Chapter 19: Past the Garden Shed and Straight Ahead (J2, NC-17)
Fic title: Past the Garden Shed and Straight Ahead
Artist name:
amberdreams
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: past domestic abuse, sexual language, non explicit sex, cussing, Chad
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Jared believed in being fashionably late, so the party was in full swing by the time he arrived. Everyone was comfortably relaxed, any awkward introductions to Chad’s raucous family were over, and food was already cooked. It was excellent planning. Except...
“You’re late.” snapped Jo, “We thought you’d cried off. Everybody has been waiting for you.”
Okay then. He put a crate of beer on the buffet table and shoved a huge bouquet of flowers into her hands but continued to grip an envelope. “Hi, sorry,” he said brightly and proceeded to point at his cast which he hoped would be his ‘get out of jail free’ card.
No such luck, everyone turned to look at him and he could see Chad’s mother tutting him.
“Everybody!” she shouted, and chatting ceased, “Chad and I have an announcement!” She lifted her left hand to flash a fancy looking diamond ring.
Chad snaked his hand around her waist to pull her close. “Save the date!” he yelled.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jared saw someone shaking a bottle of champagne. They got closer to the happy couple until he could see them clearly - Jensen freakin’ Ackles! He reined in his anger, this was Chad’s big day, but seriously? Chad didn’t even like him.
“Next July 4th, Jensen is setting up a marquee and letting us use his terrace. We will be tying the knot and there will flowers and fireworks! It’s going to be so pretty!” Jo squealed excitedly.
“And beer!” Chad added, to the loud cheer of his family.
No, oh no! Jared barely had time to think before a cool spray of sticky-sweet champagne drifted and settled over him. Everybody clapped and there was the clink of glasses. He ignored the celebration, looking dolefully down at his new pink striped shirt and sweeping ugly yellow droplets off with his fingers. Ugh!
“You could always take it off,” Jensen suggested unhelpfully, suddenly by his side, peering down the neck of the champagne bottle and then shaking the dregs into a champagne glass for him.
Jared glared at him and handed the glass back. Elegant fingers wrapped around the stem and he could see the freckles on them. Talented fingers , he remembered fondly, before throwing the thought off for a sulky, “I’ll get a beer, thanks!”
“You’re angry with me, I get it…”
Jared was sure he didn’t care what Jensen had to say, he stalked off, to the kitchen to grab a Bud from an ice bucket.
He wasn’t alone there for long. Aldis high fived him as he slunk in to raid the beer supply, “Hey, man! Been a while. Thought you might be too good to mix with the hired labor. But here you are sneaking the poor man’s nectar with me. Aren’t you going to give Chad your card?” He pointed to the envelope he was holding. Jared had forgotten it in the heat of the moment and now it’s contents seemed pretty lame. Jensen had gifted Chad an entire freakin’ wedding venue and probably tonight’s champagne. He crumpled it in his hand. “It’s nothing.”
Aldis took a long chug of cool beer and wiped his mouth with his hand. “Are you gonna be healed up soon? I hate to say it, but we miss you, I mean we’re real good, but man, the gardens miss you. You got instinct.” He air-toasted the bottle at Jared.
Jared gathered himself together, he couldn’t let Jensen ruin this evening for him. His best friend was getting married! Holy crap! He never imagined Chad would marry before him. When they first met he had been sure his life would end as a faery slave at 21. And it hadn’t. His mother was coming home and he had a whole life and career ahead of him. It was daunting. He decided there was something else he should do, while Aldis was here. “I have a week of this cast and then physio. You will manage without me. Chad has everything under control, our order book is full, and Aldis, my dude, you have flair! I was actually wondering if you would stay on with us, when I’m better.”
“Are you offering me a job?”
“ I think I am, or a long term contract. Think it over. Get back to me, yeah?”
“Sound! I will.” Aldis saluted him but he was already moving, his roving eyes on a pretty lady passing by, “Gotta go and take my chances.”
Alone again, Jared huffed. He grabbed a slice of cake, laid out for later, and stuffed it into his mouth whole, so when Chad walked in he was squirrel cheeked and looking guilty.
Chad shut the door and hauled his ass up to sit on the breakfast bar. “You think I’m doing the wrong thing. Do you think I’m doing the wrong thing? Is it too soon? I mean, I love her, more than life, but maybe I’m not ready. Maybe there is somebody better for her, better for me? What if I can’t live up to all the flowers and fireworks? But then I think about what you said about coming home to someone, having a partner to laugh with, and I think you’re right. ”
Jared chewed aggressively and swallowed with a gulp. “What? No! You’re perfect for each other.”
“Then why so glum?” Chad asked him.
“Oh, I don’t know, just, everything is weird. You were my best mate and I have nothing to offer you and Jo, and he …” he grated his teeth and snarled as he pointed vaguely to the door, “He has everything! I didn’t think you even liked him!”
Chad frowned, “Jared, I am your best mate and I have always liked Aldis. What has got into you?”
“No, not him. HIM!” Jared couldn’t bring himself to even say his name.
“Oh!” Chad slapped his hand against the kitchen counter, “ I get it! You’re jealous. Jealous and bitter, and screwed up by whatever pain meds you are taking.”
“No,” defended Jared with a pout. “Am not.” But maybe he was, just a little.
“Good. Because since you were injured, Aldis and I have been coping with the Ackles Estate, with zero input from you. I have had to accept whatever help has been offered by Jensen and let me tell you, he’s been solid. Whenever he is at home, he helps to lift, carry, dig and clear nettles. He has listened to me venting and offered his house as our wedding venue, because god knows I can’t afford what Jo was looking at. Whatever happened between you, he has been humble and never once complained or threatened to fire our asses. All this time I’ve been looking forward to you getting better because I thought, this project rocks and Jared is going to create great things with this man . But no, you can’t see past your green haze and what’s in your pants. I’m disappointed with you, man. I was excited about asking you to be my Best Man but I don’t even know if you’d want that any more.”
“You want me to be your Best Man? Of course I want to be your Best Man!”
“Well, duh! And I want our wedding to show off your amazing garden design to the world. Think of the photo opportunities, all the soft focus romance shots and the publicity! We are on a roll. Whatever happened with Jensen, I can tell he regrets it. You are all he talks about. Bury the hatchet, man! Padalecki Landscaping Services is on the SkyTrain.”
Jared couldn't mirror his enthusiasm. “He lied to me.”
“He told me. Not what the lie was. Only that he regretted it and that he should have known better. He seems genuine. At least come up to the house to look at our progress. Remember what this project means to you.”
“And Jo?”
“Jo loves you but she’s tearing her hair out because she can see that you’re unhappy, and Jared, she’s going to be pissed at you if her hair isn’t perfect on her wedding day.”
That raised the slightest smile from him. He awkwardly offered his crumpled envelope to Chad, “Anyway, you’re right. I’m sorry. Maybe I got stir crazy. You’ve been holding down the fort as usual. I had our attorneys draw this up but it isn’t set in stone. If you don’t want it, don’t sign it. I know, back when we started out, you didn’t want paperwork and responsibility, and it’s all been pretty shaky at times but you are going to be a respectable family man. Maybe it’s time to rethink our business structure.”
Chad ripped the envelope open and scanned the document within. A smile spread huge on his face, “Partner! Oh, man. Jo is going to be so pumped. Yes. I think we should do it. But…”
“But what?”
Chad dangled the enclosed logo design from his fingertips. “Jesus Christ, Jared. Really?”
He looked at the motif he had created with ‘JC’ lettering on a flowery background. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Jesus. Christ.”
Jared caught on. He facepalmed. “I thought, Jared and Chad.”
Chad shook his head, “You need a partner if this is your idea of re-branding.”
Jared laughed and for the first time in weeks, it felt good. He was starting a new chapter in his life and he was totally in control of his own destiny. When Chad went to find Jo, Jared decided it was time to bite the bullet and make some peace with Jensen but Jensen had already made his excuses and left the party. He resolved to do it the next day.
Jared was happy-drunk and optimistic when he got home. He was in control. He could face anything. He reached for the envelope sitting on his desk. He sliced it neatly open and started to read:-
Regarding the estate of the late Mr Spendlethift Snr of 35, Ambrose Grove.
Oh, this! This was too much! In an act of cowardice he resolved to meet with the attorney before confronting Jensen. He rang Tooley’s office first thing the next morning and made an appointment.
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