some surprises

So the holidays were over. It was a new year. It was time for Rox to get down to the nitty gritty of what was going on with her sister and Jared. She invited Jazmin to come over. It was perfect weather for a tea party. Of course, Rox made brownies. Funny, how she thought this was something Amanda would do. She felt happy and sad about remembering her. Rox wondered what Amanda would have to say about Jazmin being with Jared. Would she be on her side? Or try to tell her to let it go, and be happy for her sister?

Naturally, all that melancholy was washed away when Jazmin showed up with an little girl in a baby carrier.

Rox was in shock.

"What are you doing with Jared's daughter?" It was Nan. She was about nine months old and kicking her feet away in the snow suit she was in.

Rox looked at Jazmin wide eyed.

"He got custody of her." She told him.

"How?" Rox squinted. He couldn't see his wife letting him go anywhere with their baby girl.

"His wife is in the hospital." Jazmin shrugged. "She..." Jazmin hesitated. "got shot."

"What?" Rox was waiting for more of the story.

"Jared had nothing to do with it. He was here, with me." She sighed. "She was at a party, on New Years, and..it doesn't look so good. I guess its official they are separated. And, and I said I'd help."

"This is crazy." Rox went to get them coffee left over from breakfast. No sitting around to wait for tea to brew. She shook her head. "You don't want to get mixed up in this." Rox told her as he poured the steaming hot coffee.

Jazmin let Nan out of the carrier so she could run about. Nan seemed fine and pretty used to Jazmin, already.

"But I do. I can't help it. OK?" Rox couldn't believe it. How could her sister get involved with this? Jazmin looked as if she was serious, and very much Jared's mainstay.

Rox got the hint that Jazmin and Jared had evidently hit it off. Although, she remembered a time when her sister kept telling her that Jared was no good for her.

"What changed? I mean, you and Jared?" Rox winced.

"I'm not completely awful, you know. Its been a long time since...since anyone. And Jared got on at the local police department. I think he was having to put up with some stuff, none of us knew this Vanessa was putting him through. She was cheating on him. Her mom was so fed up, having to keep Nan so much. I know she doesn't like it that Nan is here, but I think she's OK with me."

"Really? Are you serious?" Not that Rox had ever met Jared's wife's mother. "You know, her family, might want Nan? Then what?"

"Stop making me feel bad." Jazmin went to find Nan who was quite the inquisitive one. On one hand Rox was happy that Jai could be around his baby sister, but she had a feeling it wasn't over between Jared and his wife even if she was in the hospital, right now.