Jasmine slumped in her chair as she willed the tears filling her eyes not to fall. “So, you’re really moving to North Carolina?” She didn’t want to appear selfish and tell them they were deserting her, but her father was right when he’d spoken of wanting to sell the house where she’d grown up.
“Yes, baby,” Marta Washington crooned. “We will be moving to a retirement community where we don’t have to mow lawns or shovel snow. Even though your daddy and I are still active we want a more laidback lifestyle.”
Jasmine forced a smile. She had to put on a brave face for her parents because she wanted them to believe she was happy for them. “Does it have a golf course?”
“Of course,” Richard and Marta chorused.
This time her smile was genuine. Her parents were avid amateur golfers. Jasmine gazed lovingly at her father, and then her mother. Her genes had compromised when she inherited her father’s complexion and her mother’s facial features, and hair texture. “I’m happy for you guys.”
“So, you’re okay with us moving away?” Richard asked.
“Of course I’m okay. You just made it easy for me to make up my mind about moving to New Orleans to become an innkeeper. And we’ll be a little more than a twelve-hour car ride from each other.”
Marta and Richard shared a smile. “And once the inn is open we’re going to come to check out the city.”
Rising from her chair, Jasmine came around the table and kissed her mother, and then her father. “I love you guys.”
“Do you plan on selling your condo?” Richard asked.
“Not right now.” She told them about Amelia looking to live and work downstate. “If she does find a position in the tristate area, then she can sublet it from me.”
“I’m glad you’ve decided to hold onto it. Owning property is the best investment one can make,” her father told her.
Marta took a sip of water. “Speaking of investments, do you need money?”
“Money for what, Mom?”
“Didn’t you say you have to invest in the inn?”
“Yes.”
“If you don’t have enough money, your father and I will give you whatever you need. We’ve already bought the house in North Carolina, and once we sell our place—”
“Mom, don’t say it,” she pleaded, interrupting Marta. “I still have money from the sale of my business along with the severance pay. So, I’m far from being a pauper.” Marta and Richard relaxed in their chairs as if they’d choreographed the move in advance.
Richard slipped on a pair of half-glasses and studied the selections on the dessert menu. “I hope you’ll let us know if you do need something a little extra.”
“Yes, Dad. I promise.”
He handed the menu to Marta. “I’m going to have the fruit assortment for dessert.”
“I’m going to pass,” Marta said. “What about you, Jasmine?”
“I’ll share Daddy’s fruit.”
* * *
What had begun as a family gathering to celebrate her forty-third birthday ended with Jasmine driving back to Manhattan experiencing a mix of emotions. She was happy for her parents who’d planned for their retirement and hadn’t had to pinch pennies now that they were on a fixed income, and apprehensive because she was going to leave all that was familiar to move to another state and invest in a new venture.
Activating the Bluetooth feature, she tapped on the screen for Hannah’s number. Her phone rang three times before there was a break in the connection. “Hello.”
“Hannah, this is Jasmine.”
“I’m sorry, Jasmine, but your name and number didn’t come up on my screen. How are you?”
“I’m well. I’m calling to ask if you still need someone to assist you managing the DuPont Inn.”
“Honey, please. You know I do.”
