My note…For story purposes, I'm going to use Melissa's real birthday(May 31st) as Ashley's. I don't recall the writers ever giving us a date for Ashley's birthday and this works perfectly with the timeline too. Since I screwed up the whole Canadian holiday thing….our Memorial Day is held the weekend after their Victoria Day(thanks Heather. It actually worked out better this way, lol)…. this chapter will take place the last week of May.
FATHER KNOWS BEST
CHAPTER 6: THE PERFECT GIFT pt.1
Jimmy nervously pushed forward, glancing up at the familiar house. This time though, the back door seemed enormous, the small step up to the stoop seemed unmanageable and the reality of what he was about to do was overwhelming.
Jimmy blew out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding and maneuvered up the stoop to the imposing door. Closing his eyes, he ran his sweaty palms over his jeans and rapped his knuckles against the wood.
Jimmy waited anxiously for the door to open...he thought of turning back, but before he could react the door swung open and the large intimidating figure that Jimmy was dreading, stood there grinning at him. "Jimmy, come on in", Robert Kerwin greeted cordially, stepping to the side so Jimmy could enter.
"Mr. Kerwin", Jimmy responded as best he could.
Robert closed the door behind him and walked over to the counter. "Ah, Ashley's not home right now, but you welcome to wait", he offered, motioning to the family room.
Jimmy nodded hesitantly. He knew Ashley wouldn't be home, he was the one who planned it that way…conspiring with Paige and Ellie to secretly take her to the spa for the afternoon, as an early birthday present.
He followed Robert through the dining room chewing nervously on his bottom lip. He swallowed hard, trying to soften his parched throat. "Yes Sir, I know", Jimmy finally answered. His quavering voice caused Robert to stop and face him. "I actually came here to um…talk with you", Jimmy paused to compose himself. "…and Kate, um….Mrs. Kerwin", he corrected quickly.
A few months after Ashley started dating Jimmy again, Kate insisted he stop being so formal and call her by her first name…noting that since he called Jeff, Jeff…he should have no problem calling her Kate. It took a few weeks to get used to, but Jimmy did. Kate loved the comfortable relationship they always had with Jimmy and swelled up with happiness the first time she heard him refer to them as "my second family".
And just as comfortable as Jimmy felt with Ashley, Kate, Jeff and Toby, he was equally intimidated by the man standing before him. "I'm sorry, but Kate's not home either, she had to work late", Robert replied apologetically. Jimmy frowned and looked down at the floor. Robert stepped closer and asked curiously, "Is there something wrong Jimmy?".
Jimmy looked up at Robert, flashing a timid smile and slowly shook his head. He subtly glanced down at the couch, then back up to Robert, hoping he would get the hint. It was hard enough for Jimmy to get the words he needed to say out, without having to look up at this man towering over him.
Robert quickly took a seat on the couch and waited for Jimmy to continue. "Ah, no Sir", he answered formally as he shifted slightly in his chair. "...um...not really". Robert's intent gaze only made Jimmy more flustered. "Maybe I should just come back when Kat...um, Mrs. Kerwin is here...", Jimmy hesitated and pivoted to leave.
"No Jimmy, wait", Robert sprung up and called out. Jimmy turned back reluctanly to see Mr. Kerwin standing over him again. "This seems important to you and if it concerns Ashley...", he trailed off and went back to his previous spot. Jimmy did the same and sat, fiddling with the rims of his chair.
"It does...", he gasped out, deciding to stop stalling and jump right in. "I love your daughter Mr. Kerwin...I really, really love your daughter", Jimmy empahsized, a grin gracing his face and a slight hint of confidence building up inside of him. "Her birthday's next week and I wanted to get her a special gift...a really special gift". Robert listened intently.
"I've been meaning to do this for some time now", Jimmy stated, working hard not to side-step the actual question. "And now that you're here...it seems like the best...ah...", he stopped, loosing all cofidence as the inevitable loomed closer. "...um, Mr. Kerwin...I'm asking for Ashley's han...would we have your bless...Sir, I'd like to ask Ashley to marry me", he finally stammered out.
Robert eased back into the couch cushion, with a mix of surprise and...oh God, could it be...disappointment on his face. Jimmy cringed inwardly. "Jimmy, I can see how deeply you feel for Ashley...", Robert paused, and Jimmy could feel his heart sink, there was definitely a but coming. "...and marriage is a huge commmitment...".
Robert leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees as he spoke. "...that I don't think Ashely is ready for". That blow was worse than the proverbial but. "She's been through so much. That's why she came to London...after everything that happened when she dated Craig...".
"But I'm not Craig, Mr. Kerwin", Jimmy stated firmly. "I would never cheat on Ashley...I could never hurt her".
Robert smiled softly. "I appreciate that sentiment Jimmy, but...", he continued.
'Ah, there it was', thought Jimmy, tightning the grip on his rims.
"After Craig, and her failed relationship with Allistair in England, Ashley was devistated", Robert explained. "It took a long time to get to be happy again, and even today, I don't think she's completely over all of her heartache".
As much as he didn't want to agree, Jimmy nodded...after all, this was her father and her father would know what's best, right. "I understand", Jimmy replied, eventhough he really didn't. "We could probably wait a little...", drifting off as he slowly turned away defeated and pushed toward the kitchen.
Robert rose and placed a hand on Jimmy's shoulder, "I think that's for the best, son".
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Ashley and Kate were totally unaware of the goings-on at the family reunion the weekend before, or what transpired between Robert and Jimmy a few days ago...and that's exactly how he wanted it.
The Kerwin-Isaac's house was bustling with preparations for a small, intimate birthday party in honor of Ashley. Ashley herself didn't want anything big, considering they would be having a large, combined graduation party for her and Jimmy at the Brooks' house, the following weekend.
"Here's the shopping list Ash", Kate stated, handing her daughter the slip of paper. "Make sure the watermelon is seedless and try to find beer and wine that's already been chilled...if not, pick up a few bags of ice".
"Got it", Ashley declared, grabbing her purse and keys.
"I'll have to go with you Ash...", Robert chuckled. "...they won't be able to sell you the alcohol, you're not officially nineteen yet".
"I got her covered Mr. Kerwin", Jimmy offered happily and Ashley rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek.
"Are you sure? Because I can...".
"Yeah I'm sure", Ashley cut in. "Jimmy has to pick up some things at the store anyway...", she finished, lightly rubbing Jimmy's shoulder. But not being able to pass up the opportunity to spend the morning with her two favorite men, Ashley added, "You can come too Dad".
Once inside the local superstore, Ashley wrestled out a shopping cart from the corral and pulled out the list her mother gave her. "Paper towels", she mumbled, looking at the aisle headers, but followed Jimmy when he headed in the opposite direction.
Ashley caught up with Jimmy just as the pharamacist looked up and smiled. "Prescriptions for Brooks", the older lady behind the counter stated, in fact rather than question. "Hey Ashley", she called as she filed through the bin marked B.
"Hi Lorraine", Ashley greeted cheerfully and smiled at the quizzical look on her fathers face. "They know us pretty well here", she whispered to him. "Lorraine, this is my dad, Robert", she introduced to the pharmacist.
"Nice to meet you", Lorraine greeted as she walked over to the register. "Five Jimmy?", she asked.
"Yep", he nodded, signing his name in the appropriate spaces.
Robert watched the transaction curiously. "He doesn't take them all regularly", Ashley felt the need to explain. "It more like an as needed basis...but the reality is, he does need them", she said in a matter of fact way, but Robert thought he could detect just the slightest bit of sadness in her voice.
"Ready?", Jimmy asked, pulling up to the cart, dropping his prescriptions into the seat and moving on.
Jimmy paced himself a few feet ahead of Ashley and Robert so he could grab the items she called off the list while they hunted for other things they might need that weren't written down. "Two boxes of fudge brownies...the family size", she called out next.
Jimmy spotted the needed item on the top most shelf scooting as close as he could, he leant to the left and reached for the box, precariously balanced on one wheel. Ashley caught up to him, just as he knocked two boxes into his lap and righted himself. "You were tipping", Ashley warned with a playfully scold. Jimmy grinned and triumphantly handed her the boxes. Ashley fought hard not to smile back and determinantly worked to wipe the smug grin off of Jimmy's face with a delicious kiss.
Robert watched, amazed at how well the two worked together as a team...knowing what the other was thinking, anticipating each others next move. And neither of them seemed to notice the looks and stares being sent their way, something Robert was increasingly and uncomfortably aware of.
"Party goods...our last stop", Ashley declared as they rounded the aisle.
Jimmy looked to his left. "Hey Ash, I'm gonna go over to the electronics".
"Okay, I'll meet you there", Ashley nodded and got busy picking out what she needed.
"Well, one could probably tell what your favorite color is without even asking", Robert laughed and motioned to the growing mound. Ashley blushed slightly and shrugged innocently.
"Here, get these too", Robert offered handing Ashley the packages of a one and a nine.
"Mom's already got candles", Ashley protested.
"Yeah, but these are pink", Robert winked, tossing them into the cart and pushing it forward.
Ashley snuck behind Jimmy and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed his cheek. "Did ya get it?", she asked, referring to the replacement video game Spinner accidently stepped on and broke.
"I'm still waiting", he grumbled. Leaning back into her, he watched the clerk behind the counter tinker with something.
"Still?", she whispered incredulously. "Maybe he didn't see you".
"Oh, he saw me", Jimmy replied bitterly.
Ashley sighed and squeezed Jimmy's shoulders. She stood up straight and, not surprisingly, within seconds the clerk was at the front of the counter. "May I help you", he warmly asked Ashley.
"I highly doubt it", Ashley feigned politeness."But you could probably help my boyfriend", she added pointely and turned on her heel. "We're gonna go check out", she called to Jimmy over her shoulder.
Ashley walked back over to her father. Robert had a look that was a mixture of complete shock and disgust. "That type of behavior was totally uncalled for", he declared angrily.
"Yeah it was", Ashley agreed, but shrugged indifferently. "Some people are genuinely ignorant, although most are just uncomfortable or curious and it comes out as seeming rude...you learn to get used to it".
Robert wrapped an arm around Ashley's should as they walked to the registers and sighed, "It's just unfortuate that you have to".
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Okay, I'd love to hear your comments and thoughts on this chapter, I just ask that you don't bash Robert to much...at least not yet. I had to chop the chapter into two parts because it turned out to be waaaaaaaaay too long as one chap. I've never been sure if Kate and Jeff "officially" got married(I've always assumed they did, just Kate didn't take his name) so I'm keeping her last name as Kerwin.
To my awesome reviewers...pisces iscariot, havocmangawip, Sunshyne08 and lilfiftyfour...Thanks guys!!! A bonus thank you to Heather who gave me the "nasty clerk" idea from her own personal experience...I've been waiting a while to use that 'scene'.
Degrassi is not mine.