A Farm House That Was More Of A Luxurious Resort

Changying looked up at the stucco-covered building in awe. She had assumed it would be a big house, but this was more in the style of a resort with a series of intersecting building clustered around the large forecourt in a horseshoe shape. She had been trying to remember how well she had gotten along with Antonia when they had met in the city and quash any nervousness she felt but standing here at the entrance to their home the butterflies roared to life in her belly.

"Let's find Mama," Wang said taking her hand and leading her inside the house. After walking through the foyer and several large rooms that boggled Changying's mind with their splendour, they found Antonia in a huge room full of tables covered with baskets overflowing with Christmas goodies.

"Here she is," Wang said with a smile pulling Changying into the room.

"Hello again," Changying whispered and cleared her throat, speaking louder, "It's lovely to be here, thank you for letting Wang invite me for the holidays."

"I hope you still think it's lovely to be here after we put you to work," Antonia laughed coming from behind a table to embrace her and kiss both of her cheeks.

"I'm happy to help out just tell me what you need me to do," she replied overenthusiastically.

"I am not that mean that I won't let you unpack and look around the house first," Antonia laughed lightly. "We have done what we can, for now, you go and freshen up and I will organise lunch for us. We were waiting for you to arrive."

"Oh gosh, I am so sorry. Wang met us along the way, and we took our time coming back," Changying blushed.

"I understand completely it's been a while since you have seen each other," she grinned at Wang who startled by the conversation said nothing. "Show Changying up to her room and no dawdling up there, or I will come and find you myself."

"Yes, Mama," Wang laughed and took Changying's hand again leading her back through the house and upstairs.

Changying was surprised at the difference between the room she was shown to and the rest of the house. Even the corridor she had walked along with is stark walls and polished wood floors decorated with gilded urns that reached her waist, and large paintings were in complete contrast to the modern feel of the room she entered.

"This is amazing," she whispered not wanting to disturb the pristine feel of the perfectly furnished room. "I feel like I have walked into a resort rather than the farm house I was expecting."

"I've never stayed in a guest room before," he seemed to consider her words. "I guess it's a bit like a hotel room. I never thought about it much because this is just home to me."

"Is your room nearby?" She asked with a smile.

"Not really but I am planning on staying in here with you anyway," he grinned seeing the disappointment on her face offered, "Would you like to see my room?" Her face brightened considerably. "Well, not exactly my room but the room I share with Carlo."

"You share a room?" She seemed stunned by the idea but took his hand as he led her back out into the hall.

"There are twelve of us, even in a house this big that's a lot of rooms to maintain. It was pretty well planned in reality. By the time I came along Carlo was starting boarding school and by the time he came back home I was leaving so, we only ever spent the good times together, holidays, and weddings. We never spent enough time together to get on each other's nerves despite sharing a room. We had a better deal than the twins or Ang and Ben."

"You didn't share with Baozhai?" Changying asked curiously.

"When we were babies I think we did but then Maryanne came along, and Baozhai had another girl to share with," he shrugged. "She spent most of the time in my room anyway when Carlo wasn't there."

"This place is huge, I just know I am going to get lost," she whispered holding tightly to his hand as they walked through the upper corridors of the house.