Chapter 68
Yvette hugged Juliet’s arm and exclaimed, “Mom, I’ve thought it over. I want to go on a blind date. Please find me a match. I want someone who’s tall, handsome, and from a wealthy family.”
Juliet was stunned. She had tried convincing Yvette to go on a date, but the latter had always refused. And now she was asking for it.
Juliet placed the back of her hand on Yvette’s forehead to test her body temperature and asked, “My darling, are you running a fever? Why the sudden change of heart about going on a blind date?”
Yvette lowered Juliet’s hand and answered in a firm tone, “I’m over Jasper. I want a blind date, and I want to get married right away.”
She wanted the Locke family to see that she didn’t need Jasper. She had plenty of options and could marry someone better.
Juliet was delighted. “Oh, my darling, I’m so glad you’ve come around. Don’t worry, I’ll arrange everything tomorrow.
“You wouldn’t believe how many people are eager to date you, but you just had to obsess over Jasper.
“I’m telling you, that boy from the Lockes may be good–looking and successful, but he’s cold and rigid. He doesn’t know how to care for people, so marrying him would bring nothing but hardship.
“He’s definitely not marriage material.”
Juliet had told Yvette the same thing, but the latter had completely ignored her words. Today was different as Yvette nodded in agreement. “You’re right, Mom.”
“Oh, and is Aunt Janice still helping me with Art Corps?”
Yvette remembered that Natalie was applying for the same position. She wasn’t going to leave anything to chance, and she wanted to win at both her relationship and career.
Juliet suddenly remembered something and pulled out two test papers from her bag. “These are test papers from Aunt Janice. Memorize the answers, you’ll be all set.”
Yvette’s eyes sparkled as she took the papers. “Mom, I still don’t trust Natalie. I’m worried the Lockes might help her in secret. Say…”
She leaned close to Juliet and whispered her plan. Juliet readily agreed. “Leave it to me.”
The mother and daughter exchanged a satisfied smile.
and
At the Locke residence, Natalie had processed her emotions on the way home from the flight base. Once she got home, she promptly put Jasper out of her mind and focused on preparing for the Art Corps exam.
She had submitted two poems to a newspaper last week, but she had yet to receive a response.
With the exam date approaching, she continued creating more work and submitting to other newspapers and magazines in hopes of getting any of them to accept her writing. That would give her a published piece.
Plus, she was going to borrow a camera and snap pictures to add to her photography collection. But cameras were precious nowadays, and she had tried out different photo studios only to be turned down.
They feared she might damage the camera even when she offered payment, so now she had to put her camera plan on hold and focus on submitting her
work.
Her creativity was at its peak at night, and she wrote in the living room for fear of disturbing Phoebe in her sleep.
There were no desk lamps in the living room, so she had to use the overhead light. She refused to waste electricity, so she opted to lean by the window and write under light from the moon and streets.
No one would usually notice her, but Celeste and Gideon happened to wake up for a late–night supper and caught her.
Celeste immediately said, “Nate, go to Jasper’s room. He doesn’t come home anyway, and there’s a desk and bed in his room. You can stay there for now.
