Page 87 of A Journey For Jasmine

The Bloom sisters were her employers and the last thing she wanted was someone not putting in one hundred percent and taking a job because it was more convenient than looking for what was right.

“I’ll figure it out,” Ivy said. “I’ve got a place to stay. Jasmine said I don’t have to help with the rent until I do get a job, which I appreciate, but I do have money put away. Grandma gave me all the money I’ve been paying them for rent too. She did it before I left. I was shocked.”

“You didn’t tell me that,” she said.

“I didn’t think about it. I was just so excited to be coming here. I planned on helping out though, Jasmine. I’ll pick up things at the store. Like food and cleaners and stuff.”

“Take care of yourself first, Ivy,” she said. “I’ve been living on my own comfortably for years. I want you to get settled and figure things out. Don’t worry about money.”

“Thank you,” Ivy said, hugging her again.

“Let’s get back to my place,” she said. “I think Dahlia might want to chill for the night. We can order dinner in and catch up.”

“Dahlia can take my bed,” Ivy said. “I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Don’t you want to share?” Dahlia asked. “It was always you and Jasmine, but since it’s her place, she shouldn’t have to share with anyone.”

“That’s right,” she said. “I’m not sharing my bed with anyone other than my boyfriend. Tomorrow though I’ll stay with Wesley and then come back in the morning when he goes to work. Dahlia can have my bed then.”

“Are you going to tell Dad you’re staying with your boyfriend?” Ivy asked.

“I don’t think he cares one way or another,” she said. “And too bad if he does. We’ve all been on our own for years.”

“Jasmine is right,” Dahlia said as they made their way to her car. “Dad has no say over it. Why would you ask that?”

“Grandpa always got annoyed when I stayed at a guy’s house. It put a crimp in my dating life,” Ivy said.

“Those were decisions you made,” Dahlia said. “By living there that long it allowed them to feel like they could say those things.”

“They said them to me too when I stayed there,” Jasmine said. “But I just ignored it. Ivy lets too many things bother her.”

“I can’t help it,” Ivy said. “It’s hard.”

“It’s how you are,” she said. “No more talk about that. Let’s talk about the fun things for the trip home.”

“How far is it?” Dahlia asked.

“A little over an hour. Mom and Dad said they were leaving around nine tomorrow so they’d be here around noon or so depending on traffic. Being a holiday weekend, my guess is closer to one. They are coming right here since they can’t check into their hotel until three.”

“What are we doing tomorrow?” Ivy asked. “Did you make plans for us?”

“Whatever Dahlia feels like doing. She is the one that came all this way for a short period of time. On Saturday Mom asked if I could bring her to the greenhouses. I told her I would and you are both welcome, but you know Mom always loved her gardens.”

“I want to go,” Ivy said. “Dahlia, wish you could meet Jasmine’s bosses. They are great. Three sisters just like the three of us.”

She grinned. “Not quite like the three of us, but yes, they are great.”

“I’d like to see these shops that Ivy said you guys visited last time if we can. Maybe go to the aquarium if there is time. Nothing major,” Dahlia said. “As you said, I’m not here long but don’t want to spend it sitting in an apartment either. I haven’t had a vacation where I’ve left the city in years.”

“Why?” she asked. “You can go places and drive.”

“I don’t drive often,” Dahlia said. “I take public transportation most of the time. If it wasn’t for the fact that my car was paid for and I had a parking spot, I’d get rid of it. I wouldn’t pay for a spot.”

“How do you like living in Chicago?” Ivy asked. “Dallas is so big, but it’s fine. I mean I wasn’t downtown or anything. I liked that I was close enough to go there if I wanted, but it’s so different than most of the places we grew up in. Mystic is completely foreign to me, but I love it.”

“It’s definitely different,” Jasmine said.

“I’m not downtown Chicago either,” Dahlia said. “There are smaller divisions and neighborhoods all over the place. I’m about a fifteen-minute ride on the L train and that is fine with me. A five-minute walk to get there. In the winter it’s not fun. That is when I drive to the station, but sometimes it’s more work to clean the car off than walk there anyway.”

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