by Leela Ash
Chapter 7
Jasmine didn’t have to sneak back into the house that night, her mother was sleeping – or passed out – on the same couch that Jasmine had left her on, the crystal decanter at her feet.
Jasmine sat at the large dining table by herself the next morning as dusty sunlight streamed in through the windows she had thrown open. She was grateful for the bananas her mother had packed for the trip, and Jasmine sat peeling her fourth one.
“Oh good you’re up, too,” her mother said when she finally walked into the dining room. She was in the same clothes as the previous night, minus the jacket. Her makeup streaked her face, while her eyes were puffy and her short hair was in disarray.
“Morning,” Jasmine said, trying to be cheery. She knew better than to point out the fact that her mother had drunk herself to sleep the previous night.
“Is there any coffee around here or will we have to go back to the diner?” Jasmine asked as her mother slipped into the chair at the head of the table.
“You know, it wasn’t just our family he screwed over,” her mother replied instead. Clearly she hadn’t heard Jasmine’s question, and moreover, she had never her mother use profanity.
“Who?”
“Who else? My father, that’s who,” Camilla said and reached over for one of the two remaining bananas.
“What are you talking about, Mom?”
“Marvin Byrne’s family. He screwed up Marvin Byrne’s family as well,” her mother was peeling the banana now.
“I still don’t know what you’re saying, Mom. Grandfather knew the Byrne family?” Jasmine had stopped chewing on her banana.
“Well, he knew Marvin Byrne’s mother. The rest of the family, not so much,” she said and sat back in her chair.
“What are you trying to say, Mom?”
“That the woman my father was shacking up with in this house, was Marvin Byrne’s mother.” Jasmine was quiet, studying her mother’s face in silence as the news sank in.
“Is Marvin, Grandfather’s…?” Jasmine asked, her voice shaking uncontrollably.
“No, he’s not my half-brother if that’s what you’re asking,” her mother laughed dryly. “Marvin’s mother left his father and moved in with your grandfather. I’m not sure of the details, but Marvin must have only been about fifteen then.”
Jasmine felt a wave of relief, but that was short-lived. The implications of what her mother was saying were slowly seeping in, and they were jumbling up her thoughts.
“So Marvin’s mother and my grandfather…” Jasmine began.
“Yes. He broke up her marriage, forced her away from her own son.”
“How long were they together?” Jasmine could feel a dull headache coming on.
“Well, all of Marvin’s life, at least. Until she died.” Her mother was staring out of the window and Jasmine had no response. She didn’t want to think about the anger Marvin must feel towards her grandfather, towards her family.
“My brother and I were older, in our early twenties when he left my mother, so it obviously didn’t affect us the way it would have impacted a young teenager, a boy whose mother didn’t want anything to do with,” she continued. Her voice was sad, hollow, and almost unearthly. “Which is why I was so surprised and apprehensive when I got the letter from him and to read about his interest in buying the house.”
Jasmine could see the tears welling up in her mother’s eyes. She knew the right thing to do would be to get up and hug her, but she wasn’t sure how her mother would react to that.
“I knew it was too good to be true. Why would he, in his right mind, want to buy the house where his mother and her lover lived for so many years? Only a few minutes away from his own family home.”
Her mother’s voice was shaky now, but in rising anger more than sadness.
“They didn’t even have the decency to run away together to a different town, away from her ex-husband and son.” She finally wiped the angry tears that streaked her cheeks. Jasmine didn’t know what to think. Marvin’s behavior the previous night made sense now, but she didn’t want to wonder about the possibility that he seduced her as revenge. To avenge the harm her grandfather had done to his own family.
“Mom, can we leave?” Jasmine asked, and her mother turned to look at her, surprised, as if suddenly jerked out of a dream.
“Now?”
“Yes. Do we have any more reason to stay? He’s not buying the house. Nobody is buying the house,” Jasmine said and she got up hurriedly, scraping the chair noisily against the hardwood floor of the dining room.
“You’re right, I suppose. I’ve been a fool,” Camilla said, and hung her head down in shame.
“No, Mom. You’ve only tried to do what you thought needed to be done. But it’s over now. Although I wish you’d told me all this sooner,” Jasmine said and walked towards the door.
“What purpose would that have served?” It was hard for Jasmine to believe that her mother had no recollection of her proclamation the previous night that she was headed to Marvin’s home to talk to him. She didn’t want to remind her.
“I’m going to go take a shower and pack my bag. I suggest you do the same mom. Let’s just get out of here.”
***
Jasmine changed into a pair of comfortable linen pants and a thin t-shirt after her shower. She tied her damp, quickly drying hair, into a messy bun on top of her head as she packed. She was wearing bright, beach rubber slippers, and they squeaked against the floor every time she took a step. All she wanted to do was be back in her own tiny apartment in the city. She yearned to hear the squeals and laughter of a kindergarten classroom surrounding her. No matter what her mother thought of her career, she didn’t feel judged or the keeper of secrets, and most importantly, ashamed, in the midst of kids.
Jasmine didn’t think she would feel this way, and so soon, but she wanted to get away from the beautiful beach. The sound of seagulls haunted her, and the scent of the fresh air suffocated her. In twenty-four hours, this place, her grandfather’s getaway, made her feel as though she were trapped, that she was being taken advantage of, and she finally sympathized with her mother for the first time.
What she wanted to do most was get away from Marvin Byrne. Unwittingly, she had become a victim of a vicious vengeful act and her cheeks blushed in anger and embarrassment every time the memory of their having sex clouded her mind.
She couldn’t forgive herself for being so foolish, for thinking that the attraction was real, that he really wanted her. That she had met a man, and it was love at first sight; no questions asked, no strings attached, just a pure physical and inexplicable emotional bond. She had kissed him before she left, the kind of kiss you exchange with a familiar loved one. Jasmine didn’t want to think of the possibility that she was falling in love with Marvin. That she could be falling in love with a man who despised her family and probably despised her.
Jasmine felt sick with the thought that every time he touched her, he probably saw her grandfather’s face and the fact that he had ruined his family, that he had grown up without a mother. A mother who lived a few minutes away, but with another man, and who didn’t think of her son. Was he happy when she died? Was he happy when her grandfather died? A chill ran down her spine when she realized that the answer to both those questions is perhaps yes.
Jasmine sighed loudly as she zipped up her bag and flung it on the bed. She walked over to the window in silence to try and get a glimpse of the sea. What she saw instead was Marvin standing under her window. His hands in his pocket, a frown on his face, and his eyes studying the house.
Chapter 8
Their eyes had met for a second as Jasmine stared down at him, almost in horror, as he looked up and found her at the window. He threw her a smile and crossed his arms across his chest, an open invitation for her to join him downstairs. She went against all her intuition, against all her gut feelings, as she climbed down the stairs and made her way to the back of the house.
Jasmine threw ope
n the door and stood on the small patio, which was less than half the size of the one in Marvin’s house, but she stood there proudly.
“What are you doing here?” she asked him, trying to maintain a straight face and holding her head high.
“Just looking,” he said with a smile. She refused to meet his eye.
“We’re leaving now, Marvin,” she said and watched as the smile on his face disappeared.
“I was under the impression that you’re staying for some time,” he said and took a few steps towards her.
“We have no reason to.”
“We haven’t even finalized the details yet. No papers have been signed.”
“Who are you kidding Marvin? We all know that you’re not buying the house.” Jasmine looked away from him, crossing her own arms across her chest.
“Why then did I write to your mother asking her about the house?”
“I don’t know. As some kind of sadistic vengeful joke?” Jasmine was trying hard not to burst into tears. She didn’t remember the last time she felt so used, this embarrassed, and so enamored by a man - all at the same time.
Marvin’s laugh surprised her. He was shaking his head and his shoulders shook as he laughed, almost uncontrollably.
“You can stop laughing. I know the truth now. I found out about your mother this morning. I know you have your reasons.” Jasmine rolled her eyes. She could feel her cheeks burning up, and the warm sun beating down on them wasn’t helping the whole uncomfortable situation. Marvin stopped, either out of politeness or upon hearing her words.
“You’re telling me you didn’t know?” He took a few more steps towards Jasmine and she moved back.
“Not the details. I didn’t know she was your mother.”
“Who did you think I was?”
“An interested buyer.”
Marvin had climbed up the few steps of the patio and was now standing only a few feet away from Jasmine.
“You thought I knew?” Jasmine asked him, her back was now against the door and she tried meeting his gaze, as his blue eyes bore into her. Like they were boring into her soul.
He nodded in response. “So you think now that last night was some kind of revenge?” He gave a small laugh and took a few steps towards her.
“Your behavior certainly didn’t help.”
“I admit, I was preoccupied. Being inside this house was enough to get my blood boiling.” He placed his hand on the door, next to her face.
“You thought I knew when I had sex with you?” Jasmine asked; she couldn’t keep the sound of relief from her voice.
“Undeniable attraction,” he said gruffly and brought his face even closer to hers. She could feel his breath falling on her cheeks, and it sent goosebumps down her spine. She turned her head to look at him, and their eyes met. She bit down on her lip just as he bent his head to kiss her, this time affectionately, like she had kissed him the previous night just before she left. He drew away from her and looked into her eyes again, placing his big hands on her slight shoulders.
“Tell me you’ll stay, Jasmine,” his voice was gentle, and he was stroking the skin between her neck and her shoulders.
***
Jasmine’s mother sat at the head of the table. She had showered, changed into a different suit and combed her neat bob back, as usual. Despite her manners, she couldn’t keep the look of shock and confusion from her face as she watched in silence as Jasmine and Marvin sat beside each other on one side of the table.
“So you’re telling me that you both had a meeting last evening after I went to sleep?” she finally spoke and consciously cleared her throat. She was in complete denial of her own drunken state and Jasmine couldn’t help but smirk.
“Yes, Mom, and we realized that there has been a huge misunderstanding,” Jasmine replied, looking over to Marvin for support.
“Mrs. Kiberd, I want to assure you that the fault was entirely mine. I’m afraid I wasn’t on my best behavior last evening and it might have come across as disinterest in your property,” Marvin said, his voice smooth and reassuring as he spoke to her mother, looking her directly in the eye.
“Please don’t apologize, Mr. Byrne. If there is anybody who understands, it is me. This house has that effect on us does it not?” Camilla said and looked around the dining room, as if anticipating her father’s ghost to appear out of the dusty corners.
“It does indeed,” Marvin said and looked over to Jasmine and they exchanged smiles while her mother wasn’t looking.
“The fact is, Mrs. Kiberd, that I am interested in this house if you are interested in selling it to me,” Marvin said, and her mother gave a short sarcastic laugh.
“I’d do anything to be rid of it. What I don’t understand is why you would want to own it, Mr. Byrne. I cannot imagine that you feel sentimental towards it.”
Marvin cleared his throat and glanced at Jasmine again before looking back at her mother. He took in a deep breath.
“I want to destroy it. Burn it to the ground,” he said slowly and watched as Jasmine’s mother’s expression went from shock to satisfaction. She was smiling at him.
“I don’t know why I didn’t think of it,” she said, after a minute of silence.
“He wants to use this land to build a school here,” Jasmine spoke up and looked proudly over at him.
“That is brilliant news! This place will finally come to good use, and you, of course, have experience in it,” her mother said and a wave of relief visibly flooded her body.
“And I want your daughter to help me with it,” Marvin said and Camilla’s face betrayed renewed shock.
“I accepted the offer, Mom. What can be better than running my own school in an idyllic seaside location?” Jasmine giggled, and she felt Marvin reach over and squeeze her hand under the table.
“That’s rather surprising, you’re only a kindergarten teacher, Jasmine,” Camilla said and looked from Jasmine to Marvin.
“Yes, Marvin is aware of that, but he believes I might have insight he can use,” Jasmine’s voice had changed to desperation, she didn’t want to argue with her mother in front of Marvin; God knows he didn’t need more reminders of the gap in age between them.
“Now, Mrs. Kiberd, I’ll have my lawyer send over the paperwork to you in a few days if you don’t mind, and then we can get this over and done with,” Marvin said, changing the subject. He got up from his chair and so did the others. He stretched out his arm towards Jasmine’s mother and they shook hands. She couldn’t help but notice the broad smile on her mother’s face.
“Now, how about some of that promised whiskey?” Marvin asked and Jasmine looked at her wristwatch.
“It’s only five Marvin. Too early for whiskey is it not?” she asked him while her mother happily walked out of the room and towards the drawing room.
“I thought you were on a holiday?” Marvin teased her and raised an eyebrow. Jasmine shook her head and giggled just as he reached and grabbed her by the waist and pulled her towards him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and they rested their foreheads against each other’s.
“Your mother didn’t sound too pleased by the idea of your moving here,” Marvin said softly while they smiled at each other.
“She’s just taken aback by it, but we can’t help it can we? Undeniable attraction,” Jasmine said and closed her eyes for a kiss.
Chapter 9
Jasmine heard her mother’s car long before she could see it drive through the wrought-iron, front gates.
“She’s here!” Jasmine turned away from the window to face Marvin who was sitting behind his desk, signing the papers that she had placed before him a few minutes ago. He grunted in response and then looked at her over the small rectangular glasses he sometimes remembered to wear. Jasmine had now bought three extra pairs which she placed around the house so that he always had a pair handy when he needed them.
“Best of luck,” he said and smiled. That smile never failed to reassure her.
“Darling!”
Camilla threw her arms around Jasmine when she greeted her mother at the front door a few minutes later. “You look older.”
“It’s only been a year, Mom!” Jasmine shook her head, but she knew what her mother meant. She felt older herself, in a good and desirable way. She still hadn’t figured out what Marvin had seen in her a year ago, to give her the responsibility of starting a school from scratch.
“But look at you!” Her mother dramatically twirled her around and admired Jasmine’s knee length black skirt and the white blouse she had tucked into it.
“You look like a lady,” her mother said and walked over hurriedly to give Marvin a hug, who had only just emerged from his study.
“Percy will show you to your room, Mom,” Jasmine said as their newly appointed butler picked up the bags that Camilla had dropped to the floor, and she followed him. Marvin had insisted on hiring a butler and a cook after Jasmine moved in; she had no idea how he lived before that.
“The last thing I want is for my mother to think I’m well-dressed. I need to change my wardrobe entirely,” Jasmine whispered to Marvin as he joined her and placed a hand on the small of her back. He laughed at that.
“Don’t let her get to you my love,” he said and Jasmine couldn’t help but feel a shiver of delight run through her body. She was his love. She looked over at him admiringly, and he looked back with a smile.
Camilla’s voice from the upstairs guest room interrupted the moment they were having. “This is beautiful Marvin! What an absolutely gorgeous bedroom,” she said as she came down the stairs.
“It looked like a dump before Jasmine worked her magic on it,” Marvin said and kept his hand steady on Jasmine’s back. Camilla’s eyes flickered in disbelief.