Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
SIMONE
I hadn’t intended to visit Elias’s home that night.
I figured I’d pull back on the tutoring once Jasper started getting the harder lessons in class.
But Jasper’s words kept ringing in my head and I knew I needed to say something about it.
Jasper didn’t seem like he was willing to open up to Elias yet.
Someone had to give the poor man a heads up on what was going on in that kid’s head.
The lights were on when I pulled into the driveway and Elias met me at the door, a frown on his face as he cocked his head at me. “Did we have another lesson planned for tonight?”
I shook my head. “No. I was hoping I could speak to you for a moment. Jasper said something today that I think you should be made aware of.”
His frown deepened and he stepped outside, closing the door behind him. “What’s up?”
I glanced at the door, then back at him. He waved me off.
“She’s with Jasper in his room. He’s been a little clingy tonight. I’m not sure why but I’m not going to argue about it.”
“I think I know why,” I replied. My brow furrowed. “After Jasper’s confrontation with Evan, before you arrived, I tried to have a conversation with Jasper about his reaction. He was pacing and volatile, and the reaction seemed to be more than what the situation warranted.”
Part of me wondered if I was putting my nose where it didn’t belong, but the clear concern on Elias’s face changed my mind.
He wanted to help. I had information that might help him bridge the gap between him and Jasper.
If I wanted the family to grow together, I had to give him all the information I had.
“I think Jasper’s afraid.”
“Afraid of what?” Elias asked, confused.
“Of his family being erased. Of losing what little connection he has to them left.” I waved a hand at the house, which was nice all things considered, but it probably didn’t feel like home.
Jasper made that perfectly clear when he said he didn’t belong here.
“His whole world changed overnight, and not just losing his moms. He lost his home, his friends, the life he’d had for thirteen years.
I think he’s afraid if he opens up to you and allows himself to feel comfortable here, he’ll be erasing what he had.
He’s afraid if he accepts you, you’ll try to replace his parents. ”
To his credit, Elias looked shocked, like the idea hadn’t even occurred to him. He shook his head roughly. “Hell no. I’m not here to play dad. I’m not his dad. I’m his–”
“Family,” I finished for him, raising my eyebrows.
“You’re family, and when kids see him and you out and about, when they see you dropping him off, they’ll assume.
It’s already happening. Evan assumed you were Jasper’s dad and was taunting him about it.
I think Jasper has convinced himself that if he admits you’re family to him, he’ll have to give up the family he already had. ”
Elias let out a harsh breath, his eyes darting back and forth like he was running through the thought process in his head.
If I hadn’t worked with kids for over a decade, I might not have seen it myself, but Jasper’s situation wasn’t entirely new to me.
I’d never had a student who lost both parents, the few times I’d experienced this situation, it had always been one parent, or a friend, but the thought process was the same.
They were afraid of moving on because they didn't want to replace the people they had with something new and forget them. I got the feeling Jasper felt the same way. At least, that’s what I’d picked up during our conversation.
After a long, quiet moment, Elias’s head bobbed slowly.
“Okay. Okay, yeah, I get that. It wasn’t like we were close.
I didn't even know they existed until the social worker showed up. I’d been estranged from my family since before Hannah graduated.
She never reached out after she left.” He drew in a deep breath, a fierce determination overtaking his face when he looked up at me.
“You’re saying if I want him to accept me, I need to show him I’m not trying to replace his moms? ”
“I think it’ll help,” I offered, lifting one shoulder. “I’m not a psychologist, but in my experience, giving him the reassurance that they won’t be erased will go a long way in getting him to open up to you.”
He nodded sharply, then glanced back at the house for a second before turning to me again.
“Hey, this is a big ask, but would you mind watching them? I’m pretty sure Jasper’s capable of watching Isla alone, but I’m not comfortable leaving them home alone just yet.
I need to do something and it might take a few hours. ”
Normally, my answer would be no. I wasn’t a babysitter, and I didn't like the idea of putting myself in that position. But I could see how much Elias cared, and how far he’d go to protect those kids.
He might be a little messy and clueless at times, but he cared.
If I wanted what was best for Jasper, I needed to give him a chance to prove himself.
“Sure. I can do that. You should give me your number in case there are any problems.”
The clouded expression lifted and he grinned, waggling his eyebrows like a goof. “You know, if you wanted my number, you could’ve just asked.”
I rolled my eyes, handing him my phone with a bland expression. I wasn’t going to give into his charms. No matter how adorable he was.
Once numbers were exchanged, Elias ducked back in and jogged upstairs. I heard him knock on Jasper’s door and explain what was going on. When he came back down, Jasper was following him, a confused frown on his face and his little sister in his arms. “Where are you going?”
“Just gotta do something. Might take me a minute. I asked Simone to be here because you know you can trust her. Here’s some cash, order a pizza tonight. Isla’s bottle is in an hour. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
He didn’t wait for an argument, ducking out of the house, and a second later, I heard the roar of his bike as he started it up and pulled out of the driveway.
The three of us watched as he drove away, his face hidden by a helmet, but his body poised like he was ready for action.
I shook my head. That shouldn’t have been as attractive as it was.
“We don’t have to do math just because you’re here, right?” Jasper asked suspiciously.
I huffed a laugh, shaking my head. “I’m not working tonight, Jasper. I’m here because Elias asked for a favor. Now, do you actually want pizza or would you prefer something healthier?”
If I was going to be here, I might as well feed them something decent.
ZERO
I’d gotten the keys for Hannah’s house while signing all the paperwork for guardianship.
Hannah had been smart, put the deed in the trust, so whoever ended up taking the kids in wouldn’t be able to take it from them.
It was fully paid off, and the life insurance covered the taxes and other shit like that until the kids were old enough to take over it.
I was suddenly really glad Jasper didn’t know about it.
If he realized this place was technically his and Isla’s and was waiting for him, he might’ve tried to run away a long time ago.
Pulling up in front of the house, I took a moment to take it all in.
It was a nice place, two stories, with a white picket fence and a bright purple front door.
It’d be a nice place to raise kids, and Hannah and her wife obviously took care of the place.
When I jogged up the front steps, nothing creaked or protested, and the lock on the door was one of those heavy duty things that wouldn’t be broken easily.
I used the key to get in, my footsteps quiet as I closed the door and locked it behind me.
I almost didn't want to disturb the peace of the place.
The lights still worked, the trust must’ve been covering that as well, and when I flicked them on, I looked around curiously.
It was a little messy, but not in a worrisome way.
It looked like people lived there and they were only out for the night.
Toys were scattered on the carpet in the living room, a basket of laundry by the stairs waiting to be brought up.
I could practically see Isla crawling down the hall, being chased by one of her moms, while Jasper sat on the couch playing video games on the gaming system I could see sitting beneath the decently sized screen.
I couldn’t bring it all with me, I’d come on my bike because I wanted to be quick, but after what Simone told me, I had a plan.
I was going to bring some things back with me.
The kids had only gotten a small bag each when they were taken in by the social worker, and had to leave a lot behind.
Pictures being one of the biggest. Neither of them had shown up with pictures.
No wonder Jasper felt like they were being erased.
Carefully, I pulled pictures off the wall; of Hannah and her wife, them and the kids together, and a few of the kids on their own.
I packed them carefully in the backpack I kept tucked in the saddle bags in case I had to stop for groceries, as well as the saddle bags themselves, wrapping them in some of the throws I found in a little basket by the couch to keep them safe.
What room I had left I filled with clothes for the kids, anything they’d left behind that I could scrounge together.
While I was moving through the house, I made a list of things that needed to get done on the place.
It’d be a while before even Jasper could move in, but if I didn’t want the place foreclosed, I’d need to scrape together enough cash to cover a weekly mowing service at least, or stop by myself to do it, and I’d need to stop by often enough to keep the place from falling apart.
I thought about the heavy duty lock on the front door, plus the matching one on the back, and added a security system and cameras to the list. Whatever Hannah had been protecting them from, I didn’t want it taking me off guard when I was too far away to do anything about it.
I checked all the rooms for anything that needed attention, then locked up behind me, making sure everything I’d brought with me was secure for the ride back.
Before I left, I looked at the house again.
I didn’t know Hannah, not well anyway. I didn’t feel the loss when I found out she died.
But looking at the house that was so well taken care of, knowing Jasper and Isla were happy there only a few months ago, an ache tugged at my chest. Maybe once Jasper was no longer a flight risk, I could bring him back.
It might make him feel better to help me keep the house maintained.
To know his moms left him something so he’d always have somewhere safe to come back to.
I couldn’t risk it now, but I hoped in the future, it’d be a possibility.