Lunch With Wang's Family

"Someone is always around to point the way, that's the thing with big families, no privacy or solitude," he chuckled and led her into a large comfortable room with two double beds. It was neat and tidy but had that haphazard look of the collection of stuff over time. The bookshelves were crammed with a variety of books on wide-ranging topics and the desks though tidy were overcrowded. It was a fairly typical guy's room, she thought and considering how austere Wang's apartment was with a place for everything and everything in its place she was surprised by the lived-in feel of his bedroom.

"So this is your bed?" she asked walking to the bed that seemed to have less haphazard clutter surrounding it and sitting on the edge.

"That would be mine," Carlo said coming into the room with a smile, "You're welcome to join me in it, though." He waggled his eyebrows.

Changying jumped up quickly and Wang chuckled, rolling his eyes at his brother.

"Come down for lunch, you two can play explorers later," he said easily and turned and led the way.

As they followed Carlo back down to the first floor, it occurred to Changying how little Wang had told her about his home and family. All she knew was from the research she had done on the family book. The reality of being here and meeting Joseph Donati made her feel anxious all of a sudden. Her inner voice that made her question whether what others said about her reared up out of the recesses of her mind, and she wondered if Baozhai had been right. Maybe she would never fit in here with these people. Wang seemed unconcerned as he held her hand but doubt had crept into her mind, and she wished she knew more about his family and life here on the farm rather than the history of the family.

The noise of a large group of people talking reached them well before they entered the dining room. Children sat at one long table while a group of adults, Wang's family all sat at another. The chatter was full of laughter, and Changying was pleased to see that Emily was there with Ben and Jack and she smiled at them with genuine warmth before Wang led her to the head of the table.

"Papa, this is Changying," Wang introduced her. Joseph Donati looked up and surveyed her with startlingly blue eyes.

"Welcome to my table, sit and eat. We will talk after," he said with a smile and waved them to vacant chairs. Changying sat opposite Emily between Wang and Dante listening to the conversations going on around her. Collared men and women brought out platters of salads and cold meats as well as a range of freshly baked bread.

"You look great, Emily," Changying said into a lull in the conversation around her.

"I feel great," she said happily. "I love Christmas here. I can't wait until the festival tomorrow."

"There's a festival?" Changying looked from Emily to Wang.

"Sure it happens every year, I told you that Christmas Eve we had a party when you asked me what to pack" Wang shrugged and hid a small smile.

"A festival is a little different to a party, Wang," she shook her head. "You've hardly told me anything about your home and how you celebrate Christmas."

"Every family has their traditions," he laughed hearing her anxiety and trying to alleviate it.

"I guess," she lowered her eyes and thought of Chunhua at home alone this Christmas, watching old movies without her and opening the gift she left next to the miniature tree on the sideboard. She would call her after lunch and see what plans she had made with Robin. "I think you should tell me more about yours before I say or do anything else wrong."

"There's nothing much to tell, it's just Christmas," he wrapped and arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to his side. "Besides, you couldn't possibly do anything wrong unless you're planning on taking up Carlo on his offer of sharing his bed." Ben and Jack chuckled overhearing the conversation making Changying frown at Wang.

"Angelo isn't here?" she asked looking around the table for another unfamiliar man.

"He'll be here tomorrow," Ben said easily, "He has a separate place on the west side of the property."

The chatter continued during lunch, and as the plates were cleared away, BJ came to sit on Wang's lap with a serious expression.

"Did she write it?" He whispered. Wang grinned and nodded at the boy.

"Santa's already got it and given it his approval as long as you are on your best behaviour from now on," Wang whispered back loudly so that Changying would realise that BJ asked about the letter he had said she would write to Santa.

"Thanks," he said moving from Wang's lap to hers to hug her tightly.

"You're very welcome," Changying laughed cradling the little boy in her arms and smiling.

"Oh God," Ben groaned. "Not you too." He flicked an olive at Wang, who batted it away deftly. "Stop trying to kidnap my son."

"The boy has taste, I'd sit in her lap all day if she's let me," Wang chortled.

"Better find Nanny and see if she is taking you to Zio Ang's house this afternoon," Ben said lightly to BJ, who whooped and slid from Changying's lap and ran back towards his sisters.

Emily smiled indulgently. "You know when you have a son Wang this will all come back to haunt you," she laughed.

"Lost a bet with Carlo a few years ago so he has dibs on my first born, you'll have to fight him for the boy," he grinned.

"You bet your first born child?" Changying blinked. "The mother doesn't have any say in it?"

"I hadn't met you yet. I was so sure I could beat him it was a moot point. Until he cheated and won," he shrugged and the people around them just laughed harder. "Ben still hasn't told Emily he lost BJ to me in a bet."

"It didn't count. He cheated," Ben said reasonably to Emily as if that absolved him from betting his first born son.

"A bet's a bet," Wang winked at Emily, who had begun to frown at them. "Look at Jack, Papa won him in a bet from Robin, and he's just like a brother now. BJ will love it with us. I'll have to rename him JJ though. He can't be Ben Junior once he's mine."

Jack spluttered his coffee and shook his head unable to respond through his laughter.

"Now I know it's not true," Emily laughed with them again. "You are such an arse sometimes Wang!"

"Wang," Joseph's voice sounded from the end of the table. "You and Changying will join me in the Athenaeum" He stood and walked from the table.