Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(130)
“That’s a great idea,” Nǎinai comments. “I’ve never been to New York and I’d love to meet your family.”
“It would be great for Nathan and the rest of the family who haven’t to see snow for the first time,” Maggie encourages.
“Snow!” Jade shouts. “I want to play in it.”
“I can talk to Joe’s parents about their recommendations on renting a few lofts instead of dealing with hotel rooms,” Henry offers. “It would be better and easier. Besides, most hotels will be booked up by now.”
I agree to the suggestion only because I really would like to go back and see the Nelson’s and the girls — the house I can deal with after the new year. It takes a little coaxing to get M?qīn to agree, but the restaurant has been self-winding since Henry has been able to assist Maggie with getting M?qīn and F?qīn to understand the benefits of owning and having someone else run the place. They actually promoted Kevin to restaurant manager and he’s been doing a wonderful job since he started a few weeks ago.
Later in the evening as most of the family sits quietly, comatose from overeating, Nǎinai joins me as Jade sleeps in my lap and Sadie rests at my feet. “I am so very proud of you, Emma,” she commends. “You have grown so much since your trip home.”
“This is my home,” I playfully tease.
With a smile, she contends, “You know what I mean.”
I nod with a grin.
“You should be proud of yourself,” she mentions. “You have allowed the healing process to begin, which will allow your life to flourish in ways you could never have imagined.”
A fluttery feeling in my stomach surfaces hearing her words.
She pats my shoulder and kisses my cheek. “There still might be obstacles in your way, but you have begun to shape your own path in life rather than let life control the path for you.”
Ninety Nine
It’s a week before Christmas and my friends, family and I are all gathered in the larger of two homes we’ve rented for most of our stay in New York. I personally don’t like to celebrate the holiday for a variety of reasons with part of it being that I’m not religious — but, I’m not an atheist. We put up a tree after taking Jade, Rey and Jet to a local shop that brings in trees from a farm in New Jersey — their first few days in New York are spent sight-seeing and shopping while trying to find the perfect tree. Jade didn’t find it until today, the fifth farm that she visited. Most of the Li and Wú families are scattered between the open kitchen and the living room as Jared, Nathan, Maggie, Amy and Kim help Rey and Jade decorate the tree. I sit on the couch watching and taking a few photos of everything happening.
M?qīn and Nǎinai are in the kitchen preparing dinner with the aid of Joanna and Pop-Pop. Along with my family, Henry’s parents are with us, and we’re waiting on Joe and his parents to arrive along with Brittany, Leslie, Martin, Celia and Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. I got to see my reacquainted friends in New Jersey several times since arriving on the East Coast and wanted to include them so they can meet my entire California family in a more controlled and comfortable setting for me.
By the time everyone arrives, the tree is finished and glowing full of love and beauty. I feed Sadie and take her out for a quick walk with my bodyguards. Jared joins me, happy to get some fresh air despite the chill. As we round the corner of the building to rejoin our family, it begins to snow.
After a long and delicious dinner, everyone gathers in the living room to chat and play games. The children stay up a little later than usual since Jade doesn’t have school, and our guests stay late into the evening. Jared, Nathan, Pop-Pop, Joanna, Maggie, Henry and I see the final guests out as we head downstairs to the floor below where we’re staying in a similar condo.
The next day, I go with Amy and Kim to take the children ice skating. Everyone’s skated before, but it’s been a long time since I have and I’m not sure how this will be. Pop-Pop and Joanna watch from the sidelines while Maggie, Henry and Joe join the rest of us on the ice. Jared and Nathan pull me around the ice as my legs wobble under me. When they decide to skate together, I’m left in the middle of the rink with children zooming past me.
“Come on,” Joe shouts, grabbing for my arm. He glides across the ice as if it’s nothing, not a single effort needed or required.
Our hands slip and I fall to the ice just as he pulls forward.
“Sorry,” he declares. “You okay?” Joe assists me to a standing position.
“I’m good,” I claim as my knees and hip sting from the fall.
“You sure?” he checks.
I nod brushing myself off.
“Let’s try something different,” he suggests, moving behind me and placing his hands on my hip.
“What are you doing?” I ask full of concern.
“Just keep your legs shoulder width apart and I’ll push,” he says, not giving me the chance to object.
“What?!” I shriek. We’re a quarter into the stretch of the right side of the rink a few seconds later.
“There you go, Emma,” Maggie comments skating up on my right, holding Henry’s hand.
As Joe and I round the first turn, he comments, “I’m surprised that for a Jersey girl you don’t know how to skate.”
“Ha ha,” I reply. “Very funny. I’m not a Jersey girl and haven’t been for a long while.”