Page 160 of Four Fiances & I

“Line up in age order; it’s easier.”

We all do as she says, and she places a box in front of each of us after checking the tags.

“Everything in those boxes are gifts from Jasmine, things she has put together for each of you. I promised I would deliver them to you myself, as obviously she can’t.” We all look from Mrs Brown to each other before looking at the box.

“Can we open them?” I ask carefully.

“Of course you can.”

The four of us open the boxes and look inside.

A pink and white buttonhole is on the top of light pink tissue paper.

“Is that…?” I ask, picking it up carefully and looking at the added details.

“It’s a blackbird feather,” Mrs Brown confirms. “She had them delivered as soon as she heard about your mother and her singing that song for you.”

Looking at my brothers, I see we all have matching flowers and feathers. I can't stop looking at the beautiful, touching tribute to our mum.

Forcing myself to put it on the side, I lift the tissue paper to find a wooden gift box and letter.

Opening the box first, I find a beautiful pocket watch. It's engraved on the front and reads.

Daddy and his Baby girl

Glancing at the others, I can see them all holding similar watches.

“What does yours say?” I ask Jason, who smiles as he runs a finger over it.

“Daddy and his Jazzy.”

“Daddy and his Shorty,” Maximus adds

“Daddy and his Princess,” Sean says, blinking back tears.

“Open them,” Mrs Brown says softly. We open our pocket watches, and my heart stops. There, smiling up from the inside of the front, is a picture of Mum and me. It was taken a few months before she was diagnosed. Again, I look at my brothers and see them all barely holding it together.

“They were originally designed to hold pictures of Jasmine with each of you. But she decided you needed your mum here with you today. She spent hours searching the photo albums for the right ones.”

Blinking back the tears, I let out a slow, deep breath, desperate to regain some control over my emotions. Once again, I look at my brothers and know they are just as touched by our sweet girl as I am.

“Okay, one last thing from Jasmine,” Mrs Brown declares before pulling out a laptop and turning it around to face us. “Jason, be a dear and open my email from Jasmine, please.” Jason glances at us all, and we watch as he pulls up the email and opens a video.

Jasmine comes onto the screen, and I realise it must have been filmed yesterday at the hotel.

“Hey,” she giggles nervously. “Hopefully, you have your gifts now and like them; if it's too much, please don’t feel like you have to wear them. I just wanted to include your mum somehow and thought this may be a great way to do it.” How could she possibly think we wouldn’t love her thoughtful gifts?

“I originally wrote you all letters, which are still in the boxes, but things have happened since, so this is an appendix to the letters you can read later.” Even though I know it’s not live, I can't help smiling with her. She’s so nervous that it's adorable to watch.

“I wanted to take this chance before the day really starts because it’s going to fly by, and it's something I want to say before tonight, and that’s thank you.

“Thank you for supporting me, helping me grow, and showing me what it's like to be wanted.

“Thank you for choosing me and loving me in such a way I learnt to love myself too. Everything I am is because the four of you showed me that I haven’t been the problem; other people have.” She takes a small, deep breath before smiling at us.

“I love you so much and know that no matter what direction my life takes me, you will protect me from losing myself again. You will do what you always have and protect me from harm, even if that means protecting me from myself.” Jasmine is silent for a second, and I’m grateful I need that second to catch my breath. I am so thankful for this woman and all she has brought into not only my life but my brothers’ lives, too.

“I hope none of you mind, but I have asked a few more people to attend today. The first is Gordon. I know, Daddy Jason, you would have preferred it if he had come and were only being polite when you said you didn’t.

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