A/N: Sorry for the delay in an update. I hope you enjoy the chapter. The trial is still to come. Let me know what you think so far.
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After our plane landed we took a cab to his parents' ranch. We sat in silence for the forty five minute drive. Jasper held my hand the entire time. I stroked the back of his hand, massaged the back of his neck, anything that I could think of to calm his nerves. He closed his eyes at my touch, relaxing a bit.
The cab pulled through a large gated entryway. Just down the long driveway sat a beautiful two story home. It was red clapboard with tan trim. The front porch wrapped around one side of the home. The corner widened into a patio with a swing hanging from the ceiling. As I admired the beautiful house I felt Jasper's grip tighten. I looked over to him as I tightened my own grip. His eyes looked haunted.
The cab driver pulled our bags and Jasper's guitar out of the trunk then drove away after Jasper paid. I longed to hold Jasper's hand again as we walked up the steps. He sat down a bag and knocked on the front door.
The door flew open and I got my first look at Bonnie Hale. She was as beautiful as the photos I had seen of Rosalie. Long blonde hair with the sides pulled up, tanned skin from hours spent outside. Jasper had told me she enjoyed gardening so I imagined her soaking in the sun as she worked in the soil. She smiled as she pulled Jasper in for a tight embrace. The smile didn't quite reach her eyes, much like Jasper's smile hadn't since the trip to Texas had been revealed.
As she clung tightly to her son I saw her mouth the words "my Jasper". It was obvious that she loved and missed him very much. Her eyes seemed to soften as she welcomed her son. When their embrace finally let up Jasper turned to me.
"Mama, this is Alice Brandon. Alice, this is my Mama." I went to shake her hand but she pulled me in for a hug.
"Please call me Bonnie. I am so glad to have you here with Jasper. Well, ya'll come on in. I have some tea and cookies in the kitchen." I stepped forward to follow her but Jasper grabbed my arm.
"Mama, if you don't mind we're going to sit on the swing for just a minute before coming in." She smiled once again and nodded.
"Sure. I'll be right inside." She stepped back into the house and closed the door behind her. We left the bags sitting where we were and walked to the swing. As I sat down Jasper wrapped both of his arms around me and pulled me to him. He buried his face in my neck. I felt him take a deep breath.
"I'm not ready to go in there yet." I understood what he meant. I ran my hand over his back, trying to sooth his nerves. On the plane he told me how hard it had been to be in his parent's house after the accident. I found out that he had a town home but had given it up and moved back in with his family to try and help them. When the tension became too much that is when he decided to take a break and drove to Philly.
"Your mama looked like she was doing alright." He shook his head as he sat up straight.
"She looks okay but I can tell that she is still grieving. The light in her eyes is gone. I still feel like I am just a reminder of Rose." He shrugged and looked down at his feet as he used them to swing us gently.
"She looked so happy to see you Jasper. Maybe you are just what she needs to get through this." He looked at me with sad eyes.
"I know that I am. It is just so hard." He sighed before continuing. "I guess we ought to go in." I followed him as he stood and walked to the door. We grabbed our bags, sitting them down again once we were in the foyer. I noted again the charm of the house. Mrs. Hale, I mean Bonnie had it decorated beautifully in warm tones. Esme would love to see this house. Maybe one day she will, I thought briefly before letting that thought slip away.
We spent an hour sitting with his mother in the kitchen. She laid out a plate of cookies and a pitcher of sweet tea as we talked. I drank my sweet tea slowly, getting accustomed to the taste. Jasper seemed to gulp his, no doubt he had missed sweet tea while he had been in Philadelphia.
His mother asked me about my family. I told her about Carlisle, Esme, and Emmett, leaving out any mention of my own mama. She asked about Jasper's time in Philadelphia, her hand on top of his on the table while they talked. Bonnie's expression visibly lightened as they spoke.
After she shooed us out of the kitchen so that she could start supper we went upstairs to unpack our bags and get settled. Jasper pointed out each room as we went. His parents had a master suite downstairs. There was an office by their room. Upstairs he showed me to a guest room. He helped me unpack my bag and put my things away in the closet. Next he led me to his room.
Jasper's room was beautiful yet had a masculine feel to it. The walls were a muted green with mahogany wood trim. The furniture matched the trim and the bedding and windows were done in a darker shade of green. One wall of the room held beautiful mahogany French doors that led to a balcony.
I sat on his bed as he began to unpack his bag. He seemed too fidgety as he worked. After dropping about half his clothes on the floor and tripping over a pair of shoes I stood and went to him. This was not like Jasper. I hated to see him this way, nervous and without confidence. I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind and rested my face on his back. He stopped what he was doing and stood still in my embrace.
He turned his body to that we were facing one another. He brought his face down and pressed his forehead to my own.
"You can do this." I said almost in a whisper. He silently nodded. We continued to stand that way and I began to rub circles on his back. After a few minutes he seemed to calm down and we let go.
As he continued to unpack I walked around his room. I looked out the French doors to see a beautiful pool and patio area. I looked over his mahogany built ins. There were framed photos sitting everywhere. Most were of him and his family. Skiing trips, at the beach, in their home. They all looked so happy in each photo. There was a photo of Jasper and Rose as children, dressed in matching clothes.
I laughed at a photo of Jasper dressed as a cheerleader with Rose by his side in full football gear. I heard him beside me, laughing as well.
I took his hand in mine as he told me about losing a bet to Rose and having to dress as a cheerleader as payment. I looked at his face as he smiled. It was the first time I heard him laugh all day. His mama called us down for dinner and we walked hand in hand down the stairs. Jasper still held the smile on his face and I prayed it would stay there.
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By the next evening Jasper had seemed to embrace being with his family. I met his dad at dinner. Richard Hale was a man of few words. He greeted each of us with a handshake, nodding his head at Jasper as he called him son.
I spent the night alone in the guest room. I wanted to be with Jasper but I didn't know if the feeling was mutual. I stared at the soft blue walls and the ceiling for what felt like forever before falling asleep.
We spent our morning with his mama, talking more. The trial began the next day and it was the elephant in the room. No one talked about it. At lunch his mama told us that she had invited Jasper's friend Peter and his wife Charlotte over for dinner and swimming afterwards. Jasper's face lit up. He had mentioned Peter in the past. The two of them had been friends for years.
We helped Bonnie get things ready for dinner. She sent us upstairs to get on our swimsuits. I went to the guest room to put on my tankini. There was a knock on my door. I slipped my shirt back on before answering. Jasper stood at my door wearing his swimming trunks and a t-shirt. Without saying a word he pulled me to him. I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes. I loved being so close to him.
I sighed as he ran his fingers through my hair. After a moment I looked up at him. He smiled down on me.
"Ready for dinner?" I nodded. He took my hand and led me back down the stairs. We joined Bonnie in the kitchen, pulling out plates and cups to set the table. The doorbell rang and Jasper practically ran for the door. I followed behind him.
He was pulled who I guessed to be Peter in for a hug. The girl beside him, Charlotte, looked at me and smiled. Her smile eased nerves I had been trying to ignore. I hoped that Jasper's friends liked me. He meant a lot to me and they meant a lot to him.
Jasper stepped back from Peter and handed out introductions. Peter shook my hand and Charlotte pulled me into a hug. I returned her hug then we followed behind the guys to the dining room. As we walked behind them as they caught up Charlotte turned to me.
"He seems to really like you Alice." I smiled as I wasn't sure what to say. She continued.
"I haven't seen him this happy since long before Rosalie's accident. I don't know what you're doing but don't stop." She smiled at me this time. I looked at Jasper's frame from behind.
He carried himself taller today, not seeming as down and nervous as he had yesterday. I hoped that he continued to be my Jasper and not sink back into himself. I let go of my thoughts as we gathered around the table.
Mr. Hale joined us once again. He greeted each of us before eating his dinner in silence. Bonnie conversed with us, catching up with Jasper's friends. We were all laughing at a story Peter was telling about Jasper when Mr. Hale got up wordlessly and took his empty plate into the kitchen. Jasper also noticed. He frowned and tightened the grip he had on my hand under the table.
I don't know how to read Mr. Hale. Since our arrival he has made himself scarce, only joining us for meals. He said as few words as possible before leaving again. I wasn't sure that I cared much for Mr. Hale. He was an intimidating force but I could look past that. I was more dismayed at the way he treated Jasper. Or rather, didn't treat Jasper since he had all but ignored him.
I listened as Charlotte took her turn telling stories. She was telling a story about Peter and Jasper's failed attempt at a senior prank. The boys hung their heads as we all burst into laughter. I couldn't picture Jasper as a prankster but the thought was hilarious. Apparently Charlotte and Rosalie had to go out in the middle of the night to fix the botched prank.
It was nice to hear Rose's name mentioned without anyone cringing or wallowing into sadness. Even Jasper was laughing with his entire face lit up at the mention of her involvement in the prank.
The four of us helped Bonnie clear the table and put the dishes in the washer. We were all ready to spend some time in the pool. I followed Bonnie to a set of chairs by the pool while Charlotte headed into the pool house to change.
The guys were nowhere to be seen. Bonnie began to tell me about the summer that they put the pool in. Jasper spent every day in the pool, only coming in to eat and sleep.
From the corner of my eye I saw the door open and a figure run by. Jasper was in the air and did a cannonball into the pool, with Peter close behind. Water splashed everywhere. I threw my head back in laughter at the two of them.
I looked to Bonnie expecting to see her laughing as well but instead she had her hand over her mouth.
"Bonnie, what is wrong?" She shook her head as her eyes glistened with tears. She smiled at me as she spoke.
"Alice, I don't know what you have done for my son but thank you." I was confused so I waited for her to continue.
"Don't you see Alice? Jasper hasn't gone swimming without a shirt on since he was a boy. He always worried about his scars." My heart skipped a beat.
Jasper had told me that he kept his shirt on around his family. I had thought that they wanted it that way. I wrongly assumed that they couldn't stand the sight of his scars. But as I saw his mama sit there with tears in her eyes I saw that was not the truth.
She loved Jasper and she loved every part of who he was. Maybe he didn't realize that but when his mama looked at him her face was full of adoration. I looked at Jasper splashing around the pool with Peter and I suddenly I felt too far away from him.
I stood and walked over to the pool, diving in from the side. I swam to Jasper and came up behind him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed his shoulder. He twisted his body around so that we were facing each other. I wrapped my legs around his waist and held myself against him in the water. I didn't want to let him go. Not now, not ever.