Page 93 of Sweet Dominion

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 toourpilot 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.”

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