Jesse

14

“Jesse?” I looked over my shoulder to see Brian and I turned the rest of the way in the tunnel to show I was waiting to hear more from him. “You’re going to be good right? You will find out who did this to you and what they did to your family?”

“I’m not going to tolerate anything like this again, which means it’s finding and taking this person out, so yeah, once I do that we should all be fine.” I told him and he nodded slowly and I saw his throat bob up and down as if he was nervous.

“Let me know… when you’re safe and settled. I’d offer to help but I know I have got nothing to offer.” He told me and I was warmed by the idea of him wanting to help but also not wanting to get in the way.

“I’ll give myself a vacation when this is through, maybe a longer stay down here.” I told him knowing I’d want a break from my family again if they all seemed to stick around in Ohio.

“You know where I will be.” He nodded back towards the bar and I nodded slowly with a smile on my face.

“Thank you Brian.” I muttered, not wanting this to be our last conversation, but also not knowing what else to say. I could hear my son down the tunnel, he was pacing and waiting and probably listening in, so I turned and started to walk, not giving him any ammo on what I might feel for this man.

It was hard to keep walking, but I needed to. I caught up with jr, we walked up the tunnel to the blood club, I talked to a woman I knew, got him fed as I looked around for any new strangers, asked around, made sure we were safe, And when he was done I took him up to our rooms, he told me he was going right to bed but if I wanted to go back out to just let him know.

“Good night Jr. I’ll be in bed as well.” I had the feeling he was over selling his “ok”ness with what I am, over needing me forgiveness.

It was ok, but also annoying that he thought he needed to try so hard. I went to sleep, ready for the next day to come and be over with already. I wanted to be home, relaxed and remembering what I forgot.

I slept like the dead, and I rose with a small grunt as I felt the need to get up. It was always early mornings with me if I went to bed before midnight. When I couldn’t see the sun it was hard, I was an early riser as a human, and I loved to see the sun rise and fall and I would have Imogene or one of the boys with me in their early years.

The sun was a blessing back then, we never knew when it would come out in England, but when it did we cherished the day.

I got to the kitchen of this place and looked around until I found some oatmeal. It used to be my favorite, and Jrs, when he was a boy.

I made myself some, plain like we used to have it and I sat and thought back to those days when that man used to be a boy and would fit in my arms.

I was sitting at the big window in our living room, looking out, writing the tasks I would need to make sure got done during the day and I heard little feet running to the room.

It was almost sunrise, and I turned to see my oldest peeking in as if to see if I was here again. I was always here.

He giggled loudly and headed right for me, hands out like he was a bird and he rammed into me side with a louder happy giggle.

“Good morning father.” He moved to climb in my lap, looking out at the early morning mist.

“Good morning, how did you sleep?” I asked him knowing some nights he would hear his brother wake in the middle of the night still.

“Like the dead.” He laughed and I smiled at him knowing he had heard that from his mother’s father just the other day. He thought it was a funny saying and used to say that all the time after he heard it.

“Now, what shall we do first?” I asked knowing he was fickle, sometimes wanting food as we watched the sun rise, and sometimes he just wanted to see it happen.

“Can we go to the hill and watch the sunrise?” He asked and I was a little shocked, he hadn’t asked to go out in months, since his mother was still pregnant with Eli. “We can now can’t we?”

“Yes of course, get your coat and shoes.” I set him on his feet and he headed for the front door.

“Sir? Shall I get the water ready for your oats?” I looked over at the kitchen staff and nodded slowly. “Eggs as well?”

“Await Imogene for that, she always liked her breakfast hot.” I told the girl and she nodded before heading back towards the kitchens at the back of the room.

I grabbed Jess and we strolled out in the dawn, just the quiet stream at the bottom of our hill could be heard and I smiled as my son talked about how it was going to be a cloud watching day.

“Father?” He asked as we sat on the highest point and I turned to look at him. “When I grow up… and leave and start my own family, will you stay away like grandfather?” I knew he was talking about my father, who hadn’t been to see us in so long neither of my sons knew him from Adam.

“No. I will be there for every step of your life. Your wedding, who you will get to chose your bride, your parties, your children will know me.” I vowed and he smiled softly and leaned against me as we started to feel the slight heat from the sun now that it was fully detached from the horizon.

“Will I have sons?” He asked and I smiled softly and shook my head.

“You might have sons and daughters. You might have only daughters. It’s all up to what you truly need in your life.” I told him and he nodded slowly before yawning as if he was still tired.

“Will you carry me back for breakfast?” He asked after yawning yet again in my face to show just how tired he was.

“Climb on my back.” I urged and he smiled happily before getting right to my neck, pulling his hands right around it as he got settled and I made sure to get him to loosen his hold a bit before I got up and I walked us home.

“Will I be just like you when I am big?” Jr asked me as soon as we got to the house.

“I wish for you to be better than I am, in every way.” I told him as I sat him down on his feet.

“No one can be better than you.” He said it so carelessly to the true emotion behind it before he took off to the kitchen for his breakfast.

“Father?” I snapped out of it and looked over to my son, and he looked concerned. “Are you ok? Did you remember something?”

“Just thinking back to when you were young.” I told him softly and he looked worried before he sat down with me. “Sleep well?”

“Like the dead.” There was no giggle that came out after that comment, just a yawn and he raised his hands to his face to rub out the sleep.

“Do you remember where you first heard that?” I asked wondering if he could still remember back that far.

“You?”

“Your grandfather.” I corrected and he seemed to try and think back before shrugging slowly.

“I don’t remember much or your father-“

“Mother’s father.” I told him and he tilted his head, a small smile on his face as he seemed to think back to Elliot.

“I was young. He came to see Eli in person.” He said the memory so quick as if he was describing something that happened 10 years ago and not over a 100 years.

“He spent as much time with you as he spent with Eli, and for us… we were grateful. He would tire you out and you and Eli would sleep which back then let us sleep.”

“He died the winter after Eli was born, he never got to really meet him.”

“Have you ever told Eli about Elliot?” I asked knowing that could be a way in for them to fix their relationship.

“I used to try. When Eli was a toddler I would tell him all the time that he was named after my favorite grandfather, and I would tell him silly things.” He has a longer memory than me, I can’t recall if I ever brought up his name sake to him at all.

“You should try again, he used to ask your mother about him but I don’t think she was ever able to get past a couple stories , if she ever got past one.” I knew my wife loved her father, and when he died she was beside herself with grief, her mother has passed months after our marriage started, and she never got to hold Jr… it was always a rough subject with Immie.

“Speaking of mum…” he sighed and I looked at him as he shifted to pull out his phone. “Please call her and talk her down out of worrying. She wants us to get a flight back.”

“We’re fine to drive.” I told him but took the phone anyways. Immie would be mad if we didn’t talk her down or tell her we were on the road. She would worry a hole into the floor if she never heard from us.

I waited the few second it took her to answer and I smiled as she started to tell me how worried she was that we didn’t call last night and how she hadn’t slept a wink.

“Immie, we’re fine. Jr. was tired mad hungry so he fed then we both went to sleep. We should have called, I apologize. Tell me what’s going on there.” I rolled my eyes as Jr took my oatmeal and stated to finish it off, he never cared if it got cold, food was food to him no matter what.

“I want you home tonight Jesse. Who knows what this guy can do to both of you.” She urged and I let her fret before smirking and thinking of a way to redirect her.

“Immie, you need to relax, find out if that man in your mate, do something to occupy your self until we get home. We’ll be driving so you only have to worry about Eli being there. I’m sure he would leave if you dropped hints you wanted to be alone.” I snatched my bowl back from Jr as he made a face and set the spoon back in it like he was no longer hungry.

“You really think I should, I want to wait for you-“

“Immie, he won’t want to do anything when I’m there. He’s old fashioned remember?” Any man of his age wouldn’t dream of talking to a married woman without her husband present, so as long as I am gone they might as well use it. “Maybe he can give you a massage or some other way to relax you.”

“Father please.” Jr mutters and put his hand to his mouth as if he were to be sick.

“Ok. I can try.” She muttered slowly and I smiled.

“Good, now, no worrying, we will let you know each time we stop for gas so don’t think we’re ignoring you while we drive.”

“Take care of our boy.” She urged and I smiled before hanging up.

I immediately dialed Aaron’s number and waited.

“Hi, are you ok? Do you need something to get back?” She asked right away and I worked my jaw slowly.

“You should take my Eli out for a movie or something, introduce him to the pack in some way, like a party.” I suggested and she stuttered a bit wondering why. “Let’s just say Eli getting to know his mate and her pack might lead to my wife knowing her mate a bit better in more ways than one.” I told her shortly and I heard Grey laugh and then explain it to her in a low whisper.

“I can’t believe you’re setting her up.” She accused me and I sighed.

“Do it for me Air. And for Eli, and Lina.” I heard Jr laugh for a second and I thought it was going to work.

“I’ll see.” She told me and I knew it could all work out. Not being there in person I couldn’t help push everything along… but I still had people who could help. “When will you be back?”

“Late tonight early tomorrow.” I told her and she sighed. “We will do a big breakfast tomorrow ok?” I told her and she said she would be there no matter what and I was left to hang up, get our things and head out with my son.

Nothing could really ruin our trip. At least, I didn’t want it to.