Divorce Time 47
Footsteps echoed from outside. Thome was back.
“Daddy!”
“Hmm.” Thorne entered and went to the bedside.
Seeing him, Charlene tried to put Jasmine down to make room for Thorne, but Jasmine clung to her, reaching out for her dad.
Thorne came closer and lifted Jasmine into his arms.
Holding Jasmine close, Charlene could catch the familiar scent of his cologne. But mingled with that familiar smell was a light whiff of women’s perfume. She had caught a whiff of this on Vesta at the dinner bash earlier. Charlene turned away, rising to put some distance between them, stopping when the scents faded.
Adorned with a sleek watch, Thorne gently touched Jasmine’s forehead with his wrist before he looked at Charlene. “How’s her fever? Did it go down a bit?”
Charlene relayed the doctor’s words. “It’s shifted from a high to a low fever, but it’s still unstable. It might spike again.”
“I see.” Thome sat beside Jasmine on the bed while Jasmine snuggled into his arms, unwilling to leave. But she frowned, “Daddy, your jacket is so stiff.”
Thorne took off his jacket and handed it to Charlene. She caught it reflexively, holding it close until the mixed perfumes hit her, reminding her of their impending divorce.
In the past, holding his jacket would have felt like a cherished moment of happiness she wouldn’t want to let go of.
But then, she casually placed the jacket aside and told Jasmine, “I’ll go make some soup.”
With both parents at home, Jasmine seemed to perk up a bit. Hearing about the soup, she obediently nodded, “Okay, thanks, Mommy.” Charlene smiled and left Jasmine’s room. Upon watching her leave, Thorne’s gaze fell on the suit jacket she’d left on the chair.
After starting the soup, Charlene began preparing other ingredients. Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the kitchen with clean hands.
Hesitant, Charlene went upstairs.
Turning a corner on the second floor, she saw Thorne at the end of the hallway, on the phone by a window. “Her fever has gone down. No need to worry.” he said.
Was he talking to Vesta? Did Vesta genuinely care about Jasmine?
Charlene withdrew her gaze and entered Jasmine’s room.
Jasmine had fallen asleep after her treatment, sweating profusely. Latonia was gently wiping her down.
Upon seeing Charlene, Latonia moved aside and offered her the towel, assuming Charlene wanted to tend to Jasmine personally. That had always been Charlene’s way. With anything concerning Jasmine and Thorne, she was hands-on. Charlene shook her head.
Latonia paused but didn’t read too much into it, quietly helping Jasmine change into dry clothes.
Once Latonia finished, Charlene sat on the couch and asked, “Did the doctor leave?”
“Yes.”
“What did the doctor say? Will the fever come back?” She was contemplating whether to stay the night.
“The doctor doesn’t think so.”
“That’s good.”
Since Jasmine was okay, Charlene probably didn’t need to stay overnight.
The soup was still simmering downstairs. After sitting a while, Charlene went down to find Latonia in the kitchen. “I’ll keep an eye on it. You’ve had a long day. Why don’t you sit and rest a bit?”