Read Online Lady Jasmine by Victoria Christopher Murray - Free Book Online

as Jasmine took in the scene—the desk covered with aluminum pans and paper plates, filled with fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and biscuits.
    Jasmine glanced down at the basket she held with red potatoes with caviar and cheese, baked lobster, and a single chocolate covered banana that was meant to be shared.
    She stepped back and away. For some reason, she didn’t want to be seen, just wanted to listen.
    Hosea was still chuckling when he said, “I’d forgotten that.”
    “We did have some good times, didn’t we?”
    “Yeah.” He nodded as he chewed a piece of meat off a chicken leg. “Those were the days. When life was easy.”
    “Hosea,” Ivy said, putting down the chicken wing she held, “you know you can count on me. I’ll always be here for you.”
    “That’s a nice thing to say.”
    “I mean it. I was supposed to be going to Europe in a few weeks, but I’m staying until we know more about your dad.”
    Peeking around the corner, Jasmine saw Ivy cover Hosea’s hand with hers.
    Ivy said, “I couldn’t leave knowing that you needed me.”
    Jasmine wanted to stomp into the room and tell Ivy to keep her pigeon fingers off her husband. But she stayed in place, shocked that Hosea was so engrossed he hadn’t even noticed her.
    “I’d feel terrible,” Ivy continued, “if I was away and something happened to Reverend Bush.” It must have been the way his eyes darkened that made Ivy add, “I didn’t mean that anything was going to happen. I was just sayin’—”
    He held up his hand. “I know what you mean.” Hosea took a deep breath. “I haven’t admitted this to anyone, but I’m really scared.”
    Jasmine’s mouth opened wide. First, she’d found him laughing, and now he was telling this pip-squeak of a woman his fears.
    “You do know that he’s going to be all right. Your father is physically strong and his faith is stronger.”
    “That’s what I’m counting on.”
    Her husband sounded so sad that she wanted to rush in and hold him. But still, Jasmine held her place, eavesdropping some more.
    Ivy said, “Why are we sitting here being all dopey?”
    Did she say “dopey”?
    “Your father’s going to be fine, and in a couple of weeks, we’ll all be hanging around together laughing and remembering nothing but the good times.”
    “Pops will be glad to see you when he wakes up.”
    Ivy shook her head. “I don’t know about that. Sometimes I find it hard to look your dad straight in his eyes.”
    “Why?”
    “Because, remember? Our kiss!”
    A kiss!
    Flashback!
    Of another kiss. With Hosea and his ex-fiancée, Natasia. Jasmine had walked in on the two of them just six months before. It was that flashback that made Jasmine stomp into the office and slam the basket onto the desk.
    “Darlin’.” Hosea stood up. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
    “Obviously.” Jasmine folded her arms. Stared at the food. Glared at Ivy. “So what’s going on?”
    “Nothing,” Hosea said, wiping his hands on a napkin. “Ivy was nice enough to bring me lunch.”
    Jasmine kept her cold stare. “And bring you memories of a kiss.” She turned to her husband with eyebrows raised. “You want to tell me about that, Hosea.”
    “Tell you about our kiss?” The tips of his lips twitched, like he was fighting back a smile.
    He thought this was funny? Was he blind? Couldn’t he see the steam rising out of her?
    “Yes, I want to know all about it.” Her stare traveled from Hosea to Ivy (who sat stiffly still) and back to her husband.
    “Well, let’s see.” Hosea relaxed in his chair. “I think it was…thirty-three years ago.”
    Jasmine blinked. “Thirty-three years?” The question came out softly.
    “Uh-huh.” He nodded, his face still covered with his amusement. “We were five years old, sitting in Sunday School, and Stanley White dared me to kiss a girl. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t go out like a punk. So since I knew Ivy, I kissed her. And Pops walked