Chapter 3 Chapter Three

"It would be such fun, dressing up together," Favour pressed.

"I didn't bring dress-up clothes with me," Jasmine remembered, not so much seeking an excuse but simply stating the truth. "And that's because I didn't plan on going on a date with anyone"

"You u can try mine on." The eager offer was rushed out. "in fact, now that I think about it, I've gota little black number that would look fantastic on you. It's a jersey so it doesn't matter you're more curvy than I am. It will stretch to fit."

More curvy and taller. And their taste in clothes was different. Which was why they'd never swapped or borrowed. But what she wore tonight was not an issue, Jasmine decided, as long as she pleased Favour.

Twenty seven today. Her little sister...who had her life more in order than Jasmine had managed in her twenty nine years. Still, Favour's career in the public service carried minimal stress and steady promotion, given areasonable level of performance. The advertising world was far more cut-throat and Jasmine spent most of her working days living on the edge.

Different lives, different needs, different natures, different...even in looks.

Favour's hair had been very blond in her childhood and she'd kept it blond with the help of a good hairdresser. She kept it short, too, its thick waves cleverly cut and styled to ripple attractively to just below her ears. Having inherited their father's blue eyes and skin that tanned to a lovely golden honey, she always looked sunny and vibrantly alive.

Dark and intense were the words more often attached to jasmine. Her hair was a very deep rich brown, as wavy as Favour's but worn long.

There never seemed to be time in her life for regular hairdresser appointments. Currently it fell to below her shoulder-blades. Luckily she only had to wash it for it to look reasonably good.

Her eyes were more amber than brown, like their mother's, but her eyebrows and lashes were almost black, giving them a dark look. The only feature she'd inherited from their father was height. She was a head taller than Favour who had his colouring but their mother's more petite figure.

Different to each other but family nonetheless.

A close family.

And jasmine liked to see Favour happy.

"Okay, I'll go with you. But I'm taking my own car so if Leonard's friend is a total disaster I can come home by myself whenever I like. Agreed?"

Sheer delight lit up Favour's pretty face. "Yes. Yes. Agreed." she said.

Yes, it was worth the effort, Jasmine thought, and resigned herself to sharing an evening with a man who would probably bore her to death.

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She was really doing this. Going on a blind date...

She looked down at the little black and white fox terrier, sleeping blissfully at Favour's feet. He'd been called Luther after Martin Luther King who'd done all he could to integrate the black and white races in America.

Bringing people together.

Jasmine smiled at the dog who'd certainly brought her sister and Leonard together. Maybe she needed a dog in her life. It was surely a better means of meeting men than Favour's current plot. Bound to provide more lasting and devoted company, too. A steadfast, uncomplicated love. Yes.

She'd give up Robert and buy herself a dog. Now that was a much better solution to her problems than a blind date.

_____-

Leonard insisted they set off at a quarter to eight, even though it was barely a ten-minute drive around the coast to the beach town of terrigal where they were dining in style tonight. Favour and jasmine were to meet them at the restaurant at eight, which probably meant anything up to an hour later. Collins had little faith in female punctuality, particularly with social evenings. Still, the less time he had to spend with his blind date, the better.

Terrigal was a prettier beach than Forresters with its row of Norfolk Pines lining the foreshore, but it was tame in comparison with none ofthe wild, dangerous surf that stirred the sense of primitive elements at play. This was a highly civilised beach; calm water, smooth sand, edged by lawns, a large resort hotel and many fashionable boutiques and restaurants. A yuppie place, not a getaway, Collins thought, glad that Leonard had chosen to buy a house on an untamed shoreline.

The restaurant they were heading for was called The Galley, built above the sailing club on the other side of town and facing towards theHaven, a sheltered little bay where yachts rode at anchor. The main street traffic was heavy and slow. By the time they got through it and reached the parking area adjacent to The Galley, it was precisely eight o'clock.

Drinks at the bar coming up, Collins anticipated. He watched a zippy red convertible coming down the incline to the car park as Leonard was collecting a celebratory bottle of Dom Perignon from the back seat of his beloved BMW. Had to be a Mazda MX-5, Collins decided, and was surprised to see two women occupying the open front seats. It was the kind of car guys would cruise in. Women were always worried about their hairstyles being blown awry.

"I told you they'd be on time," Leonard crowed, nodding to the car Collins was watching. "That's Jasmine driving."

A long-haired brunette. The blonde in the passenger seat had to be Favour. "Is it her car?" he asked, finding himself interested by the unexpected.

"Yes. Favour calls it Jasmine's rebellion."

"Against what?"

Leonard shrugged. "Being a woman, I guess."

Collins rolled his eyes at him. "You mean I'm about to be faced with a raging feminist." he asked.

Leonard's answering grin was unrepentant. "More a femme fatale. Just watch your knees. They might buckle any minute now."

Not a chance, Collins thought.

She parked the convertible right at the end of the row of cars, the furthest point away from the entrance to the restaurant. Ensuring it wouldn't gel boxed in, Collins decided, in case she wanted an easy getaway.

Which makes two of us, darling, he thought and frowned slightly.

He and Leonard waited at the BMW for the two women to join them. The black roof of the red convertible lifted from its slot at the back of the car and was locked in at the front. The blonde emerged first, waving excitedly at Leonard. She looked very cute, wearing a clingy blue dress with shoestring shoulder straps. A pocket Venus for Leonard, Collins thought, smiling at his choice.