Page 85 of The Starfish Sisters

I like him, and I’m mad at myself for that, even. Why should I expect it to be a big thing?

Except that it seemed important the other night. It felt like something real. It felt like I could trust him.

Focus.Jasmine needs me.

I move the board to a drying area. “So,” I say, spreading out a big piece of white butcher paper, “let’s do something.”

“Okay.” She leans on the table. Her hair is pulled back into a scrunchie, the curls boiling out in a puff at the back and escaping in tendrils by her ears and nape. Baby hair lines the edges of her hairline, pale against her warm golden skin. “What is it?”

“Did you look for the best things about London on your iPad last night?”

A shrug. “Yeah.”

I give her a pink Sharpie. “Write one of them down.”

She chews on her lip. “I know what you’re doing.”

“Yeah? What am I doing?”

“Trying to change my mind.”

“I am. Because I really, truly, in my heart of hearts, think you are going to love it.”

“Really?”

“Really.” I smile and pick up a red Sharpie. “They have double-decker buses. You could ride on top.” I draw one, with a girl waving from a window.

She giggles. “They have a big old castle,” she says, and draws a square building with turrets.

“Ah, yes. There’s more than one. The king lives in one, and one is an old, old thing from ages ago, and it has a dungeon.”

“There’s a king?”

“Yep.” I draw a face with a crown.

“Is he handsome?”

“Not especially.” I draw a teapot and a tray with little cakes. “You can have afternoon tea, with little sandwiches and cakes. I will make sure we do that when I come visit.”

Jasmine stares at the paper. “I miss my mom,” she says. “I don’t like thinking of her so far away.”

“Aw, sweetie,” I say and gather her into my arms, kissing her head. “Shall we call her? I’m sure we can reach her right now.”

“Okay.”

I pull out my phone and dial Stephanie’s number from the video app. It rings on the other end, and I pull Jasmine close, turning us to face the window so the light will be good.

Stephanie appears on the screen, and she looks beautiful—rested and clear eyed. “Hi!” she says. “What are you two up to?”

“I miss you, Mommy!” Jasmine cries.

“I miss you, too, but guess what? I found us an apartment today, which they call a flat, and I think you’re really, really going to love it.”

“Can I see it?”

“I’m not there right now, but I can go there tomorrow and show it to you. It’s on a high floor, so you can see the river and a big park, and there’s a little garden on the roof.”

Jasmine nods.