The Ramblings of Brighton Montgomery [A Jasper Hale Love Story]

Chapter Fourteen

“Mom!” I yelled, as I ran over to her, “Why are you here?”

“For your graduation of course,” she laughed, “you think I would miss my own daughter’s graduation.” She drawled out, her Georgian accent still thick.

She looked into my eyes, and let out a small gasp, “Brighton, what on earth has happened to you? Your eyes.”

My eyes went wide, “I’ll tell you later.” I whispered. I would need to think of a lie… quick.

She looked behind me, “Whose this?”

I turned around, “That’s Jasper Hale.” I prayed to God she wouldn’t make any embarrassing comments like, “Sooo this is Jasper or Jasper, I‘ve heard so much about you.”

She looked at me, “Jasper… Nice to meet you Jasper.” I let out a sigh of relief.

He nodded, “Nice to meet you ma’am.”

“A Southern boy?” said my Mom looking at me.

“Yes ma’am, originally from Texas.” said Jasper.

It was settled, my mom now loved him.

“Look Brighton, I figured you’d missed your Mom’s cooking, so I made you something.” she pointed at the table.

I looked to the table, and saw breakfast for dinner. Eggs, bacon, toast, and… grits. My mouth watered, and I groaned. I couldn’t eat these things. I looked at Jasper, hoping he’d tell me what to do. His eyes were wide too.

“Jasper, you must join us.” said my Mom.

Yes Jasper please join us! I was screaming in my head.

Jasper went to stand by me, and said in a murmur so low, no one else would be able to pick it up, “You can eat it… but you’ll have hell later.”

I nodded, not really liking this, but at the moment, it was my only option. I sat down slowly, with Jasper on my left. I glanced around the table, everyone was uncomfortable. Janet was doing her best not to appear angry, but then again my Mom did cook in her kitchen and used her things. Then a feeling of calm seemed to blanket me. Jasper must have felt the tension too.

Shakily, I went to go and grab some things for my plate.

“Jasper, are you going to eat?” asked my Mom.

“No, Ms. Montgomery, I already ate.” he said.

“OK.” was the reply he got. Lucky, he wouldn’t have to be force fed.

I slowly raised my spoon of grits up to my mouth, my Mom was watching expectantly, and Jasper was watching worriedly. I shoved them into my mouth. They weren’t how I remembered them, no longer the buttery goodness that I had enjoyed. Instead they were plain and bland. I had a difficult time swallowing, as I was basically was choking since my body was resisting this, going “Wait a minute, this isn’t right.”

I took a sip of water to force it down, it didn’t sit right within in my body. The rest of the dinner, I was careful to only take a few bites.

“Mom, how’s your class going?” I asked to keep her away from watching me eat.

“Good, we just got done with the Revolutionary War, some of the kids are awful though.” My mom was a history teacher, surprise, surprise. How do you think I got this way?

“Brighton!” my Mom said appalled, “You’ve hardly ate anything! This is so unlike you, you should be on your second helping by now.”

Great Mom, let Jasper know that I used to be a pig.