Waiting For My Real Life To Begin
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 20
Jasper’s body tensed so much Bella could literally feel waves of anger radiate from him. He didn’t even look at his father as he spoke. “You forget yourself sir,” he fairly hissed. “Have you become so morally bereft that you think nothing of barging in to a married man’s bed chamber? Remove yourself at once! I will be with you shortly.”
Thomas hesitated for the barest moment before he left, slamming the door in his wake.
Jasper kissed his mortified wife’s cheek before rising from the bed and repairing his appearance as he spoke. “I’m going to deal with my family’s hopefully temporary lack of manners and decorum. Why don’t you take a warm bath and afterward, we’ll have a quiet dinner?”
She sat up on the bed and rearranged her skirts. “All right,” she murmured as she stared into her lap. “Jasper?”
He looked back at her while knotting his tie in the mirror. “Yes?”
She met his eyes. “I’m sorry for all the trouble and strife. If not for me, there wouldn’t be a rift between you and your parents…”
She trailed off at his raised hand. “Stop right there Isabella. There is a rift between us due to their rude and disrespectful treatment of you and now us. This is their doing, make no mistake. They had no right to make judgements on our affairs. It was not their place to do so. Now they have done, and I shall make them accountable, rest assured.”
Finished with his tie, he walked over to her, leaned down and kissed her softly. “Everything will be fine,” he said as he smoothed some stray hair from her cheek. “I love them. They’re still my parents, but boundaries must be established and enforced.”
With that, he left the room and made his way down stairs where he noticed Charles attending to the post that had come in. “Charles, Mrs. Whitlock and I will be having dinner in the solarium this evening.”
Charles inclined his head. “Just the two of you sir?”
Jasper straightened his cuff as he answered. “Yes Charles. My father will not be staying.”
“Very good, sir. “I’ll see to it.”
“Thank you Charles,” he said as he opened the door to his study. Eyeing the tense form of his father for a moment, he shut the door solidly and made his way to an arm chair while gesturing to the one adjacent. “Won’t you be seated Father?”
Thomas took the offered seat stiffly and stared at his son.
Jasper stared back for a moment before speaking. “I got the distinct impression, from your earlier conduct, you were in a rush to speak with me. Was I mistaken?”
Thomas looked livid but composed. “You were not. Your mother came to see me at the office just a bit ago. She was almost inconsolable. When I asked her the cause she told me that you had all but had her removed from your home. That you, in fact, threatened to do just that.”
Jasper sighed, rose from his chair and walked to the sideboard where he poured two fingers of bourbon into a glass. He looked to his father. “Would you care for a drink?”
Thomas waved a hand. “No, thank you.”
He placed the top back on the decanter and returned to his seat where he took a bracing drink before speaking. “Mother has apparently, during my absence, taken it upon herself to visit my wife daily.”
Thomas nodded. “Yes, I was aware of her regular visits. I encouraged her to do it considering your wife’s delicate condition. She needs family support, at this time especially.”
“Family support,” Jasper scoffed. “Yes, that would have been a wonderful overture had that been Mother’s goal.”
Thomas’ expression darkened. “Just what do you mean by that?”
Jasper swirled the amber liquid in his glass before meeting his father’s eyes. “Let me start at the beginning. When I enlisted, Mother took it upon herself to visit my distraught wife and rage at her over supposedly driving me away. Told her that it was her fault and that if I should die in the war, the fault would lie upon her shoulders alone and that she would never forgive her.
“Since then, she has not warmed to my wife at all, but continues to impose her company upon Isabella daily, despite her overt hostility.
“Earlier today, she forced her way past my Butler, who had been told we were not to be disturbed, and made her way to my bed chamber. This was, of course, before she knew of my presence here. Needless to say, it was clear to me that she is used to running rough-shod over my wife whenever the fancy strikes.”
He calmly set his glass on the side table and met his father’s eyes. “I will not tolerate my wife being treated in such a fashion by anyone, much less my own family and especially not in my own home! So yes, I told her in no uncertain terms, if she continues to treat my wife in such a manner, she will no longer be welcomed here. Did I threaten to have her removed? I did not. Would I have, had she insisted on staying? I would have escorted her home myself, as the gentleman you raised me to be.” Here he paused to try to rein in his burgeoning anger but the more he thought on his next question, the angrier he became.
“Now however, what I would really like to know Father, is what possessed you to rudely barge, not only into my home,” he questioned lowly as his fists clenched. “…but into my very bed chamber where I lay with my wife?!” He shot from his seat and stood over his silent father as he waited for an answer, his outrage apparent in the darkened green color of his eyes and his slightly flared nostrils.
Thomas sighed and rubbed his forehead as he slowly shook his head. “Jasper son, please sit down.” He looked into his son’s anger sharpened gaze and gestured to the empty chair. “Please son?”
With one abrupt nod, Jasper turned and sat and Thomas began speaking. “Son, I owe you an apology. I was angered at your mother’s report and I came here with guns blazing, so to speak and that was very wrong of me.” He met his eyes. “I humbly beg your pardon for such atrocious behavior toward you and your wife. I should have approached you as I would have any other gentleman and I didn’t. I still view you as my child, and while you will always be my son, it is clear to me you are no longer a child.” He smiled sadly. “You’ll understand one day what that’s like. It’s a difficult realization to come to, but rest assured, I have reached it today, without doubt.”
Jasper inclined his head at that and Thomas continued. “Now, as far as the events surrounding your mother and Isabella, you may be sure I will speak to her and resolve this strife she’s propagated. As I see it now that I know the story, your mother is very wrong-headed in her thinking and her actions less than genteel. It must end. I will not tolerate such divisive behavior in my family. When you wed Isabella, she became our daughter too and your mother needs to reconcile herself to that fact and act appropriately. I’ll see that she does. I know my wife, and this is not her typical demeanor. She has a good, loving heart and I’m certain, once I discuss this with her, she will see the error in her behavior and will be appalled at herself.”
Jasper took up his glass and sipped at the amber fluid as he chose his words carefully. “You are correct. We need to resolve this issue.” He cut his gaze to his watching father. “However, if Mother’s feelings are such that it cannot be resolved, I will not expose my wife and child to her vitriol.”
Thomas nodded. “I understand son, but I’m sure it won’t come to that.”
Setting the glass back on the table, Jasper nodded. “I pray you’re right Father.”
~o0o~
The coach rolled to a jerky stop in front of the depot as a small crowd awaited arriving loved ones in quietly murmured anticipation. They backed away quickly however when the driver began tossing heavy trunks and carpet bags from the roof onto the dusty boardwalk below.
When he’d finished, he hopped down and yanked the coach door open. “This is it folks; Houston, TX.” He stood to the side and handed the four women down before leaving the three men to fend for themselves.
Of the arriving women, none grabbed the attention quite like the lady in royal purple satin with matching parasol. Saying she was beautiful was quite the understatement and she held every eye as she glided into the depot office.
“Pardon me,” she said to the waiting assistant. “Would you be so kind as to assist me with my trunk? I need to book lodging at the finest hotel available. If you could escort me, I’d be most grateful.”
The young assistant shook himself from his momentary stupor and jumped into action with a rushed out, “Right away Ma’am!”
When he’d collected her trunk, he nodded in the direction of the hotel. “It’s just two blocks up that-a-way Ma’am.”
“Wonderful,” she said as she turned and sashayed off. The young assistant followed, trying to keep up as he struggled under the weight of her trunk.
“This is it Ma’am,” he wheezed with a nod as the doorman held the door with an appreciative glance and a bow.
She strutted into the lobby under the scrutiny of every male eye, and she allowed herself a small smirk as she approached the front desk.
“Good afternoon Ma’am. How may I help you?” the clerk questioned politely.
“Yes, good afternoon. I’d like to book a suite for an extended stay please. I’m here to visit an old friend and have no idea the duration.”
“That won’t be a problem at all Ma’am.” He turned the register toward her. “If you could just fill this out, I’ll get your key and Billy…” he signaled the bell-hop with a crooked finger, “…will help you to your room.”
She quickly filled out the information and slid the book to him. “Here is your key Ma’am. My name is Gerald. If you need anything at all, I am at your disposal.”
Her eyes glinted with a wicked light as she smiled. “I may just take you up on that Gerald. Thank you ever so much.”
His eyes locked on the gentle sway of her hips as she walked away before finally giving himself a mental shake. He turned the register and read what she’d written, commenting lowly as he did so, “Katherine… what a lovely name for a lovely lady.”
Jasper’s body tensed so much Bella could literally feel waves of anger radiate from him. He didn’t even look at his father as he spoke. “You forget yourself sir,” he fairly hissed. “Have you become so morally bereft that you think nothing of barging in to a married man’s bed chamber? Remove yourself at once! I will be with you shortly.”
Thomas hesitated for the barest moment before he left, slamming the door in his wake.
Jasper kissed his mortified wife’s cheek before rising from the bed and repairing his appearance as he spoke. “I’m going to deal with my family’s hopefully temporary lack of manners and decorum. Why don’t you take a warm bath and afterward, we’ll have a quiet dinner?”
She sat up on the bed and rearranged her skirts. “All right,” she murmured as she stared into her lap. “Jasper?”
He looked back at her while knotting his tie in the mirror. “Yes?”
She met his eyes. “I’m sorry for all the trouble and strife. If not for me, there wouldn’t be a rift between you and your parents…”
She trailed off at his raised hand. “Stop right there Isabella. There is a rift between us due to their rude and disrespectful treatment of you and now us. This is their doing, make no mistake. They had no right to make judgements on our affairs. It was not their place to do so. Now they have done, and I shall make them accountable, rest assured.”
Finished with his tie, he walked over to her, leaned down and kissed her softly. “Everything will be fine,” he said as he smoothed some stray hair from her cheek. “I love them. They’re still my parents, but boundaries must be established and enforced.”
With that, he left the room and made his way down stairs where he noticed Charles attending to the post that had come in. “Charles, Mrs. Whitlock and I will be having dinner in the solarium this evening.”
Charles inclined his head. “Just the two of you sir?”
Jasper straightened his cuff as he answered. “Yes Charles. My father will not be staying.”
“Very good, sir. “I’ll see to it.”
“Thank you Charles,” he said as he opened the door to his study. Eyeing the tense form of his father for a moment, he shut the door solidly and made his way to an arm chair while gesturing to the one adjacent. “Won’t you be seated Father?”
Thomas took the offered seat stiffly and stared at his son.
Jasper stared back for a moment before speaking. “I got the distinct impression, from your earlier conduct, you were in a rush to speak with me. Was I mistaken?”
Thomas looked livid but composed. “You were not. Your mother came to see me at the office just a bit ago. She was almost inconsolable. When I asked her the cause she told me that you had all but had her removed from your home. That you, in fact, threatened to do just that.”
Jasper sighed, rose from his chair and walked to the sideboard where he poured two fingers of bourbon into a glass. He looked to his father. “Would you care for a drink?”
Thomas waved a hand. “No, thank you.”
He placed the top back on the decanter and returned to his seat where he took a bracing drink before speaking. “Mother has apparently, during my absence, taken it upon herself to visit my wife daily.”
Thomas nodded. “Yes, I was aware of her regular visits. I encouraged her to do it considering your wife’s delicate condition. She needs family support, at this time especially.”
“Family support,” Jasper scoffed. “Yes, that would have been a wonderful overture had that been Mother’s goal.”
Thomas’ expression darkened. “Just what do you mean by that?”
Jasper swirled the amber liquid in his glass before meeting his father’s eyes. “Let me start at the beginning. When I enlisted, Mother took it upon herself to visit my distraught wife and rage at her over supposedly driving me away. Told her that it was her fault and that if I should die in the war, the fault would lie upon her shoulders alone and that she would never forgive her.
“Since then, she has not warmed to my wife at all, but continues to impose her company upon Isabella daily, despite her overt hostility.
“Earlier today, she forced her way past my Butler, who had been told we were not to be disturbed, and made her way to my bed chamber. This was, of course, before she knew of my presence here. Needless to say, it was clear to me that she is used to running rough-shod over my wife whenever the fancy strikes.”
He calmly set his glass on the side table and met his father’s eyes. “I will not tolerate my wife being treated in such a fashion by anyone, much less my own family and especially not in my own home! So yes, I told her in no uncertain terms, if she continues to treat my wife in such a manner, she will no longer be welcomed here. Did I threaten to have her removed? I did not. Would I have, had she insisted on staying? I would have escorted her home myself, as the gentleman you raised me to be.” Here he paused to try to rein in his burgeoning anger but the more he thought on his next question, the angrier he became.
“Now however, what I would really like to know Father, is what possessed you to rudely barge, not only into my home,” he questioned lowly as his fists clenched. “…but into my very bed chamber where I lay with my wife?!” He shot from his seat and stood over his silent father as he waited for an answer, his outrage apparent in the darkened green color of his eyes and his slightly flared nostrils.
Thomas sighed and rubbed his forehead as he slowly shook his head. “Jasper son, please sit down.” He looked into his son’s anger sharpened gaze and gestured to the empty chair. “Please son?”
With one abrupt nod, Jasper turned and sat and Thomas began speaking. “Son, I owe you an apology. I was angered at your mother’s report and I came here with guns blazing, so to speak and that was very wrong of me.” He met his eyes. “I humbly beg your pardon for such atrocious behavior toward you and your wife. I should have approached you as I would have any other gentleman and I didn’t. I still view you as my child, and while you will always be my son, it is clear to me you are no longer a child.” He smiled sadly. “You’ll understand one day what that’s like. It’s a difficult realization to come to, but rest assured, I have reached it today, without doubt.”
Jasper inclined his head at that and Thomas continued. “Now, as far as the events surrounding your mother and Isabella, you may be sure I will speak to her and resolve this strife she’s propagated. As I see it now that I know the story, your mother is very wrong-headed in her thinking and her actions less than genteel. It must end. I will not tolerate such divisive behavior in my family. When you wed Isabella, she became our daughter too and your mother needs to reconcile herself to that fact and act appropriately. I’ll see that she does. I know my wife, and this is not her typical demeanor. She has a good, loving heart and I’m certain, once I discuss this with her, she will see the error in her behavior and will be appalled at herself.”
Jasper took up his glass and sipped at the amber fluid as he chose his words carefully. “You are correct. We need to resolve this issue.” He cut his gaze to his watching father. “However, if Mother’s feelings are such that it cannot be resolved, I will not expose my wife and child to her vitriol.”
Thomas nodded. “I understand son, but I’m sure it won’t come to that.”
Setting the glass back on the table, Jasper nodded. “I pray you’re right Father.”
~o0o~
The coach rolled to a jerky stop in front of the depot as a small crowd awaited arriving loved ones in quietly murmured anticipation. They backed away quickly however when the driver began tossing heavy trunks and carpet bags from the roof onto the dusty boardwalk below.
When he’d finished, he hopped down and yanked the coach door open. “This is it folks; Houston, TX.” He stood to the side and handed the four women down before leaving the three men to fend for themselves.
Of the arriving women, none grabbed the attention quite like the lady in royal purple satin with matching parasol. Saying she was beautiful was quite the understatement and she held every eye as she glided into the depot office.
“Pardon me,” she said to the waiting assistant. “Would you be so kind as to assist me with my trunk? I need to book lodging at the finest hotel available. If you could escort me, I’d be most grateful.”
The young assistant shook himself from his momentary stupor and jumped into action with a rushed out, “Right away Ma’am!”
When he’d collected her trunk, he nodded in the direction of the hotel. “It’s just two blocks up that-a-way Ma’am.”
“Wonderful,” she said as she turned and sashayed off. The young assistant followed, trying to keep up as he struggled under the weight of her trunk.
“This is it Ma’am,” he wheezed with a nod as the doorman held the door with an appreciative glance and a bow.
She strutted into the lobby under the scrutiny of every male eye, and she allowed herself a small smirk as she approached the front desk.
“Good afternoon Ma’am. How may I help you?” the clerk questioned politely.
“Yes, good afternoon. I’d like to book a suite for an extended stay please. I’m here to visit an old friend and have no idea the duration.”
“That won’t be a problem at all Ma’am.” He turned the register toward her. “If you could just fill this out, I’ll get your key and Billy…” he signaled the bell-hop with a crooked finger, “…will help you to your room.”
She quickly filled out the information and slid the book to him. “Here is your key Ma’am. My name is Gerald. If you need anything at all, I am at your disposal.”
Her eyes glinted with a wicked light as she smiled. “I may just take you up on that Gerald. Thank you ever so much.”
His eyes locked on the gentle sway of her hips as she walked away before finally giving himself a mental shake. He turned the register and read what she’d written, commenting lowly as he did so, “Katherine… what a lovely name for a lovely lady.”
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.