Jordin DuGrandpre stared out her office window, immersed in sights and sounds of the downtown business district. In 1960, her grandfather Marcelle founded the first African American–owned law firm in Charleston, South Carolina. DuGrandpre Law Offices was in its new location, four floors above bustling Broad Street. Marcelle’s esteemed legacy had continued with twin sons Etienne and Jacques DuGrandpre and their children.
Etienne’s daughter Jordin loved this city of her birth and could never imagine living anywhere else. She adored everything about Charleston—the waterfront park, the food...everything.
“I guess you heard the news about Boot Camp Gym.”
Turning away from her office view of downtown, Jordin faced her twin sister. “Jadin, I didn’t hear you come in,” she stated.
“I noticed.” She gestured toward the window. “This view is absolutely stunning.”
Jordin gave a slight nod of agreement. “I did hear about the new gym. I actually went by there a few days ago. I’m really happy for Ethan.” She felt a warm glow flow through her.
Jadin sat down in one of the visitor chairs. “I am too,” she murmured. “It’s good to see how things worked out for him.”
“Ethan had a lot going on back then—more than any of us knew.” Jordin and Ethan Holbrooke had been friends since they were in middle school. She still remembered the day he left as if it had been yesterday, although eleven years had passed. She had been sixteen at the time and heartbroken over losing her best friend.
“Are you still infatuated with him?” Jadin inquired, leaning forward in her seat, looking at Jordin as if she were trying to figure out what she was thinking. “You don’t have to say anything because I’m sure I already know the answer to that question.”
“I will always care about Ethan.”
A grin spread across her sister’s face. “I knew it. You still have feelings for him.”
Jordin stared into golden-brown eyes that mirrored her own. “Drop it, Jadin. I haven’t seen Ethan in a long time. Besides, I’m sure he’s forgotten all about me. Especially since he never once tried to contact me after he left.” She swallowed the hurt she felt behind Ethan’s actions. He had promised to keep in touch no matter what.
“But you haven’t forgotten about him though.” Jadin’s voice pulled Jordin away from her thoughts.
She did not confirm or deny her sister’s statement.
“Have you heard if he’s moving back here or just opening the gym?” Jadin inquired.
“I haven’t,” she responded, “but I’m hoping that he will come back to Charleston to stay. I’ve missed him.”
“This man is not the same boy and teenager you remember, Jordin. Besides, he may be married with a family. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
She detected a hint of censure in her sister’s tone. “He’s not married,” Jordin announced. “It was mentioned in another article I came across.”
“But it doesn’t mean that he’s exactly free and single either,” Jadin countered.
“I know...” she responded with a soft sigh. “It’s not like I’m planning a wedding or setting my hopes and dreams on Ethan. I just want to reconnect with him. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Not as long as your expectations are realistic.”
A tall, slender woman dressed in a pair of navy blue pants and a crisp powder-blue blouse appeared in the doorway.
“Mom, what are you doing here on a Monday?” Jordin asked. The only time Eleanor usually came by the office was for a weekly lunch date with her husband on Wednesdays.
“Your father wanted to see me,” she responded. “He just informed me that another DuGrandpre is joining the firm.”
Jordin noted her mother did not seem thrilled by the news. “Is it Andre? He’s been talking about leaving New Orleans for a while now.” Eleanor did not care much for her nephew’s choice in the criminals he often represented. In truth, Jordin felt the same way about her cousin.
Eleanor shook her head no. “It’s not Andre.”
“Then who is it?” Jadin inquired.
“Your brother.” Eleanor’s tone was coolly disapproving.
“Austin is coming to Charleston,” Jordin uttered in surprise. “I wonder how his mother feels about his decision to work with Dad.” Her father was married briefly to a woman named Irene and Austin was born out of that union.
When Etienne DuGrandpre married Jordin’s mother, Irene left Charleston vowing that Etienne would never see his son again. Although she could not manipulate the court system in her favor, Irene was successful in alienating her son from his father by making him believe that Etienne loved his twin daughters more. By the time he was sixteen, Austin wanted little to do with his father.
“How does Dad feel about this?” Jordin questioned.
“He’s ecstatic, of course. This is something he’s always wanted.”
“Mom, how do you feel about this?” Jadin wanted to know.
“I’m not sure,” Eleanor responded candidly. “I just find it interesting that a man who has had nothing to do with his father for years suddenly wants to work in the family law firm. I’m suspicious of his motives.”
“I have to admit I’m feeling the same way,” Jordin confessed. “I was surprised when I heard that Austin decided to study law and now this...” She gave a slight shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe he really wants to connect with the father he barely knew.”
Eleanor sat down in the empty chair next to Jadin. “Your father tried to be there for Austin but was rejected at every turn. His mother turned him against his own father. It still angers me to think of it.” She retained her affability, but there was a distinct hardening of her eyes.
“Austin’s a grown man,” Jadin stated. “Maybe he’s ready to repair his relationship with Dad. He may not have any ulterior motives.”
“All we can do is wait and see how this goes,” Eleanor stated. “I just don’t want your father to be disappointed.”
Jordin nodded in agreement as she checked her watch. “I have to go. I need to head over to the courthouse to meet with my client. I’ll give you a call later, Mom.” She began placing documents into her tote.
“I think I’ll go with you,” Jadin said. “I haven’t seen you in action in a while. Besides, I want to see how this case goes.”
“I believe in our justice system, so I’m sure my client will win. We have a lot of strong evidence to support his claims.”
“I’ll go get my purse.”
Jordin grabbed her tote, and then said, “Meet me at the car. I am going to walk down with Mom.”
Jadin rose to her feet. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Eleanor looped her arm through Jordin’s. “I hope you are not spending all of your free time alone.”
“I’m not, Mom. I’m not dating anyone, but I still manage to get out with friends and have a good time.”
“I know that you want to have a husband and family at some point—it won’t happen unless you meet someone.”
Jordin smiled. “I don’t just want to meet any man, Mom. I want the right one.” As far as she was concerned, there was only one man perfect for her. The problem was that she hadn’t heard from him in years.
* * *
Ethan