The Road Not Taken
Chapter Two: So Close
There was a general and albeit uncomfortable silence as the three guardians sat before their children. Eyes scanning the room, mainly Jo's as she waited for some sort of reaction, congratulations and surprise were at the top of her list but leave it to her parents to disappoint. The news of her upcoming nuptials should have brought about utter shock and wild squeals of joy. That is what took place when Meg announced that Mr. Brook had asked for her hand. What was so different now?
"Well isn't anyone going to say something?" She asked looking from one face to the other and finally to Laurie who seemed caught up in the silence of it all but not her.
She had held her tongue for three days at Laurie's insistence.
"You don't want to share our engagement?" She had asked with a slight frown. The idea bothered her even if she didn't completely understand why.
"Your sister is newly wed. Let her have her moment before you trample all over it." He had stated with a small smile.
With a sigh she nodded. "You are right. It would be wrong of me to snatch away this time from her." She agreed with him. "Besides we should grow used to the idea of what is to come before we tell others."
At her statement he faltered for a moment. "Yes… how much time?" He asked trying to sound nonchalant. Now that she had agreed to be his wife he didn't want to allow too much time to lapse ere she re-think her decision. He knew that Jo could… would love him once given the time to open herself up to the possibility. He knew as steadfastly as she knew that she would never allow herself to love any man. She was a writer and writing would always be her first and only love.
She shrugged noncommittally as they continued to walk side by side through the woods leading back to their respective homes. "I'm not sure… I would believe no more than 6 months." She suggested not noticing him halt in his tracks until she had taken several more paces. Looking over her shoulder she saw him simply standing there. "What; do you think that not enough time?"
"Too much; in six months time I plan to have us wed and in Europe. Tell me that you jest, Jo!" He remarked and it was only a moment before he saw the twinkle in her eyes. She was indeed jesting.
"Oh Teddy you say you know me… in all truth how would I ever be able to hold onto a secret of this magnitude for six months? I will be lucky to keep my mouth shut for six hours. I daresay you may not be able to leave my side lest I blabber it to the whole world." She exclaimed with a grin reaching out and taking his arm good naturedly. "Oh sometimes you really are too easy." She smiled cheekily at him.
He laughed at her joke as he tried to get his heart to start beating again. He had panicked even if it was just for a moment. Oh if she only knew just how badly he wanted this. If she only knew how she held his heart. It was a very precarious position that he put himself in. Not that he had a choice. Once he laid eyes on her he was gone. Perhaps it was the way she smiled… or the way she spoke in the same manner that she wrote. Her words completely un-inhibited by the rules of society, she was free and she had a way of making others around her feel that they could be free too.
In truth there were many reasons why he loved her… too many to name but he would have a lifetime to experience them all.
"One week." He stated suddenly. "We will give them exactly seven days and then we shall tell them.
She saw the excitement in his eyes. "Do you think that's enough time?"
"I have wanted you as my wife since that first night we danced… danced together." He chuckled thinking back on the night… dancing indeed. They had romped around that night moving from one room to the next as if they had known one another their whole lives.
She smiled with him. "Oh it was dancing of the best kind… to be that way again." She remarked reminiscently.
He cocked his head to one side. "And who says it can't be that way for the rest of our lives?" He asked grabbing her hands within his own and beginning the steady romp down the forest pathway laughing the entire way.
One week only lasted for two days before Jo couldn't help herself any longer. She had been walking around the house with an unmistakable gleam in her eye and a constant smirk on her lips. It was a look of a cat that had eaten the canary and no one knew. It was the look of 'Jo Mischief' as her mother had phrased it. Even Amy could sense it. She had taken to badgering her older sister day and night as if she were 9 again and in all truth it was beginning to wear poor Jo down until on the second night, a little past one in the morning Jo was outside of her fiance's window throwing pebbles at the glass.
It only took four of them before he was opening it up and leaning out looking disheveled and somewhat irritable. "Jo… what in heaven's name…" He began making out her black cloaked form by the light of the moon.
"Teddy I must speak with you right away." She remarked suddenly.
"Can it not wait until the morning?" He asked. In truth he was having a very animated dream about the woman standing below him of their wedding night and was anxious to get back to it. For nothing in his dreams would ever happen this night.
"It is about our," She stopped looking around as if she suspected someone might be listening before continuing. "…our secret… something I must discuss with you."
That was all it took and he was already reaching for his robe and jumping into his slippers before scurrying down the stairs to the woman of his dreams. Many thoughts running through his head on the way down. Was she reconsidering her answer? It wouldn't matter. She had said yes to him and he would hold her to it. He would be adamant about that even if he had to throw her over his shoulder and carry her to the church himself. The very image brought a smile to his face… as if he could ever make her marry him if she was truly against it.
A moment later he was standing before her slightly out of breath. "What is it?" He asked almost afraid for her to answer.
"I do not think I can do it."
And just like that his whole world fell apart. He had been so close to happiness.
"I see." Was all he could think to say, as one of his hands went to his chest feeling the harsh thumping from within. It was an odd sensation considering he was certain that she had just broken his heart.
"We must tell them in the morning." She stated resolutely.
His head snapped up to look into her eyes as she stared off into the darkness of the night. "I'm sorry?" He asked.
She began to pace as she explained herself. "I know that we agreed to wait for dear Meg's sake but in all truth Teddy… I simply cannot hold onto this secret any longer. I'm losing sleep, Marmee can see that I'm hiding something and if Amy badgers me one more time I'm sure to knock her block off her shoulders straight away! I am going to burst and I would much rather tell them with you by my side than in typical Jo fashion!" She rushed out not even seeing his growing grin of complete elation. Finally looking up at him she gave him a half smile. "It is our secret after all… it would not be fair of me to let the cat out of the bag without you there." She stated plaintively. She waited and watched him as he watched her. "Well… don't just stand there like a log… say something." She urged hitting him in the arm.
He caught her hand before she could snatch it back and pulled her into a tight hug. It was all he could do from taking her and kissing her like there was no tomorrow. If it was possible to fall more in love with her in that moment he was sure he had tenfold.
She stood there confused by his actions as he pressed her to his chest as if she was the most precious thing in the world to him. "Teddy… are you alright?" She asked when he released her seeing the confusion written all over her face.
"We will tell them in the morning!" He stated laughing slightly.
She stared at him for a moment expecting more of an argument from him. She cocked her head to one side. "I dare say that you meant what you promised me."
"And what was that?" He asked.
"That you would let me win… the arguments… you would allow me to win. Although I shall let you concede defeat this time… please do not make a habit of this…I rather like our heated debates… we are more fun that way." She scolded him good naturedly.
He stared at her a moment. She honestly thought that he would argue with her about something like this. Sometimes his Jo could be so daft. Hiding his smile he simply nodded sagely. "I will remember." He agreed.
So now here they were sitting in his grandfather's study with the March's waiting for a response. At this point Jo wasn't even concerned if it was an appropriate response. Anything was better than this continuous silence.
It was Robert March who spoke first. He cleared his throat that is and looked at the other four faces in the room. Finally his eyes settled on that of his wife whose hands were clamped tightly in her lap. Her knuckles were white with strain he could see. He could tell that she had reservations about this and was about to exhibit very Jo-like behavior. He reached for her hand trying to soothe her nerves and decided that he would speak first, only James was quicker. "This is news indeed. So the time has finally come when our two families shall become one." He stated looking rather reserved but there was a twinkle in his eye that brought a slight smile to Laurie's face.
As much as his grandfather scolded him for spending so much time with Margaret's girls the truth was that he had always been fond of the family. He had made arrangements some time ago to take care of them should anything ill befall Robert March. Laurie had seen the papers drawn up but he always believed that it would be he, himself that would take care of them… with Jo by his side. The very thought had him reaching for her hand almost imperceptibly lacing their fingers together.
"Jo may I speak with you outside please?" Margaret asked suddenly Before anyone could agree or disagree she was up and out the door. Jo looked to her father who simply continued to drink from his glass silently urging her to go outside. It would be best for all.
Jo refrained from asking questions which wasn't in her nature as she got up and followed her mother out leaving all three men sitting in the study desperately trying to ignore the sudden tension that was filling the room all the while Laurie looked after his bride-to-be once again getting that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
