My dad tore his eyes away from the game and looked over at me with sadness in his eyes. “Well, they haven’t mentioned you.”
“Sweet,” I rolled my eyes. I should have known better. It really didn’t even surprise me either but still a small part of me was disappointed.
“You know how stubborn they can be,” he mumbled and took another drink of his beer.
“I guess it’s nice to know some things never change.”
“They’ll come around . . . eventually.” He turned his attention back to the television.
“Where are they?” I wanted to check in case one of them came down while I was breaking the news and made things ten times worse.
“Ethan is over at Corbin’s and your mom’s at the hospital. It seems one of her patients decided he didn’t want to take his nap this afternoon and decided to put crayons in his ears to get out of it.”
“Really?” I giggled.
“Yeah, some five year old boy. Now your mom’s stuck in surgery.”
“Surgery? How far did he get them in there? Did he puncture his eardrum?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Dad answered like he was already bored with the topic.
“Dad, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“What about?”
“My trip.”
“Sure honey,” he answered but continued to watch the game. “Go ahead.”
“Daddy, I need you to listen. This is pretty important,” I began.
“I am,” but his eyes remained on the game.
“You know how difficult things have been around here the last few months between Mom and Ethan and me?” I swallowed hard trying to force the words to come out.
“Yes, and your point?” he asked with his eyes still on the television.
“Well, it’s been very hard for me to be around them when they both won’t even be in the same room with me.”
“I know, but I’m sure they will come around,” he said for the millionth time.
“I don’t believe they will anytime soon. So . . .” I couldn’t get the words to come out.
“What did you do?” His eyes suddenly turned towards me.
“I married Jackson on Christmas Eve,” I blurted out.
My dad’s face went blank. For a minute I thought perhaps he was having a stroke. Then he reached for the remote and flipped off the television without uttering a word. He calmly set the remote back on the end table before rising slowly out of his chair. “You did what?” he roared at the top of his lungs. “Of all the stupid asinine things I have ever seen you do, this one tops them all. How could you?”
“Daddy, would you just calm down and listen to me?” I pleaded.
“I cannot believe . . . ,” he muttered, storming out of the room. I realized quickly that he was getting his shoes in the foyer and I jumped to my feet knowing exactly where he was headed.
“Daddy, please! Don’t do this!” I begged, grabbing hold of his sweatshirt as he was trying to get out the door. With his strength and size, he merely pulled me along with him.
I trotted alongside him begging him not to do this all the way to the Chandler’s front porch. My father didn’t even bother to knock on their door. Instead he threw open the door like he was ready to kill someone. Our immediate vision was empty of anyone so he trailed off into their living room, family room and then rounded around into the kitchen where Jackson was fixing himself a snack.
“You!” My dad screamed, yanking Jackson off the barstool.
“Mister . . .” Jackson began but was abruptly cut off as my father punched him square in the jaw.
“Daddy, NO!” I screamed and ran to Jackson’s side. He was sitting on the floor rubbing his jaw.
“How dare you . . .” Dad began just as Emily and Robert came bursting through the kitchen entryway. “And you two. I trusted you with my daughter and this is what you allow to happen behind my back? How could you?” he roared.
“Shane, please . . .” Robert started only to have my father interrupt him.
“Don’t you ‘Shane please’ me, you have a daughter of your own. How could you do this?” His face was every shade of red possible. I had never seen him so angry in all my life.
“I would want my daughter to be happy,” Robert stated as a matter of fact.
“How would you feel if your daughter was in high school when she ran off and got married?”
“Shane, I understand how you must feel,” Emily said in a gentle soft voice.
“Do not tell me you understand how I feel. You have no idea what I feel. You move in across the street and within weeks my daughter who has always been a straight A student, dreamed of going to college and grad school, always had strong goals in life, suddenly becomes engaged. Now while I’m not happy about it I kept my mouth shut and tried to make the best of it even though my own wife hasn’t spoken to me since. But I tried. I tried to keep the peace. I tried to stand up for my daughter. I kept telling myself that she would eventually come to her senses and see how silly it is to get married at eighteen or get married and wind up divorced before she is even legal to drink. Then she would really need my support and not for me to throw it up into her face that I told her so.” He turned to look directly at me and his voice dropped. “Never in this scenario did I ever imagine you being married before you graduated high school.”
“I know, Daddy,” I whispered with tears of shame running down my face.
“You can clear out your room and all your things tomorrow while your mother and I are at work. Have it done before we get home,” my dad lowered his voice and looked defeated.
“Daddy . . . ,” I begged.
“I don’t want to see or speak with you for a while.” He turned to leave.
I scrambled off the floor and followed him to the front door. “Daddy, please don’t leave like this. Can’t we talk this through? Please!”
He paused for a moment. “I always dreamed I would someday walk you down the aisle, see you graduate from college and spoil your children, and you took that all away from me. How could you do something so thoughtless?” he asked in a very weak voice.
“You still can and you will, Daddy, but I had to get out of that house. Do you know what it has been like for me living in such a hostile environment? It has been a true nightmare. We were getting married in a few months anyway,” I tried to explain.
“You would be a high school graduate by then too. Are you pregnant?”
“No, I am not pregnant! How could you even ask me that?” I stood there stunned.
“’Cause it is the only excuse I can come up with that justifies you doing something so incredibly stupid.” He ran his fingers through his hair with frustration.
“I am an adult. Will you stop treating me like I am still a child?” I asked in a low voice.
“You are my child, Jocelyn Alyssa. Good Lord, you are not even old enough to drink at your wedding reception.”
“I am old enough to join the military, get drafted to somewhere in the Middle East, and die for my country, but I cannot legally have a beer. Yeah, you are right, that really makes sense.”
“This is not the time for your smart mouth. I have had enough for today. I am going home. I have to work in the morning,” my dad said softly.
“You can’t leave like this. We still have to talk about this.” It killed me to think of him walking out the door and never speaking to me again and the last thing I said to him was some smart-ass remark. “Please.” I touched his forearm lightly.
He took a deep breath and looked down at the floor for the longest minute. Then he finally looked up and wrapped his arms around me tightly. “I just need some time. I love you, baby girl.” He kissed my cheek and walked through the front door closing it softly behind him.
I stood there in the foyer staring at the closed door with tears still running down my face. The house around me was silent. For a brief second I considered chasing after him but I knew it was best to let him work this through in his own way. I turn
ed around slowly to find Jackson standing in the entryway to the family room. His face was forlorn and there was a large red mark on the side of his jaw. He opened his arms to me and I rushed into them burying my head against his chest.
“I am so sorry, my love,” Jackson whispered softly into my hair.
“I hate hurting him. He looked so disappointed in me.”
“He loves you very much and he always will.” He stroked my hair.
“It’s been a long day. I think I just want to take a long shower and go to bed.”
“All right.”
He took my hand and led me up the stairs. My suitcase was lying open on his bed. “I am afraid I need to clear out a few drawers in my dresser and make some room in the closet for your things.”
“Okay,” I muttered, picking out some panties and nightclothes.
“There are clean towels and a new loofah in the linen closet.” He crossed over to his adjoining bath and flipped on the light. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
“No, thank you. I think I am going to soak in a bubble bath for a while. I will meet you back downstairs. Please apologize to your parents . . . once again, for my father’s intrusion.”
I placed my clothes and toothbrush on the counter before beginning my bubble bath. I poured some Japanese Cherry Blossom bubble bath from Bath & Body Works that I had received from Phoebe as a stocking stuffer into the hot water. I turned around and got a good look at Jackson’s face in the bright bathroom light. The mark was much more prominent than I had realized. “Oh, sweetheart, your face.” I reached up and traced my fingers along the side of his gorgeous face. “I am so sorry.”
Jackson turned towards the mirror and smiled at the blackening side of his face. “Your father has a hell of a punch. That’s going to make Ethan proud when we return to school on Wednesday.”
I sat down on the edge of the tub and ran my fingers through the hot water. “Do we really have to go back? I really don’t want to.”
“You cannot start BU in the fall unless you graduate.” Jackson leaned against the counter and watched me play absentmindedly with the bubbles.
“Can we not just move back to your home in Boston and I can graduate from the same high school you did?”
“Would you really not want to graduate with all your friends that you have known since kindergarten?” He raised a quizzical brow at me.
“Do you honestly believe I will have any after Wednesday? All of them are against us and have been very vocal about it.”
“Just like your father, they love you and only want what is best for you.”
“I am not nearly as optimistic as you are. I have known these people a lot longer than you have and I know what they can handle. This, unfortunately, is not one of them.” That much I was sure of.
“But I have never seen you run away from a fight.” He stood up and slipped off his shirt. “Do you mind if I join you?”
“Of course not.” I watched him step out of his jeans. He stood there in nothing but his boxer briefs smiling coyly at me. His gorgeous toned body never ceased to leave me breathless. I still could not believe he was my husband. “And I am not running away from a fight. I am only being realistic.”
Jackson came over and leaned down beside me at the tub taking my hands in his. “If moving to Boston is something you truly want then we will do it. But I think you should give them a chance first. Try it out. See how the next couple of weeks go before you decide what you really want. Maybe they will surprise you.”
I smiled weakly and kissed him softly. “I hope so.”
CHAPTER 40
Tuesday, January 3, 1879
JACKSON CAME HOME right at supper time. Tamesha prepared a lovely meal and Davonte had the hearth in the dining room toasty with a roaring fire. I recounted my day with Olivia to him but did not believe he heard a word I said. He seemed to be greatly distressed by something that was consuming his thoughts.
“After lunch I met with my father about a stomachache I have been having all week. He gave me a quick exam and told me I was due in late September or early November,” I said, trying to prove he was not listening to me whatsoever. “Sweetheart . . . is that not wonderful news? We are expecting,” I proclaimed proudly trying not to giggle.
“That is wonderful, my love, I hope you will be very happy,” Jackson responded dully. He fidgeted with his dinner for a few more minutes before recognition set in and he looked by up at me. “Wait . . . what did you just say?”
I could not help myself but start laughing. “Nothing important my love, just proving a point that your mind is elsewhere.”
“Are you pregnant?” Confusion was written plainly across his beautiful face.
“No, of course not,” I shook my head with a smile. “But it is nice to know you were listening to me.”
“I am sorry my dear. I had a really bad day at the office and it does not seem that it is going to get any better any time soon.” He went on to recount his busy day as he acclimated himself with various aspects of a new case that was just assigned by Judge Reynolds. His father was sitting first chair and he second.
Jackson felt ill at ease with this particular defendant and had tried to persuade his father against actively participating in the defense. Apparently the two men had met with him at the county jail and the defendant bragged about having committed his crime. Jackson would not tell me what it was only that it was horrific in nature and the man deserved to die for it.
After dinner he retired to his office and poured over his briefs. He remained quiet for the remainder of the evening. By nine thirty I was worn out and struggling to keep my eyes open. I debated whether or not I should disturb him and decided I should probably leave him alone.
I went to bed by myself and wondered how many more nights like this I would have to endure before this trial was over.
CHAPTER 41
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
I WOKE UP to the smell of bacon flooding my senses. I could hear Emily and Robert moving around in the kitchen and the sound of their quiet laughter filled me with a sense of calmness. I rolled over and saw Jackson’s sleeping face on the pillow beside me. He looked so peaceful and beautiful. As if sensing my gaze, he opened his eyes slowly.
“Good morning, my love. How are you feeling?”
“Okay, how are you?”
“I do not believe I will ever tire of waking up to your beautiful face.” He smiled and rolled over upon me kissing me zealously.
Over breakfast the four of us discussed school, moving my things over, and the confrontation with my dad. His parents agreed with Jackson that we should both go back to school tomorrow and see how things go for the next couple weeks before we decided to return to Boston for me to complete high school. I apologized several times for my dad’s intrusion and they were all very understanding even though Jackson had a large bruise on the side of his face and a hint of a black eye.
I did finally convince Jackson to let me go over to my house alone in the morning to see if everyone was gone first before they all joined me. I knew both my parents were supposed to be at work but considering the circumstances I wasn’t sure if they would have taken the day off to talk things over with us. Ethan, I knew, could also be a problem if he was lurking around. I was positive he had heard of our marriage by now and was probably dying to have it out with me. I really didn’t want to put Jackson, let alone his parents, in the middle of all that. I promised I would text him once I got there and tell him what was going on.
I opened the front door to be met with complete silence. I hoped it was empty as well. I wanted to get my things and get back over to the Chandler’s before any more drama erupted. I closed the door behind me and crept quietly up the stairs to my room. I breathed a sigh of relief that no one was around. I took out my phone to text Jackson that the coast was clear for him to come on over when Ethan poked his head in my room startling me and causing me to drop my cell phone.
“Are you really married?” I nodded a
nd picked up my phone. “Do you have any idea how mad Mom and Dad are right now?”
“Ethan, I just came over to pack up my room. I don’t want to fight with you.” I walked over to my door wanting to close it with him on the other side.
“That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one who had to listen to world war three that broke out here last night because of your stupid stunt.” He pushed hard against my door blocking me from closing it then stepped into my room.
“My life is none of your business. Now will you please get out of my room?”
“No and you can’t make me. You don’t live here anymore!”
“Whatever . . . just leave me alone.” I turned away from him and went over to my closet. I started pulling out my clothes and laying them across my bed when I heard the front door open and close. I thought for a second it was Jackson but I didn’t think he would just walk in without me texting him an all clear.
Multiple footsteps pounded up the stairs as a watermelon size knot of fear grew in my stomach. I was positive it had to be my parents and I really didn’t want a confrontation with either of them. But then Jenna, Caitlyn, and Hillary came bursting in my room.
“Is it true?” Jenna didn’t even bother saying hello.
I looked from the three of them over to Ethan who stood there with a satisfied grin on his face. “I texted them,” he stated proudly.
“Thanks,” I muttered sarcastically.
“What? Was it supposed to be some big secret?” he taunted.
“Not at all,” I said with pride.
“Is it true?” Jenna nearly shouted with her hands on her hips.
“And hello to you three. How was your break?” I smiled coyly at them.
“Stop playing games. Are you married or not?” Jenna asked hotly.
“Yes, I am.”
“Seriously?” Hillary looked stunned.
“You guys knew we were going to do it this summer anyway, but with things being so difficult around here we decided to just move it up a couple months. Don’t act so surprised.”
“We never thought you’d actually go through with it. We thought for sure you’d come to your senses by summer.” Jenna looked stunned and sat down on the corner of my bed.
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