Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
T.T. is going to grow up here. Wow. Her childhood is going to be so much better.
I might have lowered to my knees and thanked God, if not for everyone constantly glancing my way.
No hard times for my sisters. I’ve finally got this, Mom. Finally.
I looked around, trying to see it through T.T.’s eyes. She would be able to really explore nature and breathe in fresh air.
Aunt Min pointed to the outer parts of the garden that was only large patches of newly sowed soil. “Lotus Blossom staff has spent a week making room for your imagination.”
Aunt Suzi nodded. “What will you plant?”
I couldn’t keep the silly grin off my face. “Everything.”
They laughed.
“You sound like Jing.” Aunt Suzi smiled then sadness filled her eyes. “I miss her so much sometimes.”
Aunt Min cleared her throat. “You will have to come to our garden. It’s near the Palace.”
“I sure will come, and I’ll bring my sisters so they can learn some things.” I took in more of the garden. “I’m going to have them out here with me planting.”
It’ll be good for them.
“Oh, you’re going to bring the girls too.” Aunt Min grinned. “I was hoping to meet them immediately. It would be so nice to have some young feet running around here.”
“You’ll love them. . .hopefully.” I chuckled. “Jo is twenty and I just heard she has a comic book store job in the South right now.”
Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi exchanged odd glances.
“What?”
“Lei may have her take a job in the East.” Aunt Suzi shrugged. “One doesn’t live in the East and work in the South or any other part of Paradise City.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“Many have not left the East in years.”
“Wow.” I blinked.
Aunt Min sighed. “It is a different world here, Monique, but not without its own charm.”
Aunt Suzi added, “And you’ll have to learn to navigate it. Both for yourself and for your sisters.”
I swallowed.
Still, I understood one thing. If Jo wanted to keep working in the South, Lei would have to back down. I didn’t know when this conversation would happen, but eventually I would have to let him know.
No Master Mountaining my sisters.
Continuing our walk , I went back to the original topic. “Anyway, Chloe is seventeen. She’ll actually be turning eighteen this month.”
Aunt Suzi widened her eyes. “Do you have plans? I love to throw parties. It would be the biggest event of the East.”
“Oh. Well. . .before all of this, I had simply planned to do a nice cake and her favorite dinner, maybe take her to the movies if I could afford it.” I looked around. “Now. . .maybe we could have her friends from her old high school in Glory come for a small cookout.”
The aunts exchanged glances again.
I held out my hands. “What now?”
Aunt Min gave me a sad smile. “The East isn’t big on having strangers visiting.”
“Oh, come on. It would just be a two to three hour thing.”
Aunt Suzi shrugged. “Perhaps, we’ll see what Lei does. I have a feeling that our nephew will surprise us a lot this month.”
Dude. . .the East is going to have to chill the fuck out.
With this big house, I would have tons of family get-togethers. Of course there would be holiday things—Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter feasts.
I can’t wait to check out this kitchen. I’m going to throw down in there.
I looked further out on the garden where it was less blue and represented various colors. “Are there fresh herbs planted here?”
“Every herb you could think of Jing put in this garden.” Aunt Min pointed toward the right side. “You will never have a problem leaving your kitchen and going to get something perfect to season your food—thyme, chives, basil. It’s all here.”
“Tons of stuff for tea too—lavender, chamomile, hibiscus, rose hips, and much more.” Aunt Suzi’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “This garden is a paradise for any cook or herbalist.”
I gazed out at the abundance of life surrounding me, my mind already working on potential recipes and remedies.
Man, it is fucking on!
The urge to roll up my sleeves and dive in was nearly overwhelming.
“There's even a small orchard behind the house where you will also find many of the vegetables.” Aunt Min pointed towards the left where several fruit trees stood, their branches heavy with ripening fruits. “Apples, peaches, pears. . .and in the corners are bushes of berries.”
Already, I could see T.T. running around during the summer with sticky fingers dripping with fresh fruit juice.
“Yes, my sister is correct. There’s patches of vegetables and root crops—potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, beets—”
“You and your sisters are going to put Lotus Blossom to good use.” Aunt Min let out a happy sigh. “I am so excited to look out my window and see the lights on over here.”
I spotted a small greenhouse nestled further out from the pond. “Oh, Lei’s mother was not playing at all.”