For the next six months I had not seen his face, at least in person. He made it a point to reach out to me at least once a week while on tour. He kept me on the phone for two hours after his show in Philly, us both hysterically laughing about the incident that happened that night. Apparently he invited some woman on stage who showed her ass, LITERALLY!

I hadn't realized that I had missed him until around the end of October. He called me one morning out of the blue while I was in class. I was upset that I missed his call because the tone in his voice was so somber like he had been depressed about something. When he called me back that night, I could hear the happiness in his voice coming off of that performance high, so when I asked him why he sounded sad that morning, he completely dismissed the question.

At the end of each conversation, he would always ask me to read him some of my poetry but I would only do it if he agreed to sing me a song.

As the holidays came and went, our family trip to Florida caused me to miss several of P's calls. When we touched down in Minnesota I tried calling his Paisley Park number, hoping he came home for the holidays but I had no such luck. The next day when the mail came, amongst all the christmas cards and junk mail we had received was a thin lavender envelope with the return address, "Paisley Park".

As I unfolded the two papers inside, a small rectangular piece of paper and a packet of jasmine incense fell out. Not looking at it, I placed the items on the counter. Reading the first letter, I was overjoyed that he even sent me something for Christmas since I wasn't expecting anything and he doesn't really celebrate holidays.

Dearest Jasmin,

By the time U receive this, U'll already be in the skies. But eye just wanted to send this letter to U as a token of my appreciation. Eye appreciate U dropping into my life as an understanding soul who eye can talk to. Though it has only been six months, eye can consider U a friend. As a friend, eye have written a small check. It's not much, but eye hope it benefits U and Noah.
Enclosed is a pack of Jasmine incense since U commented on how amazing they smelled burning in my studio. You asked why eye burned those? Well being in the presence of Jasmin can ease depression, bring happiness and be uplifting :)

See U in 1998,
Spud

"Oh he is too sweet," I uttered to no one in particular. P tends to speak in riddles a lot so last sentence really had my brain racking. Did he mean Jasmine the way my name is spelled? I'm just overthinking it.

Picking up the check, I damn near fainted when I saw the amount scribbled in black ink: $1,000. Has he lost his mind? I can't accept this money, I will never be able to pay him back! This was sweet of him, but the moment I see him, this little baby is going back to its papa.

January 30, 1998

Prince's Perspective

Sitting in her freshly shoveled driveway with the heat on high, I try and gather my thoughts before standing face to face with Jazz for the first time in 7 months. To say I missed her while on tour is an understatement. Seeing her that fateful day at Paisley Park was as if God was trying to shine a light down a deep trench. As hard as we are both trying to hold on, I can feel my marriage dwindling. We both try and convince ourselves that we are happy, but unfortunate events that have happened have drove us apart. Oddly enough, the moment Jasmin's effervescent aura was in my presence, she became a breath of fresh air I didn't know I needed.

Teetering my heels against the frosty cement, I made my way up the pavement and onto the porch with a gift bag in tow. The fabric on my puffy white coat crinkled as I rang the doorbell. As I waited for Jasmin to answer the door, I noticed a swift movement and a small figure peer out of one of the door sidelight windows. Gazing back at me was a tiny toddler with the brightest chestnut eyes. Eyes that mirrored Jasmin's perfectly. Caramel-toned skin that mirrored hers. As I bent down and waved at Noah, he immediately giggled, showing me his tiny teeth. The faint calling of Jasmin's voice prompted him to disappear out of my sight.

Before I could completely adjust my posture, the door swung open revealing Jasmin's petite yet curvaceous frame to my eyes. For a moment we just gazed at one another, both of us just happy to be in the presence of one another again. Without warning, Jasmin practically leaped into my embrace. As I took in her intoxicating citrusy aroma, shivers raced down my spine as she whispers against my neck, "I thought you forgot about me."

"Never that mama." As she pulled me into the toasty abode, I set the gift bag on the floor. Right as Jasmin was about to say something, the sound of Noah shaking the plastic bars of the safety gate disrupted her train of thought. As she picked him up and walked back over to me, my heart fluttered tremendously at the site of two together.

"Noah, I want you to meet someone. Can you say hi to mommy's special friend?"

Out of his little body erupted a high pitched, "Hi!" as he waved to me. I could feel my cheeks turn a bright crimson as I took his small hand and shook it. "Hi Noah, my names's Prince. Can you say Prince?". Knowing he probably wouldn't be able to pronounce my name, I chuckled as he eagerly attempted to sound my name out to only be distracted by how the P vibrated off of his lips causing him to blow raspberries.

Anxious to explore, he wiggled out of Jasmin's grasp. Jogging over to the gift bag, he tried his hardest to find out what was inside only to become stumped once he realized the bag was tied shut. He squatted and admired the outside of the bag, decorated with colorful balloons.

I walked over to him and grabbed the handles of the bag and said, "Noah you wanna see what Uncle P got you? Come on let's go see." As his small hand grabbed ahold of my index finger, Jasmin moved the safety gate, leading me into the family room.

"What's on the tape?", Jazz said waiting patiently on the sectional, sitting criss-cross with Noah squirming in her lap. I threw gift bag on the coffee table before making my way to pop the tape in. "The network sent me the taping of my appearance on Muppets Tonight from September. I haven't seen it yet. But I figured Noah would love to see it since you said he loves Sesame Street."

As the episode started playing, Jazz and I laughed at Noah. He kept looking back and forth at the screen and then at me. I guess his little mind was trying to figure out how I was on the tv and sitting next to him. When the muppets sung Delirious, he infectiously laughed. I just wanted to pinch his chubby cheeks. When it got to the farmer scene, Jasmin laughed at how bad my southern accent was. But what warmed my heart was seeing Jasmin singing Starfish & Coffee to Noah. Not only was hearing Jasmin sing a treat, but the loving gazes they exchanged caused a dorky smile to rise on my face.

I became overwhelmed with emotions as she riddled him with kisses and tickled him as he burst out laughing. I couldn't help but think about how this could have been Ahmir. Ahmir would've been a little bit younger but this could've been my life, running behind a rambunctious toddler. Feeling old emotions attempting to resurface, I shove them back into my subconscious as I start feeling overwhelmed. She took notice of my demeanor, "whats wrong Spud?"

"It's nothing. You two are just really beautiful." I coated my tone with as much happiness as possible. They are lucky to have each other. She hasn't mentioned a father to me. I can't imagine the low life that would impregnate her and then leave her to be a single mom. I feel like theres a lot she hasn't told me, just like I haven't told her about Ahmir and the possibility of my impending divorce. But hopefully soon everything will come to light.

Eventually, the tv faded to static. We talked for another hour about everything under the sun. I hadn't even realized Noah had fallen asleep, sprawled out in her arms with thumb in his mouth and his right hand resting inside her camisole. "Umm, does he always fall asleep like that?" I asked, gesturing at the placement of his hand.

   She giggled, "Not all the time, but this is the consequences of a breast-fed baby. I swear he thinks they belong to him. P, he used to try and pull my shirt down in public trying to breast-feed and would cry and poke his little lip out when I said no!". That little boy is a trip.

When I noticed the clock on the mantle said 3:45, I suggested it was time for me to leave before Morgan gets home. "Jasmin, you know I'm not trying to get my ass kicked by your sister for being here." She put Noah on the couch before sauntering towards the foyer to walk me out.

   She reached in her purse pulling out a small piece of paper and handed it to me. "P, I really appreciated the letter you sent me. You didn't have to, but its good to know you care. But...I can't accept this money from you. I'm not a charity case and theres no way I'll be able to pay you back."

As she folded the check into my hand, I gently grabbed her wrist pulling her closer to me. The moment her vibrant chestnut eyes looked up at me, my heart fluttered.

"Mama, I know you're not charity. Don't you realize you making me laugh, spending time with me, and promising to be there for me is repayment enough? So I want you to have this, as a gift from me. Use it as you wish. Maybe start a college fund for Noah."

"I already started one." I cupped the side of her face, the pad of my thumb stroking her cheek. I brought her in for a hug, saying against her forehead, "Smart girl". As I placed a lingering kiss on her forehead, she giggled.

Walking towards my car, I shouted without looking back, "So I'll call you tonight?"

"Of course, I might need you to help me stay awake to study. What time?"

"Now you know me better than that Jasmin."

"So anytime between 11 and 7? I'll be waiting by the phone P." She waved before retreating back in the house.

And with that I took one last glance, and sped off.