Page 14 of Holiday Grief

Both he and Jasmine laughed, and he felt her relax further, no longer focused on the birthday party guests, but on the reason she was here. How could he not be falling in love with a woman who put his daughter and her needs above her own fears?

“Sure is,” Jasmine replied.

“Can I open it now?”

“We were going to do presents after cake,” he reminded his daughter.

Claire pouted. “But, Daddy, this is Jassy’s present. I want to open it now.”

“Guess I can't argue with the birthday girl,” he said, giving permission.

Jasmine handed over the box, and Claire made quick work undoing the bow. When she lifted off the lid she gasped and reached inside, lifting out a large wooden box. It was carved with an image of a little girl—clearly Claire—and several animals playing around her.

“Open it up,” Jasmine said.

When Claire lifted the lid of the wooden box music immediately began to play, and a carousel with the animals carved on the lid began to spin slowly.

“Look, it’s me,” Claire squealed in delight as she spotted the girl riding on a giraffe. Giraffes were Claire’s favorite animal so he knew that was no coincidence.

“It’s a music box,” Jasmine said.

“That must have cost you a fortune.” This wasn’t an off-the-shelf music box. She’d had someone make it for her, choosing something she knew Claire would love.

“Claire deserves it.” Jasmine jutted out her chin as though daring him to disagree, and how could he? These two women were everything to him.

“It’s going to go on my special shelf,” Claire said, still staring in awe at the music box.

“High praise,” he told Jasmine. “Only her very best things go on that shelf.”

“I'm honored.” Jasmine’s green eyes were soft as she looked down at the little girl. His instincts were spot on when he knew not long after he met her that she would be the mother Claire deserved. A mother who would love his little girl almost as much as Meredith would have.

“Let’s go jump on the castle,” Claire announced.

“Oh, uh, I'm not usually a fan of that bouncing movement,” Jasmine said.

“It’s okay, Daddy can hold your hand,” Claire told her.

Ruffling Claire’s hair he grinned at Jasmine. “Look at my girl playing matchmaker.”

Claire’s face scrunched in confusion. “What's matchmaker? Do they make matches to light my candles?”

He and Jasmine both laughed, and when he held out one hand to Jasmine and one to Claire, both his girls took them without hesitation. “No, honey. A matchmaker is someone who helps a boy and a girl fall in love.”

“Fall in love?” Claire asked. “Are you falling in love with Jassy?”

Jasmine’s green eyes looked huge in her face as she stared up at him, awaiting his answer. An answer that was easy to give because it was completely true.

“I sure am.”

Chapter Five

November 23rd

12:13 P.M.

“Oh, Jett. Hi,” Jasmine said as she opened her front door to find her brother standing there.

Her oldest brother never missed an opportunity to make sure she knew how disappointed he was in her. Nine years older than her, by the time she’d made her colossal, life-changing mistake he’d already been out of the home and in the FBI. He had no idea what things had been like then. Sure, when he’d been young he had stepped up to help financially support the family, but at least he’d been allowed to have a life if he wanted one.

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