Limited Time Only

So, as Miles pointed out to me, I can't have this posted for too long, so this'll be up for a maximum of two weeks. I have a few goals for this passage, and it would be great if you guys could let me know if I've achieved them, and any other tips would be great.
1) Jason should come across as somber or mostly serious.
2) Robert should be shocked, annoyed, and/or weirded out, but not a complete jerk.
3) Jenny should seem youthful, not childish.
4) I want there to be mystery, not confusion; I want people to want to know the back story, etc...


The man showed up on Saturday, the eve of their second anniversary. Robert would have been worried by the invader, accept that, at least in Fairville, you aren’t supposed to be worried about strangers knocking on your door. The first reason is because in Fairville, strangers don’t knock on your door at all and also because people in Fairville believe in doorbells.

Robert swung the pristine white door open, fully expecting Mrs. Mayberry wanting another cup of sugar, and instead was met by a man with a questionable appearance—leather jackets on anyone older than nineteen was Bad News—and, according to the half hapless, half hunted look in his eye, a questionable past, too.
At first, he didn’t realize the door had been answered and continued to stare at where the doorknob had been; only the door knob must have been very far away. Robert waited for half a moment. He cleared his throat.
“Uh—sorry,” the man started, “I was just, um, sorry—”
“Can I help you?” Robert asked politely.
“I was told she moved here. So I was wondering if you know, er, who was here last...”
“Who is you’re looking for? The only people here are myself and my—”
“Robert, who is at the door?” a voice called from within the house. Beside Robert appeared a young woman no older than twenty. Her long pale red hair was slung over her shoulder. She wiped her greasy hands on the floral apron adorning her middle. Robert attempted to hide her behind the door and away form the Stranger.
“No one, dear, it’s just—”
“Jason!” She squealed as she ducked under his arm.
Robert watched helplessly as his wife flung herself upon, hugged, and kissed (even if it is on the cheek) a complete stranger, who is obviously strange only to him.
Stunned, he exclaimed, “Jennifer!”
“You’re absolutely right Robert. Jason, come inside.”
Robert stared, his jaw lagging a little, and followed his wife as she energetically babbled to “Jason.”

He followed the intense chatter into the living room, where “Jason,” was already comfortably seated and taking up more than his fair share of couch. Jennifer, with much gusto, was sprawling a feast of snacks and appetizers on the coffee table before him.
“Really Jenny,” Jason was saying, “you don’t have to—”
“Oh!” Jennifer raced back into the kitchen, “Of course! How could I forget?”
Half a moment later, she returned bearing with great reverence, like it was Alexander the Great’s bones, a peanut butter sandwich on white, sliced diagonally.
“Jenny,” “Jason” repeated, “You don’t have to do all of this. I just came to see you again. That’s all.”
Jennifer poked him in the shoulder. “You look thinner.”
“Or you grew.”
“Just eat the sandwich, Jason. I know you want it.”
Robert watched as Jason, with mock reluctance, stuffed one entire half into his mouth at once. Satiated, Jennifer pulled up a chair opposite the man.
“So, you’re married now,” he stated.
“Yep,” Jennifer beamed, “Hitched away!”
“Yes, she’d married!” Robert almost shouted. Both looked up at him like they hadn’t noticed him until now. Jason looked like he was starting to regret ever coming—as he should! Robert thought.
“Who is this guy?” he said to his wife, “And how does he know you?”
Jason fumbled anxiously in his pockets. Jennifer blushed.
“Jason,” she said sweetly, “This is Robert. Robert, Jason”
“I heard that,” he said, eyeing Jason, “Jason who?”
Jennifer glanced questioningly at Jason, who shrugged.
“Um,” Jennifer continued, “He’s… just Jason.”
“Oh, well then!” Robert said sarcastically as he gave Jason an icy glare, which, despite his blatant nervousness, Jason met. It was like an ice cube meeting Antarctica. He looked back at Jennifer.
“And how have you come know Mr. Just Jason?” he said innocently.
“Oh, really, Robert! Stop talking about him like he isn’t here!”
“No, no,” Jason waved her off.
“But, Jason, I’m so tired off people—”
“No, he’s right, Jenny. I’ll explain.”
Robert’s wife scowled and looked back between Jason and her husband. “Fine,” she conceded, “Don’t take too long.”
Jason left his seat on the couch, walked over to the door. He gestured Robert out.
“What on Earth—”
“We’re going for a drive.”

Robert hesitated, glancing back at Jennifer, before reluctantly grabbing his jacket and car keys, and making sure to give Jason a meaningful look as he went out the door. Jason was about to follow when a thin white hand caught his shoulder.
“Now Jason,” Jennifer said, “I’m letting you do this because I trust you, but Rob’s my husband, ok? This isn’t like the other times. I’m sorry, but I need you to hand it over.” She held out her hand and waited patiently. “Come on, I know you don’t go anywhere without it.”
Jason scowled, not understanding at first. When is dawned on him, he objected, “You really think I’d—”
“Jason.”
Making a great show of his annoyance, Jason thrust deep into his pocket and yanked out a pearly white switch blade, and slapped it into her hand.
Robert blared his Cadillac’s horn. With an amused grin poking at the corner of his mouth, Jason swaggered over and tapped Robert’s windshield. “I’ll drive,” he mouthed, thumbing to a faded blue pickup truck that was blocking Robert’s driveway.

Robert tapped his knee anxiously as the truck turned left towards town. He turned off the radio and 70’s Rock Ballads with it.
“Where are we going?”
“No where. Driving helps me think.”
“Oh, really,” Robert’s nervousness turned to annoyance. “So what’s the purpose of this little cruise around town, hm? Are you some phantom of the past come to tell me my wife’s obscure teenage years?”
“Nope,” Jason said, flicking the radio back on, “Don’t even know what that means.”
“So what is it you were going to explain?”
“You tell me.”
Robert thought for a moment and then asked, “How do you know Jennifer?”
“You mean Jenny?”
“I mean Jennifer.”
Jason was visibly relieved, and said, “Oh. That.” He checked the bash board, and warned “I don’t think I have enough gas to answer that.”