Come in 21
Posted on July 07, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 21

Noises drifted upstairs. Zinnia peeked down and frozeโ€”Maelis, Betty, and Howard were there. Without a word, she turned and headed straight to her room, refusing to talk.

โ€œZinnia, youโ€™re up!โ€ Betty called when she spotted Zinnia on the landing. The living room fell silent.

โ€œZinnia!โ€ Maelis said, pausing mid-chat with Sofia. She looked up, excited. โ€œZinnia!โ€ She jumped up, voice trembling.

Itโ€™d been two days. Maelis wanted to know if Zinnia was feeling okay. Maelisโ€™s mind racedโ€”how was she sleeping? Was her room cozy enough?

Zinnia froze halfway down the stairs. She stared at Maelisโ€™s eager face, expression blank, and said nothing.

โ€œZinnia,โ€ Sofia sighed, seeing Zinniaโ€™s icy glare. The rift was realโ€”Maelis had pushed Zinnia away, and mending it wouldnโ€™t be easy.

Sofia glanced at Betty, sitting calmly beside Maelis. Her face was unreadable.

Noticing Sofiaโ€™s look, Betty smiled politely, as perfect as ever. Zinnia looked away. Zinnia couldnโ€™t match Bettyโ€™s guile. Even with her practiced swings, Betty was too sly. But Maelis was clueless, always siding with Betty.

Sofia didnโ€™t want to imagine the fallout if Maelis ever saw the truth and Zinnia cut her off completely. She wanted to warn Maelis, but Maelisโ€™s mixed signalsโ€”praising Zinnia yet sticking with Bettyโ€”gave her a headache.

โ€œZinnia! Momโ€™s calling. Get down here,โ€ Howard suddenly shouted, standing up.

โ€œHoward!โ€ Sofia frowned. โ€œDonโ€™t talk to her like that.โ€

โ€œGrandmaโ€ฆโ€ Howard trailed off.

Zinnia came downstairs. โ€œGrandma,โ€ she said flatly, eyes cold as she scanned the others, then ignored them entirely.

โ€œCome sit by me, Zinnia,โ€ Sofia said, tapping the cushion next to her.

Zinnia sat right down. She only came downstairs because Sofia called her.

โ€œZinniaโ€ฆโ€ Maelis watched Zinnia walk by without a look. She felt her throat tighten. They hadnโ€™t talked much since that day.

โ€œDid you sleep okay?โ€ Sofia asked, holding Zinniaโ€™s hand and avoiding Maelisโ€™s sad eyes.

โ€œYeah,โ€ Zinnia said, her voice softโ€”way different from how she talked to the Shaws.

โ€œGood sleepโ€™s important. I just want you to eat, rest, and be happy,โ€ Sofia said, her eyes all loving.

Nearby, Bettyโ€™s hands balled into fists, staring at Zinniaโ€™s fancy new dress. โ€˜Why?โ€™ she thought bitterly. โ€˜After all these years trying to impress that old lady, she still ignores me. Told me to stay away from here! If it werenโ€™t for Mom, I wouldnโ€™t even see her. Why does she dote on Zinnia after just a few meetings?โ€™ Betty felt extremely jealous.

She couldnโ€™t get why Sofia hated her for a decade. Sheโ€™d always been quiet and polite at the Lynn residence, unlike the other kids.

โ€œThat old biddy never had a nice thing to say to me, no matter how much I hustled. Whether I was being all polite or trying to show I really cared. Before Zinnia got back, sheโ€™d at least give me the time of day. But now? She acts like Iโ€™m not even in the room, like Iโ€™m her mortal enemy or something," Betty complained inwardly.

Betty had tried for years to please Sofia, but not a single kind look. Sheโ€™d thought Sofia preferred boys. But now, seeing how Sofia adored Zinnia, Betty knew that gender didnโ€™t matter. Sofia indeed adored and cherished Zinnia.

Betty could barely visit the Lynn residence, let alone stay. While Zinnia got to live there, cosseted by Sofiaโ€™s love.

Bettyโ€™s smile was slipping. She seethed, thinking, โ€˜Why? Just because weโ€™re not blood? Iโ€™ve called her "Grandma" for twelve years. Ever since Zinnia showed up, she has been stealing what should be mine. No way am I letting my guard down around her.โ€™

โ€œHowโ€™s it at Grandmaโ€™s, Zinnia? Do you miss home?โ€ Maelisโ€™s voice trembled. โ€œAbout beforeโ€ฆ Iโ€™m sorry. I shouldnโ€™t have doubted you. I shouldโ€™ve trusted you. Will you forgive me?โ€

Maelis stood outside, frozen, watching Sofia chat with Zinnia. Her heart hurt. She gently took Zinniaโ€™s hand and said softly, โ€œSweetheart?โ€ Her voice cracked, like thin ice breaking.

Zinnia frowned at the soft, warm hand holding hers. It made her uneasy. She pulled away and moved her hand off Sofiaโ€™s lap.

โ€œZinnia?โ€ Maelis felt like her heart was being eaten by emptiness. Her own daughter wouldnโ€™t even hold her hand. Sheโ€™d really hurt Zinnia.

Betty forced herself to apologize. โ€œZinnia, we messed up before, but we get it now. We were wrong. Please donโ€™t be mad. Letโ€™s go home. Mom, Dad, and your brothers all miss you. This is my fault, not theirs. Iโ€™ll keep saying sorry. Just donโ€™t blame them, okay?โ€

Bettyโ€™s smile froze as she saw Maelis reach for Zinnia.

โ€œZinnia,โ€ Howard said, frowning. โ€œMom and Betty already said sorry. What more do you want? That talk about sending you away was a joke. We never meant it. Donโ€™t be so silly.โ€

Shooting a glance at Betty, Sofia frowned deeply. She got Bettyโ€™s implicationโ€”she had implied that Zinnia was stubborn. โ€œBetty, Jackson sent new flowers to the garden. Go pick some for your mom. She likes them.โ€

โ€œWe can do the flowers later, Mom,โ€ Maelis said urgently. โ€œWeโ€™re talking to Zinnia now.โ€

โ€œBenedict, take Betty to pick flowers,โ€ Sofia said, ignoring Maelis.

โ€œBetty, please,โ€ Benedict said with a polite smile, motioning for her to follow.


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