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)
“Yes.”
“May I respectfully request if I can grill too? There is a grill in the shed at the back of the property. I would love to take it out and do a little grill challenge with your cousin.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the idea. “A grill challenge? That sounds hilarious. I think Banks would love that.”
The chef considered it. “We will need judges.”
Appearing absolutely tickled by it all, Lei lifted one finger. “I will of course be the most important judge.”
The chef gave him a half-bow.
I chuckled. “And T.T. could help.”
Lei nodded. “Perhaps, all of your sisters could judge.”
Banks is going to laugh his ass off about this.
“A grill challenge it is then,” The chef tapped his chin as if already thinking up recipes. “This is going to be interesting. Thank you, Mistress. I look forward to it.”
“Thank you, Chef. I’m looking forward to it as well.”
The chef gave us a half-bow and went over to the other table.
The servers grabbed empty plates and began lifting the lids from the platters with a flourish, revealing an array of exquisite dishes.
Oh hell yeah. This is what I’m talking about.
Steam rose in the air, carrying mouthwatering scents.
My stomach grumbled.
I turned my attention back to Lei.
The tension from earlier seemed to have melted away.
Lei leaned my way and his soft features were illuminated by the candles’ warm glow.
“So. . .” He took my hand in his, and his touch was warm and reassuring. “How are your sisters?”
“They saw the news coverage.”
Lei pursed his lips.
“They’re worried for me but I know they’ll be fine once they visit us tomorrow and see the house and garden.”
“I was thinking about their visit earlier, when I went to the living room and. . .”
I quirked my brows. “And?”
“I found the photo album and looked in it.”
“Yes?”
“That first picture of our mothers in the garden.” He gestured to the space. “That was taken right here.”
I parted my lips. “Where we are sitting right now?”
“Exactly.”
“Wow.” My eyes watered, but I would not let myself cry.
Mom was here. . .
“And. . .” Lei gazed around at the grass and then turned his view back to me. “Then, I started just thinking about how. . .maybe for tomorrow that picture of our mothers should be at the tea ceremony. Blown up to super big and in a really nice gold frame.”
I struggled with not letting a tear spill.
Lei continued, “I’m not an interior decorator or anything but I’m sure Aunt Min would figure out a great place to put the framed picture.”
“That would be really nice, Lei. Really nice.” I swallowed. “I’m going to be nervous and seeing Mom’s smiling face in that picture will calm me, and. . .remind me of why I’m here.”
“I just wanted your permission to do it since your mother is in the picture too.”
“You have my full permission.”
He squeezed my hand. “I’ll talk to the staff and have them get on it.”
“Awesome.”
“Then. . .”
“Yes?”
“Then, I began walking around the garden and thinking about how. . .there’d been all these weeds that the staff had to dig out today. The garden wasn’t a mess but. . .everyone had been slack with keeping it up. Honestly, I doubt anyone expected another person to be living in this house again.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Either way, the workers just stopped when the sun went down, but they have more to do tomorrow before the tea ceremony and your sisters’ visit.”
“More weeds and manicuring?”
“Yes.”
“Well, don’t worry about the garden being kept up once we move in. My sisters and I will be in the garden every damn day.”
He grinned. “Yeah?”
“Promise.”
“I figured you would say that. So. . .that was when I started thinking that maybe tomorrow your sister’s visit isn’t just a visit.”
I blinked. “What does that mean?”
“Maybe, they just. . .stay. Perhaps. . .it’s not a visit at all.”
I swore a flock of butterflies took flight in my chest. Surely, those wings fluttered, creating this beautiful chaos of emotions.
My heart raced with intensity.
Lei quirked his brows. “What do you think, Moni?”
My mind buzzed with thoughts of the good and bad that could come with moving my sisters in tomorrow versus later.
I loved my sisters dearly, but having them here full-time would be a significant change.
Lei wouldn’t get full-Moni.
Taking care of my sisters would take top priority. Period. They’d lost our mother and father, and needed all of me.
How would I manage spending time with Lei and my sisters?
But then, I thought about the laughter and warmth my sisters would bring to the house, the shared meals, the late-night talks, and the comfort of family close by.
It felt like a dream to have them in this beautiful place for good.
Wow. I wasn’t expecting him to say that.
Still. . .the battle between Lei and Leo was coming—a battle of death. It would be the day after tomorrow.