Page 99 of A Journey For Jasmine

“Yes. You’re like an empty pit lately. You must be burning some crazy calories.”

She took the muffin out of his hand and took a bite. “Thanks. Maybe it’s the cooler air coming in though it’s not all that much cooler. You seem to think it is.”

“I’m used to ninety as an average, not you.”

“True,” she said. “But I’ve lived in parts of the world that are hotter than here and no AC.”

He shuddered. “No, thank you,” he said.

They walked out together, her muffin almost gone by the time she got in her car and she washed it down with the coffee he’d made her. Talk about super sweet of him to do that.

“I’ll touch base with you later,” she said.

“I should be home in the afternoon. If your family doesn’t have plans and they just want to hang out and relax, come here.”

“What?” she asked.

“Jasmine. No one wants to sit in a hotel room or your apartment. Even though it’s a nice apartment.”

“But not big. I know.”

“That’s right. Come here. We can sit on the patio and order some food and relax and you and your family can catch up. Only if you want to.”

“Thank you for the offer. I’ll play it by ear and let you know.”

They climbed in their cars and drove away.

She got home and walked up the stairs and unlocked her door. Dahlia was sitting at the table on her computer. “Where is Ivy?”

“Sleeping,” Dahlia said quietly.

She snorted. “Last time she was here she was up before I got home and dusting. She wanted me to see that she’s changed and could clean.”

Dahlia laughed. “She was putting on a show for you.”

“I hope not,” she said. “I want to believe she has matured and changed.”

“I don’t mean it in a bad way,” Dahlia said. “I just mean she wanted you to give her a chance.”

“Which I am. I didn’t need her to pretend to be someone she isn’t. I did talk to Grandma and was told that Ivy is pretty good. She picks up after herself. Only her bedroom isn’t very organized, but I don’t care about that. I don’t have to go in there.”

“But it’s your office,” Dahlia said. “Where are you going to work?”

“Unlike you, I don’t really need an office. My work is done at my job. It’s more hands on. If I’m doing schedules or looking at orders and stuff I can do it on the couch. It’s fine.”

“If you stay here,” Dahlia said. “What’s the deal with Wesley?”

“What do you mean?”

“Come on now. You’ve been dating a few months. He’s older than you. How much older?”

“Ten years. Not a big deal.”

“Thirty-seven isn’t young. I know he lost his wife a few years ago. You told me all of that. What is he looking for now? Just a younger woman?”

“No,” she said. “Not like you think. Or I don’t think so.” She figured she could confide in her older sister. She always had when she was younger. “He told me he loved me last night.”

“Do you love him?”

---