BirthStone (18 page)

Inhaling, she glanced at her son and then
Cameron. “I’m headed to the nursery to check on the kids. Make sure
each of you stop by at least once a day to check on them. It’s
important to me that they know and recognize you. Rose and Lilly
are already doing that…” She let the sentence hang.

“Will do,” Cameron said, meeting her gaze.
“I apologize that you had to even remind me of that. I promise to
do better.”

Touched by the sincerity she read in his
gaze, Jasmine nodded.

“I was sick, but that’s no real excuse I
suppose,” Tyrone said with a grin and chuckle.

Rose smacked him on the shoulder. “No, it’s
not.”

Jasmine shook her head and turned to
leave.

“Hold on,” Silas said, taking her hand and
stopping her. “I’ll walk with you.” He stood. “Cameron, Tyrone, go
find Dr. Passen and Matt, tell them what we discussed and get their
feedback. It was a good idea, so follow up on it. Rose will
schedule a meeting for all of us to discuss it tomorrow.”

For a moment, Cameron’s eyes widened and
then he smiled. Tyrone sat forward in his seat as he listened
intently. Rose and Lilly both preened at the important assignment
Silas gave their mates. Jasmine hoped they didn’t mess up or it
would be a long time before her mate ever again followed her advice
to delegate.

“You want me to give you an update later?”
Cameron asked as if he couldn’t believe Silas would wait until
morning.

“No. I’m spending time with my mate and
pups. I prefer not to be disturbed.” On that note he ushered a
happy Jasmine out the door.

Chapter 15

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Renee said as she
gazed at the artwork and furniture in the hall leading to the suite
assigned to her. “Who knew a man could have a body like that and be
loaded…no, I take that back. This is beyond loaded.” She laughed.
“Only you could meet a rich guy while seeing about your son on his
death bed.”

“I know, right?” Jasmine joined in the
laughter. Having her sister here felt good. The two of them had
always been close, even as young girls. When Renee realized she was
interested in women, she had called Jasmine crying that she would
never have children. Jasmine had been surprised at her sister’s
leanings, but as a mother of twin boys and an absent husband, she'd
allowed her sister to experience motherhood through her. It worked.
While the boys grew, Renee had always been a phone call away. She
had spent vacations and every major holiday with them.

They hooked each other arms and Renee spoke
candidly in a soft voice. “He any good? Do you at least get a
nut?”

Jasmine’s cheeks burned at the intimate
question, but that had always been her sister’s way. Nosy.

Renee stopped, grimacing as she stared into
Jasmine’s face. “Oh no, Jas. Not again. I don’t give a damn how
much money he has, if he’s not getting you off, leave his ass.”

Jasmine’s head jerked as if slapped. She had
no idea what her sister saw just now but she quickly straightened
the matter. “What are you talking about? I can’t halfway walk now
because of the loving he laid on me last night. Trust me, Silas
handles his business.” That was as much as she was comfortable
saying.

Last night her lover had been insatiable.
They made love in the living area of the suite, against the wall in
the bedroom as if the bed weren’t a few steps away, and then he
took her again in the shower. Goosebumps flew over her skin just
thinking about it. By the time they fell asleep, her voice was
hoarse from all the screams that were ripped from her throat with
each orgasm. And there had been plenty. A tremor ran through her at
the thought of the last one when they lay in bed whispering their
love to each other. It had been…magical. She never knew it could be
this good.

“Um hmm, I was wondering what was with the
cowboy walk and all that…”

Jasmine laughed so hard at her sister’s wild
comment that a couple of staff members stopped and looked at her.
When she could speak, she hugged Renee. “Girl, I miss your crazy.
I’m glad you’re here. I had them bring lunch to this room. Mama’s
going to join us in a few.”

“Sounds good, and I’m glad to see you
finally happy, even if it’s with a man.”

Jasmine shook her head at her sister’s jibe.
When she had been miserable over Davian’s treatment, Renee had
advised her to give up men and go the lesbian route. And since
Renee and her lover, Mandy, were happy avoiding male drama, they
assumed she might be interested in giving up hard chests, hairy
faces, and permanently attached penises. A few choice words had
corrected the matter and now her sister openly teased her about
men, but never suggested she give women a chance again.

“Hey, he made you look…more than once.”

Renee stared at her and laughed. “You’re
right he did and I did. There was something…primitive about that
man.” She eyed Jasmine, whose face was on fire. “He won’t be a
pushover, that’s for sure.”

Pushover was not a word you would use to
describe Silas Knight, although she usually got her way in most
matters. Jasmine hugged his love close to her heart as she thought
of all the concessions Silas had made to make her happy. Walking
into the suite set aside for her sister’s use, Jasmine pointed to a
door on the far wall. “They put your luggage in there, that’s the
bed and bathroom.”

“Okay.” Renee sat on the love seat and gazed
at her. “What do you think of mom’s new man? I only ask because
she’s taking it further with him.” She paused, shook her head, and
then spoke as if the words were stuck in her throat. “She is
actually thinking of starting over, having a baby with this
guy.”

Jasmine’s jaw unhinged. “You’re kidding me?”
Her thoughts rushed back to last night. Mark was attentive, loving…
but no more than the other men her mom had dated and later married.
Over the years, her mom had been adamant over not having any
children. “Something weird is going on.”

“What?”

Jasmine bit her lip trying to decide how
much to say. This morning’s discussion with Julie had been a dismal
failure. The woman refused to look up at her, let alone speak.
Silas had rifled through Julie’s memories and came up blank, well
almost blank. There was a name that kept resurfacing, Corrina
Griggs. Silas had Tyrone researching for information on the
woman.

“Remember when I had you and mom on the
phone and we talked about my engagement?”

Renee nodded.

“She forgot all of that. She called Silas my
boyfriend.”

Renee’s brow furrowed.

“I apologized, but I see you still hold
grudges,” her mom said, strolling into the room wearing a white
sundress that showed her curvy figure. She looked well-rested and
much younger than her sixty years.

Jasmine felt ten years old again beneath the
rebuke. They had been common when she was much younger. Remembering
her journey to adulthood and life’s lessons, her chin raised a
notch. “Yes, you did. I was just bringing Renee up to date.”

Renee had risen when their mom walked in and
held onto the woman with an extended embrace. Jasmine wondered if
her mom held Renee with the same tenacity as she’d held her the day
before. When Renee and her mother broke apart, her mom placed a
kiss on her cheek, grabbed her hand and squeezed.

Concerned, Jasmine stared at her mom for
another minute, and just as she thought to ask questions, the food
arrived.

“Did you and Silas enjoy your evening?” her
mom asked as they ate grilled salmon on top of a salad of fresh
greens.

Her throat and face caught fire in
remembrance of the loving Silas threw down last night. Her man had
been relentless, taking her to the edge and then drawing back. She
had become a babbling idiot begging him to stop so she could gain
her release. After teasing her mercilessly, he'd slammed into her
with such fervor the heavy, solid wood bed had danced as it bumped
against the wall. She withheld her dreamy sigh…last night had been
the best since the babies were born. He didn’t stop loving her
until the wee hours of the morning, when she simply gave out.

“That sappy look on her face says she more
than enjoyed it,” Renee said with a smirk.

“You should have seen them last night; I
thought he was going to pull her dress up right there. I mean the
room got hot.” Victoria fanned herself. “Temperature-wise it was
like somebody turned on the heat.”

Embarrassed, she placed a fork full of
lettuce in her mouth. Silas had wanted to take her right then. If
somebody hadn’t spoken to break their concentration, who knows what
would have happened.

“I hear your fella’s pretty hot, too.” Renee
winked at Jasmine, letting her know the conversation had been
veering into muddy waters.

Victoria’s face reddened as a huge smile
rose on her face. “Yes…yes he is.” She looked up and met Jasmine’s
gaze. “I love him. Mark is wonderful. So smart, handsome… but I’m
scared.”

In her entire life, Jasmine had only heard
her mother admit her fear twice. The first time was when her daddy
died and the second had been when she returned from a trip
overseas. Both times her mom refused to discuss the basis for her
fears, she simply admitted to them and dropped the subject.

“Why?” Renee asked.

Her mother turned slowly as if she had
forgotten Renee was in the room. “I’m going to share some things
with you girls…no, not girls.” Her lip curled in a smile that
didn’t reach her eyes. “Women.” She exhaled.

Butterflies filled Jasmine’s stomach. This
nervousness was so out of character for her mom.

Renee sat forward and placed her hand over
her mom’s. “Go ahead, Mom. Talk to us.”

Victoria nodded. “I was raped after you were
born and got pregnant with Jasmine and Jacris, her twin. Jacris had
some horrible birth defects and died. That was the main reason I
refused to have any more children. George…” She looked at Renee,
who looked gut-punched, and patted her leg this time. “Your dad
never knew about the rape, never questioned why you and Jasmine
look so different. Not once. He accepted you.” She pointed at
Jasmine. “As his baby, his daughter, and loved you.”

The fierce look of devotion to a man who'd
died a decade and a half ago surprised Jasmine. “I know, Mama. I
know daddy loved me.”

Her mom nodded and exhaled.

“Raped? You were raped and never told
anybody?” Renee asked, her voice rising with each word.

“I told one person. But that’s not what I
want to talk about right now. I was scared and didn’t want any more
children. The thought of another child struggling to live and not
making it would make me sick to my stomach. Plus, I never had the
love and support of another man like your father.” She shook her
head. “None of my exes came close to George.” She inhaled and then
released it slow.

Jasmine’s heart raced as she realized where
her mom was going with all of this.

“Until now,” her mom whispered into the
quiet of the room.

“Mark?” Renee said in a remarkably calm
voice that Jasmine envied since she couldn’t think of a single
thing to say.

“Yes, Mark.”

Jasmine cleared her throat, wondering what
to say. “So why are you scared? You love him, he seems to love
you.”

“Something is wrong with me,” her mother
said softly.

“What?” Renee asked, eyeing Jasmine. “What’s
wrong with you?”

Her mother raked her fingers through her
perfectly styled hair. “I don’t know…I just forget things, like an
old woman. I am not old,” her mother snapped when Jasmine and Renee
remained silent.

“No…no, you’re not old,” Jasmine agreed.

“Not at all, Mom. You’re just getting into
your stride. I hope I look as good as you when I’m your age.”

Her mother’s face fell at Renee’s comment.
Jasmine’s heart dropped with the realization that Renee would age
and die before her or her mother.

“He asked me to marry him, but he wants
children, at least one,” her mom continued, and Jasmine was glad
the dark moment regarding her sister’s mortality had passed.

“And that makes you afraid?” Renee asked,
sounding confused.

Jasmine flicked her eyes over her mother,
wondering how she intended to navigate the choppy waters of this
discussion. The plea for help she read in Victoria’s eyes went
unanswered. The reason Jasmine had never told her sister the truth
about Silas before was because there is no going halfway with
Renee. She wouldn’t stop asking questions until she got all the
crumbs as well as the main scoop. Her mother must have
forgotten.

“I’m sixty-years-old, damn it.”

Jasmine turned away to hide her grin at her
mom’s response. It was a stall tactic, but she knew Renee wouldn’t
be deterred.

“Does he know the truth? About your age I
mean,” Renee asked without missing a beat.

“He knows I can still have children, thanks
to my monthly. I’m not sure he knows my true age.”