Page 47 of Jordan

She tossed and turned, the conversation replaying in her mind. The way he had said those words, the tenderness in his voice—it had caught her off guard. Part of her wanted to believe him, to letherself be swept away by the romance of it all. But another part of her was cautious, wary of getting hurt.

She stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of her emotions. He had always been a bit of a mystery to her, a man of few words but deep feelings. She had sensed something between them, an unspoken connection, but this declaration had brought everything to the surface.

Her thoughts drifted to the times they had spent together, the moments of laughter, the shared secrets, the silent understanding. She remembered the way he looked at her, as if she was the center of his world. It was intoxicating and frightening in equal measure.

The night seemed interminable, each tick of the clock a reminder of her sleeplessness. She tried to distract herself by flipping through a book, but the words blurred and faded as her mind wandered back to him. She sighed, knowing that sleep would be elusive tonight.

When had her resolve to get her revenge on his family started to take a backseat? Now all she could think about was him, how he made her feel. She had wanted to rub her status in his parents' face, but now it was not so important. His mother had requested a meeting with her and the trepidation was there. The woman had sounded cool and formal over the phone but had refused to say why she wanted to meet.

Pulling the covers up over her, Julesa closed her eyes as she recalled their last lovemaking. The tenderness of his touch. The way he had of being gentle one minute and very aggressive the next. His complete possession of her, the feel of his long, lean body on hers. A shiver of excitement travelled through her body, straight down to her toes. If she was not in love with him, she was dangerously close to it and she had no idea what to do about it, or even if she wanted to do anything. Things had taken an unexpected turn, and she had to see how it plays out.

As dawn approached, she finally resigned herself to her feelings. Perhaps she would dream of him after all, just as he had asked.

Chapter 13

Jacquline Wainwright had never believed in luck or even faith. She was a good Catholic girl and had been brought up that way by parents who insisted on attending mass whether rain or shine. It did not matter that behind closed doors, they had been anything but religious. What mattered was that to the public, they were a close-knit family and one who contributed heavily to the coffers of the church.

She had left her home in Virginia when she was in her early twenties because an arrangement had been made with the Wainwrights. It never occurred to her to rebel. She was the only child of well-to-do parents and was required to do her part without any questions being asked.

It did not matter that she was not in love with Harry Wainwright. He was handsome enough, articulate and highly successful. But she never knew how to love anyone, because that had not been the case in her family.

Showing emotions was not something they did. She would do her duty of course. Make a home for her husband and give him children. She would have stopped at Jordan, but Harry had wanted more children. After the three, she had shunned him from her bedroom. Her duty was finished. She had borne him three children. It was enough.

She was certainly not going to tolerate him pawing all over her.

And somehow, they had survived the marriage. Not that she would ever dream of asking for a divorce. A good Catholic woman would never stoop so low or break her vows. She knew of his affairs of course and as long as he kept them to himself and was discreet, he could do whatever he wished.

Now, sitting at the vanity, she stared at her reflection and wondered how she could look so composed. The news was devastating. Cancer, stage four and she was advised to get her family involved. She was barely sixty and was facing death. She still looked young because she took care of her skin.

She would be going through a series of tests, and she was losing her breasts. Lifting her hands, she cupped them, testing the weight. They were small and somewhat delicate. Her husbandhad enjoyed sucking on them, and she had tolerated it. She had never been very adventurous in bed, preferring to get it over and done with as soon as possible.

She would call a meeting of course. But first she had to meet with the woman who had become her daughter-in-law. She did not approve of the girl, but she wanted to offer some sort of olive branch. Her son had stopped coming around and had not bothered to call. Jacquline had to admit that she missed seeing him around and at the dinner table.

Had she been a bad mother? She had been doing some introspection. The time had come for it. Her daughters were unhappy with the choices she had forced them to make. But that was how she had been brought up, wasn't it? To deal with marriage as an arrangement. Dropping her hands, she gathered the silk robe around her and rose.

She had to get ready for the day and she had a full schedule. A meeting with the planning committee for the fundraising barbecue and then lunch with her son's wife.

Taking another look at herself in the mirror, she turned and walked into the closet to select an appropriate attire.

Her wardrobe was a testament to her impeccable taste and the wealth she had accumulated over the years. Jacquline meticulously chose a cream-colored blouse with delicate lace trim and a matching skirt that cascaded elegantly to her knees.She completed her outfit with pearl earrings and a subtle string of pearls around her neck. The ensemble was refined, understated, and perfectly fitting for a woman of her stature.

As she dressed, her mind wandered to the various tasks of the day. The fundraising barbecue was just around the corner, and she was determined to ensure its success. Despite her recent diagnosis, Jacquline was not one to let personal struggles interfere with her obligations. She was set on maintaining appearances and fulfilling her duties.

Her thoughts then turned to the lunch with her daughter-in-law. It was an encounter she both dreaded and anticipated. The young woman had been a source of contention, and Jacquline struggled to find common ground. Yet, the prospect of reconciliation, however faint, was something she felt she owed to her son and herself.

She stepped out of the closet and gave herself one last look in the mirror, smoothing the fabric of her blouse and adjusting her pearls. Her reflection revealed a woman of grace and resolve, ready to face the day ahead with dignity.

Her first stop was the meeting with the planning committee. Jacquline was adept at orchestrating events, and her sharp mind and experience made her indispensable. She entered the room with an air of authority, exchanging pleasantries and taking her place at the head of the table. The discussions were lively, and her input was invaluable, guiding the committee towards decisions that promised a successful event.

Next on her agenda was lunch. She arrived at the restaurant early, selecting a quiet corner that offered privacy for the anticipated conversation.

The Tea Palace was a quaint little gem situated on top of a slight incline, with a small lake, completed with an arched iron wrought bridge that had seen better days. The place had a rustic charm that drew people from all over – not just to bask in its beauty – the sparkle of water, the sun rising and falling on the blaze of flowers near the pretty swaying palm trees with the leaves fluttering in the breeze, but also because it served the best tea cakes and scones this side of the county. The place had been around for more than a hundred years and had faced demolition until a Wainwright had stepped in to lend a helping hand and open pockets. Now it was the pride of Winter's Peak.

And anyone with the name was given the best seat in the house. Because of the beautiful afternoon, that seat was under a striped umbrella and at a pretty wrought iron table, next to a blooming rose bush. And the view from there was spectacular.

Jacquline sipped the sparkling water that had been drawn from their well slowly to ease her dry throat. She was feeling unaccountably nervous and stupid, two things she did not like feeling.

Her sharp gaze took in the svelte young woman being shown to her table and objectively admired the printed dress with the nipped in waist and flared skirt. Her hair was pinned back at the nape of her neck and discreet diamonds adorned her lobes.At least, there were no visible tattoos or extra piercings, she thought grimly as she rose.

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