CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

LOGAN'S POV

Jamie stares at me sensing my change of attitude.

"You could have let me talk to him" she whined, pushing her head, under my arm.

Observing her head tucked under arm, "Jamie I need to ask you a few questions and I want the truth" I told her.

She lifted her head and looks at me nervously, nodding.

"Do you understand?" I queried

Nodding, her head, she laid back on my arm.

"Did anyone ever call you a cripple or mention you being a burden after the baby was born?" I asked, barely breathing, waiting for her response.

"Jamie?" I called again, impatiently.

She started mumbling incoherently with her head turned on my arm.

"Jamie!" I called her rather harshly this time.

Lifting her head, she stared straight ahead, "It was not a topic, until, about two weeks ago, when Dr. Moore confirmed that you would wake up soon, that .. that, uh,. Jess started saying things and asking me questions." she says hesitantly.

"What type of questions?" I asked already tensing up.

"She was subtle about it though, you, know. Insinuating that you may grow tired of a wife destined to be in a wheelchair, like grandfather was. She never made it sound brutal, but nonetheless, she said things that, if I was being honest, I sometimes thought off." she admitted.

"Like my grandfather and my grandmother, you say" I repeated musingly.

"I didn't blame her, but I never asked her to take care of me. She slept here with me and helped wash my hair and comb my hair, but to be honest your mom and Mrs Stanley did all of those things too." she gazed at the wall in front of us.

"I don't want to be a burden on anyone, especially you" she cries until she started sobbing uncontrollably in my arms.

As I gently pulled her towards me, hugging me, "I love you Jamie and I will never let anyone destroyed us, not even your sister" I vowed.

"I still didn't think that it was a malicious move on her part" she says, defending Jessica.

She didn't know the extent that Jessica has gone in her plans with grandfather and telling her would hurt her more.

"Do you think Jessica meant those things or your grandfather put the thoughts in her head?" she queried

"You tell me" I retorted, with a tinge of anger.

Laughing nervously, "I just thought that her selfishness was her being a spoilt last child, as usual. I didn't think it was bad" she commented.

I laugh at her explanation, "Jamie, when I was with grandfather, part of me wanted the life he offered. I loved the thrill of holding a gun in my hand. I loved the thrill of releasing ammunition from a weapon. I loved training. I loved being in charge and in control. Back then I never understood the war between my parents and grandparents. I didn't have a choice when my parents took me from them after my arrest. But I fought my parents. I rebelled, but my mom persevered and never backed down, she didn't let go." I chuckled remembering,

"Mom fought me back, every step, we fought constantly. I think her biggest battle was fighting my grandparents" I told her, looking down into her face.

"You're a lot like her you know" I told her proudly.

"Hmm so you married someone like your mother? That's not romantic at all" she pouts.

Chuckling, I leaned down, with my lips hovering over hers, "oh you're definitely not my mama. You're my baby's mama" I tell her, silencing her.

Breakfast was actually perfect, as I bought Jamie down with me earlier.

When Jessica walked in, she couldn't hide her surprise, seeing Jamie, showered and dressed for the day seated this early at the table.

Jessica turned to grandfather, who gives her a nod. Smiling at me, she takes a seat opposite Jamie and I.

"Good morning" she greets us all.

"Morning" everyone answered in unison.

Jessica looks at grandfather, who nods again, before Jessica turns to Jamie with a cold hard look, which was suddenly replaced by a dry smile.

Jamie, whose eyes, I notice quickly shifted on the pancakes in front of her saw Jessica's reactions.

"I'm sorry" Jessica says quietly, with her eyes on me, while Jamie looked at Jessica.

The table was quiet, before Jamie pulled my plate closer to her.

"Really?" I chuckle, watching her take a pancake from my plate.

"Jamie, there's more pancake in front of you" my dad, tells Jamie.

Chuckling softly, "oh I know, but it just tastes a whole lot better from his plate." Jamie's responds innocently, as we laugh at her explanation.

"Jamie" grandfather roughly called addressed her.

Looking up at him, " Yes" she answered, observing him curiously.

"Your sister just apologized to you and you just ignored her. This is absolutely disrespectful" grandfather scolds Jamie roughly.

I notice Jessica's smiled at grandfather's tone to Jamie and so did Jamie.

"I'm sorry" Jamie said looking at Jessica. "I heard you but you were looking at my husband so naturally I assumed you were speaking to him. My bad" Jamie shrugs as she continues to eat.

Slamming his hand in the table didn't intimidated Jamie as grandfather had hoped.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, grandfather, softly, with a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Glaring at Jamie, before turning to me, "I hope you open your eyes now at this ungrateful girl" grandfather barks at me, but like my wife, I refused to be intimidated.

Placing a hand on my thigh, I turn to see a angry Jamie looking at grandfather.

"Ungrateful?" You mean like when your parents died and you put your life on hold to take responsibility for your younger siblings so they won't be place in foster care?" she asks, "or is it when you worked more than one job to help your elderly grandparents with their upbringing? Or wait, is it ..."