Love Of All Kinds — Chapter Twelve
MID DECEMBER 1885—Kensington, London, England
Tarzan poked his head through the doorway of the Professor's study. He was seated at his desk, scribbling words down quickly in one of his many journals. Tarzan waited for him to put his pen down before speaking. "Professor?"
Archimedes turned to face him, "Ah! Tarzan! What can I do for you, my boy? Please, come in." He motioned towards a chair, beckoning Tarzan over to it.
Tarzan sat down in the chair, and looked at the Professor. "May I ask you for some advice?" Archimedes nodded, waiting for Tarzan to continue. "Jane has been telling me about the things that are going to go on at our wedding. She's told me about vows - and how we say them to one another before we are officially married. But, Professor, I don't know what to say. What do other English men say? I want the wedding to be perfect for Jane. She deserves the best."
The Professor's expression softened, feeling some sympathy for the man sitting in front of him. "Tarzan, you know that Jane loves you, correct?" Tarzan nodded. "So, whatever you say to her, my boy, will be perfect to her, because she loves you. It will be perfect because it will come from you. Never mind what other men might say - she doesn't care a wit what other men might say in their wedding vows." Tarzan nodded again, feeling quite comforted by the Professor's words.
"I just don't want to embarrass her by being uncivilized."
The Professor's heart truly ached for Tarzan. He could see how focused he was on being the perfect, proper, civilized Englishman for Jane, despite all of his background that would incline him in the opposite direction. "You needn't worry about being uncivilized, Tarzan. You're doing remarkably well. Jane would never be embarrassed by you. She loves you for you, for what's in your heart," he said, pointing to Tarzan's chest with his index finger, "You've got a good heart. Civilized or not, that's what matters to Jane and that's what matters to me."
"Thank you, Professor," Tarzan said, nodding. He may have been a man of few words, but Archimedes could see Tarzan relax a bit with his reassurances.
"And, I'll tell you what, you and I have quite a task ahead of us, my boy!" The Professor continued.
"What's that?"
"We need to go to get the rings for your wedding, of course!" he exclaimed, excitedly. Tarzan had thought about this for some time, actually. He wanted to get Jane the most beautiful ring - but he hadn't known where to go, so he was grateful that the Professor had brought it up.
"You're right," Tarzan said, "I want to get Jane a beautiful ring for our wedding. She is beautiful and deserves the perfect ring."
The Professor smiled, seeing how much Tarzan truly loved his daughter - his only daughter. He had often sat up at night, wondering about Jane's future - who would she marry, would they be good to her, would she be happy? All of these fears seemed to be quieted by Tarzan, someone who Archimedes trusted completely with his daughter. His daughter, Jane Sylvia Porter, certainly deserved the best, and by Jove, Tarzan was the best for her. "That she does, my boy!"
...
A few days later, Archimedes and Tarzan traveled to a jeweler in the center of London - the same one that the Professor had purchased his and his wife's wedding rings from a little over twenty seven years ago. On their walk, the Professor took several detours with Tarzan.- one of which was to the University where he taught primatology and naturalism, and where he and Jane had done their research prior to traveling to Africa. "Tarzan, you see, this here - this great University - is where I teach. For years, Janey and I researched gorillas here. My goodness, such magnificent research it is, too! So fascinating! But, that's a story for a different time. What I wanted to say to you, dear boy, is that without this place and that research, you and Jane may very well have never met." Tarzan knew that this was true. Without their research, the Porters never would have traveled to Africa - and he most certainly would not have met Jane and her father. "But, I'm so grateful that you two found one another - and through the wonders of scientific curiosity, no less!" he chuckled.
"I know," Tarzan said, somewhat somberly, "I'm very…grateful, for this place - and for you, Professor. You, and science, brought Jane to me, in many ways."
Archimedes nodded. "I suppose you're right."
...
After some more time spent in the halls and classrooms of the University, they continued on their way to the jeweler. They spent a long time looking at many different rings - all of them beautiful, but none of them quite right for one reason or another. At last, Tarzan and the Professor were shown, what they deemed to be, the perfect ring. It was a delicate silver band, adorned with a diamond and two smaller blue stones on either side. Tarzan couldn't quite explain why, but this just seemed to be the right ring. He bought it, along with a corresponding ring for himself. He and the Professor brought the rings back to the Porter's residence and placed them in a lockbox, to be kept there until the day of the ceremony.
"Do you think Jane will like the ring?" Tarzan fretted.
"Shh," the Professor comforted, "Of course she will."
"I'm sorry, Professor, I know she will - I'm just nervous. I want all of this to be perfect."
"I know you do, Tarzan. It will be perfect, I assure you. I admit, I didn't expect you to be this nervous. You seem like such a stoic chap. I expected Jane to be a bit more…antsy about the whole ordeal than you."
Tarzan smiled. It did seem to be a huge case of role reversal. "I'm nervous about a lot of things." The Professor raised an eyebrow, as if to ask what he was nervous about. "I'm very nervous about the baby."
Somehow, Archimedes wasn't expecting this answer. Of course, he had been nervous before Jane had been born, but for some odd reason - he had assumed that Tarzan wouldn't be nervous. He was wrong, apparently. "What are you worried about?"
"I don't know how to be a good father," he blurted out. "Professor, I never had human parents. I don't know what to do. All I know is…gorillas. That was my entire childhood. I don't know what human parents do."
"Well, Tarzan," Archimedes said, placing a hand on Tarzan's shoulder, "Every parent is nervous about taking care of their children - even me, I'm no exception to the rule. Jane will help you, as will I. You'll be alright. You'll learn."
—
DECEMBER 17, 1885—Kensington, London, England
Jane and Alize sat at the Porter's immaculately decorated dining table in their large dining room. The walls were painted a very light powder blue color - one that seemed to compliment every season and time of day. They each held a cup of hot tea in their hands. It was quite cold outside, with a thin dusting of snow blanketing the grass, so the warmth of the tea was quite welcome. "So," Alize said, taking a sip of her tea, "Jane Porter. What's been new in your life?"
"Quite a bit," Jane admitted, feeling slightly like she was being interviewed, "I don't know if you've heard what happened between Clayton and, well, everyone else involved in the trip to Africa."
Alize nodded and laughed, "I think nearly all of London knows about that by now. His family isn't all too pleased with what transpired and talk travels quickly."
"I can't imagine they would be too keen on what happened," Jane replied. She hadn't even paused to think about Clayton for quite some time - she especially had not stopped to think of his family. Neither she or her father had heard from them, and they both hoped that they never would. It would be a tense meeting if it ever came about. "You know about Tarzan then, don't you? I assume if you know what happened with Clayton, you must know about him, too."
The French woman raised an eyebrow at this, having never heard this name mentioned before. "I've never been given the pleasure of hearing this name," Alize said.
"Well, we met Tarzan in Africa. He was raised by the gorillas there. And, in my time in Africa, I grew fond of him - quite fond indeed," Jane began. "You remember when I came to buy that wedding dress, don't you?" Alize nodded. "Well, that's my wedding dress for my wedding to Tarzan on the first day of the new year. I'm quite pleased."
Alize had to continue smiling for the sake of politeness, but she had to admit, her heart sank a bit. She had tried to block out the fact that Jane was getting married since the time she had seen her at the bridal shop. There was so much unfinished business and so much left to be said between them regarding the circumstances of their parting. Alize couldn't say that she fully moved on, or that she completely happy with how things had ended between them. At the time that Jane had come to the shop to purchase the dress, she had no idea who Jane was marrying. It had all been very mysterious until now. "Oh! Wonderful!" she exclaimed, hoping her intonation covered her inner dismay.
"Quite," Jane said, "And I have some even more exciting news," she paused for a moment, "Tarzan and I are going to be having a baby." She gently touched her stomach, which had begun to poke out just a bit.
This genuinely did shock Alize. She had always seen Jane as a woman that would not want children. Perhaps she had been wrong. "Oh? I'm ever so happy for you, Jane. When are you due to have your baby?"
"July, early July, I think."
"I never expected you to have a baby - at least not so soon. But, nevertheless, that's terribly exciting."
"You know," Jane chucked, "Things happen. I didn't necessarily anticipate a baby either but I'm pleased that it's going to be with Tarzan. You should meet him - soon. I'd love to introduce you two," she remarked.
"That would be…nice," Alize said. She honestly didn't know how she felt about potentially coming face to face with who Jane was going to marry. She was happy for her, of course, but things were complicated between them still.