CHAPTER 44

“There is the birthday girl,” she said as she appeared in front of her.
The queen hugged her and she cried.
“What did I do again?” she asked.
“Nothing, you are just wonderful.”
“Don’t be upset. It’s bad for the ..”
“For the baby, I know.”
“Your nanaba is here and she brought you a nice present,” the queen said leading her to the dining.
She saw her nanaba and she ran to her.
“Careful nana, you are carrying a child.”
“You too?”
Nanaba laughed and made her sit on one of the chairs.
“What’s going on?” she asked and nanaba brought a huge pot and placed it right in front of her.
The smell felt familiar and her stomach seemed to have recognized the smell too.
“Is that chicken ginger soup?” she asked happily.
“You have the nose for it. Yes, it is.”
Talia looked at Neal who was smiling standing by the door.
“You didn’t forget?”
“How could I when you practically threatened me?”
“I didn’t…”
“He told me yesterday that you wanted it so this morning he stopped by and was helping a lot.”
“Oh, how sweet of you,” she said looking at him.
Nanaba served her a bowl of the soup. She couldn’t wait to devour that chicken floating in the soup. There were bits of ginseng roots in the soup and she knew she had to eat them too even when the only thing she needed there was the chicken.
Nanba was keeping an eye on her so she used her tablespoon and took a few spoonsful of the soup first before she went for the chicken.
“I told you she only needed the chicken,” Neal said.
“Come on.”
“Talia you need to drink the soup. It’s healthy for you,” the queen said.
She wasn’t going to go against all of them so she drank the soup and ate the ginseng as well as the chicken she finished her bowl very fast.
“Aren’t you eating it too?”
“No, this one is especially for you,” nanaba said.
Was there some kind of conspiracy going on that she wasn’t aware of?
“Since you are done its time to meet the rest of the family,” the queen said.
She stood up since she was full and was able to go around.
There were a lot of people for just a family dinner. She made her greetings to the king, her brothers in law and their wives. They even brought their small lovely children too. Soon she will be having her own.
They gave her so many presents which she took her time to open since supper was still on its way. There were all sorts of gems, porcelain vases, clothes and so on. She was getting richer every day.
After opening presents she had a one on one consultation with the family since they were curious to know about themselves. Like a wise person she told them what they wanted to hear and didn’t spook them. They would always be danger and sometimes it can only be stopped if someone isn’t aware of it.
They had their lovely and glorious family dinner. It was wonderful having so many people just there to celebrate her special day. After dinner they all went outside to have a nice cup of tea. She then remembered what her mother in law wished for. Since she was in a happy mood, she believed she could make it happen.
She touched the pearl bead of her bracelet and closed her eyes. She was just imagining a white Christmas, snow falling to the ground and not harmful ones. She had read that people’s wishes done on the first snow always come true. If she made that wish come true for others then she would be happier.
“Look, there is snow!” one of the kids shouted and she opened her eyes.
It was really falling down; she smiled as she realized that she had done it.
Neal looked at her and held her hands.
“You are freezing,” he said looking worried.
“I’m okay, I never felt any better,” she said.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Mother wanted to see it and I’m in a happy mood too. I have always wanted to see the snow,” she said.
“Then should I make a wish too?”
“What is your wish?”
“Come and I will tell you,” he said.
Neal excused themselves from the others and took his wife for a walk in the snow.
He stopped and looked at her.
“I know it’s weird for me to say this but I really want you to know that I love you and will always do Talia. I’m sorry for everything I have done to you in the past. I will make it up to you every single day till the rest of our lives.”
“You have to keep that promise.”
“I will do so.”
“I love you, I have always did.”
“I know and I am such a lucky man.”
“So what is my husband’s wish?”
“A kiss, during the snow.”
“Is that a wish?”
“I wish to be happy with you every day like this day.”
“I wish for that too. I think our wishes will come true”’
“They will indeed,” he said and pulled her into a kiss that made assurances that the night will surely be a long one.