Page 81 of A Journey For Jasmine

“No,” she said. “I grew up traveling the world. My father is a doctor with Doctors Without Borders.”

“What an interesting life you must have led.”

“That is a word that could be used to describe it,” she said. “Wesley tells me you’ve got two children.”

“I do,” Brenda said. “We dropped Michele off at college on our way here. Noah has an apartment with friends while he finishes his last year of college in Florida.”

“College is a fun time,” she said.

“Expensive,” Henry said. “Especially when there are two of them going at once.”

“My parents have had that problem for years,” she said. “I’ve got four siblings. The first four are two years apart and the youngest is five years later. He’s in college still.” She looked at Wesley and this time saw his frown.

“With your father being a doctor I’m sure it was easy enough to take care of it all,” Henry said.

“Hardly,” she said. “My father worked for a nonprofit organization. We all had to get loans and aid. I’m still paying mine off as my siblings are too. They helped in other ways though. We moved back to America but had to stay with my grandparents.”

College wasn’t paid for by her parents. They encouraged everyone to go, but they couldn’t afford to send them all. That was on them.

Her parents did make sure they had cars. They all had some money for living expenses until they could get a job. They had a way back to their grandparents’ home on breaks, if that meant a flight or driving. They weren’t left high and dry, but they definitely had to make do on their own getting part-time jobs and paying for their education.

“Nope,” Wesley said. “College isn’t cheap. You didn’t pay for mine though.”

“Your mother had more than enough money,” Henry said. “I shouldn’t have had to pay for it. She threw it in my face she was the breadwinner of the family.”

“Now, Henry,” Brenda said. “You’re successful in your own right and you know it. Don’t compare.”

Jasmine wasn’t sure if Brenda was this nice or putting on one hell of a front. “I don’t compare myself to my siblings and they don’t either. We all had to find our own way in life and do what makes us happy.”

“I see Wesley is doing that now,” Henry said. “It seemed he wasn’t so happy a few years ago, but now that he won that lawsuit he can do what he wants.”

She could almost feel the anger radiating off of Wesley with that statement and had no idea what it meant.

“I had a great marriage and you know it,” he said. “I loved Noelle.”

She wasn’t going to let those words hurt her. She knew it wasn’t a shot toward her and had to get over any insecurities she might feel about it.

“We know you did,” Brenda said. “It still breaks my heart what happened. I’m going to assume you know, Jasmine?”

“Of course,” she said.

“Wesley was so heartbroken,” Brenda said, “and I’m thrilled to see a little of the old him back. I guess some of that has to do with you.”

“Money always makes people happy,” Henry said. “More so when you don’t need it.”

“Just ask, Dad. You came all this way because you want something. It’s the only time you ever reach out. I don’t have the energy to play these games.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Henry said.

“Brenda, what is going on?” Wesley asked. “Maybe you’ll be honest.”

Brenda sighed. “We’ll figure it out, Wesley. I’m just happy to see you doing so well.”

“Maybe I should have taken after your parents,” Henry said, looking at Jasmine, “and told my other two kids to pay for their education, but their mother promised them I’d do it.”

“And college is expensive,” Wesley said. “Sorry to hear that. Maybe you should have been putting money away for years for it instead of throwing parties and driving luxury cars. Or even buying your kids cars too. Your other kids, not me.”

Dinner came out before anyone could say another word and they all started to eat. Jasmine felt bad that it was so tense at the table but wasn’t going to be the one to start talking.

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