“I’m not going to do a thing with them. They will probably go to D.C. or something. I don’t really care.”
Drake looked at her in exasperation. “I’ll entertain them so you can enjoy your evening with your mother.”
“What a Good Samaritan you are.”
“Steven wants us to get together anyway. What’s a couple more tagging along?”
“Knock yourselves out.” Jasmine gathered her things and headed to the truck. She was driving to her farthest point and would work her way in. Her cell phone rang. It was Mr. Avery.
“Jasmine, I was calling to make sure your family is okay and to see if you needed me to do anything.”
“They’re fine, thanks. And thank you for dinner last night.”
“I got the impression your mother was upset,” he said in a cautiously weary voice.
“Just family drama.”
“Is there anything I can do, dear?”
“No, but thanks.”
“Tomorrow night Noelle’s father and I are playing poker. Do you think Norman would like to join us? I know it’s short notice, but I wasn’t comfortable inviting him last night.”
Norman play poker? She could see him tallying the money and his accuracy would certainly be to the penny. But play? “I don’t think he plays.” And the men smoked cigars. She couldn’t see Norman in that manly pursuit. He’d run outside coughing. More than likely he would spend the evening in the kitchen talking to Leila, keeping the older woman from her sleep.
“No big deal. We can teach him. Why don’t I have Franklin call him?” Franklin was Noelle’s father. Her mother didn’t hold the animosity against him that she held against George Avery. For some reason Mr. Avery presented a threat.
“Sure.” Let him try, although Jasmine knew he’d be unsuccessful. Her mother would disapprove and Norman liked to keep the waters calm.
Floyd called Drake later that afternoon to tell him he was visiting the movie star later on, and he wanted to know if Drake could stop by for an introduction. She had volunteered to help raise money for his orphaned animals. Drake readily agreed to go.
He had one more client. Marsha was bringing in one of her dogs for injections and a checkup before they left for a competition.
“Are they competing in the Westminster this year?”
“They certainly are, the dears,” she said. Marsha loved dogs, and these were well-pampered ones.
“Just wanted you to know the fund-raising plans are going very well. The new movie star who moved to town has already offered to help out. Her face will certainly bring in the money,” she said, raking her fingers through the dog’s fur. “And we’re getting volunteers organized, as well.”
“Thanks, Marsha. I truly appreciate your efforts. I’m actually going to meet her later on today.”
“Well, good! It just breaks my heart to see animals suffer. If my husband would allow it, I’d have a kennel of my own. But he doesn’t share the same love for animals that I do.”
“You’re helping by arranging things.”
Soon after Marsha left, Drake left for his visit to the movie star’s place. The gate was closed when he arrived. He announced himself at the loudspeaker.
The massive iron gate opened and he drove up to an impressive home.
“Good evening, Dr. Whitcomb. Do you mind if I call you Drake?” she asked when she opened the door.
“I don’t mind at all, ma’am,” Drake said.
“What’s this ma’am business. Please call me Katie, I insist.” Katie was his mother’s age. She’d dressed in expensive lounging pajamas that flowed smoothly on her beautifully sculptured body. Her face was slightly bruised, as if healing from plastic surgery.
“I’m here to talk to you about our vet practice…”
“Floyd has already done that,” she said. “And he’s convinced me you’re an excellent vet. Why don’t I introduce you to Biddy and Puddles?” She left for less than a minute and returned with two purebreds that came charging and barking into the room, coming to a quivering stop a couple of feet away.
They immediately sidled up to Drake. He cautiously reached out to pet them. They flipped over for him to rub their bellies.
Drake squatted to pet the dogs.
“I see you love animals as much as I do,” she said.
“Yes, I do.” Drake glanced up and resumed his position on the couch.
“I love animals and Marsha has told me you’ve taken on more than you can comfortably handle. I’m willing to make a donation, as well as participate in your fund-raising event. And since your land joins mine, let’s see what we can do to develop a small zoo area where people can make a small donation to tour. I saw something like that in Florida.”
“I like that idea,” Drake said.
“It wasn’t that much. We could build large enclosures so the animals could move around more freely.”
The phone rang.
“What rotten timing,” she said. “I’ll be just a sec.”
In a moment, she was back. “Floyd’s on his way. He’ll be here in a minute.” Then she patted her hair. Was something going on with her and Floyd? Drake wondered.
The little fund-raising plan was going to work quite well, Drake thought.
“I don’t know why you told Franklin you’d play cards,” Amanda said to Norman. “You could go shopping with Jasmine and me.”
Jasmine had showered and was dressing to take her mother shopping.
“I want you to have time alone with Jasmine,” Norman said. They were in their bedroom.
“You don’t play cards.”
“I can learn. People from work invite me sometimes. It’s time I learned to do some new things.”
“I don’t want anything to do with that man and his family. And I don’t want you over there.”
“You’re going to make yourself sick. Just calm down, sweetheart. Now, don’t badger Jasmine. Just go out and have a good time.”
“But…”
“Try, sweetheart. I love you. Now, remember, no unpleasant topics. Pick out some nail polish, or clothes, or…whatever you women do.” He seemed at a loss for words. “Drake picked up the others a half hour ago. I may as well play cards with the men.”
“I don’t know,” Amanda said.
“Franklin will be here soon. I’m going to head downstairs. Do I match?”
“Of course you match. I packed all your clothes. Here, you may as well take the key in case you get back first.”
There was a period of silence. They must be kissing, Jasmine thought. Then she heard Norman’s footsteps on the stairs.
Good old Norman.
Jasmine finished dressing and opened her door. By the time she went downstairs, her mother was already in the family room and Norman was gone.
“I think we’ll check out the shops near here Saturday,” Jasmine said, “and go to Tysons’ now.”
Her mother gave a half smile.
“I’m so glad to get out of that house,” Barbara Pearson said with a sour face.
“I’m sure the sentiments are mutual,” Steven said. It surprised Drake that Steven spoke up for Jasmine. Right then and there, Drake wanted to drop Barbara off in the middle of a forest and let her find her own way home.
“I don’t understand how you can even stand her, Drake.”
“Maybe because she’s the best thing that ever came into my life,” Drake said with more feeling than he’d intended. But he meant every word.
“It’s like that?” Steven asked.
Drake nodded. “I don’t understand why you all came if you feel this way.”
“She made us come,” Jack Pearson said.
“She?”
“The Dragon Lady. Amanda,” Barbara clarified.
“But you could have begged off. You’re all grown. You could have found a million things to do. And Jasmine could have enjoyed the time with her mother and your father.”
“Steven here has changed into Mother Teresa. And when Dragon Lady wants s
omething, you follow the plan, or else.”
“At twenty-two and twenty-four you two are grown,” Drake repeated.
“When I was a kid, you could barely move without that woman dishing out punishment,” Barbara said. “We’d lose our allowance, or she’d keep us trapped in that tired old house if we stepped out of line. She’d think of all kinds of punishments. Dad never punished us. But you don’t cross her. And I need to move back home. Rent is expensive and my roommate ran out on me. I can’t afford the place. So what could I do when she laid down the law but waste a week here?”
“I don’t think you’re going to be able to move back home. I heard her telling Dad she’d raised us and she wants them to spend some time alone,” Jack said. “She’s tired of us moving in and out. It’s a shame, because I need a place, too. We’ve been paying the rent late, and they’re kicking us out.”
“Dad’s an accountant,” Steven said. “How often has he talked to you about managing money?”
Barbara’s sigh was long and tired. “I’m still young. Clothes are expensive.”
“Especially when you’re buying designer brands,” Jack said.
All Drake could do was shake his head.
“I don’t know why he married her in the first place,” Barbara finally said.
Steven turned around in the seat. “He’s in love with her, guys.”
Drake knew it had been bad for Jasmine, but he just now realized how bad, and for Amanda, too. His hand almost trembled with anger. With this background she’d never marry him. When Jasmine had witnessed how well Noelle got along with her father, he’d had a glimmer of hope that things could work out for him and Jasmine, but with this attitude…he just couldn’t blame her.
And Jasmine had to sleep with this witch, Barbara, every night. Their presence was going to put a pall over Jasmine and Amanda’s time together. Amanda desperately wanted to share this experience with her daughter.
“The nightlife in D.C. is much more lively than out here,” Drake offered. “Why don’t you get a hotel there for the rest of your stay? I’ll even spring for it.”
“God, anyplace would be more active than this boring burg,” Barbara said. “I’m about to die from boredom.”
Steven shifted in his seat. “We had a talk before we left L.A. We’re going to try to mend fences with Jasmine.”
“No.” Drake shook his head adamantly. “You can mend fences if you want to, Steve, but I want them out of her house.”
“What’s up with you? You sleep with the woman and now you’ve gone crazy?” Barbara said. “Don’t worry. I have a friend in D.C. who wants me to visit. I’ll just give her a call.”
“You do that.”
“I’ve got someplace to stay, too,” Jack said.
“Mind if I hang out with you?” Steven asked.
“Sure, man.”
Drake had lost every bit of energy he possessed. He might have told Jasmine all they could count on was what they shared right now, but he never believed it, not really in his heart—until now.
Well, if he couldn’t marry her, the least he could do was rid her of the nest of vultures. They were the worst kind of human beings. Jasmine was too decent to have to waste time on them.
“Norman’s glasses are going to fog up when he sees you wearing that outfit,” Jasmine said with a mischievous smile.
“Oh, girl.” Her mother blushed as she modeled a classically sensual lounging outfit from an upscale store. She glanced at the tag for the third time, as if she needed an excuse to purchase it. “Well, it is on sale.”
“Splurge for once. All of us are grown and on our own. It’s time you took care of you.”
“I think Barbara and Jack want to move back in.”
“You’re kidding!”
“I told Norman I don’t mind lending them money if I have to, but I want my house to myself. I knew the responsibility I was taking on with raising his kids when we married. But I never expected to do most of it alone. We need some time together. I need a break.”
“Of course you do. I have a little extra, do you need some help?”
“Oh, no. We’re fine. Norman was always good with money, you know that.”
“If he taught me nothing else, he taught me how to handle money,” Jasmine said, remembering the long, boring sessions. But she’d listened. Better than his own children.
“I wasn’t going to get anything for myself.” Her mother was looking at the price tag again.
“No fair,” Jasmine said. “You forced me to buy several outfits. As a matter of fact, since I moved here, I’ve bought more clothes than I did in college.”
“Well, to repeat your own words, it’s time you did something nice for you. Now, let’s get manicures.”
“You get a manicure,” Jasmine said, looking at her nails. “I’m a vet, Mom. The animals don’t care. Besides, I have to wash my hands a million times a day. It would be a waste of money.”
“You’re a woman, and don’t you forget that,” Amanda said in her stern voice. “Drake would love to see you all dolled up. Is it serious between you two?”
“I think so.” With her family underfoot, she had little time to delve into her relationship with Drake. She knew he was holding back, but she didn’t know what his big secret was. Just that it had to be serious, and that worried her. She knew he wouldn’t divulge his secret until he was ready. What could it be? “He’s special.”
“And he thinks the world of you.”
That was just it. Jasmine knew he cared for her, so what was going on?”
“We’ll get manicures, and then have dinner. How does that sound?”
“Perfect.”
Amanda disappeared into the changing room.
Jasmine never expected to enjoy the outing with her mother so much. She had been dreading it, actually. She was so glad she’d agreed. In the past, she never took the time to really appreciate her mother. Still in her early fifties, Amanda Pearson was a lovely woman.
“Hand me your clothes, Mom,” Jasmine said. “I’ll get them on the hanger while you dress.”
“Okay. Here they are.”
When Jasmine got the outfit, she took it to the cashier and paid for it. She wanted to do something special for her mother.
A minute after the cashier handed her the shopping bag, Amanda came out of the changing room. “Where’s the outfit, honey? I’ll pay for it and we can leave. I’m getting hungry.”
Jasmine held up the bag. “Right here.”
“You paid for it?”
Jasmine leaned close to her mother and kissed her on the cheek and gave her a one-arm hug. “A gift from me.”
“Oh, thank you, sweetheart.” Amanda dabbed at her eyes. “But I didn’t want you spending your hard-earned money on me. You’ve done so much. The bedroom is so special. And all the extra touches you did to make our stay wonderful.”
“You’ve done that my entire life.” Jasmine hugged her mother again. “Let’s go.”
When Jasmine and her mother finally made it home around midnight, Drake, Steve and Norman were downstairs watching TV and munching on snacks Leila had sent home. Drake noticed everyone stiffened as if hit with a stun gun when the key hit the lock, even him.
“Well, we had a wonderful evening,” Amanda said, bustling into the door. The women left a stack of packages in the foyer.
The next reaction was as if a group of collective balloons had been deflated. Each male smiled at Amanda’s jovial mood.
Norman stood. “Looks like you bought out the store.”
“Just a few things. Jasmine bought me the loveliest outfit. How was your evening, dear?”
“Wonderful. Franklin’s wife came to town today. He asked if maybe the four of us would like to go sightseeing in D.C. tomorrow. I told him I’d get back to him after I talked to you. Do you have plans for tomorrow, sweetie?”
“No, but…”
“Oh, Mom, that’s a wonderful idea,” Jasmine said.
Amanda’s face scrunched up. �
��I don’t know these people.”
“They’re friendly, honey. Jasmine’s here all alone. I think it’s a good idea to get to know some of her neighbors.”
“They live in California like we do.”
“Their daughter lives here,” Norman said in his usual calm and convincing manner, squashing her arguments one at a time. “She and Jasmine are friends.”
“But what would we do with the kids?”
“Jack and Barbara went to visit friends in D.C.,” Steven said. “And I’m going to spend the night with Drake. He’s convinced me to hang out at the office with him tomorrow. I get to nurse his menagerie of homeless animals.”
“Oh, well…”
“It’s all settled,” Drake said, before Amanda could come up with another excuse.
“Franklin said he’ll be up late tonight, so I’ll just take these packages upstairs and give him a ring.” Norman took all the packages from the hallway and disappeared upstairs.
Amanda glanced around as if her world had turned on its axis and she’d been thrown off course. “I just don’t understand why everyone’s leaving.”
“Don’t worry about it, Mom. I’m sure they’re bored stiff hanging around my place. This way I don’t have to worry about you being at loose ends while I work.”
“You know me. I can always find something useful to do.”
“Got plenty of food here,” Drake said. “Anybody hungry?”
“Oh, we ate,” Jasmine murmured, rubbing her stomach, and sat on the couch beside Drake.
“Well, I’m going to sort these packages out,” Amanda said, heading to the stairs. “Some of them are Jasmine’s.”
Drake stood, too. “Want to walk me out while Steven packs his things?” he asked Jasmine.
“Sure.” They walked outside. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”
“I don’t know how you put up with those twits all these years. I spent a few hours with them and was ready to throw them off the mountain.”
“Yeah, well. What did they do?”
“It’s just their whole attitude. Steven is better. I think he’s matured. But his sister and brother…”
“I, for one, am glad they’re gone. I’m going to change the linen on my bed and sleep very well tonight.”
Then Comes Love Page 15
