Jalana looked down at the stunning diamond necklace still sitting in the box and lightly run her fingers over it.
"This is the perfect gift for Jasmine," she thought aloud.
Her face gleaming at the picture of her and Jasmine becoming best friends. The things they do together; sleep overs, twinning outfits and sharing secrets.
Her mother brought her dreams a little closer to her. Jasmine would live in the house with them and she'd transfer to Lavena High where she and Jacob studied.
They get to go to school together and spend an inordinate time bonding, in school and at home. The hard part of her plans to warm her way to Jasmine's heart was out of the way. Now, she need only show her sister that it would cost them nothing to be close.
Knock!
The soft knock on her door caught her attention. "Yes," she answered.
Aryanna walked in, hesitant to approach as her argument with Jalana was still fresh, and they hadn't gotten around to talk.
"Dinner is served. Come down and eat," she called for her.
"Aryanna, come with in."
Jalana had lived her life in a comfortable home and happy disposition. She seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence and had lived sixteen years in the world with very little to distress her.
So she was inexperienced in handling difficult situations. She figured Aryanna might relate to her troubles and help her bond with Jasmine. Especially since she and Jasmine were on good terms.
Jalana presented the diamond necklace to Aryanna's display. "What do you think?" She asked, her eyes glimmering like a child who'd finish their class project and was waiting for praise for their hard work.
"It's beautiful. Who is it for?" Aryanna kept her voice low and soft, mimicking the calming tone Sebastian took with her. It worked wonders on her, she hoped it'll help smoothen things over with Jalana. "It's a lovely gift."
"For Jasmine, do you think she'll like it?"
"I don't think she'll like it," Aryanna subconsciously spoke, staring sternly at the necklace.
"Excuse me, what do you mean?"
The smile on Jalana's face faded, her lips fell into an galling frown. She'd thought for hours on the gift before making a purchase of the beautiful diamond necklace. It upset her to hear Aryanna's blant answer.
Aryanna waved her hands in surrender. "I didn't mean that in a bad way," she quickly said, she didn't wish to fight with her sister-in-law again. "I just can't help feeling so," Aryanna brought Jalana over to the coffee table and they both sat down.
"Why do you feel like that?" Jalana calmed the impudent aggressiveness in her nerve endings and tried to hear Aryanna out.
"Think about it, Jasmine is a Kincade, she probably has more diamonds than she can ever wear in her life. Judging by her status, I'm certain diamonds and gold are mostly what she receives as gifts, so they're probably not that special to her. Don't you agree?"
Jalana heard her reasoning and frankly she couldn't disagree. Diamonds were her first choice as they were a safe bet, it's mostly what people gifted her and she figured Jasmine will appreciate it, in the light of her status.
She hadn't given thought to the possibility that Jasmine might've grown accustomed to such gifts and got bored of receiving them.
Aryanna opened her eyes to the mistake in her choice. Jalana set the necklace in Aryanna's hand. "A token of appreciation for the enlightening opinion," she expressed.
"You're not angry with me anymore?" Aryanna asked.
"I won't be if you tell me the reason you were so mean to Clara. What did she do to offend you?"
Aryanna chose the honest path. It worked with Sebastian and brought them a little bit closer than they had been before. She gave accounts to her actions, her feelings and the place where her insecurities came from. Aryanna wanted Jalana to understand her.
"I can understand that. I'm having a bit of a struggle myself fitting in with my dad's family," Jalana confessed. "Jacob is sweet but Jasmine has her walls so high I don't think I can ever get her to trust me. As for Raul, I've never exchanged more than a sentence with him so I wouldn't even know where to start which is the same boat I'm in with my dad," she opened up.
"I shouldn't have let my insecurities get the better of me. I'm sorry I ruined your day," Aryanna took Sebastian's advise and apologized.
"I forgive you, Arya," Jalana slumped back on her seat. "We should work on our communication in the future, sister-in-law," she added.
"Yeah, we should."
A moment of comfortable silence followed. Aryanna praised Sebastian in her heart, his advise worked like magic. Aryanna thanked the heavens for blessing her with the perfect man that was her husband. He made good on the vows that they made on the altar.
His patience and kindness moved her and the world around her. In his presence, all her problems turned to pixie dust.
"Your brother is one of a kind. I'm glad I met him, and got a chance to have this beautiful family," she uttered, a vivid image of her young husband playing in her head. A blush crept to her cheeks, turning them a beautiful shade of pink.
"He is, sometimes," Jalana assent with her. "What do you think I should gift, Jasmine?"
Aryanna thought it over and an idea popped in her head. It was something she could do with Jalana and further strengthen their bond. "Why don't we decorate her room for her. You know, make it feel like home?" She suggested.
Jalana cheered at the idea. It was perfect and certainly something sisters do for each other. She straightened her back and met Aryanna's gaze. "I'm happy you are here. Now I'll have three sisters, Elisa, Jasmine and you. That's if Elisa and Jasmine will have me," she said.
"They will. I'm happy to have you too, dear," Aryanna and Jalana hugged out the moment.
A moment that had every promise of happiness for sisterly bond between them.
"Let's head to supper first," Aryanna urged, the others were waiting for them at the dinning table.
"Alright."