The Twists And Turns Of Marrying Elise

Chapter 1

Six years ago...

The white mansion hadn't changed at all. Nope, not one bit. Four years had passed and the huge mahogany main door, the large eight-paned windows, the tall pillars that held the upper balcony, and the light gray brick roof still looked the same as he remembered it. 

The trees were bigger now though, and the plants around the house healthier. Greener, yes that's the right word, he thought. Greener.  

A white angel fountain stood just in front of the mansion. From the jar the lovely carved angel was holding flowed clear water. He used to play in that fountain. He would splash the water around, and then he would get the beating from his father because of the mess he did to himself. 

Jared pushed the memory away--a thing he did so often he was getting good at it. He gripped his backpack tighter, took a deep breath, and started walking towards the mansion's gate. It was big too, like everything else in the lot. At the left end of the gate was a guard house, and a man in police uniform was currently stationed there.

"Benny?" Jared called out to the guard. Figures, even the workers stayed the same.

Benny averted his gaze from the newspaper to the man who called him and when he saw Jared, his mouth dropped so low his cigarette fell on the floor. "Jared?" he said with a disbelieving voice. "Oh dear God, my eyes must be fooling me!" 

Jared laughed a little. "Good to see you, Benny. How's it been?" 

Good ol' Benny stepped out from the guard house and approached Jared. He had this huge grin on his face, as if seeing his own son for the first time in years, while he walked and upon reaching Jared, he put both his hands on the man's shoulders. 

"You're real!" Benny exclaimed. "How have you been, boy? My, look how much you've grown!" 

It's good to know that Benny did change. Yes, his height didn't really improve, but his stomach was larger now, and his hair and beard were grayer that it had been since he left. His brown eyes left unchanged though. They still looked kind and wise. 

"It's been years, Benny. Are they home?" Jared asked. 

"Well, yes they are. They are also expecting a visitor today," Benny answered, both his hands on his waist now. 

"Can I go in, Ben?" 

The smile on Benny's face disappeared and was replaced with a frown. He glanced back at the mansion and into Jared's face again. "I'll have to notify them of your presence, first." 

"I guess there's no other way." 

Benny nodded and returned to the side of the gate to make a call. Nervously, Jared waited for the response. Benny, meanwhile, talked in the phone softly, making it impossible for Jared to hear the conversation. 

After a few minutes, Benny shifted his attention from the phone to Jared and nodded. The gate then opened by itself, revealing the white mansion in its full splendor. After a deep exhale, Jared trode towards the front door. 

It wasn't easy, not at all. With every step he took, he debated with himself whether he should continue this stupid thing he was about to do or not. His father would probably reject him after what he did. But it's still worth a try. What other choice do you have, anyway?

"Look who decided to come back," said a voice bitterly. 

Jared didn't even had to get a glimpse of the man's face to know that it was his father who spoke. He looked up anyway.

His father and mother were standing just outside the front door. His father, with his overly expensive suit, stared at Jared with anger, while his mother, still beautiful despite her age, gave him a sad yet loving look.