Page 48 of Wishes on Wildflowers
Jasmine had enjoyed meeting Sierra Rubachuk at the essential oils workshop at the beginning of March. They’d quickly discovered their shared interest in beekeeping and herbs, talking well into the evening at the main house of the communal farm while Sierra’s husband took the four children home to bed across the yard. They seemed like such a nice family.
Everyone at Green Acres did, actually. Jasmine could see the appeal of the communal lifestyle the families shared, but not when she remembered how busy, loud, and intrusive it was with everyone in each other’s business all the time. Still, the kids from all six families seemed happy and well-adjusted.
“I could mention it to Dafne,” Jasmine said at last. “Though I’m not sure if Sierra and Gabe are looking to expand their family again. The baby just turned one while I was there, and all four kids are preschoolers.”
“Sierra. She’s Jacob Riehl’s sister, right?” asked Evan.
Jasmine laughed. “Yes. Jacob’s almost as introverted as I am. The thought of communal living didn’t appeal to him, so he moved to Bridgeview instead. But he’s close with his sisters who live at Green Acres.”
Thankfully, her brothers eased up on her as talk drifted between their friends’ lifestyle at the farm in northern Idaho and the farm Rob and Bren had bought near Helena, part of a community supported agriculture box program. Alex had set up a Skype appointment next week to pick Rob’s brain on ways they could ramp up Bridgeview Backyards.
Her cell phone buzzed in the purse at her feet. She frowned as she dug it out then caught her breath when Nathan’s name appeared on the screen. They’d only exchanged a few texts all day and hadn’t even spoken to eachother, but did she really want to with her brothers listening in? Well, she wouldn’t let him go to voicemail.
“Hey, Nathan.”
In the backseat, Evan made kissy sounds like some kind of adolescent rather than a college student. Yeah, that’s why she should keep this conversation short.
“Hey, beautiful. Where are you guys at?”
Her blood thrummed just hearing his voice. “Starting the climb up Lookout Pass east of Coeur d’Alene.” Only another hour or so to go. Would Nathan be waiting for her in the Manor parking lot for a kiss before the day ended? She could hope. “What’s up?”
“Basil.”
She could hear traffic sounds over Nathan’s sigh. Heaviness settled in Jasmine’s gut. “Uh oh. What did he do now?”
“You know he drinks, right?”
“Well, yes...” Wine was a frequent beverage for the Santoros like in many Italian families.
“I mean, a lot.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “What are you trying to tell me?”
“He’s at the bar with Dixie, and I can’t talk him into coming home with me.”
Bees buzzed around Jasmine’s head as her hand on the phone grew clammy. “Basil andDixie?”
The sound effects from the backseat cut off in mid-smack. Alex’s gaze swung toward Jasmine, but she closed her eyes rather than meet his.
“I know. I couldn’t believe it, either, but it’s still true. I don’t know what to do.”
Jasmine inhaled. Exhaled. Wished she could punch herbrother’s face. “There isn’t anything you can do. He’s not your responsibility. He’s a grown man.” A grown man who thought of no one but himself.
“But I can’t just leave him…”
“I don’t think you have a choice.”
19
Jasmine considered chuckingher phone across the room. Maybe that would silence the incessant ringing. They’d arrived back in Spokane after one o’clock, and she’d spent some time sitting on the apartment building’s stone steps kissing Nathan before crawling into bed. That couldn’t have been more than ten minutes ago.
She forced one eye open and squinted at the clock. 3:41. Who in their right mind would call her squarely in the middle of the night?
The ringing stopped, and she relaxed against her pillow. Good. They’d gone away. Whatever it was could wait until morning.
It rang again.
What, had someone died? Jasmine’s eyes sprang wide open and she focused on the caller ID. Dad? Wasn’t he still in Montana? Maybe Davy’s wound had gone septic. Maybe Nonna had had a heart attack. It had to be something that serious.
