“Yes.”
“Let me know one way or the other if you’re going to have time. You know I take forever to select something. I can try on ten dresses and end up walking out of the shop without a single one.”
Jasmine opened the refrigerator and took out a container of cream. “That’s because you’re indecisive. How long did it take you to finally kick Danny to the curb?”
Nydia grunted softly. “Much too long. I’ve said it over and over, if he’d cheated on me I would’ve stopped seeing him right away. I’m willing to put up with a lot things from a man, but if he cheats on me then I’m done.”
“I hear you.”
Once Jasmine discovered her husband was cheating, she’d asked herself if she’d done things differently, would it have kept him from straying. That notion lasted less than twenty-four hours before she dismissed it. She had done nothing wrong and she refused to heap blame on herself for someone who had the morals of a feral alley cat.
“Now that you’re kicking boots with Cameron, do you plan to spend some time in New Orleans this summer?”
“I don’t know, Nydia.” She really didn’t know how much time she would spend in the Crescent City, because Cameron did not have a definite timetable for when the renovations for his new home would be completed.
“I’m going to let you go. I have to go to the laundromat before it closes. I either go early in the morning or just before closing time, because I can’t stand it when it’s crowded. People bring their children with them and they’re running up and down like it’s a freaking playground.”
“I told you before that you can always come over and use my washer and dryer.”
“Thanks but no thanks, Jazz. That would be schlepping laundry bags on the bus or subway and schlepping them back. And you know it’s not cost-effective for me to buy a car. I can’t see myself getting up every other morning to move a car from one side of the street to the other.”
“Why don’t you use Über to come down and I’ll drive you back. You’re on the east side and only a couple of miles away, so it shouldn’t cost you that much to take the car service.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Jasmine wanted to tell Nydia she was being indecisive again. She and Nydia chatted for another few minutes before hanging up. It was only five, too early to retire for the night, so she decided to put in several loads of laundry herself before the hamper overflowed.
She took a step and grimaced. She felt a slight ache from muscles she hadn’t used in years. After she finished her coffee and the laundry, Jasmine planned to take a leisurely soak in the bathtub. She reached for the phone, scrolled through her contacts and tapped her cousin’s number. Amelia had sent her a text several weeks ago informing her she was planning to come down and spend some time with her before going out east to see her parents.
“Please don’t kill me, Jasmine,” Amelia said after the break in the connection.
“I’m not going to kill you. I just want to know if you’re coming down as planned.”
“I can’t because the agency is closing and I have to look for another job.”
“What happened?”
“The CEO and his business manager mistress emptied out the agency’s bank account and fled the country. I’m going to update my resume and look for a position with a downstate law firm. I’ve had enough of nonprofits at this time in my life.”
“What about your apartment?” she asked her cousin.
“My lease is up at the end of July, and hopefully I’ll be able to find something before then.”
“If you get a job downstate, then you can stay with me until you’re settled.”
Thanks, Jazz. That’s one problem I won’t have to worry about.”
“It’s the least I could do for my favorite cousin.” Amelia was two years her senior and as kids, both had waited patiently for the last two weeks of summer to play together.
“You’re the best.”
“Keep me in the loop about your job-hunting.”
“I will. Talk to you later.”
“Later,” Jasmine said in parting.
Now that she knew Amelia wasn’t coming she could plan her vacation. Slipping off the stool, she walked over to the laptop on the countertop. Jasmine booted up the computer and began searching carriers flying to New Orleans. She checked the flight Nydia had selected and found it was sold out. After forty minutes she narrowed it down to two possible flights. It appeared as if she was going to see Cameron again sooner than she had anticipated.
