FreshSqueezedLemons

Chapter One-In the beginning…

July 12, 2007

Charlie POVA House is Not a Home-Luther Vandross

I was packing my belongings from my not too plush office, when the memories kept flooding back. I stumbled across the last family picture before he died, Jacob. The son that was not biologically mine, but that I had loved, and raised as if he were.

His smile was the spitting image of Billy. We grew up together, and when we had gone to college, it was only natural that we go to the same school. We both came from money and I never figured him the type to sleep with my girl. Unfortunately he did, and I did not realize the deception until I was married and disowned.

I came from old money, the oldest money that South Carolina had. Great great grandpa Swan owned a plantation back in the day, and was the only one who didn’t really own his slaves. He purchased them, but once they got to the plantation, he set them free and offered them a job, a home, and a fair wage. People thought he was crazy, which was the reason for the rouse.  He couldn’t let people know he freed them.  If they chose not to work for him, he gave them money and safe passage to the Northern states.

I had a trust fund, and though Renee had one too, it wasn’t as big as mine. We met at the University of South Carolina. Five generations of Swans had gone to the University and passed through its Law Schools. I was a legacy, and would be a lawyer like my father, and his father and brothers before him. My junior year of college, I brought Renee home. Her family had money, but according to my mother, it was new money, and she didn’t want that Georgia trash mixing with us. Renee’s father was a developer and oil man from Texas who moved to Georgia when he met Renee’s mother.

Those women seemed to make men want to move mountains to be with them. I laughed to myself as I remembered when we showed up on my parents door step. Renee was three months pregnant, and we were elated. She was a different woman back then, and her smiles were not gin and vodka induced. It was Renee’s sister who was the hell cat of the family. She had run off during one of their families’ vacations to marry some doctor from London.

Little did my parents know, we were not asking for approval. We had already gotten married the month before, and had waited until the end of the term to go home and tell our parents. My mother was furious, I had never seen her as angry as she was that day.  They offered to get the marriage annulled and the child put up for adoption, but stupid twit that I was, I defended Renee’s honor. They disowned me, and stupid me, I had no clue that she and Billy had been sleeping together almost the whole time behind mine and his girlfriend, Sue Blackfoot’s, back. It was painfully obvious when Jacob was born that he was not my son.

His dark skin gave it away, but I had made my choice, and I was going to stick to it. I would stand by her no matter what, and I would never give my mother the satisfaction of being right. All I had was access to the trust my grandfather had left me; all the other money was gone.  I guess they thought Renee would leave when I had no more money, but her trust couldn’t be touched until she turned 25, and she had nothing. Billy’s family did not have the kind of money mine did, so when Renee choose me over him to be the father of her unborn child, Billy packed it up and left town.  He joined the military, and we never heard from him again. Truthfully, it was a coin toss which one of us could be the father. I didn’t realize the reason why Billy had left until I looked at my obviously Native American newborn son. Apparently, Renee said that when she told Billy that I was the father, he said he couldn’t bear to be around us. He had asked her to marry him, and she turned him down flat. He would rather leave than see us as a happy little family.

The day Jacob was born, I was devastated. Sue and I looked at that baby in the nursery and knew who the real father was. After boot camp, he returned on leave to see if it was true what Sue had said, that Jacob was clearly his. I rubbed my jaw as I remembered that night I last saw Billy.

“God damn it Billy, she was my girl.  You could have anyone you wanted, why her?!” I asked him, half pleading and half rage filled.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Lee,” I flinched at the sound of him using my childhood nick name. “It just kinda happened one night. Then it kept happening, she’d come over whenever you were off visiting your parents-” I punched him with all I had and he punched me back.

After a good half hour of fighting, we finally slumped to the ground crying. “Just go, get the fuck out of my life, William.   You took my woman, and now I’m taking your son.” I had never in our 22 years of friendship called him by his given name, William.

“He’s my son, Lee.” Billy looked at me with tears in his eyes.

“Says who? She’s my wife, and it’s my fucking name on that birth certificate. God damn it, William, I gave everything up for her and that baby.  My parents won’t have anything to do with me, I gave up the money, the family business, all for what?” I spat the blood that was pooling in my mouth, “For some two-timing bitch who only married me for my name and money? Well I guess I get the last laugh now, huh? I will raise that boy as if he were my own. I will love him and give him everything that you two took from me, and even if it kills me to see the proof of your betrayal, I will never let him know…”

That was the last time I saw him.

I looked to the other side of my desk and gathered a picture of Jacob and Bella at her 12th birthday party. That was the last time we had been whole. Three months later, Jacob was killed. I still had no proof that it was retaliation for the cartel I had brought down, but I couldn’t take that risk. I needed to move now that the trial was all over for Bell’s safety.

Since I couldn’t go to law school because I had to use my trust to set up my family, I went into law enforcement, which was the next logical step for me. I hated it at first.  Being a beat cop was boring, until I had the opportunity to move up in ranks. I proved my skill with a fire arm, and took risks most rookies would not dare to. I was pretty reckless. I loved Jacob with my whole heart, but when Bella was born… She was me, all me. A goofy grin spread across my face as I remembered Renee going through the grueling 18 hour labor. Bells was stubborn from the beginning, and wasn’t going to budge just because her nine months were over. The doctors had to induce labor, and when she was finally born, I saw her wrinkly pink skin and cried. For the first time, I cried tears of overwhelming joy, knowing she was mine and no one could take her from me.

I knew then I would work harder to give her everything I could. I made detective fast, and I loved spending Sundays with my kids lounging by the pool and bar-b-queing.  Saturday mornings were always spent watching cartoons with Bells, and the afternoons Jake and I would go toss the ball around or go fishing. I saw all of Billy’s best qualities in Jake, and when I learned to forgive Billy, it was through my love for our son.

I looked around the now empty office and wondered how I had managed to just have one box of stuff in the office I had held for 10 years now. I didn’t realize just how much I loved Jake or missed Billy until those bastards took him from me. Deep down, I knew it was the cartel. I had to leave. The memories of my son were too strong. I learned quickly that a house is not a home, especially when it is empty of the life you once had there. We would take the urn that contained Jakes ashes and place it in our new house. I owed it to Bella to try and give her a home, the trial had lasted five long years, and we needed a change. I had watched the loving daughter I had turn into a cynical young woman, and my wife turn into a drunk. Deep down, I always knew Renee truly loved Billy and only married me because of my trust.  She had no clue that I would be disowned; her daddy was more than willing to help us out when my money ran out.

He had a lot of respect for me.  He knew it was a blow when I found out Jacob was not my biological son. He respected the hell out of me and his wife adored me because I stayed. I could have walked away and ruined Renee’s name by screaming foul and asking for an annulment. I would have gotten it too; everyone knew Jacob was not mine. For saving his precious girl’s reputation, he was always more than willing to help bail us out of some financial jam. He wanted Renee and I to save her trust for the kids’ college, so even though it was difficult, I swallowed my pride.

Twenty one years later, and here I was, fucking starting over. I applied and was hired as the sheriff in a small county in Texas. We would be living in a small town, but I took the job to give my little girl safety. I was hoping for a fresh start, and if I was real lucky, I could sober my wife up too.

I grabbed the box and headed out of the office.  As I walked away, I heard the soft click of the door closing. I slipped out before anyone could make a big fan fair, it was time for a new beginning.

August 2003- Somewhere in Chicago

The Cullen’s

Take a Chance on Me-ABBA

Had it really been 17 years already? I looked around the house. Suitcases were by the door, and trunks were in the car. Alice, as usual, had way too much stuff, Edward had been the more practical of the two, and took two suitcases of clothing and a box of books with a few family pictures. We would buy their bedding and such when we got to College Station.

I couldn’t believe my babies were already starting college. It was hard when Emmett started three years ago, but my babies’ leaving the nest was harder. Em was always so stubborn and boisterous, I knew he would be okay, and while I knew Alice’s sense of adventure would lead her in the right direction, I worried for Edward. He had no real friends other than Alice and Em.  While they made friends easily as we traveled the world with Carlisle and Doctors without Borders, he always stayed in the shadows,  It was harder for him to adjust.

Our last assignment had been in Turkey, and when Emmett was getting ready to finish school, we decided it would be better to move at least to the states for their college education, god forbid, if something should happen to one of the kids, we needed to be a flight away, not a continent.

I smiled as I remembered Carlisle calling Garrett to ask him if he could have a position at the hospital in Chicago. Garrett immediately offered him the chief resident position that had become vacant when Aro Volturi had retired.

It would be interesting being in the states after 18 years of traveling the world. What would be even more interesting would be the working dynamic between him and Garrett given our sordid history with Garrett and Kate. Kate was Carlisle’s twin sister, and sparks flew when she met Garrett.  Granted, it would have been more convenient had I not been engaged to him at the time. I laughed to myself at the irony of the situation.

I was a school teacher in Chicago, and Garrett was chief resident at St Agnes Hospital. I had been to visit Garrett at work many times, but had never interacted with any of the students he had under him. That day was nothing extraordinary, I looked a mess after teaching all day, and after trying to no avail to reach him on the phone, I had stopped in to see if Garrett would be able to come to my parents house for dinner that evening.

As soon as I saw that blond hair and pale blue eyes, I knew I was in trouble. I did not even know his name, but I knew he was the one. Carlisle was an intern, and Garrett was his boss for all intents and purposes. Whatever this feeling was, I could not act on it. It would ruin this young man’s career.  We were introduced, and that was it.

I began stopping by the hospital more often, hoping to get a glance of the young doctor.  I knew it was selfish, but I couldn’t bear to go a week without seeing him. He would always talk with me and smile, and once he had cornered me in the lounge and kissed me. I told Carlisle in no uncertain terms that I was to marry Garrett, and it was career suicide for him to pursue me, but I secretly prayed he would never give up. Then that night happened.

It was at the annual fundraiser for the donors of the hospital, Garrett and I were dancing and he cut in. We had been stealing glances for a year already, and it was the first time we had actually talked in the open. I felt guilty for what I was doing to Garrett, but there was a magnetic hum when I saw Carlisle, a pull I could not resist.

“Esme, you look divine.” He gave me the dazzling crooked grin I had come to love.

“Thank you, Carlisle, but really, we can’t.”  He cut me off and began his monologue

“Listen, Esme, I know I don’t have a lot to offer you. I am not wealthy, I am finishing my first year as an intern, and Garrett is already a doctor.  I know it would be hard on us, but if you could just take a chance on me, I promise I will spend the rest of our days making sure you don’t regret the chance you gave me. I love you, Esme, and I think I will go mad if I can’t have you. I want to marry you, have children with you, grow old with you, and if you’ll let me, I want to love you until god sees fit to take us from the world.”

I was utterly shocked and trying to keep the tears from falling from my eyes. “But Garrett can be cruel, he’d ruin you…”

“I don’t care, don’t you see? I am mad with love for you already.  There will never be another for me but you… If you refuse me now, I understand, but I will never stop trying to win your heart, because you have already won mine.”

The next thing I knew, I had taken his hand and rushed out of the ball. Katie had just gotten there as she was a nurse at the hospital down town.  She knew by looking at me that I was Garrett’s fiancé.  She had never met either Garrett or me, but knew of his reputation.

“Carlisle, are you freaking mad?”

“Yes, madly in love, Katy…” Garrett came rushing out and what happened next was utterly unbelievable. He looked from Carlisle to me, seething with anger. Then he turned to Kate. I saw his face change once he looked into her eyes.  There was an instant spark I had not seen before.  I knew that’s how it must have looked the first time Carlisle and I set eyes on each other, then he let us go. He smiled sheepishly and turned to face her completely.

He extended his arm and asked Kate to go in with him. She looked at her brother and I before she put her arm in his and blushed profusely. It had happened for them too; love at first sight. I had never believed in love at first sight until I met Carlisle. He was everything to me from that first moment.

The honking from Emmett’s Tahoe pulled me from my memories. He had driven up for the summer since Alice and Edward would be returning with him. We would fly in the next day to get them settled while they enjoyed their first tour of the country.

I looked at my children drive away after we had sent them off and sank into the arms of my husband. Silent tears fell from my eyes as the emptiness of our home filled me.

“It’s okay, dear.  They will be fine, and we will see them tomorrow.” He kissed my forehead and held me close to him.

“I know, honey, it’s just - we haven’t been alone since Em was born. We have this great big house and now we are alone…”

“Once the children graduate, I can retire, and we can settle somewhere close to them. Although, I might have to remind you that having a house to ourselves does afford certain advantages.” He wiggled his eyebrows in a cheeky fashion and I smiled. After all these years, and all the changes my body had under gone from giving birth and feeding our children, he still lusted after me the way he did all those years ago.

“Oh really, Dr. Cullen? And to what advantages are you referring?” He kissed my neck and I was lost in him. His scent, which hadn’t changed in all these years, was so manly. He always smelled of mesquite and honey from the soaps I made especially for him. Traveling as much as we did, I always tried to maintain some semblance of normality and routine in our lives by providing simple comforts of home for everyone. I enjoyed making our soaps and ordered our shampoos and other supplies in bulk since we had no clue when we would be stateside to restock.

I moaned as he kissed me and his hand slipped down to my bottom. “Mmmmm, Carlisle.” Suddenly it was like we were 24 again, and in the closet of his parents’ home. Hands and kisses were everywhere. Our clothes were soon scattered on the floor as he swiftly carried me to the sofa. We made love passionately and slowly until we finally were satiated by each other’s bodies.

As we lay on the sofa, I snuggled onto his chest, and he pulled the afghan from the back of the sofa to cover me. He stroked the hair on my head and kissed me gently, “Thank you, my love.”

“For what, sweetheart? I think I should be thanking you for reminding me of the pleasures of having a home to ourselves.” I laughed as his hand gently held my chin and angled it towards him.

“For taking a chance on me,” I sighed contentedly as he kissed me again with no urgency or need for more like earlier. It was the pure bliss of being in the arms of my soul mate, and I hoped that each of my children would find that.

August 17, 2003- Dallas, Texas

Jasper Whitlock’s POV

Let it Be, The Beatles

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. The gangly 17 year old was packing for college while his aunts waited downstairs.

The large estate was being closed by the servants since the young man would not be returning home for many years, if ever.

Home.

What is home without his parents? His mother’s laugh had filled the mansion daily while his father would gruffly tell her to simmer down. Jasper was extremely close to his mother and they had talked about this day for years.  The day he would go off to college, the same college where his parents had met, fallen in love and become engaged.

Since the sudden death of Jasper Ellison Whitlock and Linda May Whitlock the young man’s life had been thrown into shambles. It was too much for him to deal with and his greedy vindictive aunts did not help any. There had to be happiness out there somewhere, something to make his life whole again.

Jasper only hoped he would find it at College Station.