Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
Jasmine
D ario waited by the door. As soon as I entered, he closed it. Instead of sitting behind his desk, he took the chair to my side as I sat in the same place where only a day ago, I’d learned my fate with Zhdan. This felt different. For what seemed like an eternity, silence reigned. It wasn’t uncomfortable, more like a warm blanket on a cool night.
“I owe you an apology,” he said.
“Why?”
“The things you were saying earlier?—”
I covered my face with my hands. “Oh, I’m so embarrassed.” Peeking over the tips of my fingers, I met his gaze. “I don’t remember any of it.”
Dario inhaled. “I remember and I’m sorry I made you feel the way I did. It wasn’t my intention.” He reached out, laying his hand on my knee. “You should never consider yourself a stray.”
Sitting taller, I gasped. “Dario, I wouldn’t use that word. I know how upset it made you and Josie.”
He took his hand away. “You did. In the elevator talking to Reinaldo, you used the word stray and…” He exhaled. “I was wrong to deny your marriage to Reinaldo. He obviously cares for you, and you are a worthy offering. He’s also right that you’ll be safe with his parents.”
My eyes opened wide. “With his parents? In Mexico?”
The side of his lips quirked. “Sort of. I’m sure he’ll explain it.” His dark eyes filled with concern. “Is this what you want?”
“What I want?” I nodded. “When I’m with Rei, I feel special. He’s possessive and intense and instead of those qualities scaring me, I like them.”
Dario nodded. “I’m sorry to make you feel like you’re unworthy, Jasmine. You deserve to be happy and loved. It’s all Josie ever wanted for you. I should have adopted you instead of asking for guardianship.”
It was my turn to reach out. I laid my hand on his knee. “I don’t care what my last name has been. It’s going to change” —I lifted my eyebrows in question— “tonight?”
“Yes. What about classes?”
“There’s a good chance my professors will allow me to finish the semester online. After that, I can enroll in California.”
Dario covered my hand with his. “I’m proud of you, Jasmine. I always have been. If you’ll allow me, I’d like to walk you to Reinaldo—give you away.” He forced a smile. “But not really. It’s a tradition. Just know that no matter what the circumstances or situation, you have a home here in Kansas City with Catalina and me.” He squeezed my hand. “By definition, a stray is homeless, wandering from place to place.”
Fighting back the tears, I nodded. “I’m not a stray.”
Dario began to stand.
“What will happen with Myshkin? Will this cause problems?”
“Not your concern.”
“My mother?” I asked.
“Go with Reinaldo and be safe. If she’s genuine in her desire to see you, then you can decide when that happens. If she isn’t, then go on with your life. Josie was more of a mother than Leah will ever be. Remember what Josie wanted for you.”
I nodded. “To be happy and loved.”
He walked around to the other side of his desk. “I’m going to tell you something that may or may not be useful in your marriage.”
Sitting taller on the edge of the chair, I waited.
“Men like me, and perhaps Reinaldo, can be both fearless and terrified.”
My eyebrows knitted together. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re not supposed to. From a young age I was expected to exude confidence and face down any enemy. I was taught to never trust and always be suspicious. There was no opponent I couldn’t conquer. And at the same time, I failed miserably when it came to my personal life.” Dario opened a side drawer on his desk and brought out a small box. “Not too long after you and Josie came to live with me, I bought this.” He pushed the box toward me. “I always planned that one day…” He inhaled deeply. “You see, as confident as I was, I couldn’t face down the one man who never wanted happiness for me.” He jutted his chin. “Open it.”
He was talking about his father.
Slowly, I reached for the box, unsure of what I’d find. Lifting the lid, I found a velvet-covered jewelry box. My stomach twisted as I opened the hinged top. “Oh, Dario.” The ring inside was stunning and simple. A gold band with a round diamond. I wasn’t a judge of precious stones, but I would guess two or three carats. My gaze met his as tears prickled the back of my eyes. “You bought this for Josie?”
He nodded. “One day never came.”
“Catalina? She should have it.”
Dario shook his head. “Catalina’s ring is a family heirloom. I told her today about the ring and my idea for you to have it. She agreed without hesitation.”
“What? You want me to have it?”
“Even though I was never brave enough to give it to her, it’s a part of your sister. If you don’t want it…”
I hugged the box to my chest. “I do.”
“You should have a ring when you’re married.” He reached forward. “I’ll give it to Reinaldo.” A smile cracked his veneer. “You deserve a big wedding.”
Closing the lid, I handed the box back to Dario. “I don’t care about the wedding. I care about who I’m marrying.” My stomach growled and I quickly laid my hand over it .
“Contessa has food for you in the kitchen. You should eat and then…your wedding.”
I looked down at my leggings and sweater. “I need to change.”
“That’s up to you. Dante is in charge of getting the priest here tonight.”
My eyes opened wide. “Oh my God. I’m really getting married.”
His cheeks rose in an unusually pronounced grin. “You are.”
The next hour flew by. Contessa had a variety of options for me when it came to food. I settled on scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit. I’d been asleep long enough to feel like it was morning instead of nearing midnight.
Catalina, Contessa, and Camila gathered with me in my bedroom to help me prepare. A thorough inspection of the dresses hanging in my closet sent both Catalina and Camila to their own closets for options.
“I doubt I’ll fit in any of Camila’s clothes,” I said to Contessa when we were alone. Peering down, I smiled. “I’m more endowed than she is.”
Contessa reached for my hand. “I’m sorry.”
Tonight must be the night for apologies.
“Why?”
“The things I said about Mr. Roríguez and Mr. Ruiz on Christmas Eve. I was wrong to judge them. Today, I’ve watched him. He’s a strong man and still he was racked with worry about you.” She nodded. “He cares for you.”
“I care for him, too.”
“Will you forgive me? ”
I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. “I did a long time ago.”
Contessa wiped away a tear from her cheek. “I’m going to put together a wedding reception. If only you would have given me more time.”
“We don’t need a reception.”
She waved me off, nearly colliding with Catalina in the doorway.
“I found these,” Catalina said, carrying an armload of white dresses. “If you’d like” —she dropped the others on my bed and pulled out her wedding dress— “you could wear this.”
I gasped, remembering how beautiful she looked during their wedding. Running my fingers over the white material, I assessed the flowing skirt, chapel-length train, a sweetheart neckline, a shape-forming bodice, and a long line of pearl buttons down the back.
Camila appeared in the doorway with her own load of dresses in all colors. “You had it repaired,” she said to Catalina.
Catalina rolled her eyes. “Arianna had it repaired.” She held up the bodice. “You can’t tell it was ripped.”
“Dario ripped it?” I asked.
“No. Arianna and Francesca did.” She stood straighter. “It’s a long story. What’s important is that it is repaired and well, I won’t be wearing it again.”
“What about Ariadna Gia?”
“Rei won’t cut it off of you,” Catalina said. “If she’s interested in forty years when her father allows her to marry, we can worry about it then.”
Forty years .
That may be wishful thinking.
I took the dress from Catalina and stood before the full-length mirror. Holding the beautiful dress up to myself, I asked, “Do you think it will fit?”
Camila dropped her dresses on my bed. “Probably better than any of mine. You have boobs.”
The room filled with laughter.
It was hard to believe that hours ago I’d been roofied and now…I sighed. “I’d like to try it on.”
“May I help with your hair?” Camila asked. “I love the color and curls.”
Swallowing, I tilted my head. “I know it may be weird, since you two were supposed to wed, but would you stand up with me, be my matron of honor?”
A giant smile came to her lips. “Yes, and I’ll wear one of the dresses I brought. What color should I wear?”
Closer to midnight, Dario knocked on the door. I turned, wearing Catalina’s dress, my hair pulled up with pearl combs, and my makeup hiding the earlier paleness. My gaze met his. His eyes shone as he scanned me up and down. “You’re beautiful, Jasmine.”
I noticed he’d changed into a fresh suit, and his face was freshly shaved. “Thank you.”
“Is the priest here?” Catalina asked. Sometime while I was getting my makeup done, she’d slipped out, only to return in a cocktail dress.
“Waiting downstairs. I pulled a few strings. The license arrived via courier a few minutes ago. The only thing missing from this wedding is the bride.” Dario offered me his arm .
“Oh, let us go down ahead,” Catalina said, tugging Camila’s hand.
Dario covered my hand resting on his arm. “If I could do it over, I’d do so many things differently with you.”
I shook my head. “You gave me a life I never would have had.”
“I gave more than that. I was just never brave enough to say it.” Moving his arm, he wrapped my shoulders in an embrace. “You have my love.”
Sniffling, I looked up at him. “Don’t make me ruin this makeup.”
With his lips pressed together, he nodded. “It has taken Catalina to make me understand, but Jasmine, you’ve had my love since the afternoon we met.”
“You’ve had mine too.”
He kissed my cheek. “Your groom is waiting.”