Page 28 of Forbidden Desires

He scoffed. “It’s nothing more than a bruise. Had worse in the Army. These kids don’t understand that. But—” He leaned forward a little, grinning, and at least he’d remembered to put his teeth in today. “The staff does bring me candy now. Soft toffees, because of my tumble. Only thing that’s keeping me from running around the yard right now!”

I grinned, even as Jasmine tried to stifle a little laugh. My father was certainly as stubborn as she’d teased him about. No injury or ailment was as bad as anything he had dealt with in the military. And why would it be? He’d engaged in warfare. What was a little bruised hip to a man like that?

Jasmine leaned a little closer to my father, her voice low and conspiratorial when she spoke. “So, about those toffees…enough to share?”

It was my mother who spoke up. “Oh, yes! He doesn’t need nearly as many as what they give him.”

“What? It’s not like it’ll rot my teeth anymore.” My father snickered, reaching his fingers into his mouth to pull out of the top set of his false teeth.

They came out with a metallic little click, being the kind that snapped into the gums with small magnets that were situated into the bones and a matching set in the teeth themselves.

Mother bopped him on the shoulder. “Don’t just pop them out like that! It’s impolite.” She shook her head, looking to Jasmine and me. “Can you believe him?”

I found it amusing to see my parents so playful, when they’d once been so distinguished and dignified, which was where I’d gotten my own formal personality from. It made me wonder ifat some point in my life I’d ever become less rigid and more relaxed.

“I dunno,” Jasmine said, following my father’s lead just as mischievously. “I think he’s on to something. Imagine all the sweets you could eat if cavities weren’t a problem.”

My father nodded. “Aye. See. She has the right idea.”

I shook my head, looking to my mother. “The toffees? Tell me where they are and I can get us all one.”

My mother beamed, her brow furrowing for a moment as she thought, then finally answered. “They’re in the candy jar in the kitchen, dear.”

Nodding, I looked to Jasmine. I didn’t want to ask outright if she’d be okay alone with my parents, but I couldn’t help the hesitance, either. Without even having to voice it, though, Jasmine smiled at me.

“I’ll be fine in here,” she said in a gregarious tone, and shooed me away with her hand in a playful manner. “I hear that I’m great company.”

Nodding, I made my way out of my parents’ room and back into the main living area of the apartment. It was at least clean, I noticed. Even the kitchen. I saw small reassurances placed here and there that told me that my parents weren’t worse for wear here. They were still thriving. Happy. In love with each other. They just…

I sighed as I pulled four toffees from the candy jar.You’re worrying too fucking much.

And I’d put all of that on Jasmine. Yet for all that, she seemed to be handling my parents well. I was honestly surprised. This whole thing had been a massive, unplanned gamble on my part that should have gone wrong by now, as it had in the past. She could have said no. She could have judged me for how I chose to take care of my parents. She could have ridiculed the way that they were.

Could have,yet she didn’t.

Unsure of what to do with the way I felt about the situation, I came back to my parents’ room. Hearing the three of them speaking, I paused just outside the door.

“…I know it’s probably too soon, but you know what would really brighten up things around here? Grandchildren.”

My face reddened at my mother’s voice, but I stayed where I was, admittedly curious about how Jasmine would answer.

A small, nervous—or perhaps embarrassed—laugh came.

“Well, you know Eric. Work, work, work,” she said in an easy-going tone, handling the time alone with my parents like a champ. “We’re not really thinking about having kids right now.”

“But at some point?” My mother’s voice was so damn hopeful, which in turn made me feel oddly wistful that I’d never given my parents something so simple, all because of how particular I’d always been when it came to women.

Until Jasmine, trickled through my mind.

A beat of silence passed before Jasmine responded to my mother’s request. “Well, it’s not completely off the table. Maybe a few of those emptier rooms in the apartment could be filled with pattering feet. But, until then, Eric and I are enjoying having time to ourselves.”

It was my father I heard this time, giving a slight snort. “Emilie and I didn’t have Eric until we were in our thirties. We liked our ‘wrapped up in each other’ time, too.’”

My mother clicked her tongue. “Richard just forgets how nice it was to have a baby between the two of us.”

The wording made my blood run a bit colder. They were talking about memories now. Recollections. This was usually when it was a prime time to step in and make sure that they didn’t try to push those memories too far into places where there were gaps. Areas where they wouldn’t know what to say or why things didn’t make sense the way they used to.

But that didn’t come.

---