Chapter 72: Chapter 72
Chapter Seventy - Two
Ava's POV
The dinner was ready.
I was excited whenever I thought about how Jasper would react when he would know that I had made him dinner. Especially knowing that he liked my hand - made food. In the past, when I had made him breakfast, he had said how much he liked it. Thus, I was pretty sure and somewhat hopeful that he would love the dinner too.
The whole time I made the dinner, I made sure that every ingredient was of the right amount. I tasted the meal on every level, so that it could come out, made completely perfect. To say that I put my best efforts would be an understatement. I made it with all my heart and will. I hoped he liked it as much as I wanted him to.
My anticipation and nervousness was peeking high as I waited for Jasper to come back home. But it all came to a halt when the wait for Jasper to come back home started to increase minute by minute. There was still no sign of him anywhere.
It started with five minutes of waiting for Jasper to come home, as Maria helped me place all the prepared food on the table. After the serving of the food, I sat down and waited for Jasper to come home. The wait increased, after twenty minutes of waiting he still was not home. I glanced at the watch on the wall to see that the time was now eight - thirty pm now. Half an hour has passed since I was done with dinner.
I began chewing on my lower lip, as I waited for him. Feeling my anticipation and nervousness turn into dread. Every five seconds, I glanced at the watch and felt my stomach coiling, when I realised that he still was not here. While waiting, I caught Maria's eyes and saw her giving me a look of pity. She disappeared from the dining room, and I felt very little. Not wanting to see her pity on me. Aside from sadness, I was starting to feel very embarrassed because there was someone, aka Maria witnessing my condition. She was witnessing my anticipation turning into an endless wait.
Maria, was to witness my condition as the time went on. Because she was here to see me waiting for someone so eagerly, that I was beginning to see would not come home tonight.
After the clock hit nine - forty - five pm, I began to pace in the room. I was feeling frustrated and aggravated by how the night was unfolding as the time was going by. From the corner of my eye, I saw a shadow entering the room and stupidly I thought that it was Jasper. When I turned to face who it was, I saw Maria standing in the doorway. Disappointment flooded inside me.
She gave me a pitiful and sad smile and I returned it with my own one, force - a - cheery one. Although, I knew that she saw right through it.
"I called him but he is not picking up." Maria told me, raising my hope and crushing it down within one second. I let out a defeated sigh. Suddenly feeling really sad and disappointed.
"It's getting late. I'm not sure if he will even come home now." Maria informed me. I felt an ache in my heart but understood well that she was telling me the truth. Maybe, after our afternoon's fight, he's so upset that he wants to stay away from the place where I exist.
"I think you should eat without him. It's not good for the baby either. You should not eat your dinner late." She advised me. I really, really did not want to eat without him. However, it was like I had no choice either. There were clearly all signs that he was not coming home tonight.
I nodded and was about to sit down to eat when I heard him.
"Maria! I'm home." Jasper called out. My eyes met Maria's and a smile sprouted on my face. Relief and happiness flooded in my veins. Nervous butterflies fluttered inside my stomach. Maria also smiled and called Jasper.
"Come in the dining room. The dinner is waiting for you." She said out loud. I waited and a few seconds later saw Jasper emerging in the doorway.
And my smile dropped.
My heart dropped into my stomach.
Jasper entered the room with Charlotte tucked beside him. He had his arm over her shoulder.
"I'm not hun -" Jasper said, when he stepped inside the room. He stopped in the middle of his sentence when his eyes met mine.
His hair was messy and he looked wrecked. He was not wearing his coat and it was not even on his arm. Which was surprising since he never let go off his coat. His white shirt beneath was half untucked and his two top buttons were undone. The sleeves were folded, showing off his forearms.
And he was drunk.
It was as clear as day. His eyes were red and he seemed half dazed. His lips were pink more than usual and I could smell the alcohol from where I was standing.
I realised that my mouth was half hanging open. I closed it without tearing my gaze from him.
"I'm not hungry." Jasper completed his sentence slowly, in almost a whisper, never taking his eyes off of me.
I swallowed. Feeling my throat filling up with tears.
"What? Why? You should really eat dinner. Ava made it especially for you." Maria told him. I winced as she passed on that information to him. Adding to my humiliation. My head whipped in the direction of Maria and I let out a low hiss. Maria saw my face and realised her mistake. Bowing her head down.
I cursed inside.
Charlotte gave a slight tuck to Jasper's arm and then pulled him down to whisper something in his ear. He looked up at me. Straightening, he glanced at Maria.
"Yeah, well. I'm not hungry. We've eaten already outside." He told Maria, even though I knew all his attention was on me.
"We both are going straight to bed. Please don't disturb us." Jasper said, slowly turning his head to meet my eyes, gauging my reaction before spinning around in his heels and leaving the place with her.
I stood there stunned. Staring at the door, where he had disappeared from. Tears filled my eyes, and my vision blurred.
"Ava -" I heard Maria called but I was already on the move. I walked and walked until I passed down Jasper's room. Although, I did not stop to peek inside. Instead, I did not even bother to take a glimpse inside his room. No, I walked right past it and ran up the stairs to my room.
I entered my bedroom, slammed it closed and fell on my bed.
And I broke into tears and endless sobs.