Chapter Fifty Four
Peter
When I heard Jamie on the phone my antenna started twitching, something wasn't right, there were no plans to go to Volterra for Christmas but from The Majors tone of voice I didn't push it.
"Yeah sure Jamie, I just hope Santa knows his way to Volterra"
"Of course he does Uncle Peter, he's got a Sat Deer."
"A what?"
"It's like a Sat Nav with antlers"
He got me there!
"Right well we'll see you tomorrow some time Cowboy. Behave till we get there"
"Thanks Peter."
"That's OK, should my radar be pinging?"
"No, it's not like that. I'll see you soon."
As I put the phone down Emmett looked at me,
"Do you smell trouble?"
"Too fucking right but not the kind we usually fight by the sound of it. Anyway we are expected in Italy tomorrow so we'd better get our asses into gear. You tell Rose, and Char and I will get the last few bits and pieces. Shame about the tree"
We'd found a huge one out in the woods and brought it back, absolutely smothering it with lights and stuff, still I'm sure they'd come up with one for him in Volterra. I just wanted to know what the problem was.
Jasper
When Jamie and I got back Felix was walking towards the Great Chamber with the biggest Christmas Tree I had ever seen. Jamie whistled and ran to help, taking the very end of the tree as Felix took the weight.
"I'm glad you're back, I need you to tell me where you want it."
They disappeared through the doors, the tree brushing the sides as it just squeezed through and I could hear Jamie chattering away happily to Felix. I think they were talking about a computer operating the lights!
As soon as he was fully engaged I rang Peter back and filled him in,
"Tell the others but Jamie doesn't know and we want it to stay that way."
"Sure thing Major. I know I've said some derogatory things about Carlisle but I'm rooting for him now."
"Yeah me too. See you"
I found Bella sitting alone in the bedroom I'd carried Jamie to and her shoulders were shaking with dry sobs. I put my arms around her,
"Hey, Jamie's going to want us to help decorate the tree soon, so come on."
She nodded and took a deep breath holding me with shaking hands,
"You're right. Best face on I guess"
I tried to help her churning emotions as we walked back to our son but my own heart was breaking so it wasn't as easy as usual. What would we do if anything happened to him?
Felix
We'd almost finished decorating the tree with lights when Bella and The Major came in, both smiling with an effort. Jamie ran over to grab Bella's hand and pull her over to the computer explaining as he did,
"Felix and I are going to program the lights to come on in different patterns when people speak, it's going to be really cool Mummy."
She nodded,
"It sounds complicated"
He shook his head and launched into an explanation that lost her within seconds although she nodded and encouraged him to go on when he looked at her suspiciously.
"How's he been? Thanks for the tree by the way"
"No problem, tree or Jamie. It's a long time since I've celebrated Christmas and I'm rusty but its coming back to me, especially seeing it through his eyes."
As we looked at Jamie he swayed slightly then righted himself holding on to the chair.
"The floor went wobbly again Mummy. Why?"
"I don't know darling. I felt it too"
"You did? Good"
An innocent white lie for now.
Bella
Although we watched closely Jamie didn't have any more "spells" that day and went to bed exhausted but excited to be seeing the others tomorrow, Christmas Eve. I read him a story and he was soon asleep, Jazz came in and we sat together looking down on the vulnerable boy in the bed,
"We're going to lose him aren't we Jazz?"
"No. Not if I can do anything about it and I will try anything. You didn't give me a chance at Fatherhood without me trying to hang on to it."
I put my head on Jasper's shoulder and closed my eyes remembering his birth, the tiny infant in Jasper's arms. Surely we could have him longer than this? Was fate so cruel as to snatch him back so quickly?
He was surprised to see us both sitting there when he woke up and we had to think quickly, luckily Felix put his head round the door,
"You better hurry Jamie. Mummy and Daddy are waiting to take you to meet the others."
Jamie wriggled out of bed and straight into the shower dropping his pyjamas as he went and we had to laugh, he was so eager to see his Aunts and Uncles again, or more likely to make sure they had told Santa where he was going to be. Peter had promised to send an Elf-Gram to the North Pole so he would know Jamie was in Italy for Christmas.
Jasper
We went outside to find a minibus waiting,
"I thought you might need the room, we use it mainly for Heidi's hunting trips."
I nodded getting in the driver's seat and letting Jamie sit on my lap,
"Ready Cowboy?"
He nodded and turned the key in the ignition. As I guided him and changed gear he steered the minibus down to the bottom of the hill where he climbed off to sit with Bella.
"Do you think they've brought some more decorations, there's room for more"
I wasn't sure where but I just nodded,
"I'm sure knowing Emmett and Peter that there will be plenty of everything. Are you OK?"
He nodded then yawned,
"I feel a bit sleepy."
I looked at Bella over his head, he'd only been awake a little while, was this another symptom? I would let Carlisle know as soon as we got back. Jamie dozed against Bella as I drove to the Airport where I nudged him awake,
"Hey cowboy. You ready to greet your Guests?"
He sat up smiling then saw the others and almost ripped the door off in his eagerness to get out. He flew onto Emmett's arms and then leaned across to kiss Rose before jumping into Peter's arms and throwing his arms around Charlotte. The gang was back together but their eyes held questions and concerns that we couldn't address yet.
The drive back started off noisy and there was no need to avoid awkward questions, Jamie kept everyone occupied with his explanation of the computer operated lights and the size of the tree which Peter refused to believe,
"Bigger than Emmett?"
"Yes much bigger"
"Bigger than a house?"
"Yes bigger"
"Bigger than an aeroplane?"
"Huge, as big as a football stadium"
"Nah, I gotta see this monster tree. We brought some decorations so hope its big enough for those too."
"There's lots of room Uncle Peter. Do you have a star for the top though? Felix and I couldn't find one?"
Peter shook his head but Rose stepped in,
"We can make one Jamie."
"A really big one?"
"Yes A really big one I promise"
Things went quiet and I looked back to see Jamie laying across Rose's lap fast asleep, taking the opportunity I told them what Carlisle had discovered and saw the horror I felt reflected on their faces.