Chapter One Hundred and Three

THREE WEEKS LATER

Jasmine stared at her phone which was ringing for the fourth time that evening and sighed. It was Favour, and she knew that her sister wasn't going to stop calling her until she picked the call. Heaven knew that she loved her sister and was willing to do anything for her, but sometimes Favour was just too much to handle, and this period, all she wanted was some time to herself, but Favour just wasn't going to allow that to happen. Her sister always thought that all of her problems existed because she was lonely and needed a man, but that wasn't true.

Okay... Maybe it was a little bit true, but honestly sometimes it was just about work and right now, she really didn't want any man. Not that she was even attracted to anyone, because she wasn't. Not since Collins. Who had tried many times to reach her since that day she'd turned down his offer to meet him at the garden. He hadn't reached out for a week now, and Jasmine didn't know if she should be happy or sad about it.

Maybe he had finally decided to forget about her and move on, she thought, and maybe it was a good thing for the both of them.

The phone stopped ringing for a few seconds and Jasmine sighed with relief, only for it to start ringing again. What did Favour want? Maybe another baby talk. She felt guilty thinking like this. In fact she hated it. Of course she was happy about Favour's baby. She was going to have a little niece or nephew and she would try to be the best aunt she could be, but she could not change the fact that talking about Favour's pregnancy always reminded her of the baby she lost, and it hurt like hell.

She finally picked up the phone and Favour immediately began to scold, making no effort to hide her displeasure at having to call repeatedly.

'I have been calling you for God knows how long, Jasmine' she said, 'Where the hell have you been and why haven't you been answering your phone'

Jasmine sighed. 'I'm sorry, Favour. I was busy' she said, hoping that Favour would just drop it instead of asking more questions.

'That doesn't answer my question' Favour continued, much to Jasmine's dismay. 'What have you been doing, sis? You are always too busy to pick my calls or talk to me these days. What's going on? I miss you. Did I do something wrong?'

Jasmine immediately felt sorry. Of course Favour had done nothing wrong, and she felt bad that she was making her sister feel this way. She had contemplated telling Favour about the miscarriage, but she just felt that it would ruin her sister's excitement about her baby, and that was the last thing she wanted.

'You didn't do anything wrong, Favour. Believe me' she managed to say.

'Then why have you been avoiding me? Don't think that I haven't noticed the changes in you. You seemed so... Reserved. You don't tell me anything anymore... And most times when I'm talking to you I get this feeling that your mind is wandering and you're not actually listening to me.. I have been wanting to bring it up but I just can't hold it in any longer. Something is up... I know it and you can't tell me otherwise'

'It's not about you' said Jasmine.

'Oh okay' Favour replied. 'It's not about me. At least you admit that I'm right. So something is up... Tell me what it is'

'I can't'

'Why not?'

'Because I just can't, okay?' Jasmine snapped, before she could control herself. The silence on the other end was enough to make her sorry for her reaction. 'I'm sorry, Favour. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that, but I assure you that this has nothing to do with you and you definitely didn't do anything wrong to me or offend me

I'm just going through some personal stuff.'

'It's alright' said Favour quietly. 'I'm sorry if I have been a bit pushy, but I was just worried about what's going on with you... And I miss you so much. You seem distant and I miss our talks. I just want things to be like before. I miss how close we used to be'

Jasmine sighed. 'I miss that too, Favour. I really do, and I promise that when I feel much better, we can talk about it'

'Alright. Well, I called because Leonard and I were hoping you'd join us for dinner tomorrow. It was Leonard's idea. I guess he too noticed the distance between us, but from the looks of things, maybe you won't be able to come and I understand. Maybe we can move it to another time that's convenient for all of us'

Jasmine gave it some thought. She didn't want to hurt her sister's feelings again. Favour had done nothing wrong. She was just a woman excited about her pregnancy and wanting to share every experience with her sister. Just had they had always done. There was no way Favour could know about the miscarriage since she had not told her about it. If there was anyone to blame here, it was herself.

'No, of course I can come over for dinner tomorrow' Jasmine said, 'We don't have to move it. Tell Leonard I'll be there.'

'Really?' Favour shrieked excitedly. 'oh, thank you. Thank you, Jasmine. I can't wait to see you'

'Same here' Jasmine replied, glad that she could at least do something to make her sister happy. 'I will see you guys tomorrow'

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'Well, that did not go as I thought it would' Jasmine said to herself when she hung up

One minute, she didn't want to pick up the phone, and the next, she had agreed to have dinner with Favour and Leonard. Maybe it was a good thing, she thought. No matter how hard and painful the past months had been for her, maybe it was time for her to start getting out there again. Maybe it was time to put the past behind her and move on to other things. Maybe she would feel better, and then she would be able to talk to her sister about Collins and the child she had lost.

And maybe... Just maybe... She'd be happy again.