Page 53 of Wishes on Wildflowers
Wasn’t that from Jeremiah? For an instant, Jasmine wished she didn’t know her Bible so well. But the litany of the passage continued.Therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built.
Enough.
Basil’s court case was coming up soon. The only thing her brother had built was a pall on the Santoro name. He’d probably do some time in jail, and a driving suspension was certain. She’d looked it up and, unless Basil received a miracle he certainly didn’t deserve, he’d lose his license for three years. Judges weren’t lenient when blood alcohol levels were more than double the legal limit, to say nothing of Basil running the checkpoint.
Three years! Bridgeview Backyards needed them all to be able to drive to the various gardens and transport produce to the markets. Babysitting Basil for that long was unthinkable.
Fingers tugged at Jasmine’s hair, and she pressed her hands to the sides of her head.
“Thought you wanted a French braid crown.”
Right, she’d asked Linnea to do her hair for the wedding, back when she wanted to look gorgeous for Nathan. Now she didn’t care. “I changed my mind. I’ll just brush it out and put in a clip.”
“I don’t mind. We still have time, and I’d be glad to do it.”
Jasmine took a step away and shook her head.
Her roommate angled a look at her. “You need to talk to him.”
“I can’t trust him.”
“His heart is for Jesus. For forgiveness and redemption. I think it’syourheart that’s messed up.”
“Thanks.” Jasmine didn’t even try to keep the sarcasm out of the word.
“What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t point out the truth to you in love? You’ve been that kind of friend to me. I might not have appreciated it at the time, but you’ve given me good counsel when I needed it most.”
Jasmine stared at Linnea. Mostly she remembered telling her roommate that she was more in love with the idea of being in love than actuallybeingin love with Logan. It had been true at the time, but Linnea had grown out of that phase. Jasmine had no qualms. Linnea’s love for Logan had matured. In just a few weeks, it would betheirwedding day.
Everyone was getting married. Everyone but her. She was pretty sure she and Nathan had been close to focusing on a future together, but then he’d gone and blown it.
It was all Basil’s fault. As always.
Nathan straightenedhis tie and eyed himself in the mirror. Maybe he should just pass on this wedding. It wasn’t that he knew either Myles or Adriana particularly well, but he’d met with Adriana a couple of times to flesh out her idea for catering dinners in her beautiful riverside home. She’d invited him herself and seemed thrilled that he’d planned to come as Jasmine’s plus-one.
If he was going to live in Bridgeview, there was no avoiding Jasmine. He’d seen Rae at work every day after their breakup in L.A. and survived. But Rae wasn’t Jasmine.
No, Jasmine was the woman he loved.
His cell phone rang, and his heart leaped. Maybe this time it was her, saying she was sorry. But, no. Pops’s name popped onto his screen. Nathan hadn’t heard from his father in a couple of weeks.
“Hi, Pops.”
“Nathan? It’s Makenna. Your dad… he isn’t doing so well. I’ve taken him to Deaconess Hospital, and he’s asking for you.”
“I can come up this evening. Visiting hours are until eight?”
“Please, can you come sooner? I… I think we’re close to the end.”
The wedding. But his fingers were already loosening his tie, yanking it off, tossing it on the bed as he strode past. “I’m coming. You okay?”
“Yes.” She sniffled. “No. I’m not sure. I mean, I knew this was coming, but…”
For some reason Nathan had never quite figured out, Makenna actually seemed to love Pops.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
The wedding was simple.Beautiful. Jasmine dabbed away tears as Adriana, eyes shining, pledged herself to Myles. As Myles’s voice grew thick with emotion while he promised to love Adriana above all others as long as they both should live.
