Chapter Sixteen
Bella
Toni and I went to Clarissa's fathers funeral as the last thing we could do for her. She'd made it clear she wouldn't be coming back, nor would she promise to write or phone. Her fathers death had hit her so hard it was difficult to see her coming through it but her aunt and uncle were really nice people and I knew they would help her all they could.
In some ways it was good that I'd moved out, I hated the idea of being there on my own after such tragic news, instead of which I had Jazz to console me and I wished she'd had someone like him to help her. It made leaving him for my camping trip with Renee and Phil harder but he was insistent I go.
"While you're having fun I'll be getting in contact with my foster parents with the good news. Then when you return I'll take you to meet them, and my sister Rose, I think you two will get on great. I'll be away myself but I won't feel guilty knowing you're having fun in Yellowstone, Just don't annoy any grizzly bears or mountain lions and keep away from the snakes."
"You make it sound like a trek up the Amazon Jazz."
"Its equally as dangerous if you aren't careful. Take lots of photos, I want to see my intrepid explorer climbing mountains and forging swollen rivers."
"You be careful too, after all you're off to the dangerous tropics not me."
"I will but first I have to brave your mother and step father. Do you think they'll be as anti as your father was when he first met me?"
"No, Renee is a different sort of person. She won't beat around the bush, she'll either like you and tell you so or hate you and tell you so. She makes up her mind rather quickly."
"Then I'll do my best to impress at first sight."
We picked them up at the airport although why Renee insisted on leaving from Seattle when it would have been easier for me to fly out to meet them I don't know, but then my mother was a law unto herself. I introduced Jazz to her and Phil and we drove them to the motel they'd booked for the night, close to the site they would be picking up the rental truck for the first part of our journey. Once inside the park they would be leaving it until we finished and then drive back and return it.
"I'd very much like to take you out to dinner Mr and Mrs Dwyer, that way you can get to know me a little."
"Its Phil and Renee and sure that would be good although I think Bella has done her best to fill us in Jasper. She's quite your ambassador as a matter of fact."
Renee smiled and continued as Phil finished speaking,
"How did you get on with Charlie? I should think it was a little fraught, he's not exactly an easy going kinda guy."
"He was fair, he gave me a grilling but I expected that. He just wants what's best for his daughter."
"Charlie has no idea what's best for his daughter, he doesn't even know what's best for himself but he does try, I'll give him that."
Over dinner my mum and Phil, rather than subjecting Jazz to the third degree just chatted leisurely about our upcoming trip and some of the others we had taken but managed to get in quite a few questions about Jasper's past and his family as they did so. Enough to feel comfortable with the two of us becoming engaged it would seem.
"It's a shame you couldn't join us Jazz, you sound an outdoors kind of person. Getting Bella on a horse might be your greatest challenge you know. She's terrified of them, has been ever since one threw her when she was little."
I groaned as my dear mother told the story of how I was thrown by a pony only a little bigger than me on a beach ride.
We walked back to their motel laughing and joking and I knew Jasper had won them over just being himself. I was going to miss him like crazy but this was my last holiday with my crazy loveable mother and Phil and I decided we would enjoy ourselves so I would try not to miss him too much that it showed. We left them and went back to our apartment, home as it now was and I spent the night locked in his arms talking about the future. As soon as I returned he would take me to meet his family and then...well he told me there was something he would need to tell me but not until I'd met them,
"Is this to keep me thinking of you while I'm away? Because you really don't need to try, I'm going to miss you like crazy anyway Jazz."
"I'm going to miss you too Bella and I'll think of you every minute of the day but I want you to enjoy yourself and remember I'll be waiting ready to welcome you back into my arms when you return from the wilderness."
We made love slowly and gently and I fell asleep warm and contented in his arms, the chill of his body no longer bothering me as long as we were close.
I woke early the next morning a feeling of dread having shocked me from sleep but there was Jazz as always watching me with those beautiful golden eyes so full of love.
"What's wrong Bella? Were you having a nightmare?"
"I'm not sure, I think I'm just dreading being away from you for almost two months, its such a long time. Why don't you come with us?"
He smiled that lazy smile that always turned my body to jelly,
"You forget I have a holiday of my own planned with the family. I want to tell them all about you too then when you get back I can take you to meet them."
"Do you think they'll like me?"
He leaned in and kissed me gently,
"How could they not Bella? I love you and you make me happy, they'll love you."
I still felt unsettled and unhappy but I put on a brave face, or at least tried to.
"You get showered and I'll make you breakfast."
I kissed him back,
"I have a better idea, why don't you shower with me and I'll skip breakfast. I need something to remember the nights I'm away from you."
"With pleasure darlin.'"
Of course the shower was just the beginning and we ended up back in bed only breaking apart when his phone started ringing insistently. He groaned kissed my breast once more then reached over to answer while I flew into the bathroom to take a second quick and lonely shower. When I came out wrapped only in a towel he was still talking but he grabbed me and pulled me onto his naked lap which was totally unfair especially as I was going to be late as it was!
"I'd like you to say hi to my best friend Peter."
He handed me the receiver and I said "Hi."
"Well, so it is true, I was beginning to believe my friend there swung the other way but its good to know I was wrong, rare but good. Hello there Bella, I look forward to meeting you real soon."
"Me too, maybe you could visit once I get back from my camping trip."
"I'd like that but why the f...hell is he letting you go alone I don't get."
"I won't be alone I'm going with my mum and step dad."
"Yeah but there won't be anyone to keep you warm at night."
He chuckled as if he could see me blushing and Jasper took the phone back,
"You get dressed while I get rid of the pest."
Jasper
I watched as Bella dressed wishing I could hold her here naked instead of watching her off on a trip that would mean I didn't see her for almost two months. Although the trip was scheduled for six weeks I had been warned that was liable to change if they were having fun. What would I do without her here at my side? I was trying to be adult about it but really I wanted to hold her close and beg her not to go.
"So Major she really exists. I am relieved, I thought maybe you'd got yourself one of those imaginary fucking friends. So when do we get to meet her? And more to the point what are you gonna do without her tucked up in your little bed?"
"I'm going to tell the family about her then Emmett, Edward, and I are going hunting in the Amazon so you see I'll live."
"The hunting sounds interesting but visiting the bunny munchers not so much. How come you never invite me along on one of your adventure holidays with the boys?"
"Because my friend it would take you all of about ten minutes to upset everyone and I like some peace with my fun."
"Yeah well watching Dickward chewing on some poor unsuspecting fucking llama isn't exactly my idea of fun."
"Yeah and geography isn't your strong point either, you don't get llamas in the Amazon."
Bella was motioning to her watch so I rang off and we went to meet Renee and Phil but I could feel her reluctance to leave me and I felt the same way so we stopped a few blocks away and exchanged a few final kisses and caresses.
"Come back to me soon Bella."
"I will and you be sure to wait for me Jazz."
I lifted her hand and kissed the engagement ring,
"That shows you I'll wait for as long as necessary."
"I promise I won't leave you again after this, ever."
"Good, I don't think I could bear the waiting more than once."