Room Service by Rochelle Alers

Author:Rochelle Alers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-05-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Jasmine stared numbly at her parents. They were at a restaurant celebrating her belated birthday, and she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. “You’re kidding, aren’t you?”

Richard Washington slowly shook his head. “No we’re not. Your mother and I have been talking about selling the house and moving south for more than a year. We listed the house with a realtor and yesterday we got an offer from a couple with two small children. They’ve been pre-approved, so it won’t take long before we’ll have a closing.”

Jasmine slumped in her chair as she willed the tears filling her eyes not to fall. “So, you’re really moving to North Carolina?” She didn’t want to appear selfish and tell them they were deserting her, but her father was right when he’d spoken of wanting to sell the house where she’d grown up.

“Yes, baby,” Marta Washington crooned. “We will be moving to a retirement community where we don’t have to mow lawns or shovel snow. Even though your daddy and I are still active we want a more laidback lifestyle.”

Jasmine forced a smile. She had to put on a brave face for her parents because she wanted them to believe she was happy for them. “Does it have a golf course?”

“Of course,” Richard and Marta chorused.

This time her smile was genuine. Her parents were avid amateur golfers. Jasmine gazed lovingly at her father, and then her mother. Her genes had compromised when she inherited her father’s complexion and her mother’s facial features, and hair texture. “I’m happy for you guys.”

“So, you’re okay with us moving away?” Richard asked.

“Of course I’m okay. You just made it easy for me to make up my mind about moving to New Orleans to become an innkeeper. And we’ll be a little more than a twelve-hour car ride from each other.”

Marta and Richard shared a smile. “And once the inn is open we’re going to come to check out the city.”

Rising from her chair, Jasmine came around the table and kissed her mother, and then her father. “I love you guys.”

“Do you plan on selling your condo?” Richard asked.

“Not right now.” She told them about Amelia looking to live and work downstate. “If she does find a position in the tristate area, then she can sublet it from me.”

“I’m glad you’ve decided to hold onto it. Owning property is the best investment one can make,” her father told her.

Marta took a sip of water. “Speaking of investments, do you need money?”

“Money for what, Mom?”

“Didn’t you say you have to invest in the inn?”

“Yes.”

“If you don’t have enough money, your father and I will give you whatever you need. We’ve already bought the house in North Carolina, and once we sell our place—”

“Mom, don’t say it,” she pleaded, interrupting Marta. “I still have money from the sale of my business along with the severance pay. So, I’m far from being a pauper.” Marta and Richard relaxed in their chairs as if they’d choreographed the move in advance.

Richard slipped on a pair of half-glasses and studied the selections on the dessert menu.

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