HER EVERY FANTASY

Favour opened the door and they stared at each other for a while until Jasmine spoke.

‘Can I come in?’ she asked.

‘Sure’ Favour replied and stepped out of the way.

‘How are you?’ Jasmine asked her.

‘Doing good’

‘And the baby and Leonard.’

‘They are both fine, and Leonard is out’ replied Favour, walking slowly to take a seat on the couch. ‘It’s one of the things that I don’t like about pregnancy… Sometimes I’m just too tired to move around’

Jasmine smiled at her and sat down too beside her. ‘You are doing great’ she said, ‘And it will be over soon’

There was a brief hesitation before she added, ‘I’m sorry, Favour. I behaved so horrible towards you that night. I was frustrated, but it was still no reason to say the things that I said to you. I hope that you can forgive me’.

Favour began to cry. ‘I’m so sorry’ she said. ‘About your baby… I can’t believe that I didn’t know, and every time I saw you, I just rambled on and on about mine. And you had to sit there and listen’

Jasmine took her hand. ‘It’s not your fault, dear. How could you have known when I didn’t say anything to you.’

‘I should have known that something was wrong instead of getting mad at you… And your baby… You lost your child. I can’t even imagine how you must have felt because if I’ she hesitated and rubbed her stomach, ‘if I lost my baby, I’d be so… I’m so sorry, Jasmine’

Jasmine held her hand. ‘it’s alright, I promise. I just want us to let this go please. I want to focus on the future and be happy’

‘About Collins’ Favour began. ‘Are you guys alright? Things seemed so bad between you that night’

Jasmine smiled. ‘Well, speaking of Collins’. She held up her hand and flashed the ring at Favour, who couldn’t help but scream excitedly.

Jasmine laughed and hugged her. ‘Calm down’ she said.

‘Calm down? Calm down? I’m about to go nuts’ said Favour, grabbing Jasmine’s hand and inspecting the ring. ‘He proposed? When?’

‘Yesterday’ Jasmine replied. ‘I was so happy and I couldn’t wait to tell you. I get to be with the man I love’

‘Leonard is going to be so happy’ said Favour. ‘And so am I. I love you, sis’

‘I love you more, Favour, and thank you for introducing us’

Favour smirked. ‘Yeah, am I a match maker or what?’ she bragged then added when Jasmine raised an eyebrow. ‘Maybe it didn’t go exactly as I planned, but the point is that it finally worked.’

‘Yeah right’ said Jasmine.

———-

September. .. The first month of Spring in Australia… and the day was bright and sunny, perfect for the wedding.

‘The flowers have arrived!’ Favour yelled from downstairs. ‘I’m bringing ours up.’

Jasmine stepped into the dress she’d chosen to wear and pulled it up, carefully sliding her arms through the armholes. She was positioning the bodice properly on her shoulders as Favour sailed into the bedroom.

‘I need help with the back fastening.’ she appealed to her sister.

‘Oh, wow!’ Favour breathed at first sight of the dress on Jasmine.

She quickly laid the flowers on the bed and moved to complete the fitting. When it was done, they both stared at the reflection in the mirror.

‘That is fabulous!’ Favour declared in absolute awe.

It wasn’t a traditional bridal gown. It was a Collette Dinnigan creation that Jasmine had bought-rashly almost emptying her bank account – to wear at the Academy Awards night, desperately wanting Collins to see her as the woman he always wanted at his side. She’d never worn it. The dress was the kind of dress that dreams were made of. It finally felt right to wear it today. It was made of opalescent sequins, sleeveless, the front bodice providing graceful movement with a longcowl neckline that dropped to below her waist, also showing quite a tantalising amount of cleavage. The slim-line style flared into a swinging skirt below the knees, allowing room to walk freely, though with a decidedly seductive swish.

‘With your hair fluffed out over your shoulders and down your back, plus all those millions of glittering sequins, you kind of look like a mermaid, Jasmine,’ Favour remarked assessingly, then laughed as she gestured to her own appearance. ‘And I look like a whale.’

‘No, you don’t. You look absolutely beautiful, Favour, and I’m sure Leonard will tell you so.’

‘Just as well you chose midnight-blue for me. It helps to minimise the lump.’ She sighed. ‘You could have waited another two months until after I’d had the baby. Having a matron of honour this pregnant is not fashionable.’Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Jasmine shook her head, smiling at the grumble. ‘Babies are always fashionable, before and after they’re born.’

‘I can’t see my feet anymore.’

‘What’s so great about your feet?’

‘They’re about the only part of me that hasn’t swelled up. Which is just as well because I’ll have you know I’ve done a lot of running around, getting this wedding right for you and Collins while you two did your jet-setting thing.’

‘I know, Favour .’ Jasmine kissed her cheek. ‘Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us.’

‘Well it wasn’t just me. Mum and Collins mother were wild to get in on the act, very eager to get the two of you married. I’m sure Mum thought it was a miracle that you finally found someone.’ Favour raised a wagging finger.

‘And she wasn’t alone in that sentiment.’ Jasmine grinned, recalling all her sister’s matchmaking efforts. ‘I didn’t find Collins. It was a blind date, remember?’

Favour rolled her eyes. ‘And is Leonard going to make capital out of that in his best man speech! He is so wrapped that we’re all going to be connected by marriage. And so am I, Jasmine.’ She gave her a hug. ‘it’s great!’

‘Yes, it is.’ With heartfelt pleasure beaming between them, Jasmine couldn’t keep the secret to herself any longer. It had to be safe now. The doctor had assured her all was well, and just this past week the scan had actually showed their baby sucking its thumb-so endearing it had brought tears to her eyes.

Collins, as well.

‘We’ll be sharing more than being in-laws, Favour. I’m pregnant, too,’ she happily announced.

‘You’re not!’ It was a squeal of delight.

Jasmine nodded.

Favour clapped her hands. ‘Oh, this is marvellous! How far along?’

‘Almost four months.’

Sheer astonishment. ‘You can’t be! You’re not even showing.’ Her gaze dropped critically to Jasmine’s stomach.

‘Luckily the long cowl on this dress hides a very definite mound.’ She lifted it. ‘See?’

Favour pointedly examined the vital area. ‘That’s a very small four months. Trust you to keep nice and slim. I had a positive pot belly by then.’ She frowned. ‘How come you haven’t told any of us before this?’

‘I am older than you, as you’ve frequently mentioned,’ Jasmine answered carefully. ‘I wanted to make it through the danger period first before letting anyone know there’s a baby on the way.’

Favour shook her head chidingly. ‘You’ve got a very secretive nature. No doubt about it. Honestly. Jasmine, you could be a bit more forthcoming.’

‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Her eyes were deliberately leasing. ‘You do have a habit of telling me how to live my life, little sister.’

Favour humphed and planted her hands challengingly on her hips. ‘Well, Leonard and I got it right putting you and Collins together, didn’t we?’

Jasmine laughed and hugged her. ‘Yes, you did. Beautifully, wonderfully right.’

‘ The cars are here!’ Their father yelled up the stairs. ‘Are you girls ready?’

‘Yes, Dad,’ they chorused.

Favour quickly pounced on the flowers she’d put on the bed. ‘I’m glad I’ve got a bouquet to hold over my mountainous mound,’ she declared.

‘Why did you choose to carry just a single red rose, Jasmine?’ She smiled, picking it out of the florist’s box.

‘It has its meaning.’ Jasmine replied.

Favour arched her eyebrows. ‘I suppose that means you’re not going to tell me.’

‘Remember the red rose I wore in my hair as your bridesmaid?’

‘Ah! You and Collins got together at my wedding!’ Favour cried triumphantly. ‘Oh, I can’t wait to tell Leonard that!’ She sailed off, smugly proud of having fixed her older sister’s life for her.

Jasmine lifted the perfect velvety bloom to smell its glorious scent.

Not an artificial rose… a real one… as real as the love she and Collins had for each other.

The wedding guests were milling around the garden at Jonah’s, the highly fashionable restaurant/reception centre Jasmine and Collins had chosen, mostly because of its site on top of Sydney’s northern peninsula, overlooking the ocean.

Everyone was clearly in a festive mood, enjoying the spectacular views as they waited for the bridal party to arrive. Collins and Leonard stood closer to the clifftop above Whale Beach, watching the height of the waves rolling in as they’d done together hundreds of times throughout their long friendship.

‘Not as good a surf as at Forresters,’ Leonard commented.

Collins smiled, remembering the night he and Jasmine had shared at Spoon Bay. ‘If a house comes up for sale close to yours, Leonard, let me know.’

‘Great idea!’ ‘Our kids could play together during vacations.’

‘Yeah…’ A cocked eyebrow. ‘You and Jasmine thinking of starting a family soon?’

Collins grinned. ‘One already on the way.’ he said.

Leonard punched his arm. ‘You sly dog, you. Does your mother know?’

‘Only just now. I whispered in her ear and her face lit up like a Christmas tree.’

‘I can imagine. She’s over the moon about your marrying Jasmine.’ Leonard raised a scoring finger. ‘And just you remember, I did tell you right from the start she was a knockout.’

‘You did,’ Collins happily conceded. ‘And punctual.’ He checked his watch. ‘Five minutes to go. We’d better line up with the celebrant’ He watched her come to him down the makeshift aisle, sunshine gleaming on her glorious hair, a light sea breeze rippling the long wavy tresses. Far below them the beat of the ocean on the sand echoed the beat of his heart, a rhythm that pounded to the name that swam in his mind …. Jasmine… Jasmine…

Her dress glittered like brilliant light on water. She seemed to flow towards him like some ethereal primeval goddess who would bestowupon him all the blessings of life. This was his wife to be, the woman who carried his child… the scan had revealed a boy… their son.

She smiled at him, her beautiful eyes glowing golden with love. He smiled back, knowing beyond any shadow of doubt this woman was utterly unique and irreplaceable, the one and only woman he would ever love. He saw she carried a single red rose and knew it represented her love for him-the giving and taking that was not a game, but an essential part of the marriage they both wanted.

He held out his hand to her. She slid hers over his palm and he closed his fingers around it.

Together, he thought.

It had felt right at the very beginning.

He knew it was right now, and would be so for the rest of their lives.

THE END.