Forbidden Literature

26| Family Man

After plugging in the directions to Jasper's home on my GPS I discovered he didn't actually live in a house, but a townhouse. A part of me was surprised because I thought living off of a professor salary could afford a much better living place, but as I drove by I noticed that they all looked extremely nice. Each three story townhouse had its own color to differ from the others. Jasper's was a deep shade of red along with dark trimmings. I parked next to a black car that I could only assume was his.

I grabbed the papers from the passenger seat walked towards his door ignoring the pounding in my chest. It was such a foolish reaction. It's not like anything will happen while I'm here.

When I reached his door I held up my hand to knock but paused at the sound coming from behind the door. Is that Disney music?

I looked down at the address checking it twice to make sure it was correct before turning back to the door. Puzzled, I knocked a couple of times then took a step back waiting for an answer. When it didn't come I knocked once more with no results.

Just as I pulled out my phone ready to call Jasper again, the door swung wide open startling me. I looked down to see a familair little blonde haired girl that up until now I've only seen in photos in Jasper's office. Now she was standing in the doorway clutching a doll flashing a toothless smile.

"Hello!" she greeted cheerfully.

It's been a while since I've interacted with a child before, but I still managed to smile and say, "Hi there. You must be Paisley."

Her big blue eyes widened. "How did you know my name?"

"I'm magical," I winked.

"You are?! Are you a princess?"

I couldn't help but smile at that. "Not exactly, no."

"You look like a princess," she stated. "Only princesses have pretty eyes like yours," before I could thank her she continued on. "Do you sing to birds? Only princesses can do that, too. They also have pretty dresses and long blonde hair. I have blonde hair so when I get older I'm going to be a princess. Just like Elsa!"

I wanted to correct her and tell her that Elsa was actually a queen. However I'm not sure that would make me look any better since that would make me a grown woman debating with a child over Disney. Instead I took a different route, "Sounds like a good plan. I've heard that princesses are nice."

Her eyes practically twinkled at my words, "Oh, princesses are always nice! Even to strangers. Although Mommy and Daddy don't like it when I--"

"Paisley!" came a familiar booming voice. I looked past Paisley to see a frazzled looking Jasper in casual clothes rather than his typical suit. I noted his hair was extra tossled tonight. I could only guess why. "What did I tell you about answering my door?!"

Her bright blue eyes went wide filled with pure innocence that could make anyone melt.

Oh she's good.

"To not do it," she mumbled.

"And what are you doing now?" he gave her a pointed look.

She looked down at her doll twiddling her thumbs around and around before she replied, "But . . . someone knocked and you were in the bathroom. . ."

At her words he froze up, his neck turned an interesting shade of red much like the color of his house. Looking at me for a split second he cleared his throat directing his glare at her. "That's not the point and you know it. Don't do that ever again, got it?"

She nodded glumly. "Yes sir."

"Good," his dark eyes then turned to me and softened making my heart flip involuntarily. "Good evening, Ms. Miller. I'm so sorry that you had to come all the way out here because of certain . . . circumstances," his eyes drifted to Paisley.