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Be strong, she urged herself.
"I've thought about it and it's just too hard, Kane. You'll be away from home a lot
and I have my work that would prevent me from going with you. Sooner or later, we'd
hate the fact that we're not together often enough. I think it's better that we don't let our
relationship develop any further and end things now, before we're in too deep."
"No, you don't mean that."
She heard his voice crack and a tear fell down her face. She picked up the printout
of the malevolent email she had received and read it, gathering courage from the fact
she was doing this because she loved him.
"I do mean it, Kane," she said quietly.
"But we can work it out, Jaz. You love writing, right? Why don't you quit your job
and travel with me? You'll be able to write more books quicker. Please, think about this,"
he begged, his distress evident.
She shut her eyes tight. Oh, how she would love to do that! But unless the danger
of George's ill will had gone, it would do Kane more harm than good if she went with him.
"I've already made up my mind, Kane."
"No, you couldn't have. Just last week you were telling me how much you were
going to miss me, how you couldn't wait for the two weeks before we see each other
again, how much you loved me!"
"I'm fickle, Kane. That's one thing you didn't know about me."
"Jasmine, I don't believe you."
"You have to!" she said with force.
"But why? Did I do something wrong? If I did, I'm sorry. Whatever it is, I'll make it
up to you. I promise. I love you," he said brokenly.
"Kane, please. It's over," she whispered, tears running down her face unchecked.
"Why?"
"It just is."
Her heart shattered at the soft sobbing on the other end of the line.
"I'm sorry," she choked and ended their call.
*******
Jasmine re-arranged the contents of her mother's very full pantry, urging her mind to
concentrate on the task she had volunteered to do. She had to keep herself busy while
they waited for Jessa and Rob to arrive for their first visit to their parents after their
honeymoon. Either that or cry quietly in a corner.
A Google Alert had notified her earlier that day of a news snippet on Kane. It was a
picture of him in a magazine taken from a black tie event he attended three nights ago
with a very pretty brunette as his date. She had her hand on his arm as he escorted her
through the entrance of the gallery. They were smiling at each other. Sweetly.
You should be happy, Jasmine. Kane should now be safe from George's spiteful
intentions.
Mindlessly, she moved cans and jars around as her mind played back the pleading
messages Kane had left on her phone when she didn't pick up his calls. He had begged
her to reconsider, saying multiple times he loved her. It killed her that she had hurt him
badly but she still couldn't see any resolution to the problem he didn't even know existed.
Fearing she would eventually cave in if he kept on sending those kinds of messages,
she texted him:
*Please stop. Please stay away.*
It worked because she hadn't heard anything from him in the last two weeks.
She knew she was in for some dark and gloomy moments, but she never expected
the intensity of the physical pain that clutched her heart and spread throughout her body
at the thought that Kane might have moved on. Who was the woman in the picture? If,
through some miracle, George turned up today and said he had decided to leave them
alone, would Kane be prepared to take her back if she explained everything to him? Or
had he reached a point of no return concerning her?
"Jazzie!"
She turned around and smiled at her sister who seemed to look more radiant than
she did on her wedding day.
At least someone's happy, she thought with a tinge of envy. She hugged Jessa and
appreciated the tight squeeze her sister gave her.
"How are you?" Jessa asked, holding her at arms' length to check her out.
"I'm fine," she said with a fake, bright smile. "I'm just helping Mum organise her
pantry. You know how it gets when she goes on a shopping binge for groceries. How are
you? Where's Rob?"
"I'm here, Jaz," Rob called out as he stepped into the kitchen. His hello hug was as
equally tight as Jessa's was. "How've you been, sis?"
"Good, thanks. I think Mum's roast still has another half an hour to go. I'll join you
guys in the living room as soon as I'm finished here. Mum wants to finish the movie she's
watching before we eat."
"I'll help you," Jessa offered. "I like going through Mum's pantry too."
Jasmine hid her sigh. She wanted to be alone, but there would be no chance of that.
Rob gave Jessa a swift peck on the lips. Jasmine had to look away from the
tenderness in their gazes as some unspoken communication passed between husband
and wife. She hurt too much to watch other people be so in love.
"You didn't tell me about you and Kane," Jessa said without accusation as she
started checking out the contents of the cupboard when Rob left the kitchen.
Her head swivelled to Jessa, eyes wide and heart palpitating.
"Faye mentioned it to me."
"Are you mad at me?"
Jessa looked at her in disbelief. "Mad? Why on earth would I be mad at you?"
"Because we stayed in your house?"
Jessa snickered. "No, Jaz. Rob and I are not mad. We just want to make sure
everything's okay with you. We heard it's over."
"Yes. You know me. I don't stay in relationships for longer than three months," she
said jokingly but not quite able to stop the involuntary gulp at the end of her statement.
"Apparently, Kane took it hard," Jessa said softly, looking intently at her.
Tears formed in her eyes. Damn it! Control yourself!
"I didn't mean to hurt him," she said, avoiding Jessa's gaze and trying not to blink to
prevent the tears from falling.
"Well, he seems to have recovered. I heard he had a great time at a black tie event
he went to the other night. He brought a date with him."
A tear fell. And another. And another.
Jessa sighed. "Jaz? It's not as simple as you make it out to be, is it? Will you tell me
about it?"
She turned to her sister and fell into her arms. She sobbed quietly as Jessa rocked
her, stroking her hair consolingly.
Then she told Jessa all about it.
"You're J.A. Nell?" Jessa asked, astounded.
"Yes. You've heard of her? I mean, my pen name?"
"I'm a fan! I've read all of your books. When's the next one coming out?"
Jasmine shook her head in wonder. Her sister was one of her fans.
"Unfortunately, my next book will be delayed. I haven't written anything at all in the
last few weeks."
"Oh, Jaz. I'm so proud of you. But let's talk about that later. Shouldn't we report
George to the police?"
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