The next couple of days passed in a blur of busyness for Charlene, just like


    always.


    Because she''d been leaving early anding backte, even though Jasmine


    had moved in with the Ross family, mother and daughter barely saw each other.


    Thorne was just as busy with work, but Charlene heard he called Jasmine almost


    every day. She was never around when those calls happened, though, and had


    no idea what they talked about.


    Jasmine''s birthday fell on a Friday.


    Maybe it was because Thorne had always given her plenty of attention and love,


    but when it became clear he wouldn''t be able to make it home for her birthday,


    Jasmine didn''t seem all that upset. She just hugged Charlene''s arm and said, "It''s


    okay, Mom. As long as you''re with me on my birthday, that''s enough."


    Charlene had warned her she''d be workingte that day too-maybe only enough


    time to cook her a bowl of birthday noodles and give her a small present. Jasmine


    tried to take it in stride, but Charlene could see the disappointment flicker in her


    eyes.


    It had been ages since Jasmine tasted one of her mother''s homemade cakes.


    She missed them-missed that warm, sweet ritual. She''d thought, at the very


    least, Charlene would find time to bake her a cake.


    But living with the Ross family, Jasmine had seen for herself just how swamped


    her mother was. Even if she was disappointed, she didn''t throw a tantrum or make


    demands. She just sighed and said, "Okay, I understand..."


    Charlene was truly overwhelmed these days. PrimeStar, The Henderson Group,


    Axiom Flux Technologies everypany seemed to have a mountain of issues


    waiting for her input. She was workingte into the night, barely managing to keep


    her head above water.


    It was Jasmine''s birthday, after all. She''d brought this child into the world. No


    matter what, she owed her a certain responsibility. Even if she and Thorne weren''t


    officially divorced yet, Charlene knew she''d already let Jasmine down by not


    being there for her.


    Thinking about this, Charlene said, "If I get off work early tomorrow, I''ll bake you a


    cake."


    Jasmine brightened instantly. "Really? Thanks, Mom!"


    But Thursday turned out to be an absolute chaos. By the time Charlene finished


    her work, it was already three or four in the morning. She barely had time to go


    home, shower, and copse into bed-it was five a.m. by then. With a meeting at


    Axiom Flux Technologies scheduled for nine, there was no way she could make a


    cake.


    All she managed was to cook a simple bowl of birthday noodles and hand


    Jasmine her gift before rushing out the door.


    By the time she finally returned home that night, it was after nine.


    She nced at her phone, thinking about the present she''d left that morning and


    how she hadn''t even had a minute to wish Jasmine happy birthday in person. Her


    heart twisted with guilt.


    Stewart noticed her troubled expression. "What''s wrong?"


    "It''s Jasmine''s birthday today," Charlene replied quietly.


    Stewart could understand theplicated feelings Charlene had toward her


    daughter. He knew that, no matter what, she still cared deeply.


    He nced at the clock. "It''s not toote. Go home you can still spend some


    time with her."


    Charlene nodded.


    She left the office and drove straight home.


    When she walked in, Helena was still


    awake. The elderly woman greeted


    her in a gentle voice, "You''ve been


    gone all day. Thorne didn''t call,


    either. Minnie hasn''t been herself


    today."


    Charlene paused. She hadn''t expected Thorne to go a whole day without calling.


    Helena sighed, patting her hand. "She''s not asleep yet. Go upstairs and be with


    her."


    Charlene nodded and headed upstairs.


    Jasmine was sprawled across her


    bed, reading aic. When


    Charlene opened the door, Jasmine


    looked up and managed a small,


    polite smile. "You''re back, Mom?"


    "Yeah." Charlene set down her purse, hesitating a moment before walking over.


    "I''m sorry I''ve been so busy at work..."


    "I get it," Jasmine said, ncing up. "Mom, I really do."


    Jasmine seemed so mature, but


    Charlene could see she wasn''t truly


    happy. When Jasmine was happy


    she loved to snuggle up and be a


    little clingy. In the past, Charlene


    always had ways to coax her


    daughter into a better mood. Now,


    standing there, she suddenly had no


    idea what to say or do.


    It hit her then on the surface, nothing had changed between them. But deep


    down, there was a distance that hadn''t been there before.


    Just then, Jasmine''s phone buzzed.


    She nced down at the screen. When she saw the caller ID-"Dad"-her face


    didn''t light up, but she answered quickly, her tone a little t. "Hello?"


    Thorne''s cheerful voice came through the line. "Happy birthday, Minnie."


    Jasmine kept flipping through heric, face nk. "Thanks."


    Thorne seemed to notice her mood, but wasn''t surprised. "Are you mad at me?"


    Jasmine pressed her lips together and stayed silent.


    "Sorry, sweetheart. I was on a ne all day and couldn''t call you..."


    Still, Jasmine didn''t say a word.


    Thorne chuckled. "Well, guess what? I''m right outside your grandmother''s


    building. Minnie,e down-"


    Jasmine shot upright in bed. "Dad, you''re back? You''re not messing with me, are


    you?!"


    Thorne''s voice was warm and smiling. "I came all this way just to spend your


    birthday with you. It''s only a little after ten-I made it in time."