Chapter 69 The morning
Chapter 69: The Morning
Nixon Estate...
Christmas day had been one heck of a day. The Nixons got home by 11 pm. They were so tired that they each retired to bed early.
It was 11 am by the time Golden woke up. She took a quick bath and went to the mini parlor she shared with Varney.
When she entered, she saw him decorating a Christmas tree and smiling, she went to join him.
“Hey sleepy head, you are finally up.
I thought I might have to come drag you out of bed.
Pass me that ornament would you.” Varney said as he hung more ornaments on the tree.
“I thought I might do some light decorations for our space. Then next year the whole estate can be fully decorated.”
“Thanks V, the Christmas tree and stockings is perfect.” Golden hugged him tightly.
“I made us some cookies and hot chocolate.
I even tried to make them just how mum used to make them. Try some and tell me what you think.”
Varney picked up a cookie and put in Golden's mouth.
“Hmm they are delicious” Golden said with tears in her eyes.
“So about yesterday. That was beautiful what you said to Nana Chen.”
“Well I meant every word of it. I would marry Alex in a heartbeat if she's ready.”
“I really wish you guys happiness. You both deserve to be truly happy because you are great people.”
“How about you Gigi? You also deserve to be happy.
When will you let him go and open your heart to another?
I've found happiness thanks to you. I want same for you too or I will continue to worry gigi.”
Varney looked at Gigi softly with concern in his eyes...
Chinatown
Nana Chen knocked on Alex's door and entered into the room.
“Nana did you want something?” Alex asked surprised to see Nana in her room.
“Not really. I want to talk to you Xinyi” Nana said as she sat on the bed and looked at Alex.
Alex knew that whatever Nana wanted to say had to be serious because she only called her by her Chinese name if she had something important to say.
“I remember the first day I held you in my arms. You were so tiny and held onto my finger.
You looked at me with your beautiful blue eyes and I felt you were the perfect baby.
You were so charming and sweet as a little girl until your mum passed and you had to move back to Bejing.
I saw you try to push through life by yourself. Your dumb head of a father was drowning and didn't even notice you were suffering.
I tried being there for you but I didn't know how to so I watched silently, waiting to swoop in when you needed help.
You were exactly like my younger self so I knew you wouldn't come to me for help and brave it all on your own.”
Nana paused as she let memories of the past wash over.
“I knew about the bullying and I wanted to step in, but I only held back because I knew if you were anything like me, you would turn it around.
You would turn it into a strength and you did. That was a defining moment that would define how you saw yourself and life.
You built a fortress and didn't let anyone bring you down.
I knew about Zinge. Xinyi what happened to her wasn't your fault.
You were barely keeping your head above water, and taking on the weight of another person would have drowned you.”
Alex gasped. She had always blamed herself for Zinge's death. She always felt responsible in a way for not protecting her.
“Nana” she said in a muffled voice, tears on the brink of falling.
“shhh it fine. It wasn't you fault. It never was.” Nana pulled her into a hug and whispered into her hair.
Breaking the hug but still holding Alex, Nana continued.
“I knew you and your friends lied about you having a boyfriend.” Nana said with a knowing look.
Alex smiled awkwardly.“Then why did you play along Nana?”
“come on I'm old not dumb. Plus you guys are terrible actors.
I just wanted to see how you intended to pull it off.
Xinyi I know you like the back of my palm. You wouldn't play along if it were a random guy.
You wouldn't stay with someone you don't at least like a little even if I placed a gun to your head.
Let alone bring him home to dinner knowing I would swallow him whole.”
Alex smiled knowing her Nana was right.
“So I concluded that you must either like this guy or you can at least tolerate him.
Either ways, I decided I was going to help you vett him. And if he wasn't good enough, I had my ways of getting rid of him.”
“So Nana, what's your assessment? Are we getting rid of him?” Alex asked trying to test her grandma.
“Oh he passed my assessment in flying colors.” Nana said unperturbed
“Varney is deeply in love with you. Too deep for his own good if you ask me.
Knowing you, he is in hot water but I have a feeling he would enjoy boiling in the water.”
“Nana am I that bad?” Alex asked a little bothered.
“Oh honey not at all. I was exactly like that with your grandpa and he loved me to death.
The question is, how do you feel? Being loved is beautiful but it's even better when you are equally in love with the same person.
Do you love Varney Xinyi? Everyone knows he's in love with you.
If you don't love him, I would help you get out of it.” Nana Chen said carefully.
“Nana I don't know if I love him but I really like him. I've never been in love before and honestly I don't want to deceive anyone.
We decided to have a trial relationship to see if I can fall in love with him” Alex said.
Gently holding her hands, Nana said:
“No pressure Xinyi. Since you've decided to have a trial relationship, then two years is more than enough to understand your feelings.
And in two years, we can have this conversation again if you haven't still fallen in love with him.
But the young man I met yesterday, he will definitely make you fall in love with him.”
“Thanks Nana for understanding and not forcing me to make a decision right away ” Alex said hugging her grandma in relief
“Oh I just did all that so that he could realize his feelings. Let's just say I did it to set your ship on the right course.” she said with a wink