Beverly Hillbillies Fan-Fiction
I do not own the copyrights to the show, or movie, Beverly Hillbillies
RIVER OF TEARS
Ch. 10
"You know I was jealous, right?" Jethro asked knowing the answer, but also realizing his stepmother needed to know he was actually admitting to anything in regards to the past, and his treatment of her over the ensuing years.
"You don't say?" I know my remark is dripping with sarcasm and instantly apologize as I see the man slightly flinch, without throwing any mean words back.
"I judged you by Laura because I honestly thought you'd ditched me because he was holding the purse strings. No, that's not completely true." I am sure my face darkened showing him I doubted that was the main reason. He went on, "Not only did was I in denial just how jealous I was in regards to you being with my uncle, but that I'd pushed you away by my own actions of flirting with the girl outside the dancehall the night of our second date."
"I wasn't that late." Jethro hissed as he came into the dance hall. "You could have waited to give me the first dance." His words blazed as his uncle and Arianna walked off the dance floor.
"There was no need for her to wait." His uncle sharply reprimanded him. "She'd already missed out on the first three."
"Seems my whole life I've wanted one thing, doing nothing to honestly reaching that goal, and blaming others when I didn't get what I thought the results should be." Jethro smiled, "But I finally got things right." His gaze went down the hall and back to Arianna. "Only I knew I needed to make peace with you and Ellie-Mae."
"You sure you're not just saying all this cause you don't want me selling the mansion?" As soon as the words were out, I saw pain shoot into Jethro's eyes and realized the tone I'd used. Those facts caused me to cringe. "Sorry, Jethro, but last time I was around you, well it was still money, money, money. I come here to find you living in a house you swore you'd not ever touch, married to a gal that is actually nice, and you claiming to want to make peace. My knee-jerk reaction is to wonder what motive is really behind all of this." My tone is softer and I watch as the man rolls back the hands of time.
"Money's not everything son." JD did his best to show patience to Jethro. "And Arianna knows that. She hasn't asked for a dime, the gal makes me laugh and feel alive. If all you go for is money, than that's the type of female who will hang around you. I don't want that kind of gal."
"But she's Laura's cousin, they were raised right next door to each other. The two spent every summer together." Jethro told his uncle he figured if they'd been best friends growing up, they had to be cut out of the same material.
"There is such a thing as growing apart." JD shook his head amazed when Jethro refused to see that is exactly what had happened.
"You two had grown apart, hadn't you?" Jethro tilted his head as he watched my shoulders sag.
"Yes, and it's something that hurt badly. She hadn't always been like that. The girl used to be so sweet and kind. I'm not sure when, how, or why that changed."
"I guess I was not only jealous, but hurt when you two weren't admitting to being together before that night I had it out with Uncle JD. You two spent the night together, and I mean more than simple friends talking." His word shocked me and my eyebrow raised. "I am right? Aren't I?"
"Not in the way you think." I rubbed my forehead simply due to the fact my emotions were raising havoc with my physical health. "Ellie-Mae was only told we'd stayed up late talking, but, I think it's best if you come to the mansion tomorrow. It will save telling the story twice."