Chapter 21
Hosting a rooftop mixer during a freak snowstorm might seem like a good reason to relocate, but the Big Bear sanctuary had
no ordinary rooftop. Its three-hundred-sixty-degree view of the surrounding mountains had been too stunning for Big Boss Sun
to be seasonal, so he weatherproofed it by building a glass atrium to sit atop his log cabin estate like a crystalline crown.
In the center of it was a large firepit which warmed the entire space even on the coldest of wintry nights.
But as the Sun Clan trickled up onto the roof for afternoon libations and hors d’oeuvres, the topic on everyone’s minds was
not on the snowy view or the crackling hearth. Everyone was instead staring at April’s huge belly.
Heavens, could it be that we are going to have three babies in the family soon? Hyacinth whispered to Iris as they sipped on hot water with lemon.
More importantly, Iris whispered back, does Big Sister know? Ever since throwing April under the proverbial family bus the week before Lunar New Year, Iris had not had a chance to reconnect
with her favorite niece. But she could see that April was painfully self-conscious, half hiding behind Cristiano as they nibbled
on small bites next to the charcuterie spread.
As for Roses . . . Iris looked around. She had not seen her older sister anywhere since arriving.
“Oh, hello, Shannon!” Hyacinth waved at Shannon as the young woman emerged from the staircase onto the rooftop. Iris joined
her to rush over to Shannon.
Under an opened puffy parka, Shannon was wearing a two-piece yoga outfit that showed off the more delicate curve of her own
belly. She kept petting this bump as Hyacinth and Iris found her a place to sit so that they could fuss over her like ladies-in-waiting.
Scowling at this scene across the atrium, Sunbern was planted at the bar next to Jamaal. Sunbern downed the shot in his hand,
and grabbed the whiskey bottle to pour himself another one.
“Maybe slow down there, Sunbern?” Jamaal suggested. “How many is that?”
“J-Man, do I look like your sober-ass boyfriend?” Sunbern slurred. “No, cuz I’m way better looking.”
Jamaal chuckled. “Just looking out for you, buddy.”
Sunbern was glancing back and forth between April and Shannon. “What does it mean when a pregnant lady pushes her baby daddy
away?”
Jamaal raised an eyebrow. “‘Baby daddy’?”
“Sorry. You know what I mean.”
Jamaal pondered this. “You can’t be talking about Shannon? In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve had your tongue in her
mouth.”
Sunbern scoffed. “Bruh, ever since the baby, she won’t let me lay even a finger on her. Says it’s because of that SANTI creep
at MiNT Wellness, but . . . I dunno.” He tossed back another shot.
Jamaal confiscated the shot glass from Sunbern and replaced it with a can of La Croix. “I don’t know y’all’s situation, but
whenever it comes to relationships, I always say, trust your feelings.”
Sunbern took a loud slurp of the fizzy water and burped. “Well . . . I feel bad. All the time. I thought this would be different.” His shirt was unbuttoned down to his belly button, and he ran a finger across his SHANNON tattoo sadly.
Jamaal laid a sympathetic hand on Sunbern’s shoulder. “Hey, now. We’re all about to be fathers. You gotta step up and be proactive
about it. If Shannon is acting weird, find a way to talk to her. Use this weekend to reconnect with her.”
Sunbern pointed at Jamaal, nodding. “You’re right, J-Man. I’m going to break into her room tonight so she has no choice but
to talk to me!”
“Whoa, I definitely do not recommend that,” Jamaal said, alarmed.
Sunbern caught sight of someone. “Oh, there’s Lo. She’ll remember how to pick the locks in this house. Thank you again for
the advice, J-Man!”
“Once again, not my advice,” Jamaal sighed but Sunbern was already walking off.
Lola was trying to catch Iris’s eye when Sunbern slung his arm around her shoulder, pulling her to the edge of the atrium
overlooking the rapidly freezing Big Bear Lake.
“Lo, I did everything you and Shannon wanted, and now neither of you pay attention to me,” Sunbern said with a pout.
Lola wrinkled her freckled nose. “You smell like a DUI, big cuz.”
“Don’t change the subject. You all just used me for my sperm and tossed me aside. But jokes on you, Lo. You’re just as out
of the loop as I am.”
Lola’s face darkened. “I guess we all underestimated Shannon Shoo.” They both turned to look over at Shannon, who was chatting
merrily with Iris as Hyacinth massaged her shoulders.
“Actually, the person that confuses me the most is Auntie Iris,” Sunbern said, squinting at them. “I always thought she was
too smart to get involved with that crazy cult.”
“I guess falling out with Wayward did a number on her,” Lola said, albeit lamely.
Sunbern studied her for a moment, before pinching her on the cheek. “Fine, don’t tell me what you’re up to, as usual. Where the hell is Wayward, speaking of?”
“Right here!”
Sunbern and Lola turned around as Wayward approached them, grinning broadly. “I really appreciate you both coming!”
Lola accepted his hug before pulling back to say, “If you really appreciate us, tell us your ulterior motive right away this
time. Please, no more shrooms.”
“I thought that night was pretty fun,” Sunbern said, tussling Wayward’s hair. “Why do you look so happy, Shortcake? Your smile
is scaring me.”
They followed Wayward’s line of sight all the way to April. She was pouring some water for Houyi, who had been leashed to
one of the many ancient olive trees that dotted the atrium grounds. She was having some trouble bending over, however.
“I’m happy because this weekend we’re going to solve all of the Sun Clan’s problems,” Wayward declared triumphantly.
Lola and Sunbern both stared at him for a moment, and then burst out laughing.
“Oh wait, you’re serious,” Lola said once realizing he wasn’t joking.
Wayward gestured with his head. “You see Ape over there?”
“How can you not?” Sunbern said. “She’s more wide than tall.”
“That’s kinda rude,” Wayward replied, “but yes, she is. Let’s go say hi.”
Wayward strode over in April’s direction, with Lola and Sunbern gamely following after him.
Petting Houyi’s patchy white fur, April brought the water bowl to his snout, trying to get him to drink. She was surprised when they reunited to see that her mother’s old pit bull had seemingly aged way more than eight months; his limbs were rickety and his eyes were milky blue with cataracts.
Teddy had explained to her earlier that Houyi was leashed a lot of the time these days because he was becoming aggressive
in his senility. But Houyi was nuzzling April affectionately, and she kissed him gently on the nose.
“I missed you, old boy,” she whispered. She wanted to release him. This felt cruel.
Then she felt eyes upon her. Struggling to stand, she turned just as Wayward, Sunbern, and Lola approached her.
“And just like that,” Wayward said, “the Sun cousins reunite again.” He smiled at her.
April nodded at them, avoiding their eyes. “Long time.”
Sunbern cleared his throat, uncomfortable from her chilliness. “Hey, let’s all go grab some booze.”
Lola stared at April’s stomach, then at Sunbern. “Something tells me you’d be the only one drinking, big cuz.”
Wayward chuckled awkwardly. “We all really missed you, Ape.”
April nodded. “Yes, I’ve felt very missed by you, Weiwei, after being kicked out of my childhood home so that your surrogate
could move in instead.”
Sunbern whistled. “What was that you were saying about solving problems, Shortcake?”
“Listen, I know it’s not been easy,” Wayward said. “But . . . you came today.”
April looked down. “I did.”
“I hope it’s so we can make amends, Ape.”
This whole time, Lola had been scrutinizing her. Finally she said carefully, “I hate to bring up the elephant in the room . . .”
“Don’t call her that!” Sunbern gasped, shocked.
“Oh my god,” Wayward said, closing his eyes.
“Yes, I’m pregnant,” April said quietly, unable to look at any of them.
“We’re pregnant!” Cristiano corrected, suddenly appearing at her side. He put his arm around April’s waist, smiling enough for the two of them. “Can you believe it? Three babies joining the Sun Clan at once!”
“Oh, wow! Congratulations!” Sunbern’s face lit up. “Why didn’t you just say so?” He clapped Cristiano on the back. “Okay,
let’s definitely get a drink. C’mon, Shortcake, we gotta toast your BFF!”
Sunbern and Cristiano swaggered toward the bar. Wayward turned back to April.
“Ape, we gotta tell your mom. She needs to know you’re having a boy!”
April stared at him, flabbergasted. “How do you know it’s a boy?”
Caught, Wayward shrugged apologetically. “Cris told me. Don’t be upset at him. He’s just so excited, and you two are doing
so well now, and everything is going to be okay, Ape! This is exactly what I planned!”
He rushed off to join the others at the bar, leaving April and Lola behind as they sat down on either side of Houyi.
“The boys have it all figured out, I guess,” Lola said, frowning. “But how are you, April?”
April sighed. “No one has asked me that in a long time, and that’s because it doesn’t matter.”
Lola reached out to take April’s hand into hers. “It matters to me. Something is up. What’s going on with you?”
April smiled a little at Lola. “Baby cousin . . . I’m in love with someone else.”
Lola’s mouth dropped open. “Who!?”
“Doesn’t matter. Cris is definitely the father of this little boy, and I . . .”
“Of course it matters,” Lola insisted, squeezing April’s hand. “Who cares if Cristiano is the father if you aren’t happy with
him?”
April raised her eyebrows. “That’s refreshing to hear. Everyone in our family always treats Cris like he’s some martyr for
being with me.”
“I’m not everyone.” Lola was now staring over at Cristiano, surrounded by an increasingly large group as Iris, Hyacinth, Teddy, and her mother, Tingting, also joined to toast him. Cristiano picked up laughing Meadow and looked ever the hometown hero.