Standing beside the trickling fountain, in shadows cast by the patio lights, Liv clasped her hands together and raved about the dinner to Keagan. “It was lovely.”
“That explains why you feel well enough to make your nightly rounds.” He turned toward his cottage. “Don’t overdo it.”
Liv watched him walk away and called out, “Jasmyn fits in perfectly, don’t you think?”
He didn’t even look back. A moment later he opened his door and disappeared inside.
Liv smiled. He knew what she was talking about.
Jasmyn added a lovely spark to the Casa. Liv noticed that Keagan noticed because although he had skipped the restaurant gathering earlier that evening, he had attended the potluck last week, a rare occurrence.
Samantha was touched too. To think that Jasmyn had spent the entire day with her, that Samantha had told her about some work accomplishment, that Jasmyn had thrown together a festive dinner and Samantha came, that they weren’t home yet because they must be out enjoying life— Well, that all said a lot.
If Liv polled the Casa family, she was certain they would all agree that Jasmyn was a perfect fit.
Of course she was. “Because You brought her to us, didn’t You, Abba? And my old lady biological clock seems to have stopped its incessant ticking. Unless that was just my heart acting up.”
Smiling, she slid a cushioned chair out from a patio table and sat to enjoy the night’s beauty. The damp coastal air enhanced every fragrance the courtyard offered, a heady mix of floral, pine, eucalyptus, cedar mulch, and plain old dirt. The patio lights cast a soft glow over it all. Solar lamps in the ground lit pathways to the cottages.
She heard Jasmyn and Samantha before she saw them. Jasmyn’s infectious giggle was at full volume—which was never very loud—and then, wonder of wonders, Samantha’s low chuckle escalated into a burst of laughter.
They emerged from the back gate area, spotted her, and walked over.
“Liv!” Jasmyn sat on a chair beside her. “You’re up awfully late.”
“For an invalid. I’m not an invalid anymore.”
Samantha stood before them and thrust a fist in the air. “Yesss! Mama Liv is back.”
Liv stared at her.
Jasmyn laughed. “Way to be excited, Sam.”
“It’s the sugar. Liv, she made me eat truffles.” Samantha slapped a hand to her mouth and her eyes grew wide.
Jasmyn said, “Oops.”
Samantha lowered her hand. “We would have bought some for you, but, you know, it’s not on your diet. We did get a magnet for you, though.”
Jasmyn dug into a shopping bag, pulled out a small sack, and handed it to her. “For your fridge. It says ‘I heart Seaside Village.’ The heart’s supposed to remind you to take care of yours.”
Liv took out a square magnet and chuckled. “Aren’t you ladies thoughtful?”
“No,” Samantha said. “We just felt guilty about the truffles. Speaking of which, the sugar crash is coming.” She yawned. “Good night all.” She turned and walked toward her cottage.
Jasmyn called out, “See you tomorrow, BFF.”
Samantha waved over her shoulder.
Jasmyn whispered to Liv, “Do you think that was too much, the BFF part?”
“Best Friend Forever?” Liv smiled. “Yesterday, I would have said yes, but she’s different tonight. The way she teased just now was simply amazing. I haven’t heard her say a silly word in four years.”
“We had such a great time today. She really loosened up.”
“She’s always so tense. I worry she’s going to pop.”
“Exactly. I think she has a lot of hurt inside. Are we gossiping?”
“Not quite. We’re both concerned for her well-being.” She squeezed Jasmyn’s arm. “I must say that organizing the dinner for her was a stroke of genius.”
“I’m so glad you think so. Is it what you would’ve done?”
“No. She’s always been a puzzle to me. I love on her the best I can, make her soup or whatnot, and encourage her with words, but I never have had a clue how to honor her and include our family in on it. Only a BFF could’ve done what you did.”
“It just came to me out of the blue, this wild idea to treat her to dinner. She was a little reluctant about inviting others, but I told her you and Chad especially would want to celebrate her accomplishment. Whatever it is.” She grinned and leaned closer. “I think Beau has a crush on her.”
“Really?”
“Really. And she was not happy about him being there. Not one bit.”
“Hmm. Maybe the crush goes both ways?”
“Maybe. They’re total opposites.”
“Now we are gossiping.”
“Yes, we are. But it’s a fun thought. Love makes the world go round, right?”
“Right.” Liv smiled. What was going on? Jasmyn’s sweet voice sounded sweeter, more melodious than usual. The air positively shimmered with her bubbly energy.
There was more behind such happiness than chocolate truffles alone. Had something happened in the desert?
“Tell me about your day. All I’ve heard is that you loved the desert.”
“Oh, Liv, I was in absolute awe of it. It’s simply magnificent. It’s so huge. Huger than cornfields. And Overland, the town on the reservation, is just a speck in the middle of all that hugeness, but it was…” She grew pensive. “Well.” She turned to Liv. “It was magnificent too.”
Ah. Now they were getting to it.
Jasmyn described her visit in great detail. By the time she finished telling her about the mission church and an old woman named Nova and the feel of a stone floor beneath her knees, Liv’s cheeks were damp with tears.
Jasmyn wiped her own eyes. “I’ve been thanking God for things lately. I wasn’t sure He was listening until now.”
Liv nodded. “Jasmyn, dear, you experienced a thin place.”
“Where the walls of this world go blurry and we get a glimpse of something Other. ‘Other’ with a capital O.”
Jasmyn stared at her. “That was it.”
“You never know where or when you’ll stumble into one. Maybe in a church, maybe in Walmart. And what’s thin for someone might be thick for someone else.” She grasped Jasmyn’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “This was a gift especially for you.”
They sat in silence for several moments. Except for the sound of the trickling fountain, the air was hushed.
Jasmyn breathed out a long sigh. “Love does make the world go round.” She leaned over and kissed Liv’s cheek. “Thank you.”
Liv watched her walk under the jacaranda tree strung with tiny lights, past the bird-of-paradise, between the potted geraniums and mums, and to the grape-purple door of Eleven. Her heart, that thing she needed to take care of, felt ready to burst with gratitude.
Jasmyn knew she was loved. What more could Liv have asked for her? Nothing surpassed the mysterious heart knowledge that the Creator was within her and without, making the world go round.