A beat passed. “How old are you, Jasmine?”
“Forty-three.”
Belinda recoiled and placed a hand over her heart. “Good grief! I didn’t think you were that old.”
Jasmine sat straight. “Forty-three isn’t old.”
“I . . . I know, but I thought you were in your early to maybe mid-thirties. How do you expect to give my son children at your age?”
A sly smile softened Jasmine’s mouth. Now she knew it was time to let the cat out of the bag. “I expect to give Cameron a son or daughter early next year.”
Belinda’s eyes were as big as silver dollars. “You are pregnant. . . now?”
“Yes.”
“Oh mercy! I . . . I . . .” Belinda stuttered, unable to get the words out. Tears were streaming down her face.
Jasmine moved closer to Cameron’s mother. “Are you all right?”
With trembling hands, Belinda managed to get a tissue from the pocket of her slacks and dabbed her cheeks, and then blew her nose. “Yes. I’m sorry I got emotional. You don’t know how long I’ve waited for Cameron to find someone to love and have a family of his own with. The one time I’d asked him why he wasn’t married and a father he told me he never wanted to marry because he didn’t want his children to go through what he had because his parents hated each other.” Dots of color appeared on Belinda’s pale cheeks. “My husband and I spent our first thirty-five years together in a tumultuous marriage that scarred our children. And as the eldest, Cameron was the most affected. I’ll never forget his face when he told me that, because there was no way I could undo the past. I know nothing about you, Jasmine, but you have to be very special for my son to plan for a future with you and my unborn grandchild.” She sniffled. “I have three sons and I always wanted more daughters, and now with you, Melanie, and Maddie, in addition to Evie, I finally get my wish.”
Jasmine hugged Belinda and she wasn’t disappointed when the woman hugged her back. “Cameron wanted to wait before we said anything about the baby.”
“Are you okay?”
“All of the tests indicate the baby’s healthy.”
“Do you know what you’re having?”
“No. I want to be surprised.”
“Good for you.” Belinda dabbed her eyes again. “Now that I’ve gotten into your business I think it’s time we head back to the others.”
All conversations ended when they walked back into the parlor. Jasmine stared at Cameron. She smiled and nodded. He crossed the room and took her hand. “Well folks I think this is as good a time as any to let everyone know Jasmine and I are expecting a baby next year.”
“Shiiit!” Leighton drawled. “This calls for a round of drinks. It looks as if big brother isn’t shooting blanks after all.”
Evangeline slapped the back of her brother’s head. “I told you about all that profanity.”
“Evie’s right,” Daniel said, backing up his wife’s reprimand. “Our girls are at the age where they repeat everything they hear and I don’t want you to curse around them.”
Leighton nodded to his brother-in-law. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Lee. Just don’t do it,” Cameron said.
The uncomfortable moment ended when Nathan unlocked the doors to a built-in bar and took out a fully leaded decanter with an amber liquid. “You guys know I only break out this thirty-year-old boy for special occasions, and this is a really, really special one.” Glasses were filled with a small amount of the aged bourbon and everyone touched glasses.
“To Cameron and Jasmine,” the assembly chorused, and then tossed back the liquor in one swallow.
“It’s too late to back out even if you want to,” Cameron said in her ear. “Now that everyone knows you’re carrying a Singleton you’re stuck with us.”
Jasmine’s smile did not quite reach her eyes. She didn’t want to spoil the mood and tell Cameron she wasn’t stuck with the Singletons and they weren’t stuck with her. The only thing that connected her with this boisterous extended family was the child growing under her heart.
A man dressed in chef whites entered the parlor and nodded to Belinda. “Evie and Maddie, could you please go and get the children. It’s time to eat.”
* * *
Cameron and Jasmine lay in bed like spoons, his groin molded to her hips. He rested an arm over her waist and cradled her rounded belly. Since she had moved in with him, Cameron found himself watching for the subtle changes in Jasmine’s lush, feminine body. He’d likened her to a tightly closed rosebud which gradually opened over time to exhibit its splendid, fragile beauty.
