Here is another chapter! Thank you for reading and please review. My beta is not available to proof read for another week so here is a chapter than will have some mistakes….
Here is another chapter! Thank you for reading and please review. My beta is not available to proofread for another week so here is a chapter then will have some mistakes….
Mae, Angus, Celia, and now Miles are no longer holding it against me or even upset most understood why I did what I did. The pants are cotton and loose, I just pulled on a forest green tank top and socks. Outside fun is a no go due to the now heavy snowfall. I learned to French braid my hair from Mae, but Celia should me how to make it a little messy and down the side which looked better on me. The cabin was warm now which means Mae is up and starting to fix our morning meal.
Like it was a chore, I leave the room to help and it has nothing to do with her she is so wonderful. It is Jesse, us not talking and his anger was winning out keeping us from talking. I was greeted by their smiles, "Good morning, Mae and Celia," trying to be pleasant but feeling so down and washed out.
This was us every morning just baking and cooking, right down I was making jam for the next few weeks. It was a process that Celia was walking me through as Mae was making the sausage and smoked bacon. Celia sighed, "Sorry dearest, Jesse is new to this mate business. And he flipped on us for not keeping you inside, he panicked and overreacted. We have watched you take the blame and cold shoulder from him and it just ain't right. We agreed you should have waited for us but you're an independent woman and he needs to see that," her voice firm and sweet, but letting the mothering nature creep in every word.
Mae chimed in, "She is right. There were times in the beginning Miles and Jesse ran off and scared us but we forgive and build a strong foundation. Jesse, has never really loved another female other than myself and Celia," she was very right but why couldn't he just forgive me.
The house was filled with the smells of a freshly cooked meal, Mae left to get her husband as did Celia, which left Jesse to me. His door was shut and in no way was I just walking in at this point, so I just knocked twice. He was awake, he was dressed and his hair tied back once again. Jesse's swirling eyes locked with my own, his voice husky and rugged telling me he hadn't been awake long. "Why didn't you just walk in?"
Snapping, "Why would I? You have made it very known my presence is not welcomed near you for fifteen days Jesse Tuck!" it felt like a fire was burning in my belly moving up and out of my mouth. Leaving him to just stare at my sudden departure with his mouth agape. But now I hear him following behind me with a few others but the steps not the same.
Taking my seat with a tiny huff as he takes his next to me, Miles was already seated across from me with Celia as Angus and Mae joined us. The food was still very hot as we started in, Miles and his father talking of us going to Hun after the winter, they want to end the Brotherhood for good but how can that be if they're immortal.
I had to ask, "And how do you end them if they're like us, immortal. I also thought a child was not in the cards due to being immortal?"
Angus looked deep in thought as he chewed, we all were until he finally spoke. "They figured a way, from the way I heard it. They tried to use a normal everyday mortal and the woman died before the fetus could grow and thrive outside of the womb. But they managed to capture a young and older immortal and only one survived the birth,'
Jesse snapped, "That's why they want young immortals, they can survive the birth and raise the infant," the anger was the most valid emotion he had these days, but at least in this, it was justified.
I just continued to eat, watching and listening just as Celia was doing.
"We just keep the girls safe, Hun will help," Mae was right but Jesse just snarled and spat angry words under his breath.
The days are long, Celia and I, we are knitting a new hobby. I and she are making a quilt using scraps of things. It was warm or going to be, but for now, this took time and we had time as Mae was now reading while the boys carve wood into things. I mean there was always something to do, we played board games and cards at night but the day was just for us. Jesse was hard at work and I couldn't see what he was working on, "Are you okay, Miles and I are going to go have a private conversation and will be out in the next two hours,"
Smiling, "I am great, I hope all is alright with you and Miles," but she just patted my shoulder with a smile leaving me alone, guess it was time to switch projects as I cleaned the mess. Mae and Angus left as well, was there something wrong that everyone needed to have conversations?
I just clean up and move on to the bathroom, filling the tub with rose oil before leaving to grab a towel and panties since my clothes aren't dirty. I slide down into the water, letting it block out the sounds around me. The water was perfect the oil helped soothe me like nothing else, this was my little luxury a warm bath. The small bubbles floated around covering my lady bites when a hesitant knock was heard, "Come in," I was covered enough that I wasn't too embarrassed knowing it was only Jesse since the others are off talkin.
He stood now in just jeans, his hair falling from the tie he was heaven to me and mine for as long as we lived, or so Celia told me. "Umm, can we talk," what is with everyone wanting to talk today.
I mused, "Mae and Celia are also talking to their men too," he smiled a first in days.
He alerted me, "My love, you're young and not experienced and it makes me love you more. They are not actually talking they are umm…having intercourse. But right now I want to talk as in a real conversation,' the amusement was so clear in his tone as it made much more sense now, I felt the heat of embarrassment at my naive nature.
He sits on the floor next to me, his muscled body relaxed, "I made this for you, "in his hand was a rosebud made of cherry wood, it was covered in gloss and was the most brilliant thing I had ever seen. "Oh Jesse, it is so beautiful. Thank you so much, my body coming from the bath to hug him, like that his arms are around me even when I was dripping wet.
"Your welcome, love. I am truly sorry for my own messed up behavior never before had I worried or had such fear. Not even with Winnie, but you, you're my life and when I found your cell it made my mind go in every direction thinking the brotherhood got you. Miles, he was the one who wanted to go to Treegap first, in the end, he was right. It was nice and put my past behind me to see Winne once more because it was never her for me," he was not known for being emotional, hot-headed and stubborn but this was a side just for me.
"I know I am in love with you because my reality is finally better than my dreams," my word honest and low afraid in some way of his rejection.
His face changed turning on like the night turns to dawn.
"Your love is all I need to feel complete," we fell into silence even after he walked out so that I could dry off and clothes myself. At least he was looking to be in a better temperament and not so angry with me anymore, it did take long enough. The clothes are warm and after applying lotion was feeling much more relaxed, but the lingering feeling of being naive was there. I was a very sheltered child and teen it was just a product of my upbringing not a reflection on myself. Jesse was waiting in the den looking a tad bored and in no way was I very shocked, being cooped up all winter was going to be that way. But Angus said only another two months before the snow would clear and we depart for Changbai mountain or heaven lake.
But for now it is us inside and we better get used to it.
"Maybe California for you would have been more desirable, you look bored," my voice coming from behind him, his body jumped from the sofa. "No, it was always hard to be in a set environment for long periods of time. But it isn't as bad as I had once thought,"
Oh, "I am not that into traveling, every once in a while, it be nice but not constantly on the move. A nice home life like this is what I have wanted,"
"I can tell, and to me, it isn't bad this is just the first time being like this in a very and I mean a very long time. It still new to me and in honestly I worry they will still attack, we could make it to the tunnel and to town if needed that means they can too," never had I known this, now it was very real.
I suggest, "How about we rearrange the cabinets and straight everything before we make some supper, seems everyone is busy," my face just shocked at what was really going on.
"I can't cook,"
"Oh, I will teach you," my own voice becoming animated as I for once dragged him to the kitchen where we started with the large cabinets, just giving it a haul, after an hour the kitchen was organized the jars, dated and in order for easy grabbing. The pots and pans hung by size as I walked back in with my hands filled. I had organized the large freezers by date, and best this stuff was used. Pork chops and some veggies.
I just dethawed the chops as Jesse was watching, I mused. "It has been hours are they not finished," when his arms wrapped around me. "It takes time, and they probably fell asleep. Let's just make some dinner,"
"First let's mix the three cheese with red peppers and spinach," the cream cheese, cheddar, and jack would pair well with the veggies. "Can you cut open the pork just enough to stuff the mix inside," he did without complaint, this was very different he wasn't skilled like him ma. But in the end, the breaded chops are done in the oil and placed into the oven.
"This is much more work than I imagined, you three should get more credit," he stammered taking a seat while cleaning his face.
"We only made a single thing, get up we have rolls, veggies, mashed potatoes, gravy, and dessert still," we did work out and it was as if we could eat and the weight wouldn't stick.
"How about we have a conversation instead,"
"Back to cooking, Jesse. We have time for conversation another day," his eyes turned bright as he jumped up until his lips pressed to my own, it was heated but we pulled away.
"As long as you will consider it,"
He peeled and I cut, he washed the corn on the cob and when done I laced it into the salted water, the gravy would be last. "Can you get the bag of frozen rolls, dated one week ago,"
"Your wish is my command, love,"
Soon they to are in the oven, next was a simple dessert. "How about some Crumbled shortbread cookies and toasted pecans top succulent red cherries, just a cherry crumble,"
"Sounds good, let's do it. Just nothing to hard, you have shown me just how hard cooking for the family is,"
It was seven when everything was finished, Jesse went and collected everyone who had been awake and showering for some time. Mae just fretted how she fell asleep and forgot to cook, but so thankful I had Jesse to help me, but now Miles was looking at the food with distrusting eyes.
Celia slapped him, "Jesse, I am sure you and Finley did an excellent job. Cooking is not easy, maybe Miles and I should do dinner tomorrow, in fact, us couple's should trade off days so us woman don't have to do it every time," she was firm as Angus and Miles looked forlorn.
I smiled, "I am okay with this, Jesse was such a great help,"
"It's settled then," Angus just took a roll, Mae also was smiling this would be fun. I brought the fresh, warm bread to my nose, inhaling deeply. It smelled rich, promising a delightful taste. Picking up a knife, I applied copious amounts of thick, creamy yellow butter. But everyone seemed to like the supper we cooked, Miles added his mouth full. "I assume my girl did most of the work,"
Jesse just rolled his eyes, "Neither confirm nor deny,"
Yesterday's water was now an unbroken sheet of dark ice. The surface was glass-like and with as much give as concrete.