“When’s that going to happen? Before or after the baby’s born?”
“Probably after.” There was no guarantee whether they would ever marry. Marriage wasn’t a priority for Jasmine. Giving birth to a healthy baby was.
Hannah’s smile was dazzling. “I’m warning you to be prepared when you become Mrs. Cameron Singleton. You and Cameron will become quite the sought-after couple during the fall social season when you’ll be expected to attend social and political fundraisers.”
“I’m not going unless you and St. John will be there.”
A becoming blush suffused Hannah’s fair complexion. “As a DuPont I’m still listed on the social register.”
“I know the muckety-mucks will have a lot to talk about once they see my belly.”
Hannah made a sucking sound with her tongue and teeth. “Both of us will give them something to talk about when they see your belly and I show up with St. John.”
Jasmine remembered the pointed looks and whispers whenever she attended parties and gallery openings and spent the entire time with Gregory despite them not arriving or leaving together. “As long as we don’t flip tables like the celebrity housewives, we’ll do just fine.”
“You’re so right.”
Jasmine headed for the staircase. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She managed to shower and brush her teeth in record time. Within minutes of her head touching the pillow she fell asleep.
* * *
Jasmine sat in a chair in the jewelry shop trying on rings. “It’s much too ostentatious,” she whispered to Cameron. “I don’t need an engagement ring totaling more than five carats.”
It was apparent the salesman overheard her. “I have something in rose-gold that would be perfect for your skin tone. I have some loose emerald cut center stone diamonds that are nearly flawless.”
“May we see them?” Cameron asked, speaking for the first time in more than ten minutes.
When he’d come into the shop before to buy a birthday gift for a certain woman, the elderly jeweler had suggested pearls. When he saw the single strand of magnificent South Sea pearls he knew immediately they would be perfect for Jasmine. Now he had returned. This time to select an engagement ring. He’d called ahead and told Mr. Sodano price was not an issue as to whatever Jasmine finally selected.
He and Jasmine were going to get engaged with no plans for a wedding. They would take it day-by-day and see what came of their relationship. Cameron knew it would be a challenge to convince Jasmine to make it permanent but that would have to be her choice.
The jeweler returned with a tray of loose stones. He pointed to each, identifying the carat weight. “The smallest is one carat and the largest is four.”
Jasmine peered over her shoulder at Cameron. “I like the three carats. What do you think?”
He smiled. She’d read his mind. “That’s the one I like, too.”
Mr. Sodano called his assistant over. “Please put these back in the vault while I set this stone.” He glanced up at Cameron. “I have a plain matching band if you’d like to take it today.”
Cameron met Jasmine’s eyes, unable to read her impassive expression. “Hold onto it. Maybe I’ll have you design one as an eternity band so she can wear it alone.”
“No problem, Mr. Singleton.”
Fifty-five minutes after walking into the upscale jewelry shop, Jasmine and Cameron walked out with the glittering ring on her left hand. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
Lowering his head, Cameron kissed her mouth. “You’re beautiful.” She hadn’t pinned up her hair and the heavy strands framed her face like a curtain of black satin.
Jasmine’s cellphone chimed a familiar ring. “I have to answer this call.” She retrieved her phone from her wristlet, and looped her free hand over Cameron’s arms as they walked to where he’d parked his car. “What’s up, Nydia?”
“I’m in the hospital.”
“No! What happened?” Nydia was expected to arrive in New Orleans two days before Tonya’s wedding.
“I’d been having abdominal pain and vomiting for about a week. The pain was so severe I’d stopped eating. I called my father and he took me to the ER. That’s when I found out I had a ruptured appendix. I had surgery yesterday.”
“How long are you going to be in the hospital?”
