Brenda Returns – Chapter 9
Jax sits up. "What's there to discuss? I thought we both wanted to have children together," Jax says, a little out of breath.
"We did…we do," Carly says. "But this seems very sudden. Just makes me wonder what's going on?"
Jax throws his arm across the back of the couch and studies his fingers before looking back at Carly.
"I just saw this adorable little girl at the hospital today…and, I don't know, it just made me want to have a little girl with my wife," he shrugs.
She gives a small pout before speaking. "Well, that's very sweet, but I thought we were going to wait another year before we started to try."
Jax slowly nods. "Yes, you're right, we did decide that."
"But?"
"You had to see this little girl…she was probably one of the most beautiful little girls I've ever seen," he says, his face lighting up.
Carly studies her husband's expression closely and is confused.
"You sure this doesn't have anything to do with Brenda being back in town?" she asks cautiously.
Jax's expression quickly changes. His expression becomes harder.
"Of course not. Why would it?"
Carly shrugs, not sure if she should have brought that up. "I don't know. It's Brenda. THE Brenda."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" he asks, getting a little annoyed.
Carly stands up and walks over to the fireplace. She studies the empty grate.
"I know what she meant to you. It's got to be unnerving a little to have her here."
Jax stands up and walks to stand behind Carly.
"Meant. Past tense. Her being here now has nothing to do with us."
She looks up and stares at a photo of her sons on the mantel.
"Okay," she whispers before turning around to him. "I believe you." She reaches out for his embrace.
~*~
"She's asleep," Brenda says to Maria as she descends the stairs of their rented house.
"Mr. Morgan called to check on things," Maria says.
"Oh, I'll have to call him back, thanks." She sits down on the couch and picks up a magazine. "Maybe I will have Jason and Elizabeth over for dinner as a thank you…"
"That would be nice," Maria agrees.
Brenda smiles and then sits back.
"Brenda…I've known you for many years now," Maria starts.
Brenda looks up from her magazine. "Yes you have."
"I've never pressured you to tell me about Hope's father."
Brenda closes her eyes for a second. She knows what's coming.
"You could tell, couldn't you?" Brenda whispers.
Maria nods. "That man, that helped Hope with her doll's shoe today…"
Brenda sets the magazine down and folds her hands across her lap. "Jasper Jax."
"Did you love him?" Maria asks, trying to get to know her friend a little more.
"Yes, very much." Brenda tries to fight the tears that are forming.
"Then why doesn't he know he has a daughter? He seemed like a very nice man who loves children. You should have seen the way he was with her," Maria pleads.
Brenda bites her lip to try to compose herself before speaking. "It's complicated…" she starts.
Maria looks at her, waiting for more.
"He left me….at the altar."
"Did he know you were pregnant?"
Brenda shakes her head. "No, I didn't even know I was pregnant, yet. I didn't find out until I got to Italy."
"Then why?"
Brenda shook her head. "It's just the way I wanted it. That's all anyone needs to know," she says, standing up and heading to the kitchen.
Maria bites her lower lip. She has known Brenda for awhile now and knows to let her calm down on her own when she gets like this. Her heart goes out to this Jasper Jax, though. A man, who seems nice enough, who doesn't even know he has a daughter.
~*~
"I'm sorry about last night," Brenda says to Maria the next morning. "You were already in bed by the time I came to apologize."
"That's okay. You know I don't want to pry. I try to think about what would be best for Hope," she says, looking down at the little girl who is eating pancakes.
Hope looks up and smiles at Maria.
"I know. That's why I've made the decisions I've always made. Hey Hope," Brenda says, touching her daughter's hair and changing the subject.
Hope looks over at her mom.
"I've invited Jason and his family over for dinner tonight. Guess what?"
"What?" she asks.
"He's got 2 little boys. One of them is close to your age. You can show him your toys, won't that be fun?"
Hope smiles and nods.
"Would you like me to prepare a menu?" Maria asks.
Brenda gives her a thankful look. "Would you? That would be wonderful."
"Of course. I hope they like Italian," she smiles and walks over to the kitchen counter.
~*~
"Thank you for doing this," Jason says to Elizabeth as they reach Brenda's house.
Elizabeth shrugs. "It's not like you're asking me to pull all of my fingernails out, Jason. I think the boys will have fun playing with Hope and I don't really know Brenda that well. It will be nice to get to know her."
"I love you," he says, leaning over to give her a kiss.
"I love you, too."
They get the boys out of the SUV and head to the front door. Before they can even knock, Brenda opens the door.
"Hey guys," she exclaims.
"Hi," Jason chuckles.
"Hi Brenda," Elizabeth says.
"Come on in."
"Thanks," Jason says as the four of them walk past her on the way into the house.
"Hope is in the kitchen, helping Maria with the final touches on dinner. She loves to help cook…or at least think that she's helping," Brenda chuckles nervously.
"Here, we brought this for dinner," Elizabeth says, holding out a bottle of Red Wine.
"Oh, thank you. You didn't have to bring anything, she says, taking the bottle. She looks over and notices Cameron, leaning on Elizabeth's leg. "Hey Cameron, why don't you look and see what kind of fun toys we have, they're over in this part of the room," Brenda says, motioning over to the far side of the room.
Jason sets Jake down and he follows his big brother to the toys.
"I'll put this on the table and get Hope."
"I'd love to meet her," Elizabeth smiles.
A couple of minutes later, Brenda comes out of the kitchen with Hope walking beside her.
"Hope has been itching to meet Cameron and Jake all day, haven't you?" Brenda asks the little girl.
Hope nods.
Elizabeth kneels down so she's eye level with Hope. "They've been waiting to meet you, too. You sure are a cutie," she says, touching the bow on the little girl's dress.
"Thank you," Hope says quietly.
"This is Elizabeth."
"Hi Hope, it's nice to meet you."
"Elizabeth works at the hospital that's going to make you better. Maybe we'll see her there," Brenda says.
"Maybe you will," Elizabeth smiles at her.
Hope looks up at Jason and slightly blushes. She grabs her mom's hand again and starts to chew on one of her fingers.
Elizabeth is amused by this reaction to her husband.
"I know, sweetie, he has that affect on me, too," she says, as she stands up and she tousles the little girl's hair.
Brenda chuckles and Jason smiles and looks down.
"Hi Hope," he says.
"Hi," she says softly.
"Why don't you go over and play with the boys," Brenda says.
They all watch as she joins Cameron and Jake and instantly starts to play with them.
"It's amazing how easily children get along," Brenda says. "Would you like to sit down?"
They all take a seat. Elizabeth and Jason sit next to each other on the couch and Brenda sits in the chair opposite them.
"Jason told me about Hope's condition and that Robin is helping. I asked her a few questions today, I hope that's okay," Elizabeth starts.
Brenda nods. "It's fine."
"You know…if the father was tested…" she starts.
"Elizabeth," Jason gently warns.
"No, it's okay. I've weighed all of the options. I know that there's a chance that he could match but the odds of that are so slim that I'd rather not dig up that whole mess. I think it would be worse for Hope."
"I'm sorry, I just thought…"
Brenda holds up her hands. "It's okay, really. I'm going to check on Maria and see if she needs anything. Excuse me," she says as she stands up.
Elizabeth and Jason watch as she leaves the room.
"I shouldn't have said anything, but I think you're right," Elizabeth whispers to Jason. "I think Jax is the father and I know he'd move heaven and earth to help his child."
"It's got to be Brenda's decision," Jason whispers back and moves a strand of hair away from Elizabeth's cheek.
She nods and looks down at her hands. "She's a beautiful little girl. Her mother's coloring and her father's eyes…"
"Yeah," Jason agrees.
"Dinner's almost ready," Brenda says when she rejoins them.
"Good, I'm starving," Jason says, trying to breakup some of the tension.
