Page 8 of Tempted

Jasmine squeezed the little girl close before tucking her in. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”

“Night,Jasmine.”

She left the door slightly open so Chelsea didn’t feel too closed in. Moving on to Tyler’s room, she peaked in. His prone body was so still, she thought he was sleeping. On the verge of leaving, he called out to her. He insisted he was too old to be tucked in, but Jasmine liked to check on him for her own peace of mind.

“Jasmine, I thought you weren’t coming,” Tyler accused. “What took you so long?”

Though Tyler had protested her nightly visits, Jasmine secretly suspected, he didn’t mind them as much as he claimed. His statement only confirmed it.

“I was reading to Chelsea, and we had a little talk,” she said walking into the room, and taking a seat on the edge of his bed.

“What about?”

“This and that. Just girl talk.”

“Oh. Well, you didn’t have to come in all the way in. I just thought…”

“That I’d come sooner?”

“I dunno. I’m not a baby, but I figured I let you do it because it makes you feel better.”

“Oh, I see.” She nodded solemnly. In that case, you seem fine to me. I bid you goodnight, sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite.” Just as she was about to stand up, he grabbed her wrist.

“Um, Jasmine…”

“Yes?”

“I…I wanted to ask you something.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“Well, I have this thing at school on Friday, well, its parent’s day and I’m giving a presentation for my class. I was wondering if you could ask Dad if he could come.”

Jasmine frowned. It was a shame she had to be the go between a man and his own children. Not that she was condemning him for employing a nanny, but it broke her heart at how anxious Tyler seemed about his father coming to see him at school.

“Well, he usually gets in late and I’m in bed by the time he arrives home, so I’m not sure when I’ll see him either.”

The boy’s face fell. “Oh. Okay. I left a message with his assistant at work, and she told me she’d leave him a message.”

“Do you mean to tell me, your father’s assistant doesn’t put your calls through to him?”

“He’s really busy.”

“Don’t you have his cell phone number?”

“Yes, but he said to call office number when he’s at work unless its an absolute emergency.”

No one should be too busy for their kids. “You know what Tyler? I’ll stay up until he gets home to give him the message.”

“Really?” the light returned to the child’s eyes.

“Sure, that’s what friends do for each other.”

“You’re much better than Miss Applewhite.”

Jasmine laughed. “I hope so.”

It was disgraceful how Mr. Meade treated his children. He needed to know that Chelsea and Tyler were hurting from his lack of attention.

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