“Her full name is Elizabeth Jasmine Perry.”
“Beautiful,” I say automatically, then the middle name sinks in. “Jasmine?”
“Sherée joked about them trying to find a feminine form of Jasper and how she heartily vetoed Malcolm’s suggestion of ‘Jasperilla’.” He laughs softly.
I can sense Mom moving around in the kitchen, but I don’t turn to look at her. I’m afraid one look at my face would raise questions and possibly even prompt teasing about heart eyes.
“I thought about you earlier,” Jasper says suddenly.
“You did?”
“It didn’t escape me that Elizabeth was born on the first day of autumn, even though she wasn’t due until the first of October. I suspect you two will be kindred spirits for that reason alone.”
There’s that tug in my heart again. “Maybe I should make her a tiny leaf crown to wear at Gwen and Evan’s wedding.”
“I think she’d like that,” he says. “Orwouldif she were at all aware of her surroundings, which, of course, she won’t be since she’ll barely be a month old, but the sentiment is nice.”
I can’t help but laugh under my breath at how he takes things so literally. “Are you still coming this weekend or will you be sticking close to home to be near Elizabeth?”
“I’ll be spending the weekend in Bellevue, as originally planned,” he says. “I’ll see you for the autumn fair?”
“Definitely. I’m looking forward to it.”
After a slight pause, Jasper says, “As am I.” The soft rumble of his voice sends a giddy little shiver through me. “I’ll see you soon, Willow. Thank you again for calling.”
We say goodbye and I disconnect the call, slipping my phone back into my pocket as I rise from my seat. I inhale deeply and brace myself as I turn to face Mom. The smile I had while talking to Jasper is stuck on my face and my cheeks are warm, so I expect to be met with a barrage of questions. Mom is still packing things into a tote bag—there’s already a full one off to the side—and despite having her lips pressed together, I can see the grin she’s attempting to hide.
“Everything okay?” she asks.
“Yeah, that was Jasper, Evan’s oldest brother. I wanted to call and congratulate him on becoming an uncle.”
“That was nice of you,” she says as I join her at the kitchen island. “Your mama raised you right.” She lightly pinches my cheek, then leans in to kiss me as I laugh and bat her hand away. “Sounds like you’re going to have a lot of fun this weekend.”
I think about what Gwen and Evan have planned, and about getting to spend part of the weekend with Jasper. “I hope so.”
