Chapter 9
On his first night back at the Kensington family, Edward felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
He lay on the soft, luxurious bed and thought about the rickety wooden cot and the da
And those damned mosquitoes.
He had always slept poorly there.
–
Until Grace began making herbal sachets then it got better.
The room now had perfect air conditioning and the faint scent of his favorite fragrance.
Edward had assumed he’d sleep well that night.
But he tossed and turned until midnight and still couldn’t fall asleep.
Something was missing..
He tried to put his finger on it.
Was it that herbal scent?
Maybe.
Now the fragrance in his room felt cloying.
After barely a wink of sleep, he got up the next morning, feeling drained.
Breakfast at the Kensington home was extravagant.
Not knowing what everyone liked, both Western and Chinese dishes had been prepared.
Theo stabbed at the fish on his plate with a fork.
Edward’s father gave him a stern look. “Theo, eat properly.”
Theo looked aggrieved.
His mom always picked out the best bites for him.
Amelia noticed and leaned in to help him, but was gently stopped.
“You’re old enough to do it yourself,” came the reprimand.
Then came a sigh. “What kind of child could a peasant woman raise well?”
Amelia paused mid–motion and put her fork down.
Theo looked even more hurt.
His mom used to push Amelia away but Amelia had never listened.
He was beginning to sense it his grandfather didn’t seem to like him much.
And Amelia wasn’t the same anymore either.
He… kind of missed his mom.
mosquito net at the Miller house in the village.
Chapter 9
