I don't own anything.
I hope this chapter gives a bit of an insight as to why Jasper wants to get away as people have been asking me about it :)
What was my Mother doing in New York! Last time I heard she was in California...though last time I heard was two years ago.
I looked down and saw a little girl, clinging onto my Mom's leg; she looked around three, maybe a little younger. She looked like me...had the same big eyes I got from my Mother, but where my hair was dark, hers was blonde like Moms.
"I thought you said you didn't want kids." I muttered, watching the little girl but when she looked at me, I looked away.
"I didn't." My Mom answered, as always she cared about sparing my feelings. Not. "But with little Gracie it's different." She smiled fondly down at the girl. "She makes me happy." She shrugged, bending down to pick her up. "Not that you didn't Mary." That was a lie and we both knew it. "But it was a bad time when I had you, your Father and I weren't in love." She shrugged absently. "Now though, I am in love and we have our darling daughter."
My Mom left me and my Father when I was twelve, seems it only took her two years to move on, get a new husband, new kid.
I often used to wonder if she ever thought about me, ever missed me, but it seems she didn't. I watched her hugging onto Gracie, kissing her hair gently; she was never like that with me. I think my Mom maybe hugged me once or twice a year...for my birthday then for Christmas.
"Why are you here?" I said quietly. I guessed it was for some sort of holiday as one; they were at the airport and two; a man moved to her side, pulling along two suitcases.
"We're here for Gracie's birthday." She said, looking to the child. "Aren't we sweetheart?" she cooed, making me feel sick.
"Yes! Yes Mommy, we're going to go up the biggest building and look out to see everything!"
I know she was just a child, but I hated her...hated how my Mom loved her, but never loved me, sure it wasn't her fault, but I couldn't help my feelings.
"What are you doing here?" She asked me, looking up at Jasper who I'd almost forgotten was stood beside me.
"Holiday." I muttered. I wasn't giving her anymore; I wasn't talking to her anymore. She didn't care, she only put up with me for twelve years because it was convenient for her to stay; it was where her job was.
"Who's this love?" The man beside my Mother's side asked, putting his arm around her waist after putting one suitcase down.
"No-one darling."
No-one.
Her own daughter meant nothing to her.
Had she not told her new man about me? Had she washed her hands clean of me the second she left?
When she was packing to leave us, she took her clothes, jewellery, anything expensive, or anything worth something...but she never took any photographs, no reminders of me or my Father. It was clear to me now, more than ever, that she didn't care about me, never cared about me. I was just something she had to put up with for a few years before she could move on.
"Babe?"
I looked up and I knew that look on Jasper's face, the worry, the upset. I was crying again, I got that look when I was crying. I touched my cheek and sure enough they were damp.
"I'm alright." I mumbled, turning away from my Mother, staring at the few people in front of us. We'd be in a cab soon; we could be away from here, away from my Mom. "Sorry." I laughed a little, how many times had he seen me crying recently? I really needed to get a hold of my emotions!
"Don't be Ali." He murmured, draping his arm around my shoulders, kissing my cheek. "She's a bitch."
I had to laugh at that. Seems it wasn't just myself and my Father that thought it. My Mother really was a bitch.
Finally we reached the front of the queue and Jasper gave our bags to the cab driver as I climbed into the back.
Jasper got in beside me and gave the address of our hotel before his arm draped around me, pulling me close. "You don't need your Mom babe." He whispered, resting his chin on my shoulder, kissing my cheek. "She doesn't deserve such a beautiful, perfect daughter."
"Hmm." I mumbled, turning to press my forehead against his chest. "I just don't understand." I admitted. "She's always...hated me." Maybe that was a bit extreme, but she certainly never really loved me, never really wanted me. "I don't understand how her opinion on children can change in a few years! She only left us five years ago, but she's already got another baby."
He sighed wrapping both his arms around me, kissing me gently on my forehead. "Love, look; don't let her upset you. You don't need her, you have me darlin', I'll make you happy." He promised.
I stayed in Jasper's arms for the whole of the cab ride towards our hotel.
Once we arrived he checked in whilst I went up to our room. Woah, top floor, I really needed to know where Jasper got all his money from...but maybe it'd be rude to ask?
I opened the door and gasped at the size of this room. It was massive! Bigger than my whole house back in Washington!
"Amazing." I muttered dumping my little carry-on bag on the floor as I dashed right to the large glass window, looking out over the city, we had quite a nice view of Central Park! I couldn't wait to go for a walk through there.
I climbed up onto the big bed and kicked off my shoes, smiling as I sat crossed legged in the middle of it, looking around the room, trying to take it all in.
"You're adorable."
I turned hearing Jasper's voice and saw him tipping the bell boy before shutting the door, making his way over to me.
"I hope you're referring to me and not the bell boy, because baby, I'm sorry to say I don't think he swings that way and I should hope you don't either!" I giggled.
"Of course I'm referring to you babe." He winked, pushing me onto my back, leaning over me. "Though, he was pretty dreamy!" He put on his best camp accent, making me laugh uncontrollably.
"You're funny." I said, my laughs muffled as he pressed his lips against mine, fingers already working on my jeans' fastening.
"Hey." I sighed shoving him off me. "Maybe later." I laughed, zipping my jeans back up. "I'm hungry let's eat first." I said, looking for the room service menu, frowning when I couldn't find one.
"It's in the draw babe." He commented lazily, lying back on the bed, his hands behind his head.
I rolled my eyes towards him, pulling it from the draw before going to sit next to him. "Woah...it's all real expensive." I sighed, dropping the menu back, wondering if we could go out and grab a McDonalds, something cheap.
"Ali, don't worry about money alright? I don't want you ever thinking about it." He said; his tone so serious, so firm it actually frightened me a little. "I have enough, get whatever you want."
I looked down, trying to find the cheapest item, which was a tuna salad, but when I asked for it, Jasper frowned, pulling the menu from me.
"You don't even like tuna Alice." He sighed, looking to the menu, seeing why I picked it. "Seriously! Don't think about money!" he snapped.
I flinched, shuffling away from him, staring down at my knees.
It was silent for a while before he sighed rather loudly.
"I'm sorry baby." He said gently, moving over on the bed, putting his arm around my waist. "I didn't mean to snap, I just don't want you worry about stupid things like money, it's not an issue alright? I just want you to be happy."
"Where are you getting all this money from Jasper?" I asked, leaning against his side, not caring anymore if it was rude to ask.
"My Grandpa."
That was not the answer I was expecting. I was thinking he'd been gambling or stealing...I know it wasn't nice to be thinking those things about my boyfriend, but he did have a reputation.
"Your Grandpa?"
"Yeah."
We sat quietly for a little before I looked up at him.
"Are you going to explain?" I asked, wanting to know more than just; it was his Grandpa.
He laughed a little lying back on the bed, pulling me down with him. "I guess I should." He murmured, his lips pressing to my cheek for a moment before he started.
"My Pops was three things." He whispered, absently trailing his fingers over my arm. "A business man, a lucky man and a want-to-be adventurer." He chuckled at the last one. "He owned a successful business, saved half of what he made then played the rest on the ponies." He shook his head. "He took me once a week...and seeing how often he won, seeing how excited it got, well it was my favourite thing." He sighed. "I looked forwards to Saturdays, that's when he took me. The excitement I felt got me through the week."
He sat up and looked down at me, smiling a little but I could see something was upsetting him.
"He always had money on him and always had money in the bank." He said quietly, looking away from me now, staring out the window. "It was a considerable amount." He chuckled. "I remember one day...a few weeks before he died." He whispered, his voice hitching a little as he said that. "He took me to the bank with him, showed me his bank statement, told me that when he was gone, half of that would be mine, half Rose's." He sighed. "Told me not to make the same mistakes he did, not to do some boring job just because the pay is good. He told me to use the money to do exactly what I wanted, told me to go out on an adventure. Have the time of my life."
He paused for a few minutes whilst he seemed to think through what he was going to say next.
"I think he knew he was dying, think it must have been some terminal illness as he had the money transferred to two separate accounts, one for me and the other for Rose." He said quietly. "A few days after he gave us the cards...he died." He stared down at his knees. "It's been about six years since he passed and I've only just done what he wanted me to with his money."
"Why did you wait so long Jasper?"
"I was devastated when Pops died." He mumbled. "I mean...he was old, he was deteriorating, I didn't see it at the time, but now looking back I see it." He frowned. "I should have known he wouldn't be around much longer, but when it happened, I wasn't expecting it." He paused again, taking a few deep breaths as if trying to stop himself from bursting into tears.
"I needed him more than ever then...My dad's alcohol issues were getting worse, he was getting violent." He shook his head. "My Mom was out a lot, probably fucking every man she came across." He frowned. "I just didn't really feel like having fun...but now, now that I have you, I want you to be happy too and seeing your Father with someone else, seeing your friend turning on you, hearing what your Mom's like...well I don't want you feeling that awful loneliness I felt."
Everything made sense now.
I understood where Jasper got this money from, why he got so angry when I worried things were too expensive. Why he wanted me to have a good time, why he wanted to have a good time, because his Grandpa wanted him to.
"Jasper." I said softly, sitting up, putting my arms around his neck. "You are amazing." I sighed, leaning forwards to kiss him gently. "I promise that we will both have the time of our lives. Your Pops would be proud."
"Thanks baby." He whispered, pulling me onto his lap, reaching across for the phone.
I listened as Jasper ordered a large pepperoni pizza for us both to share and some chocolate cake. He was going to make me fat! Well, who cared?
"You know Ali?" He said putting the phone down. "My Pops would have loved you."
I smiled towards him, kissing his cheek gently. "I would have loved to meet him Jasper; I bet you're just like him."
"He always said I reminded him of a young him." He smiled getting to his feet hearing a knock at the door. That was quick. "I hope you're right, hope we're making him proud."
"I'm sure we are Jasper, I'm sure."
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