Before Charlene could respond, Thorne was back on the line. "Where are you? I cane pick you up."


    "That''s not necessary," Charlene said, assuming they were somewhere else. Now that she knew they were at his ce, she changed her mind. "Put Minnie back on."


    Thorne did as she asked without question.


    "Mommy?"


    "I''m sorry, Minnie," Charlene said gently. "Something just came up. I won''t be able toe hear you y the drums after all. Next time, when Mommy has-" Jasmine''s face fell, and her little lips trembled, but she said nothing.


    Charlene knew she was upset. She hesitated, but the thought of going back to that house was too much. Steeling herself, she said, "I''m sorry, Minnie. Mommy has to..."


    "If you''re busy, then take care of it," Thorne cut in. Then he added, "Are you free for lunch? We could eat together."


    Charlene knew he was only suggesting it to appease Jasmine. Still, lunch in a neutral location was far more eptable than going to his house.


    After a moment''s pause, she agreed. "I''m free."


    "You promised!" Jasmine''s voice piped up, cheerful once more. "You can''t take it back this time, Mommy!"


    "I know, honey," Charlene said, managing a small smile.


    She chatted with Jasmine for a few more minutes before hanging up.


    About half an hourter, while she was reading in her room, her phone buzzed with a notification. It was a video from Thorne. Seeing Jasmine in the thumbnail, she tapped y.


    The video opened with Jasmine sitting at a drum kit, talking to her instructor. The camera was far away, clearly filmed by Thorne without them knowing. After a brief chat, Jasmineunched into her practice session.


    Charlene watched the entire video. Jasmine really did have a good sense of rhythm; she was surprisingly good.


    Just then, another message came through from Thorne: [Did you watch it?]


    Charlene: [... Yes.] She paused, then couldn''t help but add: [She''s very good.]


    As she was typing out a message about the divorce, an audio message came through from Thorne. She yed it first. It was Jasmine''s voice, bubbly and excited. Thorne must have shown her Charlene''spliment.  s


    [Mommy, the teacher said I have a real


    songs, and I''ll have Daddy


    more songs,


    shit! Once I get better, I''ll learn


    regard


    them for you!


    belongs to s


    Charlene hadn''t realized Thorne would show Jasmine her phone. She quickly deleted the message she''d been typing.


    A little whileter, Jasmine went back to practicing, and Thorne didn''t message her again until it was nearly noon.


    Thorne: [What do you want to eat? Minnie says it''s your choice.]


    Charlene: [Let Minnie decide.]


    Thorne: [Okay.]


    A few minutester, he sent an address, followed by another message: [We''re on our way to pick you up.]


    Charlene was about to say he didn''t need to, but his next text stopped her: [Minnie insists.]


    Her fingers froze over the keyboard. She deleted her reply and typed a new one. [Okay.]


    Half an hourter, they arrived.<fn30d1> Updates are released by Find★Novel</fn30d1>


    Thorne got out of the car and opened the door for her Charlene


    hesitated for a moment before


    silently getting in.  s