she did,” Arabella said, standing back. “C’mon on in. I might as well let you know—I told Jasmine everything and now she’s locked in her room. Cade’s supposed to come over in a little while.”
Jonathan’s heart knocked against his chest. “I didn’t want it to be this way.”
“She’s upset about her daddy. In spite of Aaron Turner’s nasty ways, I guess the girl still loved him.”
“He wasn’t always bad,” Jonathan said, following her into what looked like a parlor. He saw antique sideboards and cherrywood tables mixed with a modern brown leather couch and high-back chairs strewn with colorful pillows. In one corner, a massive wicker basket filled with children’s books and toys seemed to fit right in. Family pictures lined the bookshelves. “Maybe if I talk to her …”
Arabella pointed to a floral chair by the fireplace. “Have a seat. I’ll bring in coffee. I made vegetable soup and bread. And I have pie.”
“But—”
She whirled to stare at him, the big bag clutched in one and the flowers in the other. “I’m going up to tell her you’re here. Maybe she’ll come down.” Laying the bag on a side table, she said, “And if she doesn’t, well, you and I still need to have a long talk. So make yourself comfortable. This might take a while.”
Jonathan sat down, nonplussed by her bossy attitude. He was used to bossing people around, but it sure wasn’t as much fun to have the tables turned. He decided this trip wasn’t going to be as short and sweet as he’d imagined.
Things were getting more and more complicated by the minute. And from the frown on Arabella Michaels’s heart-shaped face, he had a feeling this was just the beginning.
Arabella found a crystal vase for the flowers. The fall arrangement contained vines and briar roses mixed in with fat burgundy mums and variegated sunflowers in amber and orange. It wasn’t very big and it wasn’t formal, but the cluster of flowers made a statement.
Was the man sitting in her parlor trying to make a statement, too?
She fussed with the arrangement and then put it in the middle of the long oak dining table. Jonathan’s act of kindness had touched her. But then she figured he was making nice before he met Jasmine and plied her with big-city dreams. And why would a busy single doctor want to deal with a teenager anyway?
Maybe because that teenager was his only family?
Arabella could certainly understand that concept.
She heard footsteps and saw Jasmine moving down the stairs, her eyes red-rimmed, her hair falling in gentle brown ribbons around her face. Before Arabella could say anything the girl marched across the entry hall and into the parlor, stopping inside the arched doorway.
Arabella hurried after her but stopped in the dining area behind Jasmine.
“So you’re my uncle?” Jasmine said it in the form of an accusation, the words sharp like arrows, her voice hoarse and raspy but determined.
Jonathan stood up, his hands going into the pockets of his jeans. “Uh … yes. I’m Jonathan. I’m sorry we had to meet this way.” His expression was filled with a cautious joy, but his eyes held a definite sorrow.
Jasmine didn’t say anything for a split second. Then she crossed her arms at her midsection and said, “And so, my daddy’s dead?”
Jonathan shot Arabella a helpless look and then focused on Jasmine. “Yes, he is. I’m sure you knew he was an alcoholic—”
“Yeah, I did know that. How did he die?”
Another pleading look. “He left a bar late at night and … apparently lost control of his truck on a curve.” He started to say more but held back. Finally, he said, “He died on impact.”
Jasmine raised a hand to her mouth then put her head down. “He wasn’t always so mean. He just couldn’t beat the liquor.”
“I know,” Jonathan said, his eyes burning with what looked like unshed tears. “I understand and I’m so sorry. He wasn’t always like that when we were growing up, either.”
Jasmine’s head came up. “What made him get that way?”
“It was probably the disease.” Jonathan stepped closer. “He followed our father’s example, I think maybe to have something in common with our old man. They used to drink together a lot once my brother got older.”
Jasmine swiped at her eyes. “But you turned out different? How’d that happen?”
He shrugged, his shoulders slumping, the weight of this discussion seeming to wear him down. “I tried to just survive. I … was younger. Aaron took the brunt of things. He wanted to protect me. I only wish I could have protected him.”
Jasmine whirled toward Arabella and rushed into her arms. Arabella grabbed hold and hugged Jasmine tight, warning Jonathan away when he moved toward the girl. “It’s all right. We’ve been through a lot together and we’ll figure this out. It’s gonna be okay, I promise.” She voiced that promise loud enough for the man standing there to hear it.
Jasmine sniffed and looked up at her. “I always thought he’d come back here one day. That he’d want to come back for me. Or maybe he’d show up at my wedding. Now I’ll never see him again.”
Arabella held her own tears inside. It wouldn’t do for her to fall apart, too. She had to be strong to keep Jasmine intact. “Maybe he was trying to get back. We can’t be sure. Maybe he went away to get better and … just didn’t have the strength to make it home.”
Jasmine turned then, her eyes scalding Jonathan. “Maybe if he’d had someone to help him—”
“I didn’t know where he was,” Jonathan said, but it sounded like a pitiful excuse and he seemed to realize that. He dropped his hands to his sides. “I wish things could have been better between us. I tried to stay in touch, but he never answered my calls or my letters. He resented me going away to college.”
Jasmine lifted her head an inch, her chin jutting out. “He used to pick on me about that. Said college was a big waste of time and money. Said I didn’t have enough sense for higher education. I’d do better to get a job right here in Clayton and learn my place in this world.” She held herself, her arms tight against her stomach. “I guess he was right.”
Arabella leveled her gaze on Jonathan. “He was wrong, Jasmine. You’re a very bright girl. If you want to go to college, we can make that happen.”
And she dared the good doctor to dispute that.
Then Arabella had a new thought. Denver had several very good colleges. Maybe the doctor could actually help make Jasmine’s dreams come true. And maybe it was time Arabella stopped wallowing in her own woes and, instead of resenting Jonathan Turner, found a way to help make that happen.
Chapter Four
“I don’t have to go to college right now. I want to marry Cade,” Jasmine said. “He’s smart and he’s looking for scholarships and working on securing student loans. He’s gonna be a doctor like you. How about that?” she inhaled
