He cupped her face to his palm and said. "My love,I'm scared. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Please don't tell me to allow you go see her,please?". And he hugged her to his chest tightly patting her hair and placed a kiss on it.

A minute went by before Jasmine pull out of the embrace. She took his hands and held it into hers feeling the warmth of his touch. She sighed and stood there thinking of what to say to him. "I....well..." She started and huff taking a deep breath before she continued. "Raym,I understand how you feel towards your mum. But still,since you've told her about us I have to see her as she requested. Besides,she seems nice the first time we met at the gathering at my place. I..."

"You mean you've met with my mum before?". Ray asked with a raised brow.

"Yes. She was friendly to me." Jasmine said with smiles.

"Oh. Well...this is different now. As of then she didn't know what I had with you, but now she does. So you can't expect her to be friendly like last time to you." Ray replied with a straight face.

Jasmine squeeze his hand gently and said. "Just leave it to me to worry about that. I'm sure she'll like me,and if she doesn't..." She paused and sighed. "I guess we'll have to go our separate ways if she doesn't accept me." She continued with a cracked voice.

Ray flinched from her hold and stared at her in shock like she just spear his heart.

Jasmine open her mouth to say something but her words hang on the air. There was awkward silence between them. Just the rushing of the waves could be heard. The wind blew her hair making it to cover face.

Ray moved closer and tugged the strands of hair to the back of her ear. Jasmine was surprise at his sudden moves,nevertheless she liked what he just did and smiled at him muttering a "thanks" which he accepted with a nod.

"I'm sorry for..."

"Its OK. No need for that." He cut her short taking her hand to his.
"I understand why you said that. But also want you to know that no one can separate us,and when I say no one that's including my mum. So she accepts you or not,you're still mine and I'll spend the rest of my life with you. Is that clear?". He asked.

"Uhmm. Yeah. So...are you saying I can accept her invitation?". She asked with anticipation.

"Yes,as far it makes you happy." He answered touching her cheek which made her blush at the contact.

"Ye! Thanks." She squeal hugging him with a wide grin on her face.

"Wow,you seems so excited at this." He said hugging her back with a smile.

"Yes of course. Why shouldn't I be?". She questioned releasing him of the embrace.

Ray shrugged and replied. "Nothing. Well...since you've accepted to go,I'll tell her when I get home to set out lunch for the whole family. We'll have lunch together. What do you think? Good?".

"Yeah. Good." She replied with a smile.

"Or would you prefer dinner to lunch?". He asked.

"Uhmm, not really. Lunch is better. Anything from 2pm upwards is OK by me." She answered.

"Very good then. So,let's go back to our pizza, it must be getting cold now." He said taking her hand and led her back to the coconut tree.

They had their pizza took their yogurt drink and chatted a little under the cold breeze . Jasmine rested her head on his chest while Ray wrapped his arms around her body and placed his chin on her head.

"Wow...I enjoyed this evening so much. Thanks again Raym for bringing me out here." She said smiling and staring at him with those dazzling gaze.

"No. I should be thanking you instead for accepting to go with me." He replied returning her smiles.
"My love,can I do a casual serenading right here to you? I promise to do a better one soon. Promise." He added.

Jasmine lit up and nodded quickly sitting up right in between his laps to here him do the serenade. Its part of what she loves the most about him,whenever he sings her a song. It makes her feel special. With all smiles,she watched him brought out his phone and went through his playlist.

Ray played an instrumental from his phone and started singing : "I found love in you
And I've learned to love me too
Never have I felt that I could be all that you see
It's like our hearts have intertwined and to the perfect harmony

This is why I love you Ooh
this is why I love you
Because you love me
You love me
This is why I love you Ooh
this is why I love you
Because you love me
You love me

I found love in you
And no other love will do
Every moment that you smile chases all of the pain away
Forever and a while in my heart is where you'll stay......" Ray kept singing down to the instrumental of the song 'why I love you by Major' to Jasmine who was blushing so hard.

Jasmine was so touched by the song that she almost cried. Not waiting for him to finish the song,she pulled him to her and kissed him so passionately.

Ray was surprise at her motion at first but when he saw she was still sucking his lips,he gave her access to his tongue and deepened the kiss more till they had to take a break gasping for breathe.

Jasmine pulled his face closer to her and held on to it allowing their nose to touch. "I love you,Raymond." She said smiling.

"I love you too,My Brandy. I love you so much." He replied kissing her on her lips and she kissed him back. They broke the kiss. "We should get going before your dad starts calling". He added.

"Yeah. Sure. Let's go." She replied.

Ray stood up first and then helped Jasmine up to her feet. They packed the stuffs they'd come with and left afterwards.
****************
The next day being Sunday was a date for Jasmine to visit the Robert's home for the first time. All she thought of was how it'll be like to meet and dine with her soon to be in-laws. Will they accept her or not? And what about Sylvia? What if she decides to show up same time she's there? This were questions running through Jasmine's mind the morning of a Sunday while she had her breakfast with her dad.

"Sweetie,you haven't touched your breakfast? Are you OK?". Williams asked pausing from his own food.

"Uhhh. Yeah I'm OK." She answered quickly flashing her dad a smile before looking down her breakfast which was a plate of toasted bread and a cup of tea. She took the toasted bread and had a bite of it.

"OK. So....is there anything I need to know?". He asked taking a sip of his coffee.

"Like what,dad?". She asked taking a sip of her tea.

"Like...you know. You know what I'm talking about." Williams replied taking a big bite of his own toasted bread.

"I don't know, dad. Just tell me what's up?." Jasmine replied taking a bite as well.

"Raymond. I want to know what's going on between you and Raymond." Williams said dropping his toasted bread on the plate.

Jasmine choked on what she was having in her throat and started coughing. She took a sip of her tea to calm her down. She wasn't expecting that question from her dad of all people. She avoid eyes contact with him and started looking for a napkin to clean her mouth.

"I'm waiting for your answer,sweetie." Williams reminded her.

"Uhmm.... Dad...nothing... Is going...on." She stuttered.

"Really? With all the things Ray had done for you,you still tell me there's nothing going on?". He asked.

"Yes,dad. There's...nothing going on. We're just friends?". She came out as a question.

"Friends? I've never seen such friends that look at each other the way both of you does. C'mon,the way Ray was overly worried at the hospital when you were in the coma,he never left your side until you woke up,who knows if it wasn't because of him you woke up within a short period of time. Most of all,he was always there for you until you left the hospital back home. He didn't even stop there,he came yesterday to take you out for a date or something I don't know. And should I mention the necklace you're having on your neck that you're fond of playing with like you're doing right now. Do you wanna say is not from him?". He asked.

Jasmine stopped fiddling with it and stared at her dad with a gape. She was speechless. All what her dad had said there's not one she could deny its not true. So what now? Should I tell him both of us are in love with each other? And....'

"You see. I was right after all. You couldn't deny any of it." Williams spoke up again interrupting her thoughts.

"Fine. You're right,dad. The thing is Raymond and I are in love. We got to find out our feelings when when we traveled for that business trip..." She started.

"I knew it. You were overly excited when you came back. But I could remember how your expression changed when I mentioned about Ray getting married in few weeks time. I couldn't place why,now I know why you had that expression. So? What are you going to do now with your lovey-dovey knowing he is getting married next week?". He asked.

"No,dad. He's not getting married next week. He already cancelled it." Jasmine replied with a sigh.

"What? Really? Because of you right?". He asked surprised with a raised brow.

"Uhmm, not really. Actually it happened that the girl he was suppose to marry was an matchmaking from his mum,he ended up not loving the girl despite everything and he noticed the girl didn't love him as well. So the only option was to end everything before they both end up in a disastrous marriage. Well I'll say...within this short period of time he got to know me,he founds out he needs a woman that loves him as much as he loves her to build a future with. And....you know...he found me and..." Jasmine paused given a sheepish look not wanting to complete her last sentence.

Williams chuckled understanding what she's arriving at. "Its OK. I understand. I'm glad you finally fell in love. Raymond is a good guy. He really does love you from the looks of things. I hope he doesn't change." He said taking a bite from his toast bread.

"I hope so too. Actually I have a date with his family today." She said with nervousness.

"Hmm,you don't look that excited. Why?". Williams asked noticing his daughter nervousness.

"I'm excited. I'm just nervous you know. Haven't done this before." She replied.

"C'mon, sweetie. Just calm down. It'll be fine." He said stretching out his hand on the table to touch hers in a soothing manner which helped calmed her nerves.

"Thanks, dad." She said with a smile.
*******
It was past noon,past 2pm to be precised. The family of Robert which consist of Mr Robert, Mrs Robert, Raymond, and Granny Joyce with the exception of Lilly Raymond's younger sister who was in school were all seated at the dinning waiting for their guest to arrive. To Mrs Robert, she's expecting two guests. She was planning on cancelling her appointment with Camilla since she'll be having her so-called daughter in-law here for lunch but she changed her mind and allowed her to keep to the appointment. Maybe having Camilla her around would help increase the nervousness of her sweet daughter in-law. She smirked at the thought of it.

It was almost 2.30pm and Jasmine hadn't showed up. "What kind of lady that is meant to meet her in-laws for the first fails to keep to her timing?". Mrs Robert sneered.

"Please mother,don't start." Ray replied with a scowl.

Clara was about to speak again when they had a knock on the door. All attention was at the door.

"I'll go get it." Raymond and Granny Joyce said in unison. They stare at each other and smiled.

"Please let me have the honor of welcoming our guest for today?". Granny Joyce asked with a pleaded gaze and Ray gave her nod and she went for the door smiling.
Her smile ceased when she opened it and see who it was.
"Camilla?". She called looking dumbfounded.

"Hi Granny. Is Clara home?". Camilla asked.

"Uhhh. Yes. Come on in." Granny Joyce replied halfheartedly and made way for her to come in.

Ray and Mr Robert stood up looking surprise at the sight of Camilla . But Clara wasn't surprise she just smiled. "Hello Camilla. I thought you weren't coming anymore". Clara said making all eyes to be fixed on her.

"You knew she was coming?". Mr Robert and Raymond asked in unison not given room for Camilla to speak.

"Uhmm, yeah." She answered nervously.

"Why didn't you tell us then?". Both men asked in unison again. Ray was having a scowl now glaring daggers at his mum.

"I....." Clara was about answering when the door got opened and their gatekeeper walked in.

"There's a beautiful damsel out there who is here to see you all. She said her name is Jasmine. Can I let her in?". He asked.

"Yes,please." Raymond answered quickly.

The gatekeeper left and within a minute a beautiful lady who was wearing a nude color long gown with a tiny hand and also had a slit in front of the gown walked in. Her footwear was a gold stiletto. Her purse was made of gold to match with her shoe. Her wristwatch was gold as well. The fragrance of Jasmine filled the room.

All eyes turned and centered on Jasmine. The most stunned person in the room was Camilla. She steadied her gaze on Jasmine while her lips flew opened. She couldn't belief what she was seeing. She was staring at Jasmine like someone she had come across with before now. Suddenly she became tensed and heat broke on her forehead. She began feeling dizzy,she didn't know when she gripped Granny wrist who was still standing by her.

"Camilla,are you OK?". Granny asked with a furrowed brow noticing the strong grip by her wrist. The question attracted others attention whose gaze was now fixed on Camilla.

Happy weekend readers! Hope you're enjoying your weekend?

Like I promised,i updated three chapters this week,I succeeded. I deserve some accolades😉😇.

Uhmm can any of you guess why Camilla is tensed on seeing Jasmine?

Please feel free to drop a comment. Thanks for reading.