The Contract – Chapter 6

3rd Month

Jarrod yawned as he watched Alexandria sleep in his bed. His wife was sleeping in his bed while he slept on the makeshift bed he had come up with by putting two chairs together. He grimaced as he thought his wife was in his bed sleeping while he slept on this makeshift bed. But his family was in town for the grand opening of her dressmaker shop and they needed to keep appearances up. He was thankful they would only be here for another night as he was sure his back could not take another night of this.

When he found out his family was coming for the grand opening Alexandria became immediately concerned about their living arrangements. Jarrod finally calmed her down telling her she would not have to worry about anything as he would sleep on the floor or sneak off to his office once everyone had went to bed. But tonight there was no going back to his office as he was exhausted and sleeping on the floor was not an option either.

As he tried to get comfortable in the chair he finally gave up and slipped out of the bedroom and went to his study. The couch in his study was quite comfortable so he quietly went to his study and closed the door.

Victoria had been tossing and turning all night when she heard someone go down stairs. She wondered which of her children it was still up and decided to join whomever it was. She slipped on her robe and went down stairs.

She saw the light on in Jarrod's study and knew immediately who was up. She sighed as she recalled the events of Alexandria's Grand Opening. It was a nice event with quite a few people attending and offering Alexandria good luck with promises to bring their business to her. Jarrod had spared no expense in hiring caterers and advertising in the newspapers but he forgot one thing; the most important thing. He was late for his own wife's party.

She saw the disappointment on Alexandria's face but Jarrod seemed unfazed which troubled her. Did he think because he paid for this his attendance was not necessary or did he think the gift he had gotten her would make up for his tardiness? When he finally arrived he told his wife he had gotten held up with a client and could not get away. When Victoria questioned him about it he simply shrugged and said it could not be helped. Victoria knew how important this was to her daughter-in-law which is why the entire family attended. She did not even have to bribe Nick and Heath into coming; they gladly came to support her.

By all accounts from what she had heard Jarrod and Alexandria were happy although they were not seen out much together but she attributed that to their working schedules. She knew Alexandria was busy with her shop and she knew her son was busy with his law office all the time. But she had also heard Jarrod still did go out on occasion with some of his single friends which troubled her. If he was so busy why did he have time for his friends but not his wife?

She tapped on the door before she opened it and stuck her head in. Jarrod was trying to get comfortable on the couch when he heard his mother tapping on the door. He sighed heavily as he had been able to avoid her since the family had arrived yesterday but now he was stuck. He sat up and smiled.

"Lovely Lady, what are you still doing up?"

Victoria entered and noticed the blanket and pillow on the couch. "I could ask you the same thing Jarrod." She sat down next to him on the couch.

Jarrod ran his hand through his hair and said, "I was having trouble sleeping so I thought I would come down here rather than keep Alexandria up with my tossing and turning."

Victoria raised her eyebrows as she spoke, "Oh? Well that is being very considerate of your wife considering the day she has had."

Jarrod smiled weakly and said, "I try."

"Do you Jarrod?"

It was now Jarrod's turn to raise his eyebrows at his mother, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You were late to the grand opening this afternoon."

Jarrod sighed in disgust and said, "I told you I had a meeting that ran late."

"Why would you schedule a meeting that late knowing how important today was for Alexandria?"

"Mother I'm too tired to talk about this right now."

"You just said you were having trouble sleeping and now you're too tired to talk. What is wrong Jarrod?"

"What makes you think something is wrong?"

"Actions speak louder than words or in your case, no actions speak louder than words."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"Are you and Alexandria having issues?"

Jarrod glared at his mother and spoke lowly, "No. We both are extremely busy right now with her shop and my Law Practice."

Victoria raised her eyebrows at her eldest again as she knew she hit a nerve with him. "But are you making time for each other Jarrod?"

"We're trying."

"I think you need to try harder," Victoria pointed at Jarrod who bristled. "Jarrod you hurt your wife's feelings when you were late to her grand opening tonight. She may not admit it but she was, I saw it on her face. Oh the gift you gave her was extravagant so much so that it lead me to think you already knew you were going to be late tonight."

Jarrod took a deep breath as he responded, "I got her those machines because I'm tired of her working seven days a week and she can't afford to hire another seamstress right now and I have offered to help her but she refuses." Jarrod stood up as he continued, "This was the only way I knew I could help her without her refusing it. And if you want to talk about supporting someone my wife has not been to any of my trials to show me any support so it goes both ways mother." Jarrod stood glaring at his mother with his hands on his hips. He hadn't meant to unload on her but he was tired and his back was out of sorts.

Victoria was unfazed by Jarrod's outburst and said quietly, "When would she have time to come to any of your trials if she is working seven days a week son?"

Jarrod spat, "Before she took over the shop. She has not shown any interest in my work, yet I'm expected to drop whatever I'm doing for her?"

Victoria looked at Jarrod and sighed. She knew the late night argument was not going to accomplish anything. She rose and kissed Jarrod on the cheek as she walked by. "We'll talk some more in the morning once we've both gotten some sleep."

Jarrod watched as his mother walked out and closed the door behind him. He sat back down on the couch and put his head in his hands. Damn it he thought. Of all the people for him to unload on it was his mother. He knew she had her doubts about his marriage and now he had just confirmed her doubts.

He knew he would not be getting any sleep tonight. He leaned his head back on the wall and sighed. He wondered if his mother was right that Alexandria was upset when he showed up late. But he also knew she was overjoyed with his gift of the machines. He had paid for everything for this grand opening so he should have been given a pass in arriving a few minutes late. Well actually he was over an hour late but that was not his fault.

His was doing his best to reassure his client that everything would be fine but the man was a nervous wreck and it took all of Jarrod's self control to calm the poor man down. The trial would be starting in a few weeks and he was worried he would be losing everything because of his mistake so of course the man was scared.

Jarrod looked at the clock on his desk and sighed. All he wanted to do was go to his bed and sleep but that was not possible. Or was it? If he slipped in Alexandria would never know would she? He knew as tired as she was she would not even know he was there. And he knew his mother would be coming down here first thing tomorrow morning to see if he slept down here or in his bed.

He quietly made his way back up to his room. As he closed the door he looked at Alexandria sleeping, she looked so comfortable and she was sleeping on one side of the bed so he could easily slip in on the other side and she would never know the difference. He took off his robe and lifted the blanket on his side of the bed. He gently laid down as to not disturb Alexandria and was asleep within minutes.