Page 37 of Maxwell

“Like the Brady Bunch,” Jasmine said.

“Something like that. Then they had me. I’m the youngest, and everybody loves to call me the baby.” He grimaced.

“Hmmm, that explains some things.”

“Like what?” His eyebrows snapped together.

“The charm you exude.”

Maxwell smirked. “You think I’m charming?”

“I am saying,” Jasmine enunciated, speaking slowly, “that as the youngest, you probably learned early that charm can get you attention and probably whatever you want. Am I wrong?” She popped a fry in her mouth.

“Nah, you’re not wrong,” Maxwell admitted. “Was it the same for you?”

“Not quite. I had to fight for respect in my family. There’s ten years difference between me and my closest sister, so they all treat me like I’m their kid.”

“That has to suck.”

Jasmine thought for a moment. “Yes and no. I mean, growing up I basically had four mothers, which was a nightmare. They never let me do anything. They all gave me advice and bossed me around. But on the plus side, because my sisters were older, they took care of me. They bought me clothes and makeup. When I was in college, I got the best care packages almost every week. My friends were all jealous.”

“Ten years is a big difference,” Maxwell commented.

Jasmine nodded and took a sip of soda. “I was an ‘accident,’ as they say, but I saved my parents’ marriage.”

“How?”

“They had grown apart. I guess when you’ve been married for a while, that eventually happens. Anyway, my sister closest to me, Maura, she said Mom and Dad had already been talking to divorce attorneys when oopsie—Mom found out she was pregnant.”

“Sounds like they hadn’t grown that far apart,” Maxwell remarked.

Jasmine giggled. “I guess not, since they were still doing the do—occasionally, anyway. Once my mother found out she was pregnant, that changed everything. They decided to work on their marriage, and then I—their little miracle—came into the world and they’ve been happily married ever since.”

“My parents are divorced.”

“Oh no.”

“There’s a happy ending, of sorts. They split when I was in college. Started having problems when I was in high school and then at some point decided to call it quits.” He turned his soda glass around and around on the table. “I’d seen them so happy growing up, and then everything changed. Makes you realize that love isn’t forever.”

His mood had changed drastically. The happy-go-lucky Maxwell was nowhere to be found in this somber commentary.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. They’re back together and getting remarried. They’re planning a wedding now.”

“No way!”

“Yeah. They both seem pretty happy. Maybe it’ll last this time.”

“You sound skeptical, but I think it’s romantic. They found their way back to each other. How do you feel about that?” Jasmine asked, sensing something wasn’t quite right about his reaction.

“No one’s ever asked me that before. Everyone pretty much assumes it’s good news—and it is—but I’m cautiously optimistic,” he answered honestly.

“You don’t think their relationship will last?” Jasmine asked.

“They seem happy together, but what I can’t understand is how they allowed their relationship to get to the point where they split up in the first place.”

“It happens. It almost happened to my parents.”