Sydnee Narrates: Li Li aged into a beautiful child, and was smart and intelligent like Han. She loved playing chess and they would play for hours on end. I finally decided it was time for them and me to travel to China and meet their half sister Bebe, who was now a teenager. I left Selah with my mom so Jack could focus on work and Reese. We then fly to China!
I didn't tell Jack that Reese was acting out again. I was pretty sure it would lead to more arguing, so I decided to let him find out for himself while we were away. Jack stumbled upon some nectar that Reese had hidden in her room. He thought it couldn't be hers, so he put it back and decided to wait and see.
It didn't take long for Reese to raid her nectar cabinet and she snuck sips while hiding it under the desk.
Jack Narrates: I was beyond devastated. I felt like Reese and I were just starting to connect again and now it felt like we were back to square one. I couldn't trust her and now I would have to confront her and then ground her. I couldn't imagine why she would sip nectar in the first place.
I stormed into the room and snatched the nectar out of her hands. "Where did you get this?" She refused to answer. "Why are you sipping nectar, Reese? You've got your whole future a head of you." Reese snapped back. "I sip nectar to forget, okay? I have to forget all those years you weren't there!" She yelled accusatively, "You weren't There!!" And stomped out of the room. I felt the sting of her anger, her hurt. What could I say? I wasn't there. But I wasn't about to leave the nectar in the room and grabbed the bottle as I left.
Sydnee Narrates: Meanwhile Han, Li Li, and I had reached China and had just arrived at Zhang Hua's house. The kids all got along great and Bebe seemed especially happy to meet the children. I was even more surprised that Lin and I got along after talking a few moments. She understood that I had no idea Zhang was married and forgave me entirely! And to top it all of, she loved martial arts as much as I did....So, of course, we sparred! Lin was a very fun person, and I could forsee we would be very close friends.
I called to check in with Jack to see how things were going at his end and if Reese was behaving okay.
Jack Narrates: I of course lied through my teeth. I wanted Sydnee to think I was a good responsible father and I figured since I caught Reese and confiscated the nectar, she wasn't likely to do it again. I really should have just told her the truth.
Sydnee Narrates: Since everything seemed okay with Jack, I made an effort to enjoy my time with the kids and Lin. I talked to Zhang as little as possible. Zhang also seemed acutely aware of my avoiding him and kept his distance as well. We both understood I was only here for the kids. The first few days went by great and then...
I noticed Zhang seemed to get irritated with Li Li alot, he does have the hot headed trait. My poor Li Li is a really gentle, sweet child and I did not appreciate the way he was treating her. He also treated Han much better than Li Li. I grew more protective of Li Li and kept her close to me after that. If he dared to be rude to her again he would hear from me!
Han also noted the way Zhang was treating Li Li and mentioned it to Bebe. Bebe, tried to explain it to him. Han would be Zhang's heir and inherit his house and possessions when he died. Han asked, "Well what will you and Lin get?" Bebe smiled. "Whatever you decide to give to us." Han (serious as his usual self) patted her arm and stated. "I decide you get everything."
Jack Narrates: Reese was getting more and more obstinate. At this point, I was beginning to realize this wasn't going to get better but continue to escalate. I finally put my foot down when I saw what she was wearing out of the house. "Reese, why are you dressing like this? Remember, we talked about this...how do you want others to percieve you? Do you want them to think you are smart and intelligent or just look at your body?"
Reese shouted (as she tended to do alot these days) "I am so sick of you saying I'm not good enough for you! I am trying my best, this is how I like to dress and you can't make me change!" Before I could say anything she bolted out the front door and into a friend's waiting car. This was not good. Not good at all.
Sydnee Narrates: We drew close to the end of our time in China. Han and Li Li both loved fishing as much as I do. We would spent all day catching fishes, and singing chinese songs. We would then go back to Zhang's and cook them and eat them. it was alot of fun.
Jack Narrates: I finally had to break down and call Sydnee. Reese brought home a boy. And not just any boy. A boy with a mohawk and piercings. Even though I hadn't been a teenager in decades I knew it spelled trouble. Quite frankly, because I had been that punk when I was a teenager. I would NOT let my little girl continue down this road.
Sydnee Narrates: Jack called me a day before our airplane was supposed to leave in desperation. He was talking so fast I couldn't catch what he was saying. All I knew was it involved Reese and I knew it had to be something serious.
We said goodbye to Zhang that night and got an early flight. Han was sad to say goodbye to his father. Personally, I was going to miss Lin and Bebe. They both were remarkably kind and courteous to my kids and I figured next time we would have them come see us. Li Li confided in me as we left that even though Zhang was her dad, Jack was really her dad. I agreed and laughed so hard I cried.
Jack hugged me as I got home. He scooped Li Li up and kissed her on the forhead. "I have missed you all so much! And I want to hear all about your trip but first, I really need to talk to mom in the living room alone, okay kids?" Han and Li Li nodded and bounded off to the second floor. "What's going on?" I asked. Jack looked very sad and alot older in that moment. "Come into the living room."
Sitting in my living room was a man who introduced himself as Jeff Drake. I had never met him before and assumed it was for good reason he was here.
Jack was the only one standing and he grasped his hands infront of him deep in thought. He finally spoke. "I am so sorry that our family's have to meet on this day. Reese and her boy-er this young man asked me to set this up, so I now give the floor to them." Jack stood to one side as my heart began to sink.
Reese, as unrepentant as ever, cleared her throat and spoke. "Well, my boyfriend Axel and I just wanted to get you all together to tell you the good news." She smiled at Mr.Mohawk and blurted, "We're going to have a baby!"
The silence in the room was deafening.
End of Part 10
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