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“You should talk,” she snapped.
Mikel’s shoulders sunk. Atlas flicked his gaze to her questioningly.
“Dessert, anyone?” Belle asked.
“I brought the Mexican wedding cookies.” Mia set out the tray filled with white-powdered sweets.
“My favorite.” Andre reached for one.
“And to think you turned them down once upon a time,” Remy teased.
“How do you get them to taste so good?” Bently asked over a mouthful of cookie.
“Not from a cookbook.” Mia laughed. “My great-abuela’s recipe passed on down to my mother and now me.”
A pang of envy sliced through Jasmine’s chest. Mia knew everything there was about her heritage. Jasmine spun around, considering her brothers’ and Andre’s faces. Though her family looked like the United Nations to everyone else, she felt out of place. No one looked like her. No one but Zoey. Jasmine fit with her family, but she didn’t at the same time. She had nothing from her culture but her Asian features—no idea how to speak the language. Only her own poor attempts at following Korean recipes from the internet. Just another missing piece of me.
Maybe if she could find a way to connect to her roots, she’d feel more . . . whole.
Jasmine busied herself with passing out cupcakes and ice cream to those who wanted it. She drained the last of the wine in her cup as Zoey came up to her. “I want another cupcake, Mommy.”
Jasmine shook her head. “Sorry, sweet pea, just one for now.”
“Ahhhh!” Zoey let loose an ear-piercing scream, drawing everyone’s eyes.
“Zoey Jane Evans,” Jasmine said, warning in her tone.
“I want a cupcake! Now!” Zoey yelled, throwing herself to the ground.
The back of Jasmine’s eyes burned as she fought off tears. She was at her emotional limit for the day. She knelt and scooped her daughter up.
“Does she need a nap?” Remy asked, somewhere behind her.
Her skin burned with the realization that not only was her family watching Jasmine fail at this, but Atlas was too. He’s going to think I’m a bad mom.
“Let’s go lie down,” Jasmine said, turning to head inside.
“No!” Zoey lashed out, her tiny but surprisingly strong fist hitting Jasmine square in the jaw.
“Zoey! Stop!” Jasmine yelled, chest heaving.
The little girl erupted into tears as giant sobs wracked her body. Jasmine’s tears fell too as she rushed in the door that Mia held open for her. She ran through the inn and up the stairs to the small bedroom she shared with Zoey.
Jasmine collapsed on the bed, cradling Zoey in her arms as mother and daughter cried together. How could such a good day have gone to hell in just a couple of hours?
After a few minutes, Zoey’s cries subsided. Jasmine looked down and wiped the sticky hair from her forehead. Zoey’s eyes closed as she drifted into sleep. Her long black eyelashes kissed her pink-tinged cheeks.
Jasmine leaned in and pressed her lips to her sleeping daughter’s nose and forehead. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m sorry for yelling. For not being patient. For not being enough.” Tears slid over her cheeks, dripping onto her daughter’s summer dress.
Jasmine held on a little longer before transferring Zoey to her bed, making sure the fan was rotating through the room. After walking into the bathroom, she splashed cold water on her face and took her hair out. Jasmine braided it quickly over her shoulder and stared at her reflection. She needed a minute to breathe. A moment to get out this pent-up energy. She glanced from the window. The beach was full of her well-meaning but overbearing family. Jasmine craved a break from here. Her eyes traced the golden coastline.
She went back into the room and turned the baby monitor on, keeping the portable one with her as she quietly exited the room. Closing the bedroom door, she turned towards the staircase and froze. Remy stood at the top step and opened her arms before pulling Jasmine into a hug.
“I know these kinds of days are the toughest.”
It was easy to forget that Remy had lived life as a single mother for almost five years. If anyone knew how hard this was, it was her friend.
Jasmine relaxed into her hold.
