Page 22 of Seal of Approval

She chewed fast and brought me her plate.

“You know the drill.” I pointed her in the direction of their bathroom.

I put some toast in for Jasmine and started a coffee for her. It was unlike her to be late like this. In the nearly two months I’d lived with them, she’d never been late. I guess everyone got tired coming up to the end of the year. Even Jasmine, the super mom.

There was movement from the kids’ room but that didn’t mean anything. Either of them could get distracted as easily as the other. “I need you out here in thirty seconds to put your shoes on,” I yelled out.

Jasmine rushed into the kitchen, tying her hair back. “Thanks for your help. My alarm didn’t go off.”

“The kids will be ready in a minute. Here’s some toast and coffee for your drive.”

“Thanks. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Bailey and Rose came in behind her, grabbed their shoes and put them on.

Rose glanced at me as she was tying her shoelaces. “You’re as bossy as Mum.”

“I learned from the best.” I leaned a hip against the counter and crossed my arms with a grin. “How was my mom voice?”

“Terrifying,” Rose said. That was a new word for her.

“I did a good job then.”

Jasmine narrowed her eyes. “Terrifying, huh?”

“Well, you know…”

Jasmine smiled at me. My heart lifted.

I couldn’t imagine two months ago that I’d be bantering with her like this. Friends do that, right?

“Go. I’ll meet you at the office,” I said.

She grabbed her keys and shuffled the kids out the door. It was nice to know I could help her for a change.

* * *

I needed to get some milk before I headed home. The afternoon had been good. I’d driven the boat out for the first time. Jasmine had joined me even though I hadn’t expected her to. She always had so much other work to do. But I’d enjoyed her company. The questions she’d asked had made me think on a deeper and more practical level, like asking why population growth was so slow. I would miss our trips together. But it would be selfish to expect Jasmine to continue coming out with me.

Jack was at the counter doing a crossword puzzle. He gave me a grin when I entered. “Saw you head out on the boat today.”

“It was good to drive myself for a change.” I went to grab a carton of milk.

“Jasmine went with you.”

“Yeah.” What was he getting at?

“Did she think you’d be lonely by yourself?”

“No, she just wanted to make sure I knew where I was going.”

“Surely, after all your trips you would know where you’re going.”

I made my way back to the counter. I placed the carton of milk down and grabbed some coins from my pocket.

Lily was standing beside Jack, smiling. “Maybe she was going to be lonely without you.”

While I would have liked to think that, I’m sure it wasn’t the case. She always put safety first and that’s what she had been doing this time.

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