A Good Husband
1085 Words
Jason staggered backward a couple of steps. A hand rose to cup his sore jaw, his eyes wide and glaring at Kensley.
John and Thomas, who were nearby, jumped in and held Kensley’s arms before he could land another punch.
“What are you doing!?” Jason shrieked.
Kensley sneered, his voice dripping with contempt, “Don’t you dare speak to my wife like that, you punk!”
“What the hell, Kensley!” Jason stomped forward to confront him but Thomas positioned himself between the two fuming men, arms out against their heaving chests.
Rarely does Thomas Jacques raise his voice but when he does, he roars. “ENOUGH!” Jason back down! And Kensley, there’s no need to throw hands between family.”
Kensley snarled, “With all due respect, sir, anyone who belittles my wife is no family of mine.”
“YOU–” Jason started but John gave him a stern glare. Jason seethed and sat down on the sofa in a huff.
Fern quickly walked over to check on her son’s injury while Charles watched the commotion silently. After inspecting her son’s jaw she slapped him hard on the arm.
“Ow!! Mom! What was that for!?” Jason’s red-brimmed eyes looked at his mom indignantly.
“You are so rude to your sister! I’ve told you countless times not to tease girls about their weight. Apologize to Ida!”
Jason gritted his teeth and shot a glare at Ida. The moment they locked eyes, Ida stood up straightening her spine, and lifted her chin in a silent challenge.
Jason rolled his eyes and snarled, “Sorry.”
Fern heaved a heavy sigh. Jason was a proud man and it was hard to extract an apology as insincere as it was. She turned to mediate.
“Ida, darling, I’m sorry you had to hear that. I—”
“That wasn’t a proper apology,” Kensley coldly interrupted.
Everyone turned to look at Kensley who shook off Jason’s arm. He strode over to Ida’s side and placed an arm around her back pulling her close.
“If you’re going to apologize, do it properly.” Kensley stared Jason down, stubborn as hell.
A deathly silence weighed heavily on the room. Ida fought to hold back the tears threatening to escape. No one had ever stood up for her like this in years. At first, her parents would scold Jason but over the years they seemed to have grown apathetic to his “teasing”. Perhaps they tacitly agreed with his words and the thought of that shredded Ida’s self-esteem.
Kensley, sensing Ida tense up in his arms, glanced down to see her soft brown eyes swimming in unshed tears. He shot another glare at Jason then pulled Ida away in a tactical retreat.
“This isn’t over. I expect a proper apology to my wife the next time we meet, Jason.”
Before Kensley could take a step, Charles spoke coldly. “Where are you going?”
Kensley turned to face the stern old patriarch. With a polite bow, he spoke icily, “I’m sorry for the disturbance, sir. Given the circumstances, I think it's best if we retire for the evening. Please excuse me and my wife.”
“It has been over a century that a Hendricks laid a hand on a Jacques.”
The words dropped like a bomb. It was a challenge, straining the relationship between the two families. By laying hands on Jason, Kensley had provoked the whole family and if it was not settled properly, it could cause irreparable harm to their century-old ties.
Ida stepped in front of Kensley. Her voice rang clear like a bell. “Yes, and it took a century for a Jacques to marry a Hendricks.”
Charles’ cold eyes snapped to his granddaughter’s; he searched her eyes as if looking for something. After a prolonged pause, he waved his hand.
“Go on then. I suspect you are both tired from your honeymoon. We’ll forget this happened tonight.”
“Grandpa!” Jason raised his voice in protest.
“Silence!” Charles shot Jason an icy glare. “My word is final!”
“No. It’s not over. I still want a formal apology for my wife.”
The already tense room froze over once more.
“Are you challenging my authority in my house?” Charles inquired.
“Yes.” Kensley stood his ground.
“Even if you risk our family’s friendship?”
Ida, sensing danger, quickly slipped her hand into Kensley’s and gave him a reassuring squeeze. “Let it go, Kensley. It’s okay. Jason is an i***t and says stupid stuff. It doesn’t bother me anymore.”
Contrary to her expectations, her words only fueled Kensley’s ire. His grip on her hand tightened and his lips curled back in a snarl. “You mean to say this isn’t the first time he has belittled you?”
Ida dropped her head, ashamed. Kensley gave a short bark of a laugh in frustration. He turned to glare at each of Ida’s family members. “I am bringing my wife home. She may have been a Jacques but she is now a Hendricks. If you value our family’s friendship, I hope you remember that and treat her with respect.”
His frosty glare settled on Jason and they locked eyes again until Jason broke away. Kensley turned to Ida, his stiff demeanor softening as he brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of her hand gently.
“Let’s go home, darling.”
Ida could only follow him dazedly.
As soon as they left, the room buzzed.
“Dad! Did you see that!? Kensley is willing to cut ties with us over a woman!” Jason bellowed, appealing to the only family member who hadn’t shown him hostility yet.
John snorted. “Shut up. That woman is our sister. Stop being mean to Ida. She’s not just our baby sister anymore, she’s Kensley’s wife. If you mess with her you will piss him off.”
Thomas sighed and sat next to Charles, ignoring his sons’ bickering.
“What do you make of this, father?” He asked quietly.
Charles' cold face broke into a wry smile. “This is good.”
Everyone stopped talking and exchanged questioning glances.
“Ida’s found a good husband,” Charles added with a broadening smile. The old man leaned against his cane and broke into a hearty laugh.
- Writer
