Chapter 26

26

     When Stacey dropped Jordan at home, Jordan was glad to see two cars in the driveway. Stacey, sensing her relief, remarked, “We could tell your parents. They might know what to do,”

     “They would never believe me, Stacey.”

     “But if both of us talked to them, they couldn’t possibly believe we were both crazy!”

     Jordan considered this and imagined the scene. She could picture her parent’s sensible faces changing to looks of disbelief. There was no way they would believe it and if they didn’t believe it, destroying the mirror would really cause an uproar. There would be no talk of accidents, her parents would know she’d done it on purpose.

     “I just don’t think it’s a good idea, Stacey. I think we’re on our own.”

     Jordan hopped from the car and ran inside where both her parents greeted her. “I’m glad you’re home, Jordan, your father and I want us to all go out to dinner since he’s flying out Sunday morning. We figured a little family time was in order.”

     Jordan gladly agreed, happy for a diversion, and she ran to her room to drop her stuff and clean up for their dinner together.

     That evening everything felt so right. Jordan and her parents enjoyed dinner together and ended the evening with a walk along the Serpentine Wall along the Ohio River. The lights gleamed on the river red and blue from the boats moored across the river and the glittering lights of the city and a few other couples walked hand in hand. The gentle slapping of the water and the rush of traffic over the nearby bridge spanning the river reeked of normalcy and Jordan felt she needed to pinch herself given the dream world she’d been living.

     She loved Sawyer Point and the Serpentine Wall had always seemed magical. A great place for families, the “wall” was really a long cement strand along the river’s edge. Rounded mounds of cement steps, like stages, with a walkway before them that was lined by the river provided a place for festivals and family strolls. Further up were several fountains that she had often splashed in as a kid. Giant metal pigs with wings, their arms outstretched to touch the sky stood on tall metal columns in the public landing of Sawyer Point and step by step you descended to where they stood now.

Her father nearby, stooped to pick something from the paved walkway and he approached Jordan, now standing on the river’s edge, gazing out across the blackened water.

     “A penny for your thoughts,” he said, handing Jordan a penny he’d lifted from the ground.

     “Do you believe in being able to tell the future dad?” Jordan whispered.

     “You mean like fortune tellers and psychics?” her father chuckled. “I suppose there are things out there that we aren’t meant to understand, Jordan. But truly I’m not sure I believe all that. I believe in what I can see and touch, not always what I feel.” 

     Jordan sighed wistfully, fully expecting that answer and she turned her thoughts to what she could do about the mirror when her own parents hadn’t the imagination to grasp it. She was careful to avoid the topic of the mirror with her parents, so that when the time came to destroy it, it would not seem so obvious.

     Later that night, Jordan lay in her bed, thoughts of the day battling with thoughts of the mirror and its reality. She didn’t know what Teresa could possibly do to get a hold of the mirror, but she knew that if she didn’t act, Teresa could make her life a living hell- one rescue mission after another. Eventually it would wear her down. Heck she was already wore out, what would a lifetime of this feel like? Weary from her ponderings, Jordan drifted off to sleep, aware in the back of her mind that the mirror called to her.

     The next morning, Jordan awoke with a start, an unsettling feeling surrounded her. Leaping from bed she raced from her room and downstairs to see her parents readying themselves to leave.

     “What’s up?” Jordan quizzed.

     “Well, since your father is heading out tomorrow morning we thought we’d spend the day together. The car’s in the drive in case of an emergency- call me if you have to take it out- otherwise we’ll be home around 9 or 10 tonight.” Her mother had a flush to her face and Jordan could tell that she was excited about their outing.

     “OK, well, have fun then,” Jordan smiled and she went about her day, carefully avoiding her room and the growing sense of unrest that she simply could not push away.