Chapter 37

Jasmine / Hope

“Where are we going, by the way?” I asked Nikolai as we merge onto US-101 N.

“We’re going to Bakersfield.” Nikolai says. I turn my head to look at him. “I assume you would want to see your mother.”

I just shrugged at him.

“We could turn around if you don’t want to meet her.” Nikolai says.

“No, it’s okay.” I tell him. “I just can’t let her die in anguish thinking her daughter is dead.”

My mom and I were pretty close when I was a kid. Maybe because it was basically just the two of us living together for almost half of my life. She says I was very much like my dad. And I would always surprise her with the things I blurt out. Let’s just say those were not the kind of things you would definitely expect a kid to say. But oh well, I guess it was because I was my father’s daughter after all. My mom and dad’s