Chapter 31: Awakening

*Jasmine*

“What happened?” Jasmine held her mother’s hand, listening. This was the first she was hearing this. For the first time in her life, her mother was starting to seem like a real person.
Hannah shrugged, giving her a small smile. “We wanted to get married, but my parents forbade it. So, I kissed him goodbye and never saw him again. Then I met your father at my father’s Club. I had a feeling my parents had arranged it, but I went along with it anyway, no longer having the strength to fight them.”
“So, you didn’t love Dad.”
Hannah shook her head. “Not at first. But love grew over time. Now, I love him very much.” She let out a deep breath, her smile fading. “But a part of me sometimes wonders what life would have been like if I would have married that boy... Paul was his name.” Then her smile returned as she patted Jasmine’s hand. “But then, I wouldn’t have had you.”
“Mom, I didn’t know.” Jasmine’s heart ached for her mother, knowing that was probably why she was the way she was now. Her mother had lost something—a part of herself that she’ll never get back. Jasmine wondered if her mother would have been happier if she had married Paul instead of her father.
Hannah shrugged. “Well, that was long ago, and all water under the bridge now.” Then she leaned in conspiratorially. “But I don’t want that for you, Jasmine. I want you to live your life. Just make sure you don’t make mistakes now that will affect the rest of your life.”
Jasmine nodded, understanding, having a new respect for her mother.
“Well....” Hannah kissed her forehead, squeezing her hand. “That’s enough of that. But keep this little talk between us. Okay?”
Jasmine nodded, pulling her mother in for a hug. “I will.”
Her mother touched her cheek and then headed toward the door. “Get some sleep and rest up for your big date tomorrow night!”
“I will.” Jasmine laughed. “Good night, Mom.”
Her mother smiled... and this time, it was genuine. “Goodnight, dear.” Then she walked out, closing the door softly behind her.
As Jasmine tried to sleep later that night, she watched the stars through her window from her bed, thinking of her mother and what kind of person she had been when she was her age. Jasmine loved her mother, but didn’t want to lose herself as it appeared her mother had.
As Jasmine watched the stars in the moonlight, she also thought of Zain... and wondered what their story would be. But there was one thing she knew for sure. Jasmine didn’t want their story to become just a memory.
***
Jasmine woke early the next day, showered, and dressed in a sundress and sandals, knowing she was going to spend the morning with her parents. When she walked out, her mother was sitting at the table, drinking coffee alone. She had her head down but lifted it and smiled when Jasmine walked in, her makeup already done to perfection, even though it was early.
“Good morning, Mom.” Jasmine kissed the side of her head and poured herself a cup of coffee. Then she held the coffee pot up to her mother. “Want some more?”
Hannah nodded, pushing the cup toward her. “Yes, please.” She sighed as her smile faded.
Jasmine topped off her mother’s cup and then sat at her usual spot at the table, kitty-corner from her. “Mom, where’s Dad?”
Hannah gave her a small smile. “He had to go out for a bit this morning. But he said he’d be back in a little while to take you to get your car.”
Jasmine took a sip of her coffee, thinking. “Mom, you don’t think dad’s having an affair. Do you?”
Her mother let out a deep breath, not appearing the least bit surprised by her question. “I was hoping we could spend time together as a family on this trip since it’s your last summer before you go off to college.”
Jasmine gave her mother’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Mom, have you talked to him about this?” Somehow, she found it hard to believe that her father had a mistress here in Florida... unless he had flown her down. Jasmine’s blood boiled at the thought.
Hannah shook her head, smiling as her eyes met hers. “No, and I’m not going to. Now is not the time. Your father provides a nice life for us and—”
“Mom!” Jasmine cut her off. “It doesn’t give him the right to go behind your back and have an affair!”
“Who’s having an affair?” her father asked, walking in the door.
Jasmine let out a deep breath. “Dad, where have you been?”
“That’s none of your business—”
“I’m your daughter,” she cut him off. “Dad, where have you been? Are you having an affair?”
“How dare you?!” her father demanded. “I provide a good living for this family, and that’s what you think of me?”
Hannah took her hand. “Jasmine, just let it go—”
“Did you put her up to this, Hannah?” William wheeled on her. “Just because I leave you alone—”
“Every day!” her mother shouted, rising to her feet, shocking Jasmine. It was the first time she’d ever seen her mother stand up to her father. “Every day, you have a golf game or something going on! Every day! And I’m left here alone—”
“Hannah, this isn’t the time or the place,” William cut her off. “Not in front of Jasmine.”
“It’s the perfect time!” Hannah continued. Then she lowered her voice, but it had a firm edge. “For your information, I wasn’t the one who brought it up. Jasmine did. And if she noticed, then—”
“Then you agreed with her instead of defending me… to our daughter!” William shook his head.
“What is there to defend?” Hannah threw up her hands. “What else am I supposed to do? I thought this summer would be different! That you would leave Rachel at home!”
Jasmine’s head snapped up, shock filling her eyes.
“But no!” Hannah continued. “You had to bring her with us... the last summer before our daughter goes to college!”
“You knew?” Jasmine asked, shock filling her eyes.
“Of course, I knew. I’m no fool.” Her mother let out a deep breath. “William, I want a divorce.”
“Hannah, we can work this out—”
“Get out,” she said, her voice low and reasonably calm.
William and Jasmine looked at her in shock.
“I said Get! Out!” Hannah shouted, pointing toward the door. “And don’t even think of canceling my credit cards before the divorce, or I will take every cent you have!”
Just One Weekend
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