Page 52 of Wishes on Wildflowers
Nathan spoke to Jasmine’s unyielding back. “That’s when I knew I was at the end of my own big plans for my life. When I knew I needed Jesus. Maybe this is what Basil needs, too. Maybe this will make all the difference in his life.”
She turned slowly. “I doubt it. When I left him to sleep it off, he thought it was all pretty hilarious. There’s not a serious or remorseful bone in his body.”
“It will come. I’m sure it will.”
Jasmine shook her head. Then her eyes found Peter. “I’m going to close the clinic for the summer at least. Basil’s going to lose his license, and he’ll probably go to jail. Someone needs to run Bridgeview Backyards, and he’s obviously unfit. We might need to buy him out.” She let out a mirthless chuckle. “He’ll probably need those funds to pay his DUI fine. I doubt he’s got any savings.”
Peter surged to his feet. “Don’t make a hasty decision, Jas. Let’s see how it goes. What he’s convicted of and what the penalties are. We can decide when we have all the facts.”
“I want him out.”
Wrong decision. Nathan couldn’t keep his mouth shut. “He needs you to stand with him. It will make all the difference for him.”
Jasmine’s gaze flicked off Nathan’s. “I didn’t ask you.”
The words drove an arrow into his heart. Had it only been a few hours ago when they’d kissed and he’d nearly asked her to marry him?
“Nathan’s right,” said Peter. “God doesn’t dump us when we sin. He keeps right on loving us, no matter what.”
“I’m not God.”
“But we’re supposed to be striving to be more like Him.”
Jasmine slammed her helmet on her head. “I’m going home. In the morning, you’ll see I’m right.”
Nathan yearned to take her in his arms and recapture what they’d had earlier — to erase the past half hour — but she was out the door and clattering down the steps before he’d risen from the chair.
Her motorbike roared to life and zoomed into the night.
Nathan glanced between Peter and Alex. He should never have come up the stairs. “I guess I’ll try to get some sleep.”
“How about Alex puts on another pot of coffee and you tell us your story instead?”
Did he have to? Both men waited expectantly. What was there to lose? Finally, Nathan nodded. “Okay.”
20
“You can’t avoid Nathan forever.”Linnea peered into the bathroom mirror the next Saturday morning as she swept mascara up her lashes.
“Oh, I probably can.” Jasmine slipped the lacy pink dress over her head and smoothed it down. “He hasn’t called for a couple of days now.” Sure, that hurt, but she’d get over it. She’d gotten over him before. Right?
Adriana and Myles’s wedding was due to start in just over an hour. Certainly being a third wheel with Linnea and Logan — again — was better than attending with Nathan. She’d had such high hopes for today. Hopes that included dreaming of a day when she’d be the bride in white, waiting for her groom. For Nathan.
A gal might as well wish on wildflowers. Here today, gone tomorrow with a puff of air.
All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls.
Jasmine tried to stop the recitation there, but she knew the scripture from First Peter too well to turn it off.But theword of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
Didn’t Basil deserve the good news?
The mental battle took on now-familiar lines.
Of course he did… not that Basil didn’t already know. He’d been raised in the same household she had. Gone to Sunday school every week, listened to Dad read Bible stories to them every evening when he was home, or Mom when Dad was at work. Gone to kids’ club then youth group at the church.
Basil knew as much as she did. He knew what he’d turned away from.
I have loved him with an everlasting love.
