Rise(COMPLETED )

Chapter Twenty Five

"My mom and I used to cook when I was younger" Jordan  said softly, not looking her in the eyes.

Mattie took a sip of her juice and considered her words carefully. "She must've been a wonderful woman"

"She was amazing. I wish I could have saved her"

Mattie set her glass back on the counter and placed her hand over top of Jordan's

"I can't begin to imagine how that feels and I know I'm sorry is only words but what I can say now is if you think you know Richard did it purposely nail the sonsofbitch and make her prouder than she probably already is.She's always with you Jordan she always will be "

Jordan took her hand and squeezed. "Well let's eat and get to work."

Mattie nodded in agreement "There more reports on my computer from the alley and garden fire"

"We'll get to those after we look over the new note that was sent to the office yesterday. Henry found it."

Mattie nervously pushed a piece of egg around her plate with her fork not making eye contact with him unsure how to broach the picture in the report

"You full already?" He asked as he finished his last piece of bacon.

"No it's just that ..Jordan did you ever make your mom anything special in school ?"

"In fifth grade I made her a very crude clay heart with mom on one side and and her initials on the other side and the year. How did you know about that?" Jordan  asked.

"What was her name?" Mattie asked softly

"Nancy Knight" he said so softly it was barely audible.

Mattie placed her fork down next to her plate "I need to show you something in that report. It's important. More important right now then another admirer letter from the psycho "

"Let's go to the office  and look at it then." Jordan said as he picked up the plates and put them in the sink.

Mattie placed their glasses in the sink and followed Jordan into the office

As her laptop hummed to life Mattie noticed a picture on the wall behind Jordan's desk

A picture of Nancy and Jordan seemingly from his graduation day from high school.

Their faces  beaming  into the camera at whomever was taking the picture

"She was beautiful.'Mattie whispered

Jordan looked at the pic like he was right back in that moment. "She was smiling and crying the entire ceremony and party afterwards. She was so proud" he said with a half-smile.

"She had a right to be you're amazing " Mattie replied softly

Jordan grinned at her. His dimples digging in. "I wish she was here, So you could meet her. She would love you"

Mattie shyly shrugged "I'm nothing special just a small-town girl from Montana "

'You are special"

Mattie scoffed " You tell that to all your interns ?"

"Only you. I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true"

Mattie felt her face flush. Changing the subject Mattie asked  " So besides Richard any other siblings ? "

"Well there's Richard who is the oldest, Alex ,Jon and then me" Jordan explained

"Must've been hectic but pretty cool when you were growing up .You had built in friends before you knew what a friend was. And you're the baby ? No wonder you were so close to your mom"

"I was never really close to Richard. None of us really were. He acted like he was too good to be around us. My mother and I on the other hand were inseparable."

"My mom and I are like that. My father not so much I think he was hoping I was a boy " Mattie mumbled "I don't know how parents can be so selfish like that or when there's more than one child they pick a favorite .I'd never treat my child like that "

"I would support my children in anything they wanted to do. I want more than one child though. Growing up with brothers was great so I want that for my children. I just wish my momma could be here to see her grandchildren when they come. I'm sure your parents would want to meet their grandchildren when you have them that is"

"She'll still see them Jordan and they say children under a certain age can see those who've passed on when they visit so they may meet but you'll never know it. Besides they can learn about her through you and what you tell them. Which means she'd still live on My mom had complications after me and a miscarriage before me so no siblings for me but I'd hope if I have a child one day that I can give him or her a sibling" Mattie explained nervously

"I'd love to have a large family but if I'm blessed with only one child that's ok"

"I haven't even thought that far ahead honestly. I've focused so much on getting the hell out of Montana and making a career for myself.. I didn't wanna end up like my mom .Maybe someday" Mattie whispered absently

"Was Montana that bad?

"Not Montana more like my overbearing chauvinist father "

"Ah ok."

"He believes in women in the kitchen barefoot and pregnant not working in and I quote " Mattie paused " A man's line of work where little gals have no business and can get themselves hurt "

"So he's pretty much stuck in the past huh?"

Mattie nodded nervously as she realized that she'd rambled on "M-maybe we n-need to get to work on th-those files "

"No need to be nervous Mattie. I'm enjoying this conversation with you."

"No one but my mom ever cares about what I have to say. You don't have to act like you do" Mattie whispered avoiding eye contact with Jordan

"Mattie I do care what you have to say. You're the best assistant I've ever had. That's why I hired you. Don't let his ignorance stop you from ever saying anything that you need to say to me. Promise me"

Mattie silently nodded but continued to avoid his gaze

"So what was it you wanted to show me in the report?"

Mattie opened the photos in the report and enlarged the one of the heart , saying nothing she  turned her laptop toward Jordan