The three girls from New Zealand didn’t fall for Jeremy White. That was completely new and surprisingly refreshing for him. Sure, it blew his ego a little, but he didn’t think about that too much since he was too busy being smitten by one of the sisters, the eldest one named Chandra.To say she was pretty was an understatement. She was gorgeous, with long glossy hair and glowing smooth skin, beautiful eyes, and lips he couldn’t stop thinking about. Jeremy knew he wanted to date her the moment he laid eyes on her.They were sitting around the dining table in the kitchen now, listening to Jeremy’s glowing plan for what was to come in this block of Bay View Avenue. High-rise hotel and resort with five-star service. Luxurious rooms, swimming pools, restaurants, spas, and an exclusive beach for the guests. As for the sisters, they could move out of this tumbledown house, which of course would cost them the earth to renovate, if that was indeed their plan.“Jeremy, that sounds marvelous,” C
It was a half hour later when Chan stared with disbelief at the cupcake that looked very much like a cup of hot chocolate in front of her. It was beautifully made with white fondant as the cup and handle and the chocolate meringue as the hot chocolate. On top of this sat a pretty little candle.“What is it for?” she asked, pointing chopsticks at it.“It’s your birthday cake,” replied Dara proudly. “Since you made it quite clear you don’t want a party or fancy birthday cake with the number twenty-five on top of it, Soriya and I made an executive decision we’d just go with the cupcake.”Chan sighed. They had to do it, didn’t they? These sisters of hers had to remind her today was her birthday. Of course, they’d never thought much about birthdays, since their mom had passed on, in fact. There was no joy without her, so they never did anything to celebrate when that time of year came around for them.“Twenty-five is a quarter of a century,” Dara said. “I think it’s special, so even if we’
The Chandler sisters were just finishing the final touches decorating the living area and the kitchen to make the place functional and cozy when the doorbell rang.“Chan! Can you get the door?” Soriya called out.Chan looked up from the piles of books on the floor, wondering who it was. They hadn’t yet told everyone about their change in address. Of course, there weren’t a lot of people to tell since there were only Grandma Su and her family, which they’d told, and their few close friends, which they hadn’t.Chan rushed down the stairs, wondering if it was Grandma Su at the door. But to travel all the way from the other side of town in this heat? She doubted it. Grandma Su wasn’t in the best of health.Chan was just at the base of the stairs when she came to a complete halt in surprise.“Jeremy!” she uttered, laughing. “What are you doing here?”Jeremy gave Chan one of his dashing smiles women found hard to resist. Including Chan, of course. He was just so charming. Chan noted his eye
Jeremy was in a sour mood when he came into Sam’s house. Sam saw the depressed look on his cousin’s face and chuckled, knowing Jeremy’s day hadn’t gone well.He said, “Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?”Jeremy, who’d been glaring into space for a good fifteen minutes since he’d walked in, looked up at Sam, more than a little confused as to what his cousin meant. “What?”Sam knew Jeremy sulked when personal ambitions didn’t go his way. He had no doubt this was about women.“You haven’t had lunch yet, have you?” Sam changed the subject. He came over to his cousin and slapped him on the shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go.”Jeremy still looked confused. “Where?”“Lunch,” Sam said. “It’s pretty late. I haven’t had mine either. Was too busy with work. Or don’t you want any?”“Lunch?” Jeremy asked. “Yeah, sure. Why not? I’m actually starving.”“Normally, you’d complain about it,” Sam said, cocking his head to one side. “What’s on your mind?”Jeremy didn’t hesitate to begin sharing
First date. The lunch with Jeremy White was going to be her real first date. Chandra had to keep telling herself to take deep breaths as she stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. She’d just finished braiding her long hair, now resting over her right shoulder. Her face was made up naturally with peachy blush, light smoky eyes, long lashes, and rosy lipstick. She wore a floral summer dress that came down to just above her knees.She was just finishing washing her hands when Soriya and Dara walked in through the door.“Ooh-la-la!” Soriya said once she saw Chan. “You look hot.”Chan turned to glare at her sisters. “You’re being rude, coming into the bathroom without knocking.”Dara waved. “We knew you’d finished eons ago. You’ve been in here since quarter past eleven. It’s nearly quarter to twelve now. That’s half an hour, young lady. Very unlike you to spend so much time in the bathroom. And getting ready for your date!” She ended excitedly.“You act like it’s your date,” Chan said,
“Shit!” Sam swore softly under his breath as he stared unseeingly at the laptop screen. He had been feeling irritated and restless since he’d gotten up at five this morning. Even a two-hour workout didn’t help.He was pissed, though he hadn’t a clue with who or what.“What’s wrong, Sam?” Nina’s voice drew his attention.Sam shifted his gaze to her, though he didn’t reply.Nina Pearson frowned darkly at Sam for a moment and then, ignoring Lilly beside her, she got up from her seat and came to sit beside Sam. She said, “Lilly is doing great with her math. I bet she’s the best in her class.”For a moment, Sam wasn’t sure what she was talking about, which wasn’t like him. Nina had been in his life since before Sarah’s death. After that, she’d been a tremendous help to him. He was indeed grateful to her for being there for Lilly. She’d been a wonderful influence on his daughter and a great role model, someone for Lilly to depend on and look up to.“Sorry, I was just frustrated with work.”
Sam looked up to take another scan across the café area just as Chan walked out the door.Lilly tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. “Do you like my new hair, Daddy?” Lilly asked, smiling up at him.Sam chuckled. “Of course I do.” He pinched her cheek, and that was when his eyes were drawn to the blue rose. “Where did you get that, Lilly?”“Pretty lady did my hair and gave me the rose. Do you like the blue rose, Daddy?”Sam couldn’t believe it. A blue rose. Sarah had loved blue roses. In fact, she’d planted them at their previous apartment when they’d first gotten married seven years ago. Then when she was gone, he couldn’t bear to live there because the place reminded him so much of her. So he’d moved into the mansion to start anew with Lilly.Nina gave Lilly a smile and said, “Blue roses are a bit odd, aren’t they, Lilly dear? Now red is better. It’s prettier.”“But I like the blue rose,” Lilly protested. “It’s awesome.”“What?” Nina asked.Sam chuckled. “Where did you learn t
“Happy belated birthday,” Alexandra McCartney, known simply as Alex to close friends and relatives, shouted with excitement.Chandra, who was standing at the door, had to blink twice and tell herself she wasn’t really seeing things. Good Lord! Alex was right here in front of her. She couldn’t believe it.“Alex! Oh my God! You’re early!” she shrieked in delight. So excited, she jumped up and down in her spot and then rushed toward her friend, her arms wide open.Alex gripped Chan in a tight hug and said, “I know. But that’s not important. What’s important is you’ve finally turned twenty-five like the rest of us,” she teased and then laughed merrily as they embraced.Chan chuckled as they withdrew from each other’s arms. “Well, yes. But let me tell you. It’s not easy being the baby of the bunch.” She was referring to their clan of friends since childhood: Ruby, Nikkita, Isabella, and Georgina.The merry six had attended the same kindergarten and elementary school. Then, of course, Georg