I hadn’t even realized that I was talking as though Finn had. “No.” I’m just praying he will.
“Then move on. Find someone else.”
Was he talking about a replacement for Logan or for me?
“We have an agreement. He’s here for a week. After that time, he will decide if Tabiq is a place he’s willing to relocate to.”
I hated thinking about it. The week was going by so quickly. Before long, he’d be gone. Even though I could see him fitting in here, I wasn’t sure he could envision it yet.
“Are you sure your judgement is not being clouded by your…feelings for him?”
Yes, my feelings were a mess, but I could still make a professional decision. Jasper’s skepticism hurt.
“Do you believe that I’d set aside my responsibilities to Tabiq over…” I stammered, unsure how to describe my relationship with Finn. “Over a man?”
It was all that came to mind, and one that couldn’t be disputed. “You of all people know where I stand in regards to Tabiq,” I said. “It’s my life’s dream to move it forward and help it thrive.”
“I had that same dream, Reesa. And I still do. That doesn’t mean I’d choose Alissa over it. There is room for both. I just think you need to make sure he’s on the same page as you. If not, he could do more harm than good in what you’re trying to accomplish.”
“What are you saying?” I asked.
“That you need to be careful with what and how much you tell him about Tabiq’s past. And definitely don’t talk about the Hendersons. You really don’t know him, and so far, we’ve kept the past away from the rest of the world. If it gets out, Tabiq will be under the microscope, and it will be a lot harder for us all to move on.”
“I understand that. I’m also aware that the Hendersons would have questions to answer as well. But I trust him, Jasper.” He’s not going to hurt Tabiq or me.
He sighed. “Then I guess that will have to be enough for me. Just know that I’m here for you, if you ever need to talk. And not just about Tabiq or political issues. If you want advice about Finn, I’m here, too.”
I was afraid of what he’d tell me, since he didn’t seem to support our relationship. I wonder if he thinks I have no business dating at all.
Jasper added, “Maybe you can bring him with you when you come to the U.S. and we can meet him.”
“Now who is moving too fast?” I joked.
“You’re right. Sorry. I’ll leave that kind of pushing to my wife,” he said.
Maybe he did know more than I was giving him credit for. It was a good opening for us to change the topic.
“How is Alissa feeling?” I asked.
“She’s tired all the time and just counting the days. But I know it’s more than that. This pregnancy has been hard on her. It wasn’t that long ago that she had her back surgery. We weren’t thinking when we decided to have a baby so soon afterwards. Even getting out of a chair now causes her pain. I wish there was something I could do to change that,” he said.
“Oh, no. I had no idea.” I’d been talking with Alissa often, and she never mentioned her own struggles. It said again what kind of woman she was. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Just wish us luck. I’m sure delivery isn’t going to be easy for her.”
“You’re both on my mind. And Jasper, I’m always here for you, too. Remember that.” If I had to drop everything and fly to the U.S., I would.
“Speaking of my wife, I hear her calling me. She gets these strange cravings at night. Last night it was fried zucchini. This morning she wanted spaghetti and meatballs. I can’t even begin to guess what she’s going to want now,” he laughed.
“Hopefully you’re not doing the cooking,” I teased.
“No. They have delivery 24/7 here in Boston.”
“Good, because I’m not going to be much help in that department.” I’m not sure Finn would ever let me near a stove again.
“I’ll talk to you later, Reesa. I love you,” he said.
“I love you too, Jasper.” When I ended the call, I sat back and realized how far he had come. The word love wasn’t something we had grown up using, and even as an adult, I had never heard him use it. Guess you found out love isn’t so bad. I’m happy for you, Jasper. There might be hope for me after all.