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Post by Viola Carter on Feb 29, 2012 0:51:41 GMT -5
But Viola was not about to be put off so easily. She remained resolutely planted in her seat, and even picked up her glass for another casual sip of pumpkin juice. She merely raised an eyebrow at Caroline's outburst, and it was clear that she was quite enjoying this.
"Really, Caroline," she said in a stern but calm voice. "There is no need to be rude. I take it I've struck a nerve?"
Judging by the way Caroline had reacted, there was no conscious choice to not have children. No, she was definitely sensitive about the subject, which of course only fueled Viola's curiosity.
"What's the matter, dear? Trouble in the bedroom? You know, there are some very good treatments for that. Or so I've heard. Barry and I don't have that problem, of course."
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Post by Caroline Wells on Feb 29, 2012 1:02:51 GMT -5
"Things in the bedroom are fine, Viola, not that it's any of your concern. And of course you and Barry don't have that problem... he's hardly ever around for you to know, right?" She was being rude, and she didn't care. She left the proper societal upbringing that her parents shoved down her throat. If there was one thing that Jordan taught her, it was not to take anything lying down. Even if he never got her to trust anyone, or understand that sometimes, people didn't have to want something from you to stick around, he still made her stronger.
"And to that point, if we do decide to have children, you won't be much a part of their lives anyway, so I reiterate, it's none of your concern." Now she was just getting harsh, and she set her wine glass down on the table, making a point to remain standing simply so that she could look down on Viola.
Oh yes, she'd struck a nerve. There were solutions for many problems in that area... but not Caroline's. Not how she saw things.
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Post by Jordan Wells on Feb 29, 2012 1:29:28 GMT -5
It wasn't often that Jordan got finished work early. If he had a light schedule, he would usually help out with any emergency cases that came in. But today had been a rare slow day, and Lindsay told him to leave a couple of hours early. Normally, this was a good thing, but Jordan had no idea what was waiting for him at home.
So he was actually in a very good mood when he walked in the front door. He was smiling, and even humming a little to himself. But about three steps into the living room, he felt the tension in the room. It was thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Hi, honey," he began innocently, "I got out a little early, so I was thinking...."
He trailed off and saw Caroline standing there, looking furious as she stared down at her sister-in-law, Viola. Luckily for him, he hadn't heard any of what they had been talking about.
"Oh, hi, Viola," he said politely. "I didn't know you were coming for a visit."
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Post by Viola Carter on Feb 29, 2012 1:46:52 GMT -5
It was lucky for everyone, except maybe Jordan, that he had walked in when he did. If he'd been a few minutes later, the white gloves would have come off, and he might have found the two women in the middle of a hair-pulling slap fight. Caroline had found that one chink in Viola's armor, that insecure feeling she had about her marriage and Barry's long absences. She was about to remind Caroline that, despite Barry's frequent, extended business trips, at least he had found the time to get her pregnant, but was cut short when Jordan entered.
"Jordan!" she said, her face snapping back into a tight, frozen smile. "How lovely to see you, dear. I just stopped over for a few minutes."
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Post by Caroline Wells on Feb 29, 2012 1:51:49 GMT -5
Not a muscle moved in Caroline's whole body when the door opened and she heard her husband's voice. Her eyes remained steady on Viola, silently letting her know that she was not distracted from wishing her away from here.
In a way, she was actually a little frustrated that Jordan came in, only because it meant Viola would push her luck some more, but this time with him. A greater part of her was immensley relieved. This would be easier with him by her side.
"Yes, but she has to go now," Caroline commented, her eyes briefly flicking to Jordan before coming back to Viola. Jordan could play the nice guy, actually. She didn't even care. She was just upset and on edge, and she wanted Viola out of her "cute" and "little" home so badly she was ready to drag the woman out by her hair. "Don't forget your things."
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Post by Viola Carter on Mar 1, 2012 1:26:45 GMT -5
"Oh, but Jordan just got here, and I haven't seen him in ages," Viola gushed. "Godric, just look at you. The two of you are just so beautiful together. You're like Barbie and Ken."
Although Viola had nothing against Jordan, she still sometimes referred to the two of them as Barbie and Ken. With their blonde hair and beautiful faces, they looked more like dolls than real people.
"Actually, I came to drop off some food I had leftover from a wedding I catered this weekend. I do hope you'll take it, I chose the food carefully just for the two of you."
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Post by Jordan Wells on Mar 1, 2012 1:41:14 GMT -5
Jordan looked back and forth between Caroline and Viola and back again. He'd have to be completely clueless to miss the tension between them. He knew perfectly well how Caroline felt about Viola, having endured many frustrated rants on the subject. So this "friendly" visit could hardly have been a welcome one, and he suspected that if he hadn't come home when he did, he'd have had to help Caroline hide the body.
At the mention of leftovers, Jordan looked over at Caroline again, noticing the way she cringed with fury. Clearly she had already refused the food.
"Ah, that's very kind of you, Viola," he said politely. "But I'm afraid we can't accept them. Caroline and I already have dinner plans. But thank you for thinking of us."
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Post by Caroline Wells on Mar 1, 2012 2:07:27 GMT -5
Caroline's eyes shifted to Jordan's. If she wasn't so frustrated, she might have found the look on his face to be comical. He looked like a deer, deciding between being torn to shreds by a bear or a dragon, and somehow hoping to avoid at least one of them.
She winced when Viola mentioned the left overs, and she just wanted to take the package and throw it at Viola, anything to get the wretched woman out of her house. She wouldn't be able to keep still and... peaceful for much longer.
Luckily, Jordan knew her well enough that he didn't accept the food, and he didn't even have to ask her. Her look softened, and she shot her husband an almost grateful look before turning a more triumphant one on her sister in law.
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Post by Viola Carter on Mar 3, 2012 0:50:57 GMT -5
Viola was not pleased, but she knew she had lost. She could argue with Caroline, but Jordan was so polite and gracious even in his refusal that she simply couldn't keep pushing. It infuriated her that Caroline had "won" this round... and she still couldn't get the information that she wanted out of her. There was a secret there, and Viola wanted to know what it was. But Jordan's arrival had ruined any chance of that. She couldn't ask about it with him there. And Viola highly doubted that Caroline would give her another opportunity.
She heaved a dramatic sigh, letting it be known that she was disappointed. "Oh, well. I really am sorry you can't take them, but I suppose I can't force them on you. The homeless shelter will be eating very well tonight, that's for sure."
Now greatly irritated, Viola finished the last of her pumpkin juice and stood up. "I suppose I should be going, then. Enjoy your dinner plans."
There was a slight emphasis on the last two words, and a hint of a smirk on her face as she made her way to the door--leaving the aluminum-wrapped package sitting on the coffee table.
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Post by Caroline Wells on Mar 10, 2012 19:15:06 GMT -5
"I'm sure the homeless shelter will be very grateful for the donation," Caroline said, still not giving Viola her way.
When she left, however, the package still on the table, Caroline was tempted to thrust it into the woman's hands... but she didn't. Instead, she followed Viola to the door, giving Jordan a look as she passed him, and watched as Viola finally stepped outside, thank Godric. "Tell my darling brother he should really come next time, will you?"
She turned, leaving the door open just long enough for Viola to hear her call to Jordan, "Darling, such a shame- throw those leftovers in the garbage, will you?"
And then the door slammed, and Caroline's fake smile fell. Her eyes connected with Jordan's, though she said nothing, making a straight line for the leftovers.
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Post by Viola Carter on Mar 11, 2012 0:27:05 GMT -5
Viola was feeling triumphant... for about 15 seconds. She had managed to leave the leftovers, and Caroline hadn't forced her to take them back. But of course, she heard Caroline's comment just before she ever so rudely slammed the door. Viola was tempted to push her way back in, and snatch the package away again. Caroline was a fool, and she was really appallingly rude. She had never even deserved the leftovers, and Viola made a mental note never to attempt to do any "favors" for Caroline ever again. It was a shame, because Jordan was really a sweet boy, but he'd made his choice in marrying Caroline.
Still fuming, Viola walked briskly down the street. She was going to have to tell dear Barry about his sister's atrocious lack of manners....
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Post by Jordan Wells on Mar 11, 2012 22:08:16 GMT -5
Jordan just stood back, watching as Caroline practically pushed Viola out of the house. He thought it best to just stay back and wait until Viola was gone... he knew the kind of effect she had on Caroline, and had seen it first hand many times in the past. The two of them were like oil and fire.... something was bound to explode any time they were in the same room.
Finally, Viola was gone, but the tension was not. She stalked over to the "forgotten" leftover package as though she was planning to pounce on it and rip it to shreds.
"What happened? What did she say?" he asked cautiously.
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Post by Caroline Wells on Mar 13, 2012 23:24:35 GMT -5
"I hate her," was Caroline's quick and terse answer. She was clearly angry, and since Jordan had asked, Caroline was more than okay with telling him (almost) everything. "I never thought I would hate anyone, but she... ooh, she's just a horrid person. How could Barry be so in love with someone so... wretched?"
None of this, of course, answered his question, and she grabbed the wrapped left overs and was about to throw them in the garbage when a twinge of guilt hit her, and she rolled her eyes at her. While she set them on the counter and charmed them to be quite a small package so that she could have their owl deliver it to a shelter, she started going off, her hands motioning wildly, her tone intensified.
"She just comes in here and insults absolutely everything. How little our place is, how bare our backyard is, how hard vegetables are to grow. Vegetables! It's not like raising a child, it's plants in the dirt," she didn't realize what she was saying. Her intention had been to keep the topic of children completely out of the version of the story she told Jordan. But she was so angry and hateful towards that woman, that she didn't even stop to think about what she was saying.
"Oh, and don't even get me started and children. It was like, every time I said something, she had to turn it around to talk about the fact that she's pregnant, like she's some saint or the first woman ever to get pregnant!"
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Post by Jordan Wells on Mar 18, 2012 23:21:01 GMT -5
Jordan knew she wasn't angry at him, but somehow, as he stood there listing to her angry tirade, he felt as though he'd been sucker punched. The almost flip way she mentioned raising children, as though it was something very difficult and unpleasant, was like a slap in the face to him. And then it got worse.
Viola was pregnant? And the way she brought it up... it seemed like she thought the very idea repulsive. He knew, logically, that it was just Viola that was repulsive to her, and yet somehow, Jordan couldn't help but wonder if she thought the idea of having his child was just as repulsive to her.
He was frozen, barely able to contain the crushed expression on his face.
"Viola's pregnant?" he asked in a distant voice. "When did that happen?"
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Post by Caroline Wells on Mar 18, 2012 23:35:24 GMT -5
At Jordan's response, Caroline froze.
She realized her mistake. She'd meant to leave the topic of Viola's pregnancy out of this conversation entirely, but it bothered her so much that someone as terrible as Viola could be pregnant and gloat about it to Caroline, who would never have that in her future, no matter how badly she wanted it. For a while before she found out she couldn't get pregnant, she thought that maybe a child might even fix her and Jordan, and they were certainly a lot better off before she'd had that appointment. She withdrew from him so much after it, and the arguing increased.
"About four months ago," she answered, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Jordan, almost daring him to say something about it.
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Post by Jordan Wells on Mar 24, 2012 12:47:47 GMT -5
For once, Jordan actually understood how Caroline felt about Viola. Because in that moment, he irrationally felt a flash of hatred towards his sister-in-law. It didn't last, of course, because he was not one to harbor such ugly feelings, but he couldn't help but be jealous. Viola and Barry were going to have a baby, just like that, and Caroline was acting like being pregnant was akin to having the plague. How could that not hurt, when it was all he ever really wanted?
"I see," Jordan said tightly, sinking down onto one of the kitchen chairs. "How... nice for her."
He sighed and began to rub his head to ward off the beginnings of a headache. He tried to sort his thoughts to figure out what he wanted to say next, but he really couldn't think of anything that wouldn't start a fight.
"Barry must be thrilled," he said at last.
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Post by Caroline Wells on Mar 29, 2012 21:23:58 GMT -5
Caroline's eyes narrowed, and one hand slowly came up to rest on her hip. She was eyeing her husband as he sank to a sitting position, and she could tell that he was fighting the beginnings of a headache. The way he was talking bothered her.... Was he really getting annoyed with her? Was he angry?
"Yeah, how nice for her. You seem jus positively thrilled." Sarcasm was seeping into her tone in every word she said. She hesitated, her jaw set. She could say more, knowing fully well that t woud start an argument, r she could t it go. But she was on the defensive now, even almost scared by his reaction, so that made her lash out.
"All right, Jordan. What's your problem? I tell you that she just barges in here and insults everything about our lives, and all you can focus on is that she's pregnant? Do you even care about anything she said, or is that all you can focus on?"
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Post by Jordan Wells on Mar 31, 2012 17:17:03 GMT -5
Jordan heard the tone of her voice, and could tell an argument was already starting to brew. And he was just so tired... he didn't think he could deal with another fight right now. Yes, she had a right to expect his sympathy after dealing with Viola... but why did she have to act like having a baby was such a horrible thing?
He sighed and looked up at her, his face looking positively ragged. "I'm sorry," he said, his tone almost pleading. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that, and I'm sorry she insulted you. But you know she does this to you every time. You can't let her get to you like that... she's only doing it because she's jealous and spiteful and probably lonely, since Barry's never home. Although apparently he was home long enough to get her pregnant..."
Although he knew how much Caroline disliked Viola (to put it mildly), Jordan had always been fine with his sister-in-law. She was always polite to him, at least, and he usually was able to shrug off any of her veiled criticisms. But for the first time ever, Jordan found himself thinking quite negatively towards Viola. He wouldn't say that he hated her, but there was definitely an unpleasant feeling boiling in the pit of his stomach. What he didn't realize was that he and Caroline were feeling much the same way... they were both jealous of Viola and Barry and their baby. If he had realized that was the reason for her reaction, it would have changed everything.
What he did know was that he was already in trouble with Caroline, and was well on his way to another night on the lumpy couch. He slept there so often that he was going to have to consider getting a sofa-bed.
"Look, just forget about her, OK? She's not worth the stress. Why don't we go out somewhere for dinner? Please... let's just forget the whole thing ever happened."
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Post by Caroline Wells on Apr 2, 2012 23:27:26 GMT -5
Caroline shook her head, seething. Jordan was supposed to make her feel better, not angrier. Lonelier. "But she didn't just insult me, Jordan. She insulted us, and the life we lead and how we live it. Every tiny little thing, she had some criticism for it, and you don't even care. Why doesn't that bother you?"
He was stuck on the pregnancy, and it broke Caroline's heart. She knew how badly he wanted kids. About as badly as she did, and Merlin, seeing him react like that tore her apart. So she could only lash out more.
"You know what, since you're so concerned about how lonely she must be, why don't you go step in for my brother? Help her raise what's bound to be a little goblin baby. *You* go out to eat. I've lost my appetite."
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Post by Jordan Wells on Apr 4, 2012 11:22:11 GMT -5
Jordan sighed, now firmly wishing he had stayed late tonight instead of coming home early. He'd hoped he could come home and take her out somewhere nice for dinner and then maybe go to the park to watch the sunset. He'd wanted to make her smile and laugh and just be with her. Now it looked like he'd be eating--and sleeping--alone. Again.
"It doesn't bother me because I don't care what she thinks," Jordan said tiredly. "I'm happy with our house, our life. The question is, why does it bother you what she has to say? You already know what she's like and that she only does it to get to you. Why do you let it get to you unless they bother you, too?"
He shouldn't have said that, but she had him feeling defensive now. It seemed like she wasn't happy with her life... with him, and it frustrated him. Her comment about the baby had him even more rattled. She knew he didn't care about Viola, and she knew he wanted a baby... but so to even suggest that he should be with Viola to raise her baby... it hurt.
"I don't want her or her baby and you know that. I want a family with you. I thought... when we got married, I thought that was what you wanted, too. Why are you so against it?"
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