Always And Forever Mine

Chapter 8

    We thankfully moved away from the idea of Twilight being our inspiration for our book report. We spoke about other titles such as Pride and Prejudice, The Odyssey. Finally we decided on The Great Gatsby, one of my all time favorite books. I first read the book back in eighth grade. It was a gift from my teacher who gave her students books on their birthdays.

    "This book may be a bit to mature for you Jazmin." Mrs. Thatcher said. In her hands was a copy of a book titled a The Great Gatsby. Unlike my fellow classmates, books were my serenity.

    "But if I know you well enough, you should enjoy this piece of work very much so." Mrs. Thatcher said. She smiled and with her index finger slid her glasses up the bridge of her nose. I thanked her for the considerate gift and she smiled and walked away.

    Slater and I had gone from talking about our project to wondering off into conversations about random subjects. We hadn't noticed how quickly time flew by. Suddenly I could hear foot steps making their way down the hall. Slater and I were finally aware of the time and how late it had gotten. I grabbed my things and rushed to the door. I hadn't called my father and I knew he'd be worried about where I was. Suddenly the library doors slammed open and I was halted in my tracks.

A women with olive skin and bright green eyes stood at the door way. Her thick curls frames her face perfectly. Her body was lean and curvy and her legs seem to have no end. She wore an olive green dress that had to have been made specifically for her. It brought out the green in her eyes and complemented her skin beautifully.

When her eyes found me, they widened slightly and her lips parted. She had held back something she wanted to say and instead she smiled.

"Excuse me mam but Slater did not inform me of any guest joining us this evening." She said. Her voice moved smoothly. She spoke softly and almost as if she were singing a song rather than speaking.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Hale I didn't think we'd be staying this long. You see we have this project and..." I began mumbling before the women walked towards me with her finger pressed against her lips.

"Hush now darling. No need for explanations. Your business is your business. Also excuse my correction but I'm not Mrs. Hale. I'm Evangeline the house keeper." She said up to me and very elegantly curtesy down. I very awkwardly smiled and nodded my head.

"She might as well be." Slater said from
behind Evangeline and I. He walked towards us and stood next to me. His height towering over mine and even Evangeline's. I suddenly felt as the smallest person in the room, physically and metaphorically.

"Evangeline here has been one of the two most important people in my life." Slater said while smiling at Evangeline. She smiled back and then brought her eyes to the floor. I suddenly felt as though I walked in on some intimate moment between mother and son. But she wasn't his mother and he wasn't her son. Then again she wasn't just the house keeper. Besides shouldn't his parents be the two most important people in his life? I guess we just have to add that to the many mysteries of Slater Hale. I'm beginning to think that this list has no end.

"So what's for dinner than. Oh excuse my manners, Mrs. Hasting will you be joining us this evening?" Evangeline said breaking the awkward silence in the room. Slater looked at me his eyebrows raised.

"Umm I should be getting home. Don't want my father to worry or anything." I said pointing towards the door. Evangeline smile faded.

"That's unfortunate. I would have gladly enjoyed your company this evening. Dinning with Slater here every night can become quite bore some." Evangeline said stepping aside for me to pass through.