by Lisa Moreau
Jordan could practically see Nanci’s wheels turning, probably trying to figure out how to get Sophie to second base or, worse yet, hit a home run. It was none of Jordan’s business what Sophie did, but she could do way better than the real-estate lady.
Mr. Simms’s receptionist opened the door to his office as they entered. He stood and motioned for them to sit.
“Ms. Lee, as I said on the phone, your grandmother’s estate has been settled and I’ve transferred the deed in your name. You now legally own the sanctuary and land, and you’re free to sell as long as you meet with your father once more and stay in Monarch another month.”
Nanci chimed in, seeming excited. “Mr. Simms has given us the okay to proceed with Kelstrom since we need to move fast. They’re considering another property in San Diego, so we should pin them down.”
“That’s great news, but remember, I can’t sell until February.”
Nanci cocked her head. “Jordan, there have been no other offers. If you don’t jump on this, it may take years to sell the land.”
Jordan looked at Mr. Simms. “Is that true? Did my grandmother receive any other offers?”
“I believe Kelstrom was the only interested party, but Ms. Roberts would know the market better than I would.”
Nanci turned in her seat to face Jordan. “Do you want to sell the sanctuary?”
Of course she wanted to sell, but it wasn’t that simple. She’d made a promise to Sophie. “Yes, but can’t they wait another month?”
“They may not.” Nanci sat back in her chair and sighed loudly. “Listen. Why don’t I draft a contract for you to review and set up a meeting with Kelstrom after the holidays?”
Jordan nodded. “Okay. Let’s do that.” It wasn’t really like going back on her promise to Sophie. What difference did it make if she made a deal in January or February?
“Speaking of the holidays, there’s something I wanted to ask you, Mr. Simms. I’d really like to get away,” Jordan said.
“You mean leave Monarch?” Mr. Simms frowned.
“Just next week. I’ll be back New Year’s Day.”
“But…but that would go against your grandmother’s stipulations.” Mr. Simms glanced around nervously, like her grandmother’s ghost might appear out of nowhere to bop him over the head.
“It’s Christmas, and the sanctuary is closed all week. I won’t have anything to do.” Jordan flashed pathetically pleading eyes.
Mr. Simms rubbed his shiny, bald head. “This isn’t in the contract.”
“No, but it is baby Jesus’s birthday.” Jordan felt only slightly guilty about playing the baby Jesus card since she’d never stepped foot in a church, but she wasn’t giving up that easily. Hell. She’d probably even spurt out Bible quotes, if she knew any.
“Well…you’d be back New Year’s Day?”
“I promise.” Jordan batted her long eyelashes and smiled sweetly.
“I suppose…since it’s Christmas it would be okay.” Mr. Simms seemed reluctant, but at least he agreed.
Jordan was so happy she almost bolted across the desk and planted a smooch on his cheek. She couldn’t wait to get back to her Beverly Hills condo, dinner with Doug at expensive restaurants, and conversation that didn’t revolve around butterflies. Finally, she’d be back where she belonged. And more than anything, Jordan needed a break from Sophie. Being around her so much had obviously skewed her judgment, considering that passionate kiss in the woods.
*
“Oh, my God, I thought you’d never get here.” Sophie bolted toward Jordan, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into the sanctuary. She turned on a video camera, which was mounted on a tripod, and pointed at the hanging net.
“What’s going on?” Jordan peered into the enclosure, amazed at what she saw. The two cocoons were now transparent and revealed orange-and-black wings scrunched inside. One of the chrysalises had cracked open, and the insect was poking its thin, black legs out. They watched as he wiggled and inched his way out the cocoon. Jordan wanted to ask if the butterfly was okay, considering he had a bloated body with wet, crumpled wings, but she was too mesmerized to speak. Once the monarch was out of the cocoon, he clung to the clear chrysalis like a bat hanging upside down.
“Can he fly? Is he okay?” Fear gripped Jordan as the butterfly hung motionless.
“He’s fine. He’ll stay there for an hour or so until hemolymph is pumped from his body into his wings.” When Jordan looked at Sophie questioningly, she added, “It’s blood-like fluid that enlarges the wings and needs to harden before he can fly.”
Within moments the second cocoon shook as it cracked open, and they marveled at yet another metamorphosis.
“Wow. I never get tired of seeing that,” Sophie said.
“That was amazing.” Jordan didn’t have words to express what she’d witnessed. The twins had transformed into beautiful butterflies right before her eyes. “Amazing,” she kept saying over and over.
Sophie turned off the video and took a few still shots with her camera. “We can set them free this afternoon,” she said.
The thought of letting the butterflies go made Jordan sad. She’d miss them. “Couldn’t we keep them a little longer? I mean, they have space to fly around.”
Sophie looked at Jordan with compassion. “I know it’s hard to let go, but it’s not right to keep them cooped up. Their lives are so short as it is.”
Jordan knew Sophie was right, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t pout.
Sophie snapped a few more photos, then lowered her camera and looked directly at Jordan. “So how’d the meeting with the lawyer go? Everything okay?”
Jordan considered telling Sophie about the rush to sell, but the timing wasn’t right. She didn’t want to ruin their last day together before she left for the holidays. “Fine. I asked him if I could go home next week, and he actually said it was okay.”
“You mean you won’t be here for Christmas?” Sophie looked disappointed.
“No. I need to check on SOS. I’ll leave tomorrow and be back New Year’s Day.”
“Oh.” Sophie walked to her desk and put the camera down, keeping her back to Jordan. “So you won’t be here for New Year’s Eve either.”
“That’s probably for the best…considering.”
Sophie turned to face Jordan, sorrow in her eyes. “Yeah, probably.”
They both looked toward the door as it opened. God. Hadn’t Jordan gotten enough of Nanci today? What was she doing here?
“Hello, ladies. What are you two up to?” Nanci strolled in and stood close to Sophie.
“The two monarchs just hatched. We’re going to release them this afternoon,” Sophie said.
“Really? How lovely. Care if I join?”
Jordan had to think fast. Sophie was too nice to say no, and the last thing Jordan wanted was Nanci intruding. She didn’t have anything to do with the twins. “Actually, we may let them go tomorrow. Right, Soph?”
“Um, yeah. Today, tomorrow, who knows?”
Jordan grinned and winked at Sophie behind Nanci’s back.
“Oh well, that’s okay. Actually, I wanted to see if you’re free this weekend. Maybe we could check out that new Italian place.”
Sophie’s eyes locked with Jordan’s. When she didn’t respond, Nanci looked back and forth between them. “I thought you two weren’t…you know…dating. Jordan said you’re just friends and gave me the green light. Did I misunderstand?”
Sophie continued to stare at Jordan. “The green light? How considerate of her.”
“Sooo, does that mean you’re available?”
Sophie cocked her head and looked at Jordan. “Well, let’s ask Jordan since she has all the answers. Am I available?”
Jordan wasn’t exactly sure what was happening. She was pretty sure that any answer she gave would be the wrong one. If she said yes, then Nanci would pounce on Sophie, but if she said no, then that would cause a whole other host of problems. “Why wouldn’t you be available?” Jordan regretted t
he words the moment they were out of her mouth.
Sophie winced and looked like she’d just stepped on a sharp tack. She peeled her eyes away from Jordan and said, “I’d love to have dinner with you, Nanci.”
*
That afternoon, they took the butterfly net down and carried it to the eucalyptus grove. The twins’ wings were strong, and they were raring to be set free. Sophie put the enclosure on the ground, under their tree.
“Feels like we should say something first,” Jordan said. “Like…I dunno. Isn’t there a butterfly poem you should recite?”
“It’s not like I have butterfly poems memorized.” Sophie looked suddenly uneasy. “Actually, it might be a good time to give you your Christmas present since you won’t be here.”
Jordan hadn’t expected to exchange gifts. “You didn’t have to get me anything. I didn’t―”
“I don’t expect a present, so you can wipe the embarrassed look off your face. It’s not much. Just something I saw that you might like.”
Sophie pulled a small gray box out her back pocket and handed it to Jordan. “You can return it if you don’t like it.”
Jordan cocked her head. “I’d never do that.” Her heart skipped a beat when she lifted the lid. It was a gold chain with a pendent of two monarchs connected at the wings. “Oh my gosh, it’s the twins.” Jordan’s face lit up in a smile, which prompted Sophie to do the same.
“You like it? It’s kinda corny, but―”
“Sophie, I love it. Would you help me put it on?”
Jordan took the necklace out of the box and turned so Sophie could hook it. Tingles went up and down her spine when fingertips grazed the back of her neck. Sophie placed her hand on Jordan’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze when she was done.
Jordan faced Sophie and placed a hand over the pendant. “It’s perfect, and what a wonderful keepsake. Thank you.”
Sophie smiled and grabbed the latch of the butterfly net.
“Wait,” Jordan said. “I’ve been calling them guys, but do you know if they’re male or female?”
“They’re both female. Males have two black spots on their hind legs.”
Jordan smiled. For some reason she liked the idea of that.
“Are you ready?” Sophie looked at Jordan, who nodded her approval.
Sophie untied the latch and opened the net. Within seconds the monarchs flew out, hovered in midair, then soared into the tree. Jordan’s gaze followed their flight until they were lost in a sea of orange and black. She’d never tell them apart from the other thousands of butterflies, but she knew they were there, safely huddled on a branch, together. Just as it should be.
Chapter Twenty-one
Back to Beverly Hills
Nothing says Southern California more than cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway in a red BMW convertible with the ocean on one side and multi-million-dollar mansions on the other. Jordan tied her hair back to keep it from blowing all over the place as Doug sped through Malibu. She patted his leg a few times and smiled. It’d only been three weeks, but she’d missed him.
“It’s great to see you, too.” Doug flashed perfect, professionally whitened teeth.
“I feel like I’ve been gone forever.”
“I don’t know how you’ve survived this long. Do they even have a mall there? God. Don’t tell me all they have is Walmart.”
“Actually, it’s not so bad. It’s…quaint.”
Doug turned down the music. “What’s this noise we’re listening to?”
“Hey, that’s Andrea Bocelli. I love his voice. Sophie turned me on to him.” Jordan increased the volume and ignored the weird look Doug gave her.
They pulled up to the valet at the Blue Whale, which was Jordan’s favorite outdoor café. It was a few feet from the beach and had the best seafood around. In the summer, rose vines filled the restaurant, and in the fall winter jasmine took over. When they got the best seat in the house, which was tucked in a corner with an unobstructed view of the ocean and mountains, Jordan shot Doug a sly look. It was an impossible table to nab.
“Well, I may have used my powers of persuasion,” Doug said, which meant he’d paid a hefty price to the maître d’.
After they ordered seafood salads, Jordan stretched her arms high overhead and sighed contentedly. Then she stuck her nose into a bunch of yellow flowers next to their table and inhaled deeply. Her heart lurched when she saw two butterflies hovering over the winter jasmine.
“Oh my gosh, those are monarchs!” Jordan said excitedly.
Doug craned his neck to take a gander. “Yeah, so?”
“It’s two of them. Just like the twins. Oh, I gotta tell you about this.” Jordan was full of enthusiasm, like someone had just given her a shot of adrenaline. “I actually witnessed the life cycle of a monarch, from birth to caterpillar to chrysalis―that’s the cocoon―to butterfly. Sophie and I took care of them, like we were their moms or something.” Jordan snorted a laugh. “And then we set them free in the forest. It was so cool.” Doug stared, clearly dumbfounded. “Well, maybe you had to be there.”
“You’re different.” Doug squinted and studied Jordan closely.
“What do you mean?”
“More…relaxed, calm. Not yourself.”
“Was I that stressed before?” Doug raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Maybe I was.”
“Have you had any more fainting episodes?” Concern etched Doug’s face.
“Actually, just one. Sophie taught me a technique that helped a lot.”
“That’s great. Yep, I like the new you. You’re…happier.”
“I was happy before,” Jordan said, feeling suddenly defensive.
“Now don’t get snippy. It was a compliment. But you’re not turning into a butterfly freak, are you? Since when do you wear jewelry?” Doug pointed to Jordan’s necklace.
“Sophie gave this to me. It’s two butterflies, just like the ones we raised.” Jordan lightly rubbed the monarch pendant between two fingers.
Doug eyed her suspiciously and was about to say something when the waiter walked up with their food. Jordan dove into her salad and wondered if she’d changed, as Doug said. Admittedly, she felt less stressed, but that was probably because she hadn’t been working. It wasn’t because of the town or Sophie or anything. And she wasn’t becoming a butterfly freak. Helping to raise the monarchs had been amazing. Anyone would have thought so. She was still the hard-ass, successful Beverly Hills businesswoman she’d always been. This Monarch trip was simply a two-month detour on her way to everything she’d ever wanted for SOS.
“How’s your salad?” Doug asked.
“It’s great, but do you know what’s really good?” Jordan asked with a mouthful. “Bertha’s Italian sub sandwich. It’s to die for.”
“Who’s Bertha?”
“Oh, a sweet, albeit nosy, woman who owns a coffee shop in Monarch. She and Sophie are really close. And there are these funny twins, Molly and Mabel, who own a used bookstore. They’re the cutest things. Can you believe they all talked me into being the guest of honor at a butterfly festival? Me?” Jordan laughed. “It was actually kinda fun.”
Doug furrowed his brow. “You seem to be getting attached to everyone, especially Sophie. You’ve mentioned her at least ten times since you’ve been back.”
Jordan shrugged. “I thought you’d want to hear about what I’ve been doing the past month.”
“I do…it’s just…well, never mind. So, have you seen your father again?”
Jordan rolled her eyes. “No, but we do need to meet one more time. I’ll contact him when I get back. Did I tell you I have a half brother? He’s pretty cool, considering who his parents are.”
“So, any progress on selling the land?”
“The estate is out of probate and in my name, and the real-estate lady is drawing up a contract.” Jordan didn’t want to tell Doug that she’d promised Sophie not to make any decisions until after February or that Kelstrom was putting on the pressure.
&nbs
p; “That’s great. Why don’t you seem excited about that?”
“I am! Totally. Everything at the office going okay?” Jordan asked, wanting to change the subject. “How’s Tiffany doing? Can you believe Sophie contacted me a few years ago and she never gave me the message?” That still burned Jordan up.
“Talking about Sophie again?” Doug asked with a smirk. “So, you two never…you know, hooked up?”
Jordan thought it best not to tell Doug about the kiss, which was odd since she always told him everything. “No. We’re just friends. Tell me about this Christmas Eve party you’re taking me to.”
“It’s going to be amazing! It’s at the Beverly Hilton, and anyone who’s anyone will be there.” Wide-eyed, Doug seemed as excited as Jordan had been talking about the monarchs.
“Sounds great.” Actually, it sounded crowded and boring. She’d rather stay home with a cup of hot chocolate and a good movie than be stuck hobnobbing with snooty celebrities.
Oh my, maybe I have changed.
She’d only been back one day. It’d take her a while to get back to normal. After a few more days in Tinseltown, she’d forget all about Monarch, butterflies…and Sophie. She was sure of it.
*
Now this was a swanky affair, nothing like the Monarch happy hour that didn’t even serve liquor. This holiday party had the finest cuisine, expensive champagne, and the most famous people in Hollywood. This was proof positive Jordan had made it. No one got invited to a fancy party like this unless they were somebody. So, why wasn’t she more excited? Maybe she was tired from spending the day shopping for a new outfit on Robertson Boulevard and getting her hair done, not to mention that her feet were killing her in these high heels. Or maybe she was coming down with the flu, considering all she wanted to do was crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head.
“Having fun?” Doug shoved a glass of wine into her hand. Jordan nodded and took a sip. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s great. Really.” She hoped that sounded convincing, not wanting to ruin the party for him. “Is that Ophelia over there?”
