Page 101 of Bitter Secrets

She took a few paces away, assuming she had stumped Sarai. She was wrong.

“How can you say that when you made peace with your father?”

She stopped in her tracks.

“And, against all the odds, you made it in writing.” Sarai prodded her with the hand that still held the churro and dusted the sugar off her coat as she continued. “What are the odds of you two meeting in Colorado after all this time?”

Sarai’s expression was equal parts indignant and tragically hopeful.

“I know life isn’t like how it’s portrayed in books, but you’re the closest thing I know to a true fairytale.” Sarai held up her hand when Jasmine opened her mouth. “I know it’s not perfect. I don’t expect that, but I have to believe that if you’re willing to fight for what you want, you can have it.” Sarai’s gaze touched on something behind her before she said, “I know you still have things to sort out, but you can’t do that if you avoid each other.”

Jasmine looked away as her eyes pricked with tears. “Some things are better left alone.”

Sarai slipped her arm over her shoulders. “We’ll get there.”

“We?”

“I’m your fairy godmother.” Sarai waved her churro like a wand. “You need me to block off time in his schedule, you just let me know, and I’ll make it happen.”

“That will never happen,” she muttered.

“Never say never. Oh! Look at these heart ornaments!”

“Julehjerter.” At Sarai’s blank look, she explained, “A Yule heart. I picked up a few myself.”

Although she had been fine shopping by herself, she couldn’t deny how much more enjoyable it was to have Sarai along. Nothing escaped Sarai’s notice, and she consumed everything in her path. Before, she glided through the crowd unnoticed, observing everyone else. With Sarai at her side, they were the center of attention. It wasn’t just her exotic good looks that drew eyes, but Sarai’s over the top enthusiasm as she marveled at the most mundane things. It was strange watching Sarai’s childlike enthusiasm disappear the moment her phone rang. She became all business then. Apparently, she knew Roth’s schedule like the back of her hand because she didn’t write anything down.

After eating too much and downing two more cups of Gløgg, Jasmine was pleasantly lightheaded. They strolled to Nyhavn, Copenhagen’s iconic, picturesque waterfront. She saw it during the day, but she found it even more beautiful at night, with the colorful houses and lights reflected in the calm waters of the canal. She took out her phone to take a few shots, but none of the images did Nyhavn justice.

When Roth stepped up beside her, she said, “Why did you let her do it?”

“What?”

“Why did you let Sarai rearrange your schedule?” When he didn’t answer immediately, she added, “She thinks it’s her responsibility to keep us together. Now, she may do it all the time.”

“I trust her to use her power sparingly.”

She felt a stab of envy. “You trust her that much?”

“She’s proven her loyalty many times over.”

“And I haven’t?”

She didn’t expect an answer and didn’t get one.

“Does she know?” she whispered.

“No.”

She wasn’t sure why that made her feel better, but it did. “Mo and Johan?”

“No.”

“No one?”

“No.”

She let out a long breath and wished she was as still as the canal waters, but those simple questions were bringing it all up again.

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