Just A Little Bit Jaded

3. Mommy

~~~

"So how's my beautiful girl today?" Jasmine's voice echoed through the digital connection, coming to them from halfway around the world via computer speakers. Scarlett regularly made these calls to her mother while she was away. "Where are your father and brother?"

While it was not surprising that her daughter was alone while making the video call, it always intrigued Jasmine that her daughter seemed fixated on having private moments, even if there was nothing private to discuss.

"They're still asleep, Mommy," Letty replied, watching the screen intently. Her mother's red hair shone with every flicker of movement, her green eyes danced in the dim light of her hotel room. Scarlett had placed the call nearly an hour ago, just waiting for her mother to return to her computer in the hotel room.

"Oh, baby, I'm sorry. Did you miss me?"

"Yes, Mommy." The words were barely a whisper, and Letty's voice wavered, her lip wobbling at the thought of how far away her mother was. She was only six years old. Her mother was everything to her.

Jasmine caught on to the change in energy quickly, noting the way her daughter looked down from the screen and turned her head just slightly. Quietly, she stood, and went to the door of her hotel, locking it securely before returning to the screen. "Hang on, baby," she murmured softly.

With a small shimmer, Jasmine took a step forward and vanished from the screen, only to reappear a moment later by her young child's side.

"Mommy!" Letty jumped up immediately and flung her arms around Jasmine, who was quick to pick up the young girl and hold her as close as she could manage.

"Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh. It's okay, sweetheart. I'm here now. Mommy's here. I've got you." With a hand stroking over Letty's dark hair, Jasmine kissed the young girl's temple. "I'm here, baby."

Scarlett began to cry softly. "I'm sorry, Mommy, I just miss you so much! You're gone all the time and I just, I just want you home!"

"I know, baby, I know," she answered gently. "I only have two more weeks in Shanghai, okay? It won't be much longer, I promise. And then I'll be home again."

"Only until Uncle Danny's next project though," Letty pointed out, sniffling.

With a sigh, Jasmine kissed her again on the forehead. "I'm sorry, baby. I know it's hard. But the movies don't take that long to shoot. I'll be home a few months until the next one at least. And then when something else comes up, yes, I will have to go and do it, but only to make money, sweetheart. We have to make money somehow. We have plenty saved away, but I want to use that for your education more than anything, dear. Your education and your inheritance. I don't ever want you to have to worry about things like that."

"Mommy, what's inher-i-tance?"

In her mind, Jasmine hadn't stopped to consider that Letty wouldn't understand the meaning of something like inheritance yet. Much less what that sort of idea would do to her when the girl didn't even like having her mother leave for a month or so at a time.

"You see honey, inheritance is . . . Well, when people pass away, they have things left over from their life. Their money or their possessions . . . And typically, before they pass, they'll have delegated someone to inherit those things. So, when your father and I pass, you and Ash will inherit the things of value that we leave behind. Does that make sense?"

But instead of understanding, Letty's eyes got wide with realization. "You mean someday you and Daddy will be gone for forever?" Tears started brimming along her pale green eyes. "Mommy, no! Don't leave!"