait, I’m going to use your bathroom. In my suitcase is some mail I picked up at Dad’s. I know you don’t want to deal with these things, but I ran by to check. Ricky has been going through most of it and letting me know what is junk. But these things don’t seem it.”

Ricky had been taking care of the grounds for her father for years. They kept him on because it needed to be done and he could be trusted.

She let out a sigh. Might as well get right to it.

She unzipped her sister’s suitcase and pulled the pile out.

She was going through them when Jordan came back in.

“Most of this is junk too,” she said. “I see Dad’s account and there is a lot of autopay. Then Ricky is sending me anything that he thinks is a bill like the water or other taxes not on autopay.”

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