Soon, the wedding was just a week away and Jo and I traveled, this time to stay until the wedding was done. We would be personally supervising every aspect of the functions preceding the wedding. Jake will be arriving in a couple of days because as per Jo, he was currently in France signing a business deal. Jasmin along with her BFF Sarah will be arriving early next morning, so they could get the feel of the place before ceremonies began after which the bride wasn’t allowed to step out as was one of the Indian rituals to protect her from the evil eye.
We reached the Vandervaal Hotel and collected our key cards. Jo & I were assigned one of the penthouse suites for free, thanks to him sharing his brother’s last name. Last few visits we’d stayed in separate rooms but this time Jake had taken the responsibility to assign the rooms to all the guests coming in from Boston and other parts of the world to attend the wedding. Opening the door, I let out a whistle. This place was huge! And the interior? Sweet. If nothing else, Jake had amazing taste. The entire unit has a subtle contemporary flair with highlights like the curved staircase in the lounge room leading to the first floor. There were two private elevators across it.
We settled in, with me letting out a battle cry and sprawling on the master bed, in turn claiming the room.
Jo found that funny for some reason. How could I not? This room had a panoramic view of the endless desert through the floor-to-ceiling windows and because they could be moved, I can also enjoy the view without any barrier. Jo left my room chuckling and went to drop his luggage in the adjoining one. After scheduling meetings for the next day and Jo catching up with the groom, I shot out emails and called Nancy regarding some of her doubts. When I was done, it was late afternoon. I decided it was time to indulge in some private pampering and enjoy the infinity pool that was perfectly situated for watching the sunset.
The next morning, while Jasmin and Sarah were busy exploring the area, Jo went to visit the catering and the lighting guy as I proceeded to the bakery to make sure the cake will be ready on time. Jasmin had selected hazelnut chocolate flavor. Yum. Anyone who says different has earned my pity for missing out on the most enchanting experience of life. That evening, the four of us met up for dinner at the in-house Italian restaurant. And because Sarah was present, Jo was in full boyfriend mode. My boyfriend apparently which is why he kept touching me affectionately every thirty seconds to make his ex, jealous. Yes, I was counting. And looking at Sarah’s tight-lipped responses and the glare she kept giving Jo, it was working.
When the BFFs excused themselves to go to the ladies' room, I swatted Jo’s hand that rested on top of mine and clenched his shirt in my fist pulling him to me. “Enough with the touching!” I whispered to him furiously.
“It’s the only way she’ll believe that . . .”
“I don’t give a shit what she believes, Jo Vandervaal.” I glared at him. There was only one guy I wanted touching me and he was currently in France. Jo puckered his lips at me. “Ew. What the hell are you doing? What’s wrong with your mouth?”
“We have to kiss at some point.” He said simply.
I looked at him horrified. “You come anywhere near these babies and I will punch you,” I warned, pointing at my lips.
“Em . . .”
“No!” he didn’t get to protest much longer as Jasmin joined us again. Then we discussed the obsession Indian weddings had with marigolds because Aryan had insisted on decorating the palace with it. Roses were so much better in my opinion. Red & romantic.
Jake met us the next day over breakfast and observed our conversations while brooding in silence. His gaze, just like Sarah the previous night, was almost constantly on Jo’s hand which rested over my shoulder. At one point when Jo kissed my cheek, Jake’s eyes narrowed. It was only for a moment before he looked relaxed again. Jake had asked me to make the hotel pretty too since it was a Vandervaal who was getting hitched. He didn’t give me any particular choices and asked me to do as I wished. Of course, I chose roses. Jake kept his distance and just watched. Never saying anything. Not that I was doing any better since I kept trying to sneak glances at the perfection that was Jake, which was too bad because I felt his eyes wherever I went and could hardly concentrate and always ended up walking into a wall or slip into the swimming pool. From which he pulled me out like a professional rescuer so no complaints there.
That evening, I had finished getting myself a drink and I saw Jasmin seated a few seats over in the lounge. Her flock of besties was missing and the bride to be sat all alone. I looked around and didn’t see Sarah or Jo either. She looked forlorn so I went and sat my butt next to her. “Hey, you!” I said, my voice joining the quiet buzz of the people around us. Jasmin looks up at my arrival and gives me a small smile. “What are you doing here all alone?” I asked. “Where is the bride squad?”
The door to the lounge opened and I saw Jake come in. He was dressed in a white Oxford button-down dress shirt and black V-neck sweater with dark denim. It should be illegal to look that good. Drool. Unfortunately, he wasn’t alone. Cassandra was clinging to him. Of course, his girlfriend was here too. Jake spotted me immediately and gave a small nod of acknowledgment before proceeding to sit at one of the tables and ordering a drink. “They went out,” Jasmin said not looking up from the bar where the bartender was making drinks for other customers.
“Why didn’t you go with them?” I tried hard not to glance at the model couple.
Jasmin shrugged and shook her head. “I just . . . needed a minute.”
She sounded so sad and lonely that it tugged at my heart and I forgot all about Jake for a minute myself. Emma Duvall can bear anything but she can’t see a person unhappy. I laid a hand on her arm. “Jasmin.” Maybe she heard the change of tone in my voice because she looked up at me. “What is it?” I asked gently. Her pretty eyes started to brim with tears.
“Nothing.” She choked out.
I stood and went closer taking her in a tight hug where she started crying quietly. Someone somewhere had said the truth. Hugs are the best medicine. Hugs were underrated. “You can talk to me, sweetie. Tell me, what’s wrong?” A girl as sweet as Jasmin with tears in her eyes was just plain wrong.
“I miss her.” She said finally after a few minutes as she continued sniffing but the tears had stopped.
“Miss who?” I asked.
“Mom.”
Oh shit. It was that kind of moment. The Vandervaal siblings had lost their parents in a freak car accident when I was in college which is also why Jake had inherited the conglomerate at such a young age. I remembered the mess Jo had been during the time but sadly I wasn’t able to console Jasmin because Jake had forbidden any visitors and said the siblings wanted to grieve in solitude. Their extended family and friends had respected his wishes. I understood the three of them must have faced a tough time losing their parents the way they did because even though I didn’t know who my father was, I couldn’t begin to imagine life without my mother in it. I rubbed Jasmin’s back in consolation. My eyes flick to Jake and saw him looking at us in concern. He stood up to come over, a question clear in his eyes at seeing his sister’s tear-stained face. I shook my head and he stopped. And I mentally tell him I have it under control. He hesitated for a few seconds then nodded sitting back down as if he received my message through telepathy. He kept watching us just in case we needed him. Or in case Jasmin needed him. “I’m so sorry she couldn’t be here today.” I said. “Especially at a time as important as your wedding.” Jasmin wiped her face with her hands and tried to stop sniffing. “But I know someone who can be.”