Fighting For Ava

*20*

Jethro got home that evening feeling tired and his eyes craving sleep. All he wished was to take his dinner and slump on his bed till the morning comes. But he knew well what his nights were always like. He always planned an hour or two to deal with Rose's constant troubles before he could be able to sleep.

Even though he mostly found that annoying, sometimes it was a sweet experience for him. Especially when Rose was in her funny mood, like yesterday when she had dealt Gavin with a heavy wit. Or the day she had got him the letter from Stan. Those were the versions of Rose that Jethro loved to see, but they were always rare like a stream in a desert.

Sure. If you throw a dice now, five over six goes for him to be taunted by Rose this night again.

Jethro gave a small satisfactory smile when he discovered no one was in the living room. He walked as quietly as he could to his room, fell on his bed, and pretended to sleep with the hope that Rose would again help bring his food inside.

His stomach grumbled its complaint but he ignored it by reflecting on his day. His mind went back specifically to the quarrel between James and Lucas. Their heated conversation had ended shortly after he got there and neither could Gavin, who had witnessed the fight for a longer time, be able to grasp what the bone of contention was.

Jethro's stomach rumbled again telling him there was something else he should be bothered about than two full-grown men who could have had a misunderstanding on.. maybe.. a business run together. Gavin had said he heard the men talking about a share and whatever James and Lucas were sharing was not his business. Was it?

Definitely not.

He hissed and sat up on his bed. He glanced at the clock and it said ten minutes to seven. What were those two females cooking that took them so long? Stone?

He groaned and was about to convince himself to go to the kitchen and check when the door mercifully opened. He breathed a thank God but then a thrill shot inside him when he saw Rose shuffle into the room, wearing Mother T's apron. The cloth that would normally hover around the woman's knees was now sweeping the floor of his room as the girl struggled to walk in it.

"What's this?" Jethro laughed contemptuously.

"Your Mum for the night." Rose remarked and made a show of the spoon in her hand, "Mother is having a little cold and sleeping now. I'm the one doing all the cooking tonight." She explained with arms akimbo.

"So?" Jethro snorted.

"So, you could be starved if you don't show respect to your one-night Mum," Rose said, faking a harsh motherly tone.

"You're just a clown." Jethro doubled up in laughter. Rose was just like Gavin. Full of unexpected dramas. Maybe Ava was perfectly right. He was lucky to have people like Gavin and Rose in his life. You could never be depressed dealing with them.

"Hey, more respect," Rose warned playfully when Jethro would not stop laughing.

"Alright." Jethro put an effort to control himself, "But can I have my food, I'm starving."

"Really?" Rose scoffed, "No Mum?"

Jethro's lips went apart as he gazed at the girl in amusement. He knew he would have to obey her calls or else he would certainly not be given the dinner. He knew Rose too well.

"Okay," He breathed, "I'm starving, Mum, can I have my food." He intentionally drawled the Mum.

"Better." Rose retorted and eyed him funnily, "But still on one other condition." She noted and was met with a frustrated look on Jethro.