Chapter 137: No Sharing!
Lydia nodded, her grin growing even wider. "Hmm... We will return here. Father has said that after a few months, we’ll all be living here together."
Emerson’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lydia nodded again, and Emerson let out a squeal of delight. "Hmm..." she murmured, before her face broke out into a huge smile.
"We’ll all live together!" Emerson exclaimed, her eyes shining with joy. She clapped her hands together and twirled around the room, her movements carefree and full of excitement.
Melanie opened the drawer and pulled out a chocolate box, a warm smile on her face. "Here, take this," she said, handing the box to Emerson.
Emerson’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she accepted the box, but then she looked up at Melanie with a questioning gaze. "Sister Melanie, are you willing to give me the full box?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of uncertainty.
Melanie’s face lit up with laughter as she squatted down beside Emerson. "Hmm... Have I ever broken my promises before?" she asked, her tone playful and teasing.
Emerson’s face broke out into a wide smile, and she threw her arms around Melanie’s neck. "You are the best sister in the world." she exclaimed, before giving Melanie a big kiss on the cheek.
Just then, Lydia chimed in, a pretend pout on her face. "Hey, little sister..is she only the best sister in the world? Am I not?" she asked, jokingly.
Emerson giggled and turned to Lydia, her eyes shining with amusement. "No, no, you too are the best sister in the world." she announced, before rushing over to give Lydia a kiss and a big hug.
It was the day before Brenda’s family would return to Dallas, and Emerson was visibly restless. She was pacing back and forth across the living room, her eyes fixed on the door as if willing it to open.
"When will she come?" Emerson muttered to herself.
Brenda, her mother, noticed her child and walked over to her. "Emerson, are you waiting for someone?"
Emerson stopped pacing and turned to face her mother. She nodded eagerly, but didn’t say a word.
Emerson’s eyes were fixed on the doorway, and as soon as the figure entered the living room, she exclaimed, "There she is!" Her face lit up with a bright smile, and she rushed over to greet the newcomer.
"Good evening, Emerson... Aunt Brenda," Thea said, smiling warmly as she hugged her Emerson and greeted Ryder’s Aunt.
"Oh, Thea, good evening... So, Emerson, were you waiting for your sister Thea?"
Emerson nodded, looking up at her mother with a soft smile. "Hmm... I had requested her to come and visit me, as we are returning tomorrow. " she explained.
Brenda’s eyebrows rose in surprise, but she couldn’t help but chuckle at Emerson’s words. "I see." she said, smiling at Thea. "Well, I’m glad you could make it, Thea. Emerson has clearly been missing you."
Elder Edward walked into the living room. "I see Emerson has been bossing you around, as usual." he said, chuckling at the familiar dynamic between his granddaughter and Thea.
Thea smiled and greeted Ryder’s grandfather with a smile. "Grandfather, how have you been?"
Elder Edward’s expression turned slightly serious, and he shook his head. "I am not well," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of weariness.
But then, his face brightened, and he looked at Thea with a twinkle in his eye. "But if you make your special tea, then I would be healthy again."
Thea laughed and nodded,"I’ll get right on that, Grandfather." she said, smiling.
"Thea, you came," Elizabeth said, as she saw her in the living room m
Thea returned the smile, her eyes sparkling with affection.
Brenda, who was sitting nearby, spoke up. "Sister-in-law, look at our Father’s work," she said, nodding towards Elder Edward. "He wants to have Thea’s special tea."
Elizabeth’s smile grew wider as she turned to Thea. "Hmm, after all, Father likes to have the tea made by Thea." she said, her voice teasing.
Thea laughed, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I suppose I have a reputation to uphold." she said, smiling at Elder Edward.
Just then, Emerson piped up, her voice filled with a pout. "Aunt, I have called Sister Thea to play with me." she said, her lower lip jutting out.
Elder Edward chuckled, "Hmm, she will, after she makes my favorite tea."
"Don’t worry, Emerson, I’ll play with you soon." she said, ruffling her soft hair. "But first, I have to make Grandfather’s tea."
Elizabeth smiled, her eyes shining with warmth. "I’ll help you, Thea.." she said, standing up. "Let’s go make Father’s favorite tea."
Inside the kitchen, Thea stood at the counter, her hands poised over the tea cups. "Aunt, shall I make tea for everyone?" she asked, looking at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth smiled softly, her eyes warm with encouragement. "If you want to do it, go ahead." she said. "I’m sure everyone would love a cup of your special tea."
Emerson, who was sitting on the counter top, swinging her small legs back and forth, looked at Thea with a curious gaze. "Sister Thea, do you know how to cook?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.
"Of course, I do, Emerson," she said, smiling at her. " I’ve learned how to make all sorts of delicious dishes, from my grandmother’s favorite tea to Aunt’s famous recipes."
"Really..I want to be just like you when I grow up."
"Of course,You can..Emerson." she said, ruffling Emerson’s hair.
Thea measured out the tea leaves,when Emerson asked further "At what age did you learn to cook?"
Thea thought for a moment before responding. "When I was around 12, I would accompany my grandma in the kitchen." she said, a faraway look in her eyes. "She would teach me all about the different ingredients and cooking techniques. Probably at the age of 16, I could cook alone, but I still loved helping her out in the kitchen."
Emerson, who had been listening intently, suddenly piped up. "So now I am 5," she said, holding up five small fingers, "there are many years for me to grow so that I can also cook." She counted slowly, "I have to wait 11 years before I can cook like Sister Thea."
As they continued to chat and laugh, the kitchen was filled with the warm scent of tea and the sound of happy chatter, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
"Aunt, where is Aunt Jane?" Thea asked, looking around the kitchen as she didn’t find Butler Jane.
"She is on leave.." Elizabeth replied, continuing with her own work without looking up.
Thea’s attention then shifted to the little sister, and she smiled warmly. "Emerson, I have brought something for you." she said, walking over to retrieve a packet she had kept aside.
As Thea handed the packet to Emerson, the little sister’s eyes widened with excitement. Thea then turned to Elizabeth. "Aunt, these are for you all." she said, handing Elizabeth another packet. "I hope you all will like it."
Elizabeth smiled and asked, "What’s there?"
Thea replied, "I made some scones and cupcakes."
Emerson’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked up at Thea. "Sister, is mine also the same?" she asked, hoping she had received something similar.
Thea smiled and said, "No, for I have made some chocolate brownies."
"Let me give this to others with tea." Elizabeth said, smiling as she took out a plate and began to arrange the scones and cupcakes on it.
Inside the living room, Elder Edward was deeply engrossed in reading some articles, while the twins’ sister was engaged in a lively conversation. The rest of the family had gathered, with only Ryder and his father noticeably absent.
After serving the others tea, Thea walked over to sit beside Emerson, who patted the seat beside her, indicating for Thea to take that place. As Thea sat down, Elizabeth took a seat and turned her attention to Thea.She remembered something she had been meaning to ask.
"Thea, how is your grandfather? I’m forgetting to ask about him." Elizabeth asked.
"Grandma said that her elder brother is good now." reassuring Elizabeth that her grandfather’s health was improving.
Elder Edward took a bite of the scone, his eyes closing in appreciation as the flavors melded together. "The scones are delicious," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction, "and the tea Thea made is perfect." He savored the flavor, the warmth of the tea and the sweetness of the scone combining in a delightful harmony.
