Chapter 19

• “We’re home... Did you miss me?” Yue ran into Ling’s open arms at a run, squealing with delight as she was scooped up and hugged half to death. Filling the quiet apartment with childish giggles made it sound like home again. This house had been unbearable and lonely without them.
• “Constantly... I cried in bed every night for my Yue…. Oh, where did my princess go?” Ling dramatically wailed, sniffing, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead and pretending to be devastated, while Yue stopped smiling to stare at her face. Studying the fake pout and furrowed brow of a drama queen acting down. She placed a hand on each side of Ling’s cheeks and pulled her chin up to look directly into Yue’s eyes.
• “Don’t be sad. I came home…see.” She tilted her head to one side with her high-pitched last word, hands opening wide to express her presence, and Ling melted. “I was just on a holiday with Mommy and Auntie Soo.” Yue was a master at charm, and she was too adorable. No one could stay sad when that little face was right before you.