Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Behind Steel Bars

By Midnight Dreamer

Chapter 18: Lunch with Carlisle

Jasper was just about finished with the horses when his cell phone went off in his jean pocket. He stopped what he was doing and answered, though not quite sure of who it was seeing as he had only given the number to Peter, Charlotte, his Ma, and Mr. Jenks.

“Hello, Whitlock here.”

“Jasper, it’s Carlisle – Alice’s father.”

“Hello, Carlisle. I have a feeling my brother gave you this number. So, what it is that you want to discuss?”

“I take it my wife has already spoken to you?”

“Yes, Esme is with my Ma right now.”

“Well then, I would like to have a chance to speak with you about everything that has happened since you’ve been home.”

“I’m workin’ right now but we can possibly meet for dinner… Unless you have time to join me and the ladies for lunch?”

“That would be fine. Will you be going anywhere or is your Ma cooking?”

“I believe they have something planned for here at the ranch.”

“Then I will be there in say… 20 mins?”

“That will be fine.”

“See you then, Jasper.”

“Bye.”

Jasper hung up and got back to work. He had figured a nice relaxing day working on the farm would do him good. Boy, was that a joke! This day was turning out more and more stressful as the day went on. He may just strangle Peter when he saw him next – what would have crossed his mind to willing give his number out to the father of the enemy?

It wasn’t that long before his Ma called for him from the porch.

“Jasper honey, would you come in here?”

“Comin’ Ma!”

Jasper jogged up to the porch and followed her inside. They all sat around the living room.

“We watched the whole thing Jasper…” Ma said.

“How could we not have seen this?” Esme asked.

“It’s not your fault, Esme.” Ma told her.

“I feel as if I should have known.”

“No one knew.” Jasper told them.

“Oh, Jasper, honey! I hope you don’t hold her actions against myself or Carlisle. You know we still love you as if you were our own but as for that girl who is supposed to be my daughter… I will deal with her myself.”

“Esme, please don’t start trouble in your own home because of this!” Jasper said.

“Even if he hasn’t seen the video, I’m sure Carlisle will agree with me on this one, Jasper.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Jasper knew when he was beaten and going against either of these women was not something you do with out thinking it through completely.

“Jasper, honey? How long have you been keeping surveillance on you and Peter’s homes?”

“Since we moved out. And I also have cameras set up here.”

“Where? How? When?”

“Since Pa passed. I hooked everything up before I went to Basics. There is a camera in every room of this house.”

“Even the bathroom?”

“Yes. It points over the shower toward the doorway so the whole room can be seen – except inside the shower.”

“You boys really got shook up after what happened with your Pa, didn’t ya?”

“We don’t wanna lose anyone else that way. But I guess my paranoia came in handy – for once.”

“Not in the way I would have wanted it to but yes, it did.”

“Is anyone hungry?” Esme asked, breaking up the seriousness of the room.

“Yeah, but can we wait a bit?”

“Why?”

“Carlisle will be joining us.”

“Oh…”

Jasper sat back on the chair, leaning his head back as he closed his eyes. As he rested, his Ma and Esme continued to talk about what they had seen. He could hear every word they spoke, though they were trying to whisper:

I can’t believe she would do that to him!

My boy is the sweetest man I know! Why would she hurt him like that?

I don’t know Abigail, but I plan to find out. What she did was appalling!

I know, Esme. But remember she is still your daughter.

Yes, I know that though I can’t help but be angry at what she did to Jasper. He is such a wonderful man and did everything for her but what does she do? She throws it back in his face by sleeping with someone they called a friend! In his home! In his bed! If that isn’t adding salt to his already deep wounds I don’t know what is!

Yeah, I agree, but we have to be strong for him – he needs us all now more then ever.

What can we do?

I have an idea but it’s gonna take some time since he is still hurting. However, Charlotte has a friend she works with that managed to get Jasper to not only smile but laugh as well – and not even a week after this all happened!

Do you know who she is?

I only have a name: Isabella.

And how do you know all this?

Charlotte and I talked when we took Jasper out to shop for new stuff. Her name was brought up and I thought poor Jasper’s face was gonna break from that huge smile he got from just mentioning her.

Well I guess we can work with that.

Only one problem.

And that is?

Charlotte is tight lipped about her and won’t even tell us her last name. She’ll only say that she works with her on occasion.

Well, that puts a damper on things, don’t it?

Jasper had fallen asleep not long after that so he couldn’t tell you what else was said. Before long, his Ma was shaking his shoulder saying that Carlisle had arrived and dinner was ready.

They entered the kitchen together and sat around the small table, talking as they ate. You could clearly see Carlisle get more and more agitated as the women spoke of what they had seen on the DVD. Jasper was glad that he didn’t have to participate much in the conversation and it wasn’t long before the Cullen’s left. Jasper stayed to help his Ma clean up:

“Jasper?”

“Yeah, Ma?”

“Will you be back out tomorrow?”

“After my court hearing, yeah. Why?”

“I wanna have a Bar-b-Que… You know, one like we used to have when your Pa was still with us?”

“That sounds nice, Ma.”

“Yeah, so I would like your help cleaning up the yard and such.”

“Not a problem, Ma. I’ll come over as soon as I finish with the court stuff and then we can get to work. When do ya wanna have it?”

“Two weeks. That should be enough time to get everything done, right?”

“More then enough. Want me to let Peter know?”

“No, I’ll give him a call later on in the week.”

“Kay Ma. Well, I’m gonna head out now, ya gonna be okay?”

“Now that I know your watchin, I’m sure I’ll be just fine!”

Jasper kissed his Ma on the head before heading out the door. He jumped in his truck and was about to head home when he suddenly felt the need to go visit Peter…