her cup. “How long's it been?”
He smiled. “You mean since I kissed you and asked you to be my wife?”
They both laughed, and he took a swig of his coffee. “I was trying to figure it out on the way over here. Sixteen years I think. They took me away right after my mother died and that was just before Christmas 1985.”
The mention of his mother put a deep sadness in the air between them. “Whatever happened to Heidi?”
Pain flashed in Jordan's eyes, and he looked down at his hands. “I don't know. We lost track of each other. That was part of what I wanted to do this week, but the records are sealed. I've been trying to find her since I graduated from law school.”
Faith felt sick to her stomach. Jordan and Heidi had lost track of each other? Sixteen years ago? She pictured how Jordan had been with his sister, how he'd looked after her and played withher even though she was younger than his friends. “That's awful, Jordan. There must be someone who knows where she is.”
He shrugged and when he looked at her this time it was as though walls had been erected around his heart. What had been transparent a moment earlier was now guarded, hidden behind a fortress of stone. “I haven't found anyone yet. The clerk today told me I could register a petition with the state's Social Services, but only people directly involved had the right to see the files.”
“But that's you…you're as involved as you could be. For goodness sake, they took you out of your own house and sepa-rated you from her without giving either of you a choice.”
Jordan smiled, but the gesture looked forced. “Those things happen. I'll look for her till the day I die, but I've accepted the fact that I may never find her.”
“So what happened when you left here? Where did you go?”
“At first I was at a foster home. But one day I overheard the social worker say there was no way the state could keep Heidi and me together. So I ran away, tried to find the house where she was staying but wound up getting in trouble instead. I was thir-teen and they figured I was unstable. Incorrigible, I believe they said. They sent me to a boys’ camp in the foothills about six hours from here. Southridge, it was called.”
“A boys'camp?” Faith could feel the blood draining from her face as a memory began to take shape in her mind. “But… weren't my parents thinking of adopting you both?”
“I don't know No one ever said anything to me.” His eyes locked onto hers and she saw concern there.” Faith, I'm sorry about your dad. He was a great man.” Jordan's eyes grew wet. “He was the only father I ever knew…”
Faith blinked back sudden tears. “I miss him so much.”
“I bet.” Jordan hesitated.” He was practicing law in town, is that right?”
She nodded. “He and his friend Joshua Nunn opened a law office and took on religious freedom cases. They'd gotten off to a great start when Dad had his heart attack.”
They fell silent, and Faith shook her head. “Imagine how dif-ferent things might have been if you'd lived with us, if we'd adopted you and Heidi.”
Now that she had remembered it, she could hear a conversation playing in her mind, one between her parents a few nights after Jordan and Heidi were taken from their home. “It's the only thing we can do, Betty…”
“I know, but I worry about Jordan. It might not be good to have a boy Faith's same age living under one roof.”
Her father had been adamant. “It'll work out. God will see us through.”
Yes, she was sure of it now. Her parents had contacted Jordan's social worker and asked about adopting both Heidi and him. “The more I think about it the more I'm sure. They wanted to adopt you both.”
His eyes grew wide.” You're serious? Your family was really going to do that?” Awe and regret seemed to play out across his face simultaneously “I remember them calling about it.” She studied him, frowning. “Did you ever hear anything?”
Jordan shook his
He smiled. “You mean since I kissed you and asked you to be my wife?”
They both laughed, and he took a swig of his coffee. “I was trying to figure it out on the way over here. Sixteen years I think. They took me away right after my mother died and that was just before Christmas 1985.”
The mention of his mother put a deep sadness in the air between them. “Whatever happened to Heidi?”
Pain flashed in Jordan's eyes, and he looked down at his hands. “I don't know. We lost track of each other. That was part of what I wanted to do this week, but the records are sealed. I've been trying to find her since I graduated from law school.”
Faith felt sick to her stomach. Jordan and Heidi had lost track of each other? Sixteen years ago? She pictured how Jordan had been with his sister, how he'd looked after her and played withher even though she was younger than his friends. “That's awful, Jordan. There must be someone who knows where she is.”
He shrugged and when he looked at her this time it was as though walls had been erected around his heart. What had been transparent a moment earlier was now guarded, hidden behind a fortress of stone. “I haven't found anyone yet. The clerk today told me I could register a petition with the state's Social Services, but only people directly involved had the right to see the files.”
“But that's you…you're as involved as you could be. For goodness sake, they took you out of your own house and sepa-rated you from her without giving either of you a choice.”
Jordan smiled, but the gesture looked forced. “Those things happen. I'll look for her till the day I die, but I've accepted the fact that I may never find her.”
“So what happened when you left here? Where did you go?”
“At first I was at a foster home. But one day I overheard the social worker say there was no way the state could keep Heidi and me together. So I ran away, tried to find the house where she was staying but wound up getting in trouble instead. I was thir-teen and they figured I was unstable. Incorrigible, I believe they said. They sent me to a boys’ camp in the foothills about six hours from here. Southridge, it was called.”
“A boys'camp?” Faith could feel the blood draining from her face as a memory began to take shape in her mind. “But… weren't my parents thinking of adopting you both?”
“I don't know No one ever said anything to me.” His eyes locked onto hers and she saw concern there.” Faith, I'm sorry about your dad. He was a great man.” Jordan's eyes grew wet. “He was the only father I ever knew…”
Faith blinked back sudden tears. “I miss him so much.”
“I bet.” Jordan hesitated.” He was practicing law in town, is that right?”
She nodded. “He and his friend Joshua Nunn opened a law office and took on religious freedom cases. They'd gotten off to a great start when Dad had his heart attack.”
They fell silent, and Faith shook her head. “Imagine how dif-ferent things might have been if you'd lived with us, if we'd adopted you and Heidi.”
Now that she had remembered it, she could hear a conversation playing in her mind, one between her parents a few nights after Jordan and Heidi were taken from their home. “It's the only thing we can do, Betty…”
“I know, but I worry about Jordan. It might not be good to have a boy Faith's same age living under one roof.”
Her father had been adamant. “It'll work out. God will see us through.”
Yes, she was sure of it now. Her parents had contacted Jordan's social worker and asked about adopting both Heidi and him. “The more I think about it the more I'm sure. They wanted to adopt you both.”
His eyes grew wide.” You're serious? Your family was really going to do that?” Awe and regret seemed to play out across his face simultaneously “I remember them calling about it.” She studied him, frowning. “Did you ever hear anything?”
Jordan shook his
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