Chapter 5
"Look Muffin, don't go getting all high and mighty on me. YOU have been spilling the towns secrets for years now. Don't be pissed just because we are calling you on your shit now." Carly spit as rage boiled just below the surface.
"Mom, please don't do this here. Everyone is watching. All my friends and…and…Uncle Jason is going to be so mad at you." Cece tried to reason with her mother.
"Shut up Cece, Go get in the car." Carly took the time to address her daughter before returning her rage back on the one person she had held contempt for over half her life. SHE was the one that finally took Jason away from her. SHE was the one who had the life she wanted all along. SHE was the one that had the father for her children that Carly had always wanted and SHE was the one that had the nerve to stand here and be mad at her because her perfect little world was finally crumbling around her. "You have lived your life with everyone thinking you were this perfect little….little…"
"Goody Goody Muffin Face?" Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and smiled. Really this was old but it always took on a new form. Every half a decade at least. Keeping her cool and gloating was what always made Carly explode and cause her own demise. Elizabeth was only too glad to give the ammunition for Carly to commit her own verbal suicide. AGAIN.
"Yes…Muffin Face….Angel….Perfect Woman…whatever….and then when the whole town found out what a slutty whore you really were, you started writing novels so that you could still be the damsel in distress and Jason could rescue you. Well I, for one, am sick of it. I have never once given you permission to use me, my likeness, my personality or my children and their history."
"Carly, I don't think calling Elizabeth names is going to help your cause any." Nikolas tried to reason. Over the years, he and Elizabeth had grown apart but remained friends and he had actually fallen in love with her most hated archrival but the public display was something he never relished. Not as a man. Not as a friend. Not at an interested party and CERTAINLY NOT as a Prince.
"Thank you Nikolas" Elizabeth smiled at her longtime friend.
"Don't thank me just yet." Nikolas turned his conservative, overbearing, arrogant, condescending gaze upon the petite brunette he had known almost 30 years. "You are wrong and have been for some time. This whole town, especially those you call your friends and relatives, those you allegedly love, have been hurt for some time over your writings and now expressly these weekly tantrums of yours. You have no reason and certainly no right to behave in such a boorish manner. And through the years, it has been Carly to receive the brunt of it."
Elizabeth shifted from foot to foot and slowly dropped her arms to her side. She was being chided like a child. And she resented it. Sure, Nikolas had a point but the fact of the matter remained, she changed names to protect everyone and had Carly not opened her big fat size 9 shoe horn of a mouth, no one...not even those in this dreary little Eastern Seaboard town would have known who, what or where. How and why were what made her the money in the first place. The who, what and where could have been everybody's neighbor, best friend or family.
"I know what you are thinking and I happen to agree with you but Elizabeth, you are not innocent in all of this. You write some hurtful things. Do you not think that Lainey isn't embarrassed that you outed her and Cody's sexless marriage?" Nikolas announced, rather loudly.
"Hey, that wasn't me." Lainey spoke up as she turned Rashawn, her newest foster child, and encouraged him to leave the adult conversation that was taking place in the Port Charles High School parking lot.
"Like hell it wasn't you. Two months ago Gerald and Rianna were praised for how well they can adapt to their troubled foster children. Last week, Gerald and Rianna go weeks at a time without sex. In other words, you and your husband are having problems in the boudoir. Who do you think little miss busy body was talking about? No one else in her inner circle foster's children and besides…she" Carly pointed a freshly manicured, bright red painted finger tip in Elizabeth's face, coming within an inch of her nose "constantly writes about Gerald and Desmond, JUSTIN'S partners. Get a clue Lainey, your so called friend threw you and your husbands sex life out there for all of us to laugh at."
Lainey shifted a sideways glance at her friend and saw the defiance facing Carly but also saw that Carly's words had struck a touch of regret on her face as well. Lainey's shoulders slumped and using all of her training as a psychiatrist, she turned to walk away with a final thought. "Carly, we have all known for years that what we may say to our friend may make it onto her blog. I am no different and if I was ashamed or worried that Cody and my sex life wasn't as active as some couples, then I would be upset. However, my marriage is just fine and I would appreciate your keeping your comments to yourself."
"She's not MY friend and…Whatever" Carly offhandedly dismissed Lainey as if she had asked permission to leave with a wave of her bejeweled hand. Then turning back to the petite brunette in which all of her rage was placed she stalked the two steps to look down at her. Even if she was only a few inches taller than her nemesis, she savored the few inches of intimidation she could wield. "Now YOU…" again she pointed the painted finger in Elizabeth's face "if you ever and I mean EVER write another quote, word, action or..or…or"
"Plot point" Elizabeth offered, clearly bored again by the constant whining and threatening she had to endure over her husbands "best friend".
"Yes, plot or point or both about me or anyone else in my family, I will sue you for everything you have."
"And Jason's stuff too?" Elizabeth snarked. She couldn't help it. It was always the point at which Carly backed down. Besides, she and the team of lawyers for Jacks Publishing as well as Jason's personal lawyer, Diane Miller, had already confirmed her untouchability, legal wise, for a lack of a better word.
"Well..NO ! Of course I would never do anything to hurt Jason." Carly backed up a few steps, bumping into her husband's chest. "But don't think I won't turn the tables on you you evil bitch."
"BITCH? EVIL? Really Carly, coming from you that is really rich. I think I am getting a cavity at how rich that last statement was. You want a fight? I have always been here. BRING IT ON!" Elizabeth reclaimed the steps Carly had surrendered. "First let's discuss how your big mouth outed me as Alison Bowen in that God Damned Vogue article on the Fabulous Forty's campaign."
Squaring her shoulders, Nikolas could do nothing but pray that it would end soon. They WERE in front of the kid's school for Heaven's sake and rehashing and regurgitating the same tired fight his wife and his life long friend had been arguing for the past two years. Once his wife's shoulders were set and the jaw of his friend was lifted in defiance, there was nothing to do but step back. Or step in, pending the outcome of the situation.
"Yet another mistake I made when I was feeling generous and charitable." Carly retorted.
"You had no choice…and for that matter, neither did I. Our kids put me in that contest and had it not been for Morgan and Cam, none of this would even be an issue. Them and that big fat mouth of yours." Elizabeth replied.
"You should have just quit. Everything I do, everywhere I go, I have to see your fucking face everywhere. First you started sniffing around my boyfriend when he got shot. Then you stuck YOUR FACE in my business during the Faces of Deception campaign. Then you were sniffing around my husband after our miscarriage. Then you used Jason and treated him like garbage while Lucky was your main concern…then Zander…you remember him? The father of your first bastard."
Elizabeth took a leap forward but Nikolas had anticipated it. Remember, he had seen and heard this all before. He kept his hands around Elizabeth's middle, securing her arms to her side silently hoping someone would come help him break this up before he had to break down and lose his temper and control.
"Then what…oh yes…back to Lucky. That poor louse never knew what was coming." Carly continued as if the smaller woman hadn't just leapt at her. Elizabeth, in the meantime continued rolling her eyes while she produced the steam that was currently exploding from every orifice of her body. "Then your Night of Passion…isn't that what you called it in that fucking book of yours?. Puh-lease!! Jason was probably just drunk and figured you would do."
Elizabeth's hand escaped Nikolas' arms and her five fingers could be heard for miles as they cracked loudly across the blonde's cheek. The crowd that had been slowly gathering, many of the Tree Fort Gang included, gasped and then hoots and hollering started bringing all of the adults back into awareness of their surroundings.
However, Carly being Carly was not going to be the one talked about having taken the hit. She lunged at Elizabeth grabbing a fist full of hair and before they knew it, both women were at least ten yards apart, Elizabeth being held in the air by Mal Drake who had just finished school and was headed for football practice and Carly who was being held back by Kobe Johnson who was walking with Mal discussing that weeks playbook.
Nikolas was in the middle and actually looked the worse for wear amongst the three adults and was screaming at the top of his lungs at both women about how they needed to calm down. He had a scratch on his face from his darling wife and he had a bald patch on the side of his head from his oldest and dearest friend. Times like these warranted a peacemaker like Emily was, or Jason or a stiff drink or one of his grandmother's old torture chambers complete with a muzzle and shackles attached to the cavern's wall. Yeah, he should have never sold Spoon Island because then he could give in to his darker Cassadine traits and just have them both held captive.
"Mwam?" Jake's voice resonated over the school lot as he walked out of the school carrying Amalia and Molly's books. "Mal?"
Jake's confusion was clear and he dropped both girl's books as well as his own back pack to run toward his mother. "What's going on? Mal? Let go of my mother!"
"I was just breaking up the fight. It got physical this time." Mal replied as he set his best friends mother down but still didn't let go of her. He had his arms around her waist and held her back to his chest.
"Get your FUCKING HANDS OFF MY MWAM MAL!" Jake yelled, getting a stern look from his own mother.
Yes, it was ridiculous. A woman who had just started a brawl in her son's school parking lot was now giving the evil eye to her son for swearing. Go figure. MOTHERS!
"Dude, don't yell at me. She started it." Mal pointed at Elizabeth then scrunched up his face in contemplation. "Well…SHE started it" then he pointed at Carly.
Lainey, who had gotten in her car and was pulling away with Rashawn and his younger sister Brianna but stopped and rushed over once the hair started flying piped in, "It's both of them who started it. Jake, I'm sorry you had to see this. You too Cece. You know your mothers will probably never get along but you two should not have to be embarrassed by their elementary display's at your own school."
Lainey stood next to Nikolas in between the two women, one who was a dear friend and one that she tolerated like the rest of the town. She took three cleansing breath's through her nose and expelled them from her mouth as she concentrated. "I want everyone to take a deep breath and let it out. We need to calm down. This argument will never end and it is not fair to our children to be subjected to it. Face it you two," Lainey gave a pointed look at both grown women who were actually taking her advice and taking deep breaths, "this fued will never end. The Hatfields and the McCoy's could have taken a page from you two's book. Luckily, your children have no interest in carrying on the battle."
Each adult looked over to Jake who had his arm around Cece consoling her because she was clearly crying. Elizabeth set her shoulders, mumbled an apology to Nikolas, NOT CARLY, mind you, then walked up to Cece, touched her shoulder with a knowing blink of regret and walked away.
"I'll see you later, okay?" Jake said to Cece and placed a kiss to her forehead. They weren't related but they were like cousins. They got along better than Cece did with Ella which was fine with Jake. Cece was a little too loose for him to be comfortable with her hanging around with his sister. Besides, over the summer, Cece had used him as a practice dummy, so to speak. She wanted to learn how to give good blow jobs and he was happy to comply.
He was a man, after all and they weren't REALLY related and…hell…Cece Jacks was HOT! She had blonde hair past her shoulders that she always straightened because it was so naturally curly. She was tall, maybe five foot nine and had a tight body and big green eyes just like her mother with a light sprinkling of freckles across her face and chest. She spent a lot of time with her father in Austrailia so she had a little bit of an Aussie accent, BIG TURN ON, and her Mom got her a nose job and a boob job when she turned sixteen. She was busting the D's and EVERYONE at PCH appreciated them. Well, the boys at least.
She was like the walking, talking GIRL version of Jake himself. What's not to like?
Now, their friendship rarely but sometimes included a quick round of hide the baloney in the back seat of Jake's Mustang GTO or Cece's car.
Yep, the condom his father had found while fixing Cece's car was his but he certainly wasn't going to admit it when his Dad came out of the car with it.
...
Elizabeth's day just kept getting worse and worse. First and foremost, in that fight with Carly, that bitch got a hand in before they were broken up by the boys and the side of her face hurt. It wasn't bruising or anything. At least she hoped not. Jason would be home tomorrow night and GOD KNOWS he'd hit the friggin roof about it. Maybe no one will tell him.
YEAH RIGHT !
Her kids have probably already sent up skywriters or smoke signals to tell their father what their mother had done. And if not that, then Carly herself would whine to Jase that his wife started the whole thing and she was just defending herself.
Honestly, the whole thing just stunk.
Then she gets home and has a message from the school. She has to go tomorrow and talk to the principle about Jake. What the hell has he done this time? And of course, she knew that once she got there, the principle would have knowledge of her own display in the school parking lot so not only will she have to listen to what a rotten kid Jake was but what a rotten mother she was.
She called Cameron to see how he was doing and he could not get off the phone fast enough. She could tell he was mad at her about something but he would not say what and finally made up some excuse (probably a lie because she wouldn't put it past him) about a cadaver test on suturing he needed to prepare for.
Ella came home from ballet whining about all her friends texting her about her mother's fight with her Aunt Carly. She stormed past her mother and basically slammed the door in her face when Elizabeth went to speak to her in her room. Their previous fight about the dance and being grounded from her car and how her precious Daddy fixed it all still fresh in the little brat's mind so she had no problems treating her mother horribly. Like most teenagers do. Like she did to her Gram's years ago. But still….
Jake came home, checked on his mother after driving Amalia and Molly home from school and then promptly showered and left with some sort of cryptic "going to hang with friends" explanation. Whatever that means.
That's another thing, when Jason isn't around…the kids don't hang out at their house as much. Elizabeth isn't really sure if it's because their Dad isn't there or if it's because their Dad isn't there to check up on them and follow them and insist on their behaving in a way that Elizabeth really didn't have the heart to do. She wanted them to be kids and have hang outs away from their parents and do the stuff teenagers do on a school night up until dinnertime and…and…get the hell out of her hair !!
Now, as she pulled the pan of brownies from the oven…the final straw had broken.
They were burnt. And not just, crispy on the edge cut the top off burnt. If she had a stamping machine for metal, she could give them to the kids to use as hockey pucks.
Today just plain old sucked and she didn't have her husband to romp around on to make it better.
And the fact of the matter…the crux of the problem…the weight on her conscience was the point where she knew it was all her fault and this morning as her husband was packing to go into the City with Big Pappy and Max for their meeting, she promised her husband he could leave her to handle things for twenty four hours without…oh how did he put it… 'pick a fight, upset the kids or burn the place down.'
A trifecta !! What does she win Rod?...well the looks of hate and scorn from her children and a stinking house filled with smoke. A pan of burnt brownies that were going to be an attempt to at least get Jakey on her side and a lonely, empty bed tonight. THEN tomorrow…the disparagement of her husband as he shakes his head and repeats his mantra on how he 'can't leave her alone for five minutes without her stepping in something' along with the usual lecture on how 'she KNOWS how Carly is and she KNOWS better than to rise to the bait' and how he 'WON'T turn his back on his best friend just because his wife doesn't like her' and…
LIFE SUCKS A BIG FAT DONKEY'S BUTT !!
...
"Mrs. Morgan, it really is best that your husband come in for this talk." Principle Baldwin said as he laid the file down on his desk and closed it before Elizabeth could get a peek at it.
Oh, no not that Baldwin. No relation. Came from Mississippi or something.
"But you left a message that one of Jake's parents needed to see you today to discuss a situation. Well, I am one of Jake's parents. I really don't see why I am not good enough to handle this. Usually it is me that handles all of the issues with the kids at school."
"Well, this time I think it is best to be handled by the boy's father." Joseph Baldwin, a middle aged black man with degrees lining his office walls, moved around and sat on the corner of his desk and very obviously leered down Elizabeth's wrap around blouse.
Pulling her hand to her chest to cover the gap the leech was looking down, Elizabeth sighed and leaned back. "Is this because of yesterday afternoon? Is that why you want to speak to my husband instead of me?"
Realizing he'd been caught, the heavyset man got to his feet and went back behind his desk stammering, "N-No…no ma'am. What happened yesterday I actually DID want to talk to you about. I already spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Cassadine and they assured me that nothing like that would ever happen on school grounds again. As I am sure you are willing to give me the same assurances." He looked up at her and she gave an affirmative nod. "Good…look…everyone knows you and Mrs. Cassadine have a…an aversion to one another. It's well known in this town. Shoot, it's one of the first bits of gossip Martha heard when we moved here ten years ago. I think it's in the Welcome package they hand out to new residents under Things to Avoid. Right below Interstate 81and State Road 12 during rush hour."
"Nice" was all Elizabeth could muster for the man who was now insulting her after he just tried to take a peek at her goods. If Jason was here, he would have pummeled the man. Actually, if Jason was here, the man wouldn't have dared attempt a peek at his wife's chest because out of the business or not, Jason's reputation was probably just ABOVE the part on avoiding 81 and 12 during rush hour. In fact, IF there were such a list, which Elizabeth had no earthly idea but was making a mental note to find out, Jason would have his own page, chapter and verse on how to avoid him, why doing so could extend your life and where his usual hang outs were. To this day, if they went to Jake's, the people moved out of his way or simply left and he hasn't been in a bar room brawl since…well since that dumb ass dock worker that was new to town put his hand on Elizabeth's ass when she was picking out some songs on the jukebox while Jason got them some drinks. And that was at least ten years ago, maybe more.
Yeah, poor guy never saw it coming. Elizabeth hid in the kitchen with Coleman and the cook while Jason tore the place up. It was a thousand dollar bar brawl for which Jason promptly paid for in cash but it was some of the best sex afterward.
The principle changed the subject, "So why were you here yesterday anyway? Mrs. Crowley said both of your kids drove home in their own cars."
Yes, related….Who knew Nadine had a younger brother? His wife of three years taught American History and was rumored to have moved here four years ago after being accused but not proven to be carrying on an affair with one of her students in California. Elizabeth and Robin cornered her at her engagement party to Brian that Nadine hosted and threatened her about never touching their boys.
"Oh…" Elizabeth pulled herself from her thoughts "I was actually coming to the school to make a donation to your library. Ella and Anna were complaining that some of the books were really old and that the fictional literature was not a very wide range of things to choose from. I have just received a rather large…um….check and I wanted to donate it to the school."
"From your latest book, I am sure. Martha just loved it. She said I should read it but…well, since the kids are currently enrolled at my school I figured maybe in a couple of years."
"Oh…yeah…um…yes. It's a dividend from my publisher. Obviously we don't NEED the money so since Ella was saying the library could use some help, I figured…why not?" She could feel the blush stealing up her chest to her cheeks at the mention of her book. She still found it hard to deal with when people in town made mention of the fact that they knew she was Alison Bowen, the famous author.
Flustered, she dug around in her purse until she came up with the check. "Ah ha! Here it is!" and she stood and shoved the cashiers check at the man.
Mr. Baldwin looked down and saw the number of zero's after the five and started coughing uncontrollably. "Mrs. Morgan…this…this is VERY generous. We'll be sure to…I don't know, name a section in your honor."
"No No I don't want that. It is an anonymous donation Mr. Baldwin. That's why it's being presented in a cashier's check without any name on it except the school. No one needs to know who gave the money. I just want your assurance that the fiction section will be expanded drastically and that the whole reference section has the latest editions. Other than that, as long as it is spent on the library, I don't care what you do with it."
"Well, I…thank you. I can assure you your stipulations will be met and the rest will be put to very good use. Maybe some new media equipment and additional copies of the more popular books. There are many possibilities with a half a million dollars at our disposal."
"Well, I'll trust you to spend it wisely. Oh and if you are going to purchase books, here…" she handed him a business card with her editor Sue Watkin's name on it. "She's my editor at Jacks Publishing. Mention the school and my name and they'll give you a discount on everything purchased through them."
"Thank you Mrs. Morgan. I'll definitely utilize them. Actually, through Cecelia Jacks, we already DO get that discount. They also provide all of our periodicals at no cost. Mr. Jacks is a very generous man."
Elizabeth sat back down, "Now about Jacob…"
"Mrs. Morgan, really, it IS best that I handle this with the boy's father. I am sure Mr. Morgan will fill you in but it can wait until he is back in town."
"If you are sure, I'll tell my husband tonight when he gets home. You'll receive a call or a visit from him tomorrow morning."
With that, Elizabeth left. She wasn't sure what Jake had done but the principle was adamant that he did NOT want to speak to her about the problem. Odd though. Usually they didn't want to talk to Jason because he would just excuse his kid's behavior. And being that regardless of his last name HE was still a Quartermaine as well as his children, they usually preferred to have things handled by Elizabeth who was much more rational and stern when it came to her children's education.
Not that Jason didn't think education and discipline was important. He just thought that his kids should enjoy some of the perks he and his family had afforded them. One being that since the Quartermaines built a Computer Science wing onto the school and outfitted it with all of the latest equipment, the kids should get away with shooting spit balls in class. Cameron and Joey. Or that since Corinthos-Morgan Imports, Inc. paid to rebuild the science wing after the explosion in the chemistry lab in 2002 that skipping gym to catch a Yankee playoff game didn't warrant detention. Jacob and Malcolm. Or that since Jackal PI Services outfitted the school with a top of the line security system, a catered lunch from The No Name was not an extravagance that was disrespectful to the other students having to eat the cafeteria food. Ella, Anna, Farah, Cece, Amalia and Georgie with a special visit from Big Pappy who scared the shit out of the other students. Especially any boy that even looked in the direction of the table he was sitting at with all of 'his little angels'.
...
"Babe I'm home!" Jason called out as he walked through the front door, black leather duffle bag in hand. Max and Maximus had just dropped him off. "Babe…Elizabeth!"
"I'm right here honey. How was your trip?" She pulled the oven mitt off of her hand, she had just taken some garlic bread from the oven. Dinner was ready and keeping warm for her husband's arrival. She was SO Donna Reed it was sickening.
Jason let out a soft sigh as he watched his wife of nearly two decades walk over to him. She was a vision of beauty. He could never quite believe he was the lucky man to have captured and kept her. No matter how many years passed, she never changed. Not in his eyes at least. She still had the big blue doe eyes and the porcelain white skin that was flawless and long mocha chocolate hair that always smelled like flowers. Jasmine or Orchids. He didn't really know or care but he loved that smell.
He dropped his bag on the floor of the foyer and stalked toward his wife, scooping her up in his arms and breathing her in. "I missed you babe."
"Oh honey, I missed you too." Elizabeth leaned back and looked him in the eyes. Then she placed a chaste kiss to his lips while she tightened her arms around his neck. "So…how was the trip?"
"Fine, fine but I hate traveling with Big Pappy. He stinks and he doesn't care."
"He doesn't stink." Elizabeth defended the old man who treated her like his daughter.
"When he's just with the guys, trust me…he stinks." Jason turned his nose up and gave her a look.
Elizabeth giggled and buried her face in his neck, breathing in her own favorite scent. Leather and soap. Jason.
She let her lips peruse his neck as she slowly climbed up on his body and wrapped her legs around his waist. Jason, in kind, responded with a few guttural moans and many kisses wherever his lips could touch as his hands roamed her ass and he carried her to their bedroom.
Once inside, he threw her on the bed and pounced like a tiger capturing his prey. His hands roamed hungrily all over her body as his lips captured hers in a deep, emotion-filled kiss. His tongue wound with hers and he bit and sucked on her bottom lip as he devoured her mouth.
Quickly, both of them needed the others clothes gone and aside from when Jason ripped Elizabeth's bra in his haste to get her naked and she complained that it was her favorite one, they were both happy once their skin was touching the others.
Jason took her fast and hard, as she knew he would and once they both found their release, the talking began.
"So…a catfight in the parking lot huh?"
"Who told you? I swear those rotten assed kids…or was it Carly. You know, if it weren't for you…" Elizabeth scowled as she sat up and grabbed her wrap around blouse that was hanging off the edge of the canopy.
"Nope, Cody." Jason smiled as he reached for his boxers and jeans that were rumpled at the bottom of the bed. He nearly elbowed Elizabeth in the eye when his boxers were caught between the bed frame and the mattress and she was bent over pulling up her black Ann Taylor cuffed wide leg pants from the floor.
"CODY? HOW THE HELL DID HE…oh…Lainey." Elizabeth sat on the bed next to her husband slumped over and defeated.
Jason dropped his pants and boxers beside him on the bed and wrapped a well defined arm around his wife. "I'm not mad at you honey. I can't say the same for the kids but…well…I don't know. I stopped being mad about you and Carly years ago. I normally don't have to witness it so…I don't know. I kind of feel guilty. I don't know how to fix it but I know you guys started this fight years ago because of me."
"No, not because of you. Because your best friend is jealous of me. I have what she has always wanted and because of that, it is her life long quest to make me miserable."
"Are you?"
"Am I what?" Elizabeth asked looking up at her husband and momentarily getting lost in the silver speckled blue of his eyes.
"Miserable" he said as he placed a kiss to the tip of her nose.
"No…well…no, not with you or our life. NEVER. I am just sick of the constant argument with Carly and I am certainly not happy that she told everyone in the country who Alison Bowen really is."
She climbed over onto his lap and he instantly hardened. Her pants felt almost like silk and he could feel himself settle, silk covered, in between her ass cheeks. A favorite spot of his. His hand instinctively came up and cupped her breasts through her blouse, which was also silky feeling. Why did she have to get dressed?
"Babe, nothings going to change so you may as well let it go. I honestly don't think she realized she did it. You know Carly just says things without even realizing she said them. Something probably triggered her accidentally mentioning you are an author. I honestly don't think it was intentional."
Elizabeth immediately stood and Jason could tell he had said too much. AGAIN. His wife absolutely despised when he defended his best friend. Regardless of the situation, she did not want to hear any rhyme or reason as to why Carly could possibly be innocent.
Needing to change the topic quickly, Jason moved on to the kids. "So how are the kids? Where are they?"
"Well, let's see…" Elizabeth walked over to her vanity and started brushing her hair. "Ella slammed the door in my face yesterday. I think more because I am an evil, hateful mom rather than I embarrassed her at school. Jake…I think Jake and Mal are fighting." She scrunched up her face.
Elizabeth had noticed that Jake and Mal hadn't really been talking. Usually, unless they were asleep, they were damn near inseparable. Then yesterday, Jake really exploded on Mal. That situation really perplexed Elizabeth because usually, Jake would be glad his best friend stepped in to help his mother.
Jason pulled the brush from his wife's hands and started running it through her hair. "Why would you think that?"
"Well, I don't know. Jake…I just have a feeling you need to talk to him. Something is going on between those two."
"Okay, I'll talk to him tonight. And babe, you don't have to put yourself in the line of fire for me when it comes to Ella. I can handle it."
"No, we're mother and daughter. We'll always have that internal abhorrence toward each other. Mother and daughters have faced this dilemma for years. It's a rite of passage. I would rather she always had you and trusted and confided in you. You are her father, her hero. I never want that to change and if a little discomfort on my end allows that, then it's fine. Really honey."
Elizabeth turned around and wrapped her arms around her husband's waist. He in turn leaned over, placing the hair brush back on the mirrored tray on his fives antique vanity table she had found on one of her many Antiquing excursions she took with Nadine. He then scooped his wife into his chest and rested his chin on her head. They fit together perfectly. Always had, always will.
"She confides in you much more nowadays."
"That's because she is becoming a woman. You know you can't stop it. Winning battles doesn't win wars."
"Christ, you and Jake ARE just alike." Jason stood back looking at his wife as if searching for something. Maybe verifying that he was actually holding his wife and not his son.
"Jason, YOU and Jake are mirror images. He is your clone. He's…he's nothing like me."
"He thinks like you. He talks like you. He said that exact same thing to me the other day in the BG." Jason defended his point.
"Said what?" She asked, clearly her interest was peaked.
For so long she looked for some sign of her in her son. Of course she knew he was hers, she gave birth to the child but he was so much like his father. He was calm and rational, a trait Elizabeth knew she had somewhere but wasn't sure where to find it but her husband was the textbook definition of the trait. He was the spitting image of his father. He was smart but didn't flaunt it. He was very strong and quick. His father taught him and his brother how to defend themselves at an early age and Jake had proven more than once that people shouldn't mess with him. He easily captured the attention of every girl he passed by but wasn't arrogant about it. He was a serious person. He studied people and could read them easily. He picked up on traits and habits in others and used them to his advantage but not necessarily to take advantage. He wasn't very talkative, especially around those he didn't know. He took a long time to let someone into his inner circle but once you were there, he would move heaven and earth for you and nothing you said or did could break that bond. He was into motorcycles and cars and loved working on them. He didn't mind getting his hands dirty and rarely, if ever, asked someone to do something for him he wouldn't do himself.
Her son was EXACTLY like her husband in every way.
"He said that I may win this battle with Ella but I won't win the war. That Ella will grow up whether I like it or not. Basically he said exactly what you just said to me." Jason shook his head and walked over to get dressed. Play time was over and he knew it.
"Well we are right you know." Elizabeth beamed. So Jakey got her sense of reasoning and logic. She could live with that. Hell she was ready to jump up and down on the bed. Now that she thought about it, Jake DID finish her sentences a lot of the times. So some of her DNA DID get into Jacob. Good to know !
Elizabeth smirked as she walked by smacking her husband on the ass. She walked out the door and headed for the kitchen all the while thinking...'Good Luck Jakey...find a good woman to love and take care of you unconditionally because if you do have any of my traits, especially MY reasoning and logic, you are gonna need all the help you can get'.