Chapter Seven

Jasper

I waited until I heard Bella's breathing even out then relaxed back into the chair looking around. It wasn't a big place but it was full of love and there were little touches that made me smile. Kat's pictures on the wall, her toys in a gaily painted box in one corner and a framed photograph of Bella and Charlie which must have been taken while she was living in Forks. She looked happy and very young, the girl I had first seen at the high school when she fell in love with my brother. I knew there was more to the story of their break up than he had admitted but I wouldn't push it, after all it was none of my business. I put another log on the fire then went to fill the basket from the stockpile out the back but it wasn't very big and I realised Bella was struggling financially. It showed in the furnishings of the house, cheap ones that came with the rental and the things around her. There was nothing expensive or new but everything was looked after and cherished, just like Kat. As I came back in to the kitchen I saw the dinner was in danger of overcooking so I turned the stove down, hoping that was the right thing to do. I hadn't cooked since I was changed by Maria so I was winging it here!

I heard Kat stir and went back in to see her wriggle her way off the chair and over to her toy sack taking out several bright pots and some coloured paper.

"Hello Kat. What did Santa bring you?"

She turned and frowned but then I saw recognition in her eyes, she remembered my face.

"Paint"

I took the tubs from her and examined them, finger paints, well they were new to me but Kat seemed to know what to do and as I realised what she was going to do I stopped her long enough to find an old towel which I put round her and rolled up the sleeves of the obviously new jumper.

"Right, now you can show me what to do"

Bella

I woke to the sound of a voice and for a second I had no idea where I was but then Kat giggled and brought me back to reality. I sat up yawning and looked around for my little girl but the noise was coming from the kitchen and when I got to the door I stopped unable to believe my eyes. Jasper Hale, always immaculate, knelt on the floor with Kat, both of them liberally splattered with red, blue, and green paint making hand prints on the coloured paper I had bought her. As I looked closer I saw they weren't just hand prints but birds and butterflies, flowers and even people made from hand prints and bold lines of colour. He looked up at me guiltily,

"I guess we've made a mess here but its been fun"

Kat beamed at me and held up a butterfly in blue and red made from two of her hand prints and two of his, the body a thick blue line through the middle.

"Its beautiful Kat. Did you do that?"

"Me an Jazz"

I smiled, she'd learned to say another word, not Jasper but Jazz, the name his adoptive family used.

"Ah, we'll go wash up, You might want to check on dinner, I did turn it down so I hope it's not too dry or burned"

Without even thinking he scooped Kat up in his arms and onto his shoulders,

"Come on Kat, let's get ready for dinner"

She rubbed her paint covered hands together then grabbed his untidy hair as he trotted out of the kitchen with her and my heart ached. That was the one thing I couldn't give my daughter, a father figure. I didn't trust any man these days, seeing them all as a potential threat to Kat or myself and I hated Matt for leaving us with that legacy.

When they came back in Kat was sparkly clean except for a smudge of red in her hair, Jasper on the other hand had red and green highlights where she had grabbed his hair as he gave her a ride on his shoulders. He also had paint smudges on his shirt cuffs which he had rolled up.

"Sorry, it looks like that shirt's ruined and as for your hair, would you like to shower while we eat? If I don't dish up now it's not going to be edible"

He grinned and ran his fingers through his hair in a gesture I remembered so well,

"Yes I will if you don't mind. I'll see you soon Kitty Kat"

She waved beaming at him as he left and I dished up dinner which for once Kat ate without any fuss or complaint, even her vegetables. Pudding was a great hit as always but she insisted I save a piece for Jasper and I couldn't dissuade her so I put a small piece on a plate hoping she would forget then with fresh coffee percolating I took her back into the lounge to find Jasper standing by the fire towel drying his hair and studying the photograph of Charlie and myself, the only one I had of me with my dad. When he sensed me looking he turned to me with a smile,

"It's a nice picture. You loved your dad very much didn't you?"

I nodded then he picked up the gifts he'd bought but I was mesmerised by the droplet of water that ran down his throat and below his collar which was open wanting to wipe it away with my finger then I pulled myself up, what the hell was I thinking?

"I hope these are OK I didn't get a lot of time to shop"

Kat took off the pink ribbon and wrapped it round Lily's waist then undid the paper very carefully and opened it up to see a huge picture book full of photographs of baby animals. Her eyes went wide and she opened the book slowly studying each picture before turning to the next.

"I think you got it right there Jasper. Thank you but you shouldn't have. I wasn't expecting presents."

"It's just a small thank you for allowing me to share your Christmas."

I opened my gift with some trepidation, if it was expensive I would have to hand it back but I should have known better, this was Jasper not Edward or Alice. Inside was a small camera.

"I thought you might like some photographs of Kat as she grows up and I didn't see any photographs when I was here yesterday."

"No I don't, didn't have a camera, only the one on my phone and it takes terrible photos. Thank you."

He smiled happy that we were pleased with his gifts,

"I remembered not to spend a lot of money. I didn't want to be thrown out but maybe I should go. I don't want to impose"

Kat looked up from her book.

"Jazz stay"

I gestured to her,

"The boss has spoken, you better stay."

He took the towel back to the bathroom and sat beside her on the floor looking at the pictures and encouraging her to tell him what the animals were. His patience was endless and when she didn't know or couldn't say the name he helped her. This is what she needed, a daddy of her own who would treat her like the wonderful child she was but who would take on a child with disabilities, especially one my own age? I went to get the coffee and Kat remembered the pudding we had put aside for Jasper so I was forced to bring it in and give it to him with an apologetic smile.

"You don't have to, Kat will understand if you tell her you don t like it"

He patted my arm,

"Bella I'm a big boy, I think I can manage a small piece of pudding from my favourite little girl."

I watched fascinated as he ate the orange pudding smacking his lips and rolling his eyes comically until Kat was laying on the floor laughing.

"See, a clown too"

"Thank you again."

He stayed until Kat started yawning then got up stretching,

"I should go, you need time with your daughter but thank you again for a wonderful day."

Kat was watching a cartoon between yawns so I could safely leave her for a few minutes,

"I'll see you out"

I handed him his jacket and watched as he pulled on his boots,

"Jasper, what did Edward tell you exactly?"

He shot a look at the door,

"Only what I told you, that you decided it would be better if we left. That you felt we were dangerous and you didn't want to see or speak to us again. I know I should have walked away when I saw you but I couldn't, not without at least saying hello and I'm glad I didn't. I think Kat is wonderful and you are a good mother Bella. Thank you again for today."

As he opened the door to leave I realised I couldn't just let him go,

"When are you leaving Jasper?"

He stopped and shrugged,

"When the roads are open I guess."

"Well if they're still shut tomorrow you're welcome to come over. I'm working during the day but we'll be here tomorrow evening."

"Working?"

"Yeah it pays the bills I'm afraid."

"Of course, I'm sorry. Well maybe I'll see you tomorrow Bella"

I shut the door but watched through the window as he walked slowly away and felt wretched. I wanted to open the door and ask him to come back but if I did and he didn't laugh in my face what would I do?