Chapter 34: Long Ago

Jasmine

When Jasmine and her mother returned to their condo, she looked at the clock and knew she had to start getting ready. “Mom, I can call Zain and cancel—”
“You will do such thing, young lady.” Hannah held her shoulders and pushed her toward her room. “Now, go get ready before Zain arrives.” She hugged her from behind. “And don’t you worry about me. I’ll be fine. Now, go!”
“Okay, okay.” Jasmine laughed, shaking her head as she headed into her room and closed the door behind her. Then she headed over to the window and pulled the curtains closed.
Luckily, she had her own bathroom. Once she hung up the dresses, she headed into the shower, shaved, and walked out a moment later, wrapped in a towel. She dressed in the cute red dress, and it fit her perfectly. She donned some red heels that she had picked up, at her mother’s insistence, and quickly did her hair and makeup. Jasmine looked in the mirror when she was finished, satisfied with her efforts.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and butterflies beat their frantic wings against the walls of her stomach, knowing it was Zain.
Knock, knock, knock! “Jasmine, honey! Zain’s here!”
She opened her bedroom door, and her mother’s eyes widened, and then a broad smile spread across her lips as she nodded. Then she leaned in conspiratorially, keeping her voice low. “You look beautiful, darling!”
“Thanks, Mom.” After quickly grabbing her matching red clutch purse, Jasmine stepped through the hallway and into the living room.
Zain’s mouth fell open when he saw her, but he quickly recovered himself. “Wow! You look fantastic!”
She smiled as she crossed the room to him. “You look pretty fantastic, yourself.”
He wore a gray jacket and pants with a white shirt beneath, open at the neck, showing off his nice tan, and his dark brown hair was combed to perfection.
“Well, shall we?”
She nodded. “I’ll be right there.”
“I’ll be right outside.” Zain headed out, leaving the door open behind him.
“Mom, are you sure you’ll be all right?” Jasmine asked, a worried look in her eyes.
“Go,” her mother stage whispered. “Have fun... but not too much fun.”
“Mom!” Jasmine laughed as she kissed her cheek, and waved goodbye as she headed out.
Zain reached for her hand as soon as she walked out. “Wow! You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks,” she replied, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “So do you.”
“Come here.” He held her hands as he leaned in and gave her a sweet kiss, causing her heart to flutter. He pulled back a moment later, looking into her eyes. “I missed you today.”
She nodded. “I missed you, too.”
He inclined his head toward the parking lot. “Come on. I have reservations for us.”
Her eyes widened. “You made reservations?”
He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I wanted today to be special.”
“Just being with you is always special.”
Zain held her hand as he walked her to his truck and opened the passenger door. He closed it behind her and slid into the driver’s seat. They were on their way a moment later. She looked out the window at the scenery passing by as the fresh scent of ocean salt filled the air.
“Is something wrong?”
She glanced over at him and shook her head. “I don’t want to ruin tonight.”
A crease formed between his eyes as his smile faded. “Tell me. You can tell me anything.”
Jasmine let out a deep breath. “My dad left today.”
Zain looked back at the road and then back into her eyes. “What do you mean ‘he left?’”
Jasmine let out a deep breath. “Come to find out, my father’s been having an affair and brought her with him.”
“You’re kidding.”
She shook her head. “And the kicker is that my mother knew.”
“She what?”
Jasmine nodded. “She even knew the woman’s name.”
Zain let out a deep breath. “Wow.” Then he glanced over at Jasmine, his eyes filled with concern. “So, how’s your mom taking it?”
A smile lit her lips. “Surprisingly well. Come to find out, Mom has an inheritance from her parents, and she’s not worried.” She let out a deep breath. “She asked him for a divorce.”
“Jasmine, I’m so sorry.” Zain shook his head. “We didn’t have to go out tonight if you weren’t up to it.”
She smiled, shaking her head. “No, it’s fine. I asked my mother over and over if she was going to be okay. I even offered to cancel tonight, but she wouldn’t hear of it. In fact, she took me shopping for something special to wear.”
Zain nodded, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “It probably did her some good to get out of the condo today and spend some time alone with you.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Are you okay?”
Jasmine nodded. “I’m fine. There wasn’t any screaming at all. Just a little yelling.” She let out a deep breath as she looked out the window. “It’s as if they both had been waiting until after I graduated to do it.”
“Did you know?” he asked, his eyes filled with concern.
She shook her head. “I didn’t have a clue. But I’m good with it.” A smile lit her lips. “I actually got to see my ‘real’ mom.”
Zain’s head snapped up. “Your ‘real’ mom?”
I nodded. “All the time I’ve known her, she’s cultivated this aristocratic facade. But today, she let her hair down and finally relaxed... probably for the first time in years.”
“Wow....” Zain pulled into the parking lot, took the nearest parking spot, and cut the engine, but he didn’t get out right away. “Jasmine, you know I’d never do that to you. Right?”
She nodded, giving him a reassuring smile. “I know that. But to be fair, my mother probably never thought my father would, either... until it happened.” She looked out the window at the beach restaurant and then back to Zain. “But then again, maybe she did.” She smiled as she started to open the door. “But come on. Let’s enjoy tonight.”
“Sounds good.” Zain hopped out of the truck, opened her door a moment later, and offered her his hand. “My lady.”
“Thank you, kind sir.” As they headed down the walkway toward the restaurant, Jasmine was determined that her life wouldn’t turn out the way that her mother’s had. She wanted to be happy and to marry who she wanted. And deep down, maybe her mother and father wanted that, too… long ago.