-Six Weeks Until Due Date-
Carlisle can't believe this. There's only six weeks until AJ's due date, and he's just a few hours away from getting on a plane to fly to Texas. He also can't believe he's up at five in the fucking morning.
"Are you all packed?" Jasper asks. Carlisle clenches his teeth and mashes the buttons of the coffee maker. He grips the edge of the counter.
"I'm not even fully awake yet," Carlisle grumbles.
"But are you packed?"
"Yes, I'm packed."
"You need to get dressed."
Carlisle ignores the excited teen and steps around him. He grabs a granola bar from the cupboard, waits for his cup to fill, then sits at the kitchen table. Jasper joins him, shaking his head at the fact that Carlisle is still in his pajamas and robe.
"When are you getting dressed?" Jasper asks.
"I'm not getting dress yet. It's five in the morning, Jasper. Our plane doesn't board until 1:25 this afternoon. I have plenty of time to get dressed." Carlisle huffs.
"But we have to get there early. I looked it up. We need to be there an hour and a half early since we're checking our luggage, so we should be at the airport by 11:55. It's a three and a half hour drive to Seattle, so we need to leave here by 8:25. But we should leave early in case there is traffic, so we should leave at—"
"We're going to leave by eight o'clock, just liked we planned." Carlisle interrupts him. "We have plenty of time. Let me finish my coffee."
"Are you bringing a carry on?"
"Yes."
"Is it packed?"
"Yes, Jasper."
"Where is it?"
"Both of my bags are in my bedroom."
"I'll go get it and put it in the car."
"Do not go in my room. Esme is still sleeping." Carlisle says. "Go find something else to do. Let me eat my breakfast and drink my coffee in peace."
"I'm just making sure we're ready." Jasper says with a slight pout.
"Go ride your four-wheeler."
"It's too muddy."
"That's never stopped you before."
"I'm already showered and dressed. If I get muddy I'll have to shower and change. Did you not sleep well? You're cranky."
"We have a long day ahead of us. Just let me have this moment of calm and quiet before the day start." Carlisle says, his voice growing harsher with every word. "Go find something else to do other than sitting here bothering me!"
"Fine," Jasper grumbles and stands from the table. He stuffs his hands in his pockets and drags his feet to the living room. "I'm just excited."
Shit, Carlisle sighs. He's just excited, and Carlisle had to squash that. If Esme were awake she would have scolded him and told him to be more patient with Jasper. Instead, he gritted his teeth and treated Jasper like an annoyance. That's not fair. Jasper has worked so hard lately. He's put together the playpen, the highchair, the crib, the changing table, the swing, the bassinet, and the stroller. He watched Carlisle install the car seat bases in his and Esme's vehicles, then practiced getting the car seat in and out of the cars. He and Esme washed all the clothes and organized them and the other baby care items. He stocked the bathroom with lots of shampoo, baby wash, and lotion. The changing table is stocked as well.
Not only has Jasper been preparing for AJ, he's also been getting along with everyone else in the house. He's been doing extra work on his online classes so he doesn't fall behind during this week long trip. He's gone to therapy without protest and has spoken openly with Esme and Carlisle about things bothering him. A few days ago he came to them to talk about his fears of not being a good father. They had a great conversation, and everyone left it feeling better than before it happened. Jasper and Edward have even gotten along. The two boys hooked up the gaming system to the living room television and played for hours last Saturday. Everyone in the house has been happy and cheerful.
This is the way Esme and Carlisle want their house to run. This is the behavior they wanted from Jasper. They finally got it, and Carlisle told him to get lost.
Jasper turns the television on, and Carlisle takes another sip of coffee. He watches Jasper before sighing and and joining him on the couch.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you," Carlisle states. Jasper watches him intensely, judging the validity of Carlisle's apology. "What do you want for breakfast? I can make something, or we can leave a little earlier and go to a drive-thru for breakfast."
"Let's leave early for a drive-thru."
"Okay, sounds good." Carlisle smiles. "What time is our layover?"
"So, we take off at 1:25 from Seattle, and then we arrive in Los Angeles at 4:15. That's where our layover is. We'll be there for an hour and twenty-two minutes. Then, we get back on a plane at 5:34. That plane will take us from Los Angeles Intercontinental to George Bush Intercontinental at 10:56." Jasper rattles off happily. "But Texas is two hours ahead of Washington. It's good that we're up early, because we'll be tired earlier and we can adjust to the time change better."
"That's true," Carlisle nods and takes another sip of his coffee.
Jasper continues to talk about how LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world, but Huston has the fourth highest city population in the United States, and all kinds of other facts that he found online about the airports and cities. Carlisle listens carefully and tries to guess how many cups of coffee it will take to get him through this day.
Jasper keeps the conversation going as five o'clock turns to six, and six turns into seven. Rosalie and Esme wake up and Alice comes over. They all pile into Esme's car, the three teenagers packed tightly in the back seat. Carlisle leans is head against the car headrest and closes his eyes, but it only provides minimal relief. The chatter in the car keeps him awake for the whole three and a half hours.
When arriving at the airport, Carlisle and Jasper and engulfed in hugs and goodbyes. Alice kisses Jasper goodbye as Rosalie and Esme remind Carlisle to call and send pictures.
"I love you, Jazz." Alice says.
"I love you, too," Jasper hugs her tightly.
Esme embraces her husband and Rosalie hugs her brother.
"Make sure you tell Uncle Beau that I love him." Rosalie says.
"Of course, sis,"
Esme, Rosalie, and Alice leave Jasper and Carlisle to check-in for the flight. Jasper waits anxiously as he and Carlisle sit in the terminal.
"Are you okay, Jasper?" Carlisle asks.
"Yeah, of course," Jasper smiles. "I'm excited."
"Your leg is bouncing. Are you nervous about the flight?"
Jasper looks down to see his knee jolting back and forth. He throws his hand over it and focuses on keeping it still.
"Nervous? Naw," Jasper smirks and shakes his head. "I'm not nervous about anything."
"Alright," Carlisle nods, and Jasper looks out the window as he watches a plane back up, then head towards the runway. He gulps, and whispers to Carlisle.
"Maybe I'm a little nervous."
—JWiD—
Carlisle watch as Jasper leans his head against the plane window. The sky is black. Jasper's eyelids fall shut. Lucky kid.
Carlisle looks forward and counts the months backwards in his head. Eight months. Jasper and Rosalie joined their family eight months ago. Esme was the one who got the phone call to tell them about Rosalie and Jasper. It only took a brief discussion amongst the couple to decide to open their home to the teens.
Mrs. Valerie only gave Esme minimal information about Jasper and Rosalie. A sibling set, one boy age fifteen, and a girl age seventeen. The boy has some behavioral issues, the girl won't give you an ounce of trouble. They lean on each other for everything, and the girl will help guide the boy and keep him in line. Both parents are dead, one to a heart attack and one to suicide, so no parental visits to worry about. The girl will age out soon. They've been bounced around multiple times. For the boy to have any kind of success in a home, the girl needs to be with him. They've been separated before and it hasn't gone well, which is why they were hoping Esme and Carlisle would take in both.
Esme and Carlisle weren't concerned about the placement. They've dealt with plenty of behavioral issues before, so this will be a piece of cake especially if the sister was such a substantial influence on the brother. They were confident that they could help these kids and give them a safe, supportive home.
Mrs. Valerie was spot on about Rosalie. She's followed the rules and helped her brother. Even at her worst, she's a good kid who is reasonable. Jasper, however, came with more baggage than anyone ever knew. If Carlisle could go back in time and tell himself what he knows now, would has answer about taking in the siblings change?
If he would have denied the placement, he wouldn't be flying to Texas right now. He wouldn't have spent thousands of dollars on baby supplies. He wouldn't have an outrageous bill from the lawyer, or the therapists. He wouldn't have had his credit card stolen or had to rush to a hotel to grab Jasper from a predatory woman. He wouldn't have lost so much sleep or experienced so much stress. He wouldn't have adopted a kid who hates him.
Carlisle looks back to Jasper, slumped against the window. It's been a long day. It's been a long eight months, too.
Sighing, Carlisle can't deny how he would answer his own question. He'd go back in time and tell himself to keep a tighter rein on Jasper, and to figure out a way to get Jasper out of Edward's bedroom as quickly as possible, and to immediately get his credit card back from Emmett instead of losing his temper over Emmett dropping out. He'd tell himself to get the whole damn household into therapy a hell of a lot soon, and to brace himself for one hell of a ride.
He'd tell himself to do it again.
—JWiD—
Carlisle's eyes burn as he drives the rental car down the dirt road. Jasper's practically jumping up and down in the passenger seat. His nap on the plane has reignited his excitement.
"We're almost there!" He says happily into the phone. "Okay. Yeah, I'll call you in the morning. I love you, too!"
Carlisle doesn't have the energy to ask if it's Rosalie, Alice, or Esme that Jasper is talking to. He hangs up and sits on the edge of his seat. The GPS announces that the destination is on the left in a quarter of a mile. Carlisle presses harder on the gas pedal.
Finally, they drive up to a small, ranch style home. Carlisle puts his blinker on and slowly turns into the driveway. The headlights illuminate the porch where three rocking chairs sit, one with a figure waiting in it.
"Uncle Beau!" Jasper smiles. Carlisle barely stops the vehicle and hasn't even put it in park yet when Jasper flings his door open and rushes to the porch.
"Hey there, Jazzy boy," Beau smiles as he rises from his chair. He reaches his arms out, and Jasper grabs him in a tight hug. "It's so good to see you again."
—JWiD—
Jasper digs through the cupboards as bacon sizzles on the stove. He's searching for large plates to put the breakfast food on, just like Esme does. Uncle Beau's cupboards are close to bear, though. He finds a few of the plates that Uncle Beau had when Jasper was young. They're faded, old, and too small for what Jasper wants. He goes to another cupboard where he finds a collection of mismatched cups, glasses, and mugs. It doesn't slow him down, or damped his mood, though. Uncle Beau has an old cassette radio sitting on the counter. Jasper pressed play and was instantly transported back to his childhood, and nothing could ruin that. He opens the window above the sink to let the breeze in. The high temperature in Washington today is 59 degrees, but in Texas it is 74.
He can't find a serving platter, so he settles for the regular plates. He turns the bacon and focuses on the pancakes next. Uncle Beau only had a box of Bisquick, but Jasper knows the secret to really make the pancakes better. He adds a splash of vanilla and a pinch of cinnamon. That was what Avery used to do. He pours the batter into the pan, then goes to the refrigerator to pull out a carton of farm fresh eggs.
"Something smells great," Uncle Beau calls out as he limps into the kitchen. He leans to one side as he walks to compensate the injury from a motorcycle accident years ago. His slate gray eyes are surrounded by wrinkles and sun damaged skin. His black hair is thinning and his hands are scarred from years of construction work. He speaks slowly with a thick drawl.
Jasper turns to him with a big smile, then turns the music from the cassette radio down.
"Morning, Uncle!" Jasper greets happily. "Breakfast will be ready soon."
"Reminds me of your Dad. He always loved a good breakfast."
"Remember how he put vanilla and cinnamon in the pancakes? I did that too!"
Beau smiles as Jasper turns his attention back to the stove. As the food finishes, he excuses himself and leaves the kitchen, walks through the living room, and down the short hall where the bedrooms are. Uncle Beau's bedroom is to the left, there's a bathroom at the end of the hall, and the guest bedroom is to the right. He goes to the guest bedroom and lets out a happy sigh. The room is just how he remembers it. The walls are covered from floor to ceiling with peach wallpaper with tiny clumps of blue flowers printed all over it. The wallpaper was old when Jasper was a young boy and even more outdated now, but it brings a comfort that feels like no other to him. The closet doors have mirrors hanging from them. Jasper slid one door behind the other to eliminate some of the reflection when he and Carlisle came into the room last night. Those mirrors scared him when he slept over with Rose and Avery, so Avery would slide one door behind the other and cover the exposed mirror with a bedsheet. The closet still has fifteen outfits in it. Five of Rosalie's, five of Jasper's, and five of Avery's. Avery always kept five outfits here, and after the conversation Jasper and Rosalie had about staying with Uncle Beau when his Mom was struggling, it makes a lot more sense to him now. Avery made sure his kids were always taken care of, no matter what.
Jasper shakes Carlisle's shoulder, forcing the doctor to wake up, and tells him to get up, get dressed, and come to breakfast.
Carlisle begrudgingly does as Jasper says. He changes from pajamas to jeans and a t-shirt and follows Jasper to the living room. Jasper tells Carlisle and Uncle Beau to sit at the table, and Jasper serves the pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. He makes his own plate last and watches as Carlisle and Beau take bites of their pancakes.
"They're good, right?" Jasper asks.
"Yes, they are," Carlisle agrees.
"Just like your Dad use to make," Beau completements.
"I used to cook all the time at my other foster home. Everyone loved my cooking. I haven't cook since I left there, though. I don't have to because Esme makes every single meal. Even lunch." Jasper explains. "I really like cooking, though."
"I'm sure Esme would love to cook with you," Carlisle says.
"What are we going to do today, Uncle Beau?" Jasper moves on quickly.
"I have to do an estimate for deck for a young couple on the other side of town at one today," Beau explains. "It won't take but a minute, but we have to plan the day around that."
"That's alright. Can I come with you?"
"Sure can,"
"Maybe we can go fishing. Can we go to the bar for dinner? Is it still the same as it was before? I'd love to drive past my old house, too. What about the office? Can we go see your office? Can we drive around and see some of the work your crew has done? Is there anything that we can go see that Daddy built?"
"Slow down there, Jazzy boy," Beau says, raising one hand to stop Jasper. "We have seven days to do all of that. We don't have to it all today. We have plenty of time."
"Okay," Jasper smiles happily and sits up even straighter. "What should we do today then?"
"We'll drive around, and we'll go do the estimate. I got some steaks that we can grill for dinner. Sound good?"
"Sounds good." Jasper agrees.
They finish eating breakfast, and Carlisle offers to clean up while Jasper and Beau go to the porch. Beau sits in the old rocking chair and lights a cigarette, and Jasper sits in one of the two new rockers that Beau bought just for this special visit.
"I'm really happy to be here, Uncle Beau."
"I'm happy to have you here, kid."
As Carlisle finishes the dishes, Beau smokes another cigarette and talks to Jasper about the old truck parked in the driveway. Jasper hangs on every word. Carlisle joins them, and Beau explains to him how he took over the independent contractor company that he and Avery use to work for when the original owner retired. Carlisle nods, asking questions about the logistics and details of running a construction company.
Soon, Beau looks down at his watch and rises from the rocking chair, telling Jasper and Carlisle that it's time to head out. They load up in the truck, Jasper folding his legs to fit in the small backseat. Carlisle pulls his seat up as far as it can go without squishing his own legs in the dashboard. Beau drives through the dirt road and into the small town. He slows at the library to point out the split-rail fence in the front of the building, then a house with a large wrap around porch, a playground with multiple wooden play structures and benches, then the elementary school with a privacy fence around the playground.
"That's where I went to school, Carlisle!" Jasper points out excitedly.
They drive around some more, Beau telling them about other projects that Phoenix Construction and Development have completed. Every now and then he points out a barn or shed or roof that Avery worked on. Jasper damn near presses his face to the glass as he admires the work.
Beau drives to a small farmhouse. Carlisle and Jasper exit the truck with Beau. Jasper follows Beau, listening to him closely as he explains to the young couple who owns the home what would have to be done to add a deck to the front of their house. Carlisle hangs out by the truck, texting Esme to let her know that everything is going well and checking in on the other kids. They couple agrees to the price and writes a check while Beau sets a date for his crew to come out to get the job done. Beau shakes their hands, thanks them, and they pile back into the truck.
Beau stops by the bank to deposit the check, and Jasper chatters in the backseat, asking Beau a thousand questions.
"Are you going to work on the deck, or is your crew going to do it?"
"The crew will do it this weekend."
"Do you still go to jobs like that?"
"Occasionally, but I'm too damn old now. I let them take care of most of it. I wanna hear about you, Jazz. What are your plans after high school?"
"I dunno. Did you always want to do construction?"
"It's just a job that I landed in and it worked out. Do you have a job back home?"
"No. Was it hard to take over the business?"
Beau answers, glancing occasionally in the rearview at Jasper and the front passenger seat at Carlisle. Jasper isn't ready to talk about himself, but he isn't done trying to learn more about the years Beau has missed with Jasper.
As they get back to Beau's house, Jasper is still peppering him with questions about everything he sees. What kind of flowers are growing in the ditch? Do you still have a four-wheeler? Where did you get the steaks and vegetables for dinner? Do you have internet? Why do you still have a flip phone? Did you know if you got a smart phone we could video call and you'd see the pictures I sent you a lot better? Do you know what my Dad's favorite vegetable was?
Beau answers the questions as quickly as they're thrown at him. Jasper sticks by his side as Beau prepares the steaks. Carlisle stays nearby, occasionally asking a question or answering a question Beau has asked that Jasper skims over. Beau shows Jasper how to operate the grill and puts him in charge of cooking the steaks. He stays next to the grill to supervise but turns his attention to Carlisle.
"So, you're a doctor, right?"
"Yes," Carlisle nods. "I'm an orthopedic surgeon."
"That's pretty impressive," Beau adds on.
"Carlisle fixed my dislocated shoulder," Jasper states proudly. "Esme took me to the ER and we caught Carlisle right before he was leaving for the day."
"Good to know our boy is in good hands," Beau smiles. Carlisle smiles back but watches Jasper.
"Yeah, it was super fast, too. He moved it around a bit and just kinda," Jasper moves his shoulder, imitating the moment when Carlisle forced it back into place. "And it popped right back in with no problem."
No problem? Carlisle thinks to himself. That day was far from no problem. Jasper is leaving quite a few details out of what he's been telling Beau.
"That was the day you were going to go shopping for AJ," Carlisle reminds the teenager.
Jasper's face hardens for a split second, giving Carlisle his all too familiar hateful glare. Beau looks to Jasper, and Jasper quickly changes back to a softer smile. Carlisle watches Jasper even closer now as he speaks with Beau. He's intentionally leaving details out of what he's sharing.
Beau checks the steaks and declares that dinner is ready. Jasper smiles proudly as he moves the steaks from the grill to the plates and adds the grilled vegetables as the sides. Everyone grabs a plate, and they go inside to the kitchen to eat. The small round table is just big enough for the three of them to sit at comfortably. Beau asks Carlisle if he wants a beer, so Jasper grabs two bottles of beer from the refrigerator and a can of pop for himself before sitting down and eating.
Jasper continues with chatter about everything but his own life. He tells Carlisle about finding armadillos in his childhood yard and how badly he wanted to catch one and keep it as a pet, but Avery always said no. Carlisle laughs, and Jasper continues with telling him about other wildlife in Texas and how he'd catch toads and once got his hands on a hognose snake. Avery wouldn't let him keep that as a pet either.
"Do you remember when we caught that racoon in the live trap?" Beau asks with a hearty chuckle. Jasper laughs along as he nods yes. Beau nudges Carlisle elbow. "Avery damn near tied Jasper to him because he was so determined to pet that thing."
"We have racoons in Washington, too. Our house is surrounded by woods, so we have a lot of deer and coyotes around." Jasper explains. "I did see a black bear once at one of my other foster homes."
"How many foster homes have you been in?" Beau asks. Carlisle watches Jasper reaction and isn't surprised when Jasper dodges the question.
"A few." He shrugs. "We have elk up there, too, and moose. The moose are huge."
The three finish eating and comparing wildlife in the two different states. Beau tells Carlisle and Jasper to leave their dishes in the sink and he'd take care of them later, but is going out to smoke a cigarette first. Carlisle nods, but is interrupted by his phone ringing before he can put his plate away. He smiles when he sees Esme's number on the screen and excuses himself to the guest bedroom to take the call.
"Hello, love," He greets her happily. "How are you?"
"I'm good. I just wanted to check in again to see how everything is going," she says. "What have you guys done today?"
Carlisle gives her a quick summary of the day, being sure to tell her about Jasper dodging questions and leaving out details.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it, Carlisle. You wouldn't want to flaunt your mistakes in front of someone you respect either." Esme explains.
"You're probably right," Carlisle nods. "Other than that, it's going really well. Jasper is having the time of his life. How are the other kids?"
Esme tells him that the kids have gone to the mall together, and Rosalie has spent most of her time with Emmett, and Alice had slept over at the Cullen house. He isn't surprised. His talk with Rosalie and Emmett ended with a plead for them to make smart choices. Rosalie brought up good points that she's eighteen and not Carlisle's daughter, so she can make her own choices. Carlisle didn't want it to turn into an argument like the one he had with Emmett when he impulsively told Emmett to move out, so he didn't push the problem further. Alice had always enjoyed spending time with the Cullen's and in the past would sleep over, but with her and Jasper's budding relationship, Carlisle and Esme put a stop to the overnight stays.
The couple says goodbye, promising to talk to each other tomorrow, and hang up. Carlisle thinks of Esme's explanation of Jasper's behavior and tries to shove the worry to the back of his mind. She has a point, and it is their first full day here. Jasper will share his stories in his own time. He decides that he won't worry too much about it as he walks through the living room.
"He's coming, I gotta go!" Jasper says with a quiet but harsh tone. Carlisle quickens his steps to see Jasper frantically shoving his phone in his pocket in the kitchen. Jasper's angry scowl is clear as day.
"Who were you talking to?" Carlisle asks skeptically.
"Mom."
Shit. Carlisle shakes his head and grits his teeth. They've had so many good days. They're in Texas, just like Jasper wanted. Why is he going to lie and throw all of that away now?
"You're not telling me the truth. Who was on the phone?" Carlisle asks again.
"I'm telling you the truth! It was Mom!"
"It couldn't have been, because I was just on the phone with her."
Jasper gathers the plates and sets them in the sink instead of answering Carlisle. He turns to the refrigerator.
"Do you want another beer?" He attempts to deflect.
Carlisle's mind races. Who could he have been talking to? Maria is in prison and shouldn't be able to contact him, but what if she found a way? Life will go to hell again if she gets her hooks in him a second time. What if it's someone else? Did Jasper meet someone else that he's hiding from Carlisle? Is it someone that could get Jasper in more trouble?
"Give me your phone," Carlisle says, holding his hand out. Jasper's eyes turn to fire.
"No!"
"You lied to me, Jasper. Give me your phone."
"I'm not giving you my fucking phone!"
"If you don't give me the phone, then I'll just turn it off and search it through the parental control app." Carlisle says firmly.
"You aren't my fucking Dad. I don't have to listen to you!" Jasper keeps his volume low, but his tone gets more acidic with each word as he closes the distance between him and Carlisle. "You're such a pretentious ass!"
"Get out of my face," Carlisle orders.
"I hate you! You're not taking my phone! You're a controlling bastard!"
"I'm not doing this with you here, Jasper. Pull yourself together." Carlisle says through clenched teeth.
"Fuck you Carl—"
"Jasper Elliot Whitlock," A stronger voice interrupts the confrontation, and both Carlisle and Jasper snap their heads towards the living room to see Uncle Beau coming towards them. Jasper's jaw drops and his eyes widen, and he takes multiple steps backwards away from Carlisle. He was so busy taking his frustration out on Carlisle that he didn't hear Beau enter the house. Carlisle watches in amazement how the teenager's attitude shifts again, just like his expression changed so quickly while manning the grill. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I, uh, well, um," Jasper stammers for an answer. His mouth opens and closes like a goldfish.
"Sit down," Beau demands, pointing to the dinner table.
Carlisle holds his breath. Here it goes. Jasper will lose his shit, just like he does at home. He's going to yell and scream and cuss and maybe even throw something. It's their first day in Texas, and Jasper's going to make it hell. Hopefully Beau is ready to face the storm that brews inside Jasper.
To Carlisle's surprise, though, Jasper ducks his head and hurries over to where he sat for dinner. Beau walks over and holds his hand out.
"Give me your phone."
Without protest, Jasper digs the phone from his pocket and puts it in Beau's hand. Beau walks it over and hands it to Carlisle.
"You've spent too much time in the big city; seems like you've forgotten how we act here, so let me remind you," Beau says, pointing his index finger at Jasper. "We don't talk to people like that. Your father would be washing your mouth out with soap if he heard how you're talking to Carlisle."
"I didn't forget what it's like here!" Jasper protests. His bottom lip quivers as he tries to fight back tears.
"Do not think you'll be allowed to talk to him like that."
"You don't know what it's like to live with him! He's an asshole!"
"Stop it, Jasper!" Beau scolds him again. "Avery didn't raise you to act like this."
Carlisle watches the interaction with surprise. Beau corrects the irritated teenager with little pushback. If Carlisle would have said anything like that to Jasper, it would have been a full-on screaming match. Instead, Jasper sinks in his seat with his arms crossed over his chest and tears running down his cheeks. Carlisle wonders if this is what Jasper was like as a little boy. Did he cry whenever he was in trouble?
"But Uncle Beau," Jasper says, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "He's not my Daddy."
"He's not, but that doesn't mean you can treat him like that! If you're going to be mean, then you can keep your ass right there in that seat. You can join us on the porch when you're ready to be nice."
Beau walks out of the room. Carlisle hesitates. Jasper lets out a pathetic little sob that reinforces this imagine of a little boy, crosses his arms on the table and rests his forehead on them. His shoulders tremble as he cries. Carlisle takes careful, quiet steps as he leaves the house. Beau has settled into the old, faded chair on the porch and lights another cigarette. Carlisle sits in one of the new seats but adjusts so he can peer in through the sidelight window next to the front door. If he sits and leans back exactly right, he can see Jasper in the kitchen.
"Does he talk to you like that all the time?" Beau asks. Carlisle sighs and shrugs.
"He used to. He and I would argue almost every single day. Our relationship has improved greatly, but sometimes he still goes off."
"I want you to know that Avery did not raise him to act like a damned fool. He taught Jasper how to be respectful and kind."
"I'm sure," Carlisle nods. He cranes his neck again to get a look at Jasper. He's still sitting at the table with his head down. "He's been through a lot since Avery died, though."
"He just needs a little reminder of who he is."
Carlisle nods and Beau flicks some ash from his into a galvanized metal bucket next to his rocking chair.
"I haven't been as supportive as I should have been." Carlisle admits. "Part of his problem is me. I've always been too harsh on the kids. Most of our arguments wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't yell back."
"Oh, I've heard about the yelling. He told me about the school issue." Beau says. "I believe disrespectful brat is the term you like to use, right?"
"He told you about that?" Carlisle sighs. Beau nods yes. Carlisle can feel his cheeks turning red with embarrassment, like he's the child being scolded now. "Yeah, I have said that a few times. It's something I've been working on. I'm not helping him by yelling back."
"It sounds to me like he's been a disrespectful brat, though."
"He's gone through so much," Carlisle continues to defend Jasper.
"He still shouldn't be talking to you like that." Beau takes a long, drawn out drag of his cigarette before blowing out a cloud of smoke. "He's told me about the school issue, but I can't help but feel that he hasn't shared the full story."
"We've had a few arguments over school. Was he talking about the picture frame incident?"
"The picture frame incident?" Beau raises his eyebrows questioningly, and Carlisle realizes he's let some secret information slip.
"He was suspended from school for fighting, but once the suspension was up, he didn't want to go back. He refused to go. He and I got into it in the living room and as he started to storm up the stairs, he took a picture frame off the wall and threw it. He knocked a few more frames off the wall, too." Carlisle spills the beans to the older man. "It was less about school and more about my wife and I adopting him, though."
"I knew he was leaving out some details. Throwing picture frames," Beau tsks. "Unbelievable. I hope he faced some sort of consequence."
"He's been grounded for so long that we didn't have much left to take from him."
"Avery raised that boy right. He did everything he knew to do to teach Jasper right from wrong."
"He knows right from wrong; he just struggles with his emotions. He has a lot going on." Carlisle continues to stand up for the teen he so often says he can't stand.
Beau nods, and Carlisle doesn't know what else to say so he just pulls Jasper's cell phone from his pocket and goes to the call log. The most recent call was from Alice. Why would he lie about that? He goes through the text messages, reading each one. Jasper has sent pictures of the plane and airport and Texas to his siblings, Esme, and Alice. He told Alice that he loves her, told Rosalie that he misses her, and reminded Esme to take her seizure medication and to be safe. He searches through the social media messages and Jasper's browsing history but finds nothing of concern. He peers through the window again. Jasper has lifted his head but is still sitting at the table, wiping his cheeks.
"Was he like that as a little boy?" Carlisle asks.
"Hmm?"
"When you scolded him, and he did what you told him and started to cry. Was he like that as a young boy?"
"Oh, yeah," Beau nods. "Especially if Avery got after him. He would cry every time. We had a time out chair in the corner of my living room. He would get sent there and just cry, cry, cry. He hated disappointing us. Looks like he still cries when he's in trouble."
"No, actually, he usually doesn't. I've seen him cry a handful of times, but never like that." Carlisle discloses.
The sun starts to set, turning the sky vibrant shades of orange and pink. They arrived too late the night before to enjoy the sunset, and Carlisle doesn't want Jasper to miss this. He ought to just go in there and tell Jasper to join them so he can enjoy the view. Just as he's about to rise from his chair, though, the door slowly opens and Jasper steps outside. He keeps his eyes low after glancing at Carlisle for a split second. He shoves his hands in his pockets.
"I'm sorry for how I spoke to you, Carlisle," Jasper speaks sincerely. "That wasn't right of me, and my Daddy didn't raise me to treat people like that."
"Thank you for your apology," Carlisle nods. Jasper turns towards Beau next.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Beau."
"Take a seat, Jasper. We need to talk." Beau instructs. He snuffs his cigarette out and leaves the butt in the metal bucket. Jasper sits quickly, but Beau stands up. "First, I'm getting another beer. Want one, Carlisle?"
"No, thank you."
As Beau enters the house, Jasper looks over to Carlisle, who returns the worried expression.
"I told him about the picture frame incident."
"Why?" Jasper groans.
"I didn't know you only told him parts of the story! I thought he knew it all," Carlisle defends himself.
"I didn't want him to know how bad I've been," Jasper mutters. "I guess all that is out the window now."
Beau comes back and Jasper watches him open the beer and twirl the cap around his fingers as he takes a sip.
"You've been avoiding my questions all day, and when you share stories with me, you're keeping parts out. Why is that?"
Jasper sighs and looks out towards the sunset. He thinks back to how much life changed after Avery died. Beau won't like the choices he made, but he can't bring himself to lie to Uncle Beau.
"I guess I'm just embarrassed." He admits quietly.
"When I told you I want to know what's going on in your life, I mean all of it. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I don't want this censored version you've been giving me."
Jasper nods. He swallows down the lump in his throat.
"The bad is pretty bad, and the ugly is real ugly." Jasper wanrs him.
"Life is like that sometimes. Doesn't change the fact that I'm here for you."
"No matter what?"
"No matter what."
Jasper smiles from the reassurance. Maybe it won't be too bad to share everything with Uncle Beau. It'd be a whole lot easier than tiptoeing around details.
"I was talking to Alice, not Mom." Jasper admits, glancing back from Carlisle to Beau.
"Why would you lie about that?" Carlisle asks. Jasper sighs and rocks back in the chair.
"Rosalie, Emmett, Edward, and Alice went to the mall and they wanted to put together a gift for me and AJ. They went into one store that had a bunch of baby clothes and they found a rack with little shirts that said stuff about grandparents. Alice wanted to know what AJ is going to refer to my Dad as," Jasper pauses for just a moment, then locks his eyes are Carlisle. "And what AJ is going to call you."
Carlisle sighs, and Jasper's rotten mood makes a lot more sense to him now. He can't win, though. Jasper has made it abundantly clear that Carlisle isn't to treat him like a son, and if he does, he will catch hell for it. How is it that someone else can group them as a father-son format, and Carlisle is still the one to pay for it?
"What's the problem with that?" Beau asks.
"Because he isn't my Daddy." Jasper responds quickly and sharply. He catches his tone, though, and pierces his lips together, looking at Beau with those boyish eyes in hopes of avoiding another talking to.
"It's fine. AJ can just call me Carlisle, like you do." Carlisle sighs. He shakes his head at the fact Jasper is having another blow up due to something as simple as a name.
"Hang on a minute. Jazzy boy," Beau holds his hand out to shush Carlisle, but keeps his eyes on Jasper. Beau uses the teenager's childhood nickname to soften the blow of his harsh words that follow. "You don't have a job. You don't have money. You don't have your own place. None of what you have for your son came out of your own pocket. Carlisle gave you all of that."
"I kinda have money," Jasper speaks quickly. "He gets a check every month from the state for keeping me. The money he's spent isn't all his."
"Is that check enough to cover all of Jasper's expenses, and AJ's needs?" Beau asks Carlisle.
"Not even close." Carlisle says.
"You are so adamant that no one is going to replace Avery. Don't you realize that no one can replace him, even if they wanted to? You don't have to be so nasty about it, because it isn't going to happen," Beau scolds Jasper again. "Avery is gone, Jasper. He would be here if he could, but he can't. You need to stop being so hateful and rude to Carlisle and start appreciating him for what's he's doing for you."
"But he's not—"
"I know, I know. He's not your Daddy. No one is trying to make him be that." Avery says. Jasper sinks in his seat. "What do you want AJ to call your Dad?"
"I dunno."
"Well, think about it and pick a name. AJ deserves grandparents. Avery and Joann aren't here. You said AJ's mother is signing her rights away, so her parents won't be involved. Carlisle and Esme are here and ready to be active in AJ's life. Let them have the grandparents' titles."
Jasper mulls it over, watching as the colors in the sky change. The stars come out and shine brightly. He sighs. This whole situation has been so confusing, and Uncle Beau is so sure of his suggestions. Jasper may not be able to call heaven and ask Avery what he should do, but he has the next best thing here in Texas.
"I think I'll have AJ call him Grandad." Jasper finally says. He looks over to Carlisle and Beau's words sink in even more. "What do you want AJ to call you?"
Now it's Carlisle turn to contemplate the conversation. He still feels gun shy about this touchy topic.
"I'll think it over and let you know later." Carlisle says as quick cop out. Jasper nods, and suddenly the heaviness on his chest that arrived when Alice called is gone. The lump in his throat has dissolved and the tension in his shoulders has melted away. Avery will be Grandad, and he will not be forgotten.
"I have more questions for you, Jasper." Beau says. Jasper nods. "Alice is the girl you're sweet on, isn't she?"
"Yeah," Jasper smiles, chuckling at Beau's phrasing.
"But she isn't AJ's mother?
"No, she's not. AJ's mother is…" Jasper sighs as he trails off. "That's another thing that I haven't been super honest about."
"Let's hear it, then," Beau encourages.
"Well, I told you I met AJ's mother in a previous foster home. That's true, but there's more to it. Her name is Maria, she's forty-two years old, and she was the woman fostering Rosalie and me."
As Jasper explains the problematic woman, knots form in everyone's stomachs. Beau can't believe the words he's hearing. Carlisle's disgust with Maria resurfaces. Jasper's persistent worry of the most important men in his life being ashamed of him bubbles back.
Beau leans forward in the rocker and smothers out his cigarette. He grits his teeth. Surely he didn't hear Jasper correctly even though Jasper spoke clearly and the only other sounds are those of the frogs croaking and the insects chirping in the background. Jasper holds his breathe as he waits for Beau's response.
"Run that by me one more time, Jazz. Maria is what?"
Hi readers! My original plan was to do a chapter for each month until the due date, but there's just too much to pack into one chapter. The next update will be coming soon. Please review and let me know what you think!
