29. The House Tour
Chapter twenty-nine
The House Tour
Moni
“Alright.” I opened the door. “Welcome to our new home.”
We stepped through the grand entrance of Lotus Blossom; I couldn’t help but glance at my sisters to see their reactions.
The awe in their eyes was unmistakable.
Within seconds, Jo’s mouth fell open and her eyes went wide. “Moni, are you for real right now?”
“This is us.”
“No way.”
“Seriously.” I grinned.
Jo took in the golden crystal chandeliers that hung from the high ceiling, and the intricate mural of intertwined blue dragons above us.
In the foray, Chloe slowly spun around with her face lit up like she was in a dream. “If this is our place, then I’m never moving out, Moni.”
I chuckled.
“I’ll go to a college somewhere in Paradise City.”
“Fine with me.”
Just a month ago, we’d been arguing about what she would do after high school. She hadn’t even been sure about college. Granted, it could have been that she was feeling like she wouldn’t have even been able to afford it. Perhaps, that made her stressed.
But now. . .she was talking about college.
Pressure eased from my chest.
Mom, I think everything is going to be okay.
I looked down and checked TT’s reaction.
She darted her curious eyes from the marble floors to the priceless paintings on the walls. “We’re going to live here?”
“Starting tonight.”
Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi entered next with their team of shopping bag holders. Only God knew how many new outfits my sisters now had. I was sure their closets would be overflowing by the evening.
Aunt Suzi squealed. “Aww! Min, look at their faces. I just love the sight of happy children. This is such a gift to the East.”
Jo glanced at me. She had not quite warmed to Lei’s aunts yet, but that was how she rolled. Anyone new who came around was always guilty until proven innocent.
Aunt Min headed toward the dragon staircase and gestured to her staff. “Bring the clothes up to the second level and wait in the hallway for our nieces to choose their rooms. Then, I want everything neatly placed in their closets—folded, hung, whatever.”
Jo whispered to me, “ Our nieces?”
“We’re all family now.”
Jo checked the aunts out. “At least they seem cool, but I don’t want to. . .”
“What?”
“Trust it all just yet. Seems like when everything is going great, that’s the exact moment when things go bad.”
“Well, things are different now. Trust that it is all good, even them.”
“I’ll try. It’s just that we’ve been living broke, tragedy after tragedy. Being happy seems like it will be harder to get used to.” Jo lifted her view, gaped at the chandelier and whistled. “Moni, this is insane. It’s like a palace.”
Chloe caught what she said and chuckled. “Yes, Jo. I feel like I should be wearing a ball gown. This place is incredible!”
Aunt Suzi clapped further away. “Oh goodie, Chloe. We bought several ball gowns so you can put one on and wear it for the cookout.”
Chloe gave her a silly smile. “That’s so funny.”
Aunt Suzi blinked. “What did I say that was funny?”
Chloe widened her eyes and looked at me. “Oh. Uh. . .”
I nodded. “She was serious about the ball gowns.”
Aunt Suzi bobbed her head. “I never joke about a good ball gown. Tonight, Chloe, will be one of your many Cinderella moments.”
Jo snickered.
“Oh.” Chloe chuckled. “Okay then. Uh. Maybe.”
“Perfect.” Aunt Suzi went up the stairs with Aunt Min. “We’ll have to find the wardrobe bags with the gowns and get them ready!”
Chloe glanced back at me. “This place is. . .different.”
“That’s an understatement, but. . .we’ll get used to it. . .I hope.”
Rose was about to head inside, but her phone rung. She checked it and backed up. “I’m so sorry. I have to take this.”
“No problem.”
She remained out on the porch.
However, Einstein entered, taking every bit of the space in detail.
As we had walked to the house, he’d asked me nicely not to call him Smarty. It appeared that like Gunner, he had reinvented himself too.
At least, I liked his new nickname. It fit him perfectly. As kids, Einstein kept his nose in a book, almost never playing with us. It didn’t matter if it was hide and seek, tag, or freaking hop scotch. Einstein would either sit on his apartment building’s stoop or on Marcelo’s porch and read all damn day until there was no sunlight.
Jo disrupted my thoughts and nudged me with her elbow. “Girl, you got to teach me how to hoe for a home.”
I scowled at her.
“Come on.” Jo winked. “Just one tip.”
“I’m about to kick your ass, Jo. I did not hoe for this house.”
Jo pretended to be like Dima. She took out this invisible notebook and held an invisible pen. Then, she looked up at me. “But if you did know how to hoe for a home. . .how would you do it?”
“Girl, I’m ignoring you.”
“What’s over here?” Chloe took TT’s hand and they headed toward the living room. Both raised their views to the other huge chandelier above the plush velvet couches and marble coffee table.
Einstein, Jo, and I followed them.
Chloe shook her head. “This can’t be real.”
A swell of pride entered my chest.
Lotus Blossom was so far from anything we’d ever known and their wonder at its elegance made me feel like I had done something right by bringing them here.
As we moved further into the house, Jo kept shaking her head in disbelief, while Chloe seemed to be cataloging every detail, already planning where she would spend most of her time.
When we reached the staircase with the dragon railing, TT’s eyes popped open.
Jo raised her hands in defeat. “I don’t even know what to say to that. Is that a dragon? It’s like the East is really trying to make me love it.”
I nodded. “It’s a dragon.”
TT wore a huge smile. “We have a dragon in our house now.”
I loved hearing her say our house.
"It’s a little creepy though.” Chloe touched the face. “Almost like I should be quiet so it doesn’t wake up.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I thought the same thing. This will be another thing to get used to.”
Chloe let out a nervous laugh.
TT grinned. “We should name the dragon. It will be our pet.”
I nodded. “We could do that.”
Einstein went over to it. “This is beautiful and terrifying.”
“Naw.” Jo stepped forward. “This is seriously next level. Whoever designed this place had a wild imagination.”
I smiled. “It’s a lot to take in, but I’m glad you all like it.”
“Like it?” Chloe said, her voice high with excitement. “I love it! I feel like I’m in a movie or something.”
"So. . .” I held out my hands. “You three are cool with moving in tonight? Right?”
Chloe bobbed her head. “Girl, I’m about to put on my ball gown, get some ribs and then relax in our new spot. I’m not ever leaving.”
TT glanced at the door. “Would I be able to bring the puzzle pieces inside?”
“Of course. We could even get a table to put in your bedroom, so you can work on it there.”
TT released an exasperated breath as if she’d been worried that I would say no.
Jo was the only one that had remained quiet.
I tried not to look disappointed as I turned her way. “So. . .what about you?”
“You don’t think you’re moving fast with this guy?”
“I’m moving insanely fast, but that has nothing to do with this house. It is legally mine. Whether I’m with him or not, this is our home.”
Einstein watched our exchange.
“Banks doesn’t trust this, Lei.” Jo placed her hands in her pockets.
"Jo, Banks doesn't trust anyone," I replied, sighing. "And he's not living here. This is all about us."
“But—”
“How about this?” I swallowed. “Give it a try for a month and if you end up not liking staying here then we will talk. You’re old enough to be on your own.”
Jo frowned.
I tried not to sound like my heart was broken when it was. “But. . .I would rather you hang with us.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Chloe frowned. “Oh my God, Jo. Stop playing. Always being so extra. You know you’re staying with us. After the funeral, we all promised not to separate until TT was older.”
Jo looked around at the opulence that surrounded us. "I’m not breaking the promise. I’m just trying to be the clear-headed person here. Everyone is all nice and giving us stuff. Maybe it’s like that movie when rich white people bring the black people out to their mansion to take over their bodies. How do you know those aunts don’t want our bodies or something?”
“Wow.” Chloe chuckled. “This is why I will never smoke marijuana. Never.”
“Anyway. . .” I shrugged, not even willing to address Jo’s body snatcher theory. “Jo is staying and you all are cool with moving in tonight, so now it is time for the best part.”
They all watched me.
“Time to pick your rooms.”
“Oh wait. What?” Jo smirked. “How many bedrooms?”
“On the second floor, there’s four bedrooms. My master suite is on the third floor so you all have a good pick from the four. And let me tell you all something else.”
Chloe went giddy.
TT just stared at the front door, clearly not caring anymore about the house or the bedrooms.
I pointed upstairs. “All of the rooms are awesome with their own private bathrooms. That means that Jo and Chloe will not be waking me up every damn morning fighting over the bathroom.”
Jo rubbed her hands together. “Oh shit. And I can bring my girlfriends here? Right?”
Chloe frowned. “Not every skank, just the ones that I really like.”
Jo sucked her teeth.
I shrugged. “Let’s just get moved in and then of course you can bring people over.”
I knew I would have to figure out the whole visitors to the East part, but it would all work out. The only thing I cared about right now was that my sisters were warming to the East.
“Alright.” I clapped. “Pick your rooms.”
“I get first choice!” Chloe let go of TT’s hand and bolted up the stairs.
“The hell you do!” Jo raced after her. “I’m older than you—”
“We’re not going by age!” Chloe yelled back. “We’re going by beauty and determination!”
Meanwhile, TT headed toward the front door. “Moni, you can pick my room. I’m going to work on the puzzle—”
“No.” I stopped her. “TT, pick your room.”
“But—”
“As soon as you pick your room, then I’ll have Lei’s men bring the puzzle to you—”
“But what if they mess it up.”
“I guarantee it will be safe. Lei has four guys guarding it right now. And we’ll make sure you have a nice table to set everything out on.”
“Okay.” Sighing, TT headed up the stairs.
My sisters are moving in.
This all-consuming joy filled me. I knew Lei had ulterior motives for having my sisters come today, but none of that mattered. In the end, I needed them more than I had ever realized.
Good. Everything is going to be just fine.
I directed my view to Einstein who was still taking in the surroundings.
Now I can handle this problem, before we finish up this cookout.