Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 624(@200wpm)___ 499(@250wpm)___ 416(@300wpm)
I took in the other women getting off the helicopter.
Now who the hell are these people?
A whole group of women who were probably from Aunt Betty’s church got out one by one. It must have been around ten of them. Each dressed in green tops and jeans. A few had on hats.
Banks. . .no one said that all these people were invited.
And while Aunt Betty had her new boo holding her lucky wooden box of dominoes, her friends carried an assortment of items—baskets and Tupperware containers filled with food. Others had stacks of cards, bags of ice, several bottles of Hennessy, and one woman even lugged a huge pot which I was pretty sure smelling like stinky chitlins.
Oh God.
A wave of embarrassment crashed over me. This was not the grand, elegant impression I had hoped for.
I glanced at Lei, worried about his reaction, but to my surprise, his eyes lit up with excitement.
“Welcome, everyone!” Aunt Min exclaimed, rushing forward to greet them. “It's so wonderful to have you here! We don’t get many visitors in the East.”
Aunt Suzi followed, clapping her hands together. “Look at all these wonderful goodies! And this pot of. . .well it smells. . .interesting. . . how delightful!”
I went over to Aunt Betty and hugged her. “Where are the girls?”
“You don’t know how to greet anybody?” Aunt Betty grinned and checked out the house. “You done moved up and forgot how to say hi.”
“Hi, Auntie.”
“And hi to you.”
“Where are the girls?”
“I heard the pilot say something to our pilot on the radio about them doing another loop around those dragons because Chloe was begging to see them again.”
I parted my lips. “Are you serious?”
Aunt Betty touched her chest. “Chile, those dragons gave me a heart attack. I’d seen them from the road before many times, but up in the sky. . .now I’m not sure they aren’t real.”
Her new boo held out his hand. “Hey there, I’m Jay Rock.”
“His name is Jason.” She gestured at the garden. “Chile, this place looks good. You have moved up, Ms. Mountain Mistress.”
She snapped her fingers. “And you know we have to talk about that but look at this place. Banks said it’s yours. Just gorgeous. I’m going to have my wedding here.”
“You’re what?”
Aunt Betty headed off with Jason. “Come on and let’s get a good look at this garden. Got a carousel and everything. We can put the altar right there, baby.”
I stared at them. “Oh, she’s tripping.”
Aunt Suzi and Aunt Min headed off with the other women.
“Didn’t even introduce anybody. . .like it’s their place.” I shook my head and checked Lei. “Did you hear that? She's planning on having her wedding here? Girl, bye.”
Lei laughed. “Your family will fit right in with mine.”
“I don’t know about that.” I checked the sky. “And I can’t believe the pilot turned the helicopter around for Chloe. What is that all about?”
Lei finished laughing. “I told the pilots to make the ride fun before they got here and of course to show off parts of the East.”
“Oh.” My heart warmed. “That was nice.”
Finally, the third helicopter appeared on the horizon.
“That’s them.” My heart pounded in my chest. “Oh my God. I’m so nervous.”
Lei chuckled. “And you’re making me more nervous.”
“Sorry.”
This was the moment I'd been waiting for; the moment my sisters would finally arrive.
The helicopter descended and I could barely contain my excitement as it landed and the doors opened.
I wanted to jump up and down like a crazy person, but this time I made myself remain in one space, doing my best to play it cool.
The first to step out was Jo. Tall and slim, today she wore a thin green jean jacket, incredible hulk t-shirt, and fitted green jeans with a gold belt made of bullets.
Oh. Banks must have taken them shopping.
To my surprise, her short mohawk looked at least an inch longer and now the tips were dyed green.
O-kay. They really embraced the South color fast.
That worried me a little bit.
Would they still want to move with me to the East?
Chloe came out next with a polka dot green midriff that I would have never let her wear. It was showing off her flat stomach. She also had on a little jean skirt that barely hit the mid part of her thighs and green knee-high boots.
Oh hell no. I hope you enjoyed your vacation because you are not wearing another outfit like that around me.
TT jumped out with her teddy bear Snuggles. And it was the cutest sight. She wore matching green overalls with Snuggles and a lime green shirt. Long pig tails hung to the side of her head and hit her shoulder, telling me that Aunt Betty had done her hair.
Oh my God. My sisters are finally here.
There they were, all dressed in green from head to toe and stepping onto the helipad with wide-eyed wonder. Their gazes took in the sprawling mansion grounds as if they'd been dropped into a fairytale.