Chapter 70

It was settled—Zinnia was moving out of the Lynn residence.

After dinner, Zinnia remembered she needed to make some medicinal packs for Jackson. She also wanted to whip up some health supplements before she left. She told Sofia and the others she was heading upstairs, grabbed her little medicine kit, and went out to the balcony.

She got to work, skillfully sorting through the herbs and threw in a couple more for the other brothers. She didn’t skimp on the packs. In no time, she had five neat packs made. She made one for Jackson, and she knew them super well, but she loved them, especially after Yannis gave her that fancy necklace. Maisie hadn’t said how much it cost, but Zinnia could tell it was pricey just by the look on her face.

School had just started, so she didn’t have a ton of homework yet. She figured she’d be busier later, so she wanted to get this done now. And then there was Sofia–she was getting up there in age, and she’d been really upset lately. Zinnia didn’t want to take any chances with her health. She made some pills for Sofia and put them in a little porcelain bottle. That should last a month.

Thinking about Henry’s headaches, Zinnia decided to make a herbal incense that could clear the mind and make him feel refreshed. She rummaged through her medicine box but realized she was missing one ingredient. She put everything down and headed downstairs.

The house was quiet, with just the soft sounds of the maids cleaning. Sofia and the others had already gone to bed. Jackson was upstairs working, and Charlie and Isaac were busy with their own stuff. The living room was lit with a warm, yellow glow. Zinnia slipped out and headed straight for the herb garden in the backyard. The garden was lit up too, and there were birds chirping.

When she got to the herb garden, she noticed that the trampled herbs had been replaced with fresh ones. They looked lush and healthy. Zinnia paused for a second, thinking Jackson must have told the maids to do it. She smiled a little.

She walked over, grabbed a little basket and a small hoe, and squatted down, carefully digging up the herbs she needed. Zinnia didn’t take long; she quickly gathered what she needed and headed back inside. As she entered the living room, she ran into Benedict.

“Zinnia, off to the herb garden again?” Benedict’s voice was gentle, and he looked at Zinnia with the same kind, grandfatherly affection he reserved for the younger generation.

Zinnia nodded sweetly. “Yeah, Benedict.”

“Benedict, did Jackson have the herbs in the garden replaced?” Zinnia asked, thinking about the neatly restored herb garden.

Benedict paused for a moment, then shook his head. “Oh, that was Howard. He said he trampled your herbs and wanted to make it right. He compared a bunch of different ones and got the exact same ones to replace them.” Howard came over with a box full of herbs in the afternoon and went straight to the garden to plant them. When they tried to help, he insisted on doing it himself. He was all flustered, covered in dirt, and his clothes were a mess. Later, upon hearing that Zinnia had returned, he hurriedly changed his clothes.

“Howard?” Zinnia was surprised. She had thought of a lot of people who might have done it, but Howard was the last person she expected. She remembered seeing him yesterday afternoon with mud on his shoes and his hair all tousled, looking a little nervous, like he’d done something he was embarrassed about. She’d never seen him look so disheveled before. He was always so put together, always looking perfect.

Zinnia pursed her lips, puzzled by Howard’s actions. But he had ruined her herb garden, so it made sense that he should replace it. It is just surprising that Howard would do something like this. Just surprising… Zinnia shook her head and then hummed upstairs with her herbs.

At the Shaw residence, Maelis asked, “Howard, you’re back. Have you eaten?”

Maelis was sitting in the living room downstairs, watching a variety show. She looked up as Howard walked in, looking a bit flustered and not in the best mood. Her face lit up with happiness, and she stood up, eyeing him with concern.

“Mom, I’ve eaten,” Howard replied. After leaving the Lynn residence in the afternoon, he’d had some business at the club and had only just gotten back.

“Where’s Dad?” Howard asked, almost as a reflex.

At the mention of Donald, Maelis’s face clouded over with a hint of worry. She thought about the unpleasant encounter with Zinnia yesterday and the pressure she had been under from Sofia, and a bitter feeling swept through her eyes.

“Your dad has been really busy with work lately. He’s been coming home late at night,” she explained. Donald had indeed been tied up with matters for the past couple of days.

Howard just nodded, not probing further. He glanced upstairs. “Where’s Betty? Is she resting?”

Maelis replied, “Betty’s been feeling a bit down lately. I had to comfort her for a while before she finally settled down. Don’t disturb her.”

Thinking about Betty, Maelis felt hurt. She wasn’t sure if her decisions were right, but she couldn’t bear sending Betty away. Betty had been with her since childhood, and there was no way Maelis could let her go. Besides, Donald and the kids would never agree to it either.

Maelis thought to herself, ‘Zinnia is still upset. Once Betty’s feeling better and mom is not so angry, I’ll go talk to Zinnia. We’re mother and daughter. She wouldn’t really cut me out of her life.’

“I just can’t believe Zinnia would really give up on us.”

But if we don’t figure out what to do about Betty, she’ll keep being sad. She might even refuse to go to school, and that will mess up her studies. Donald will be furious if that happens. And then we’ll just end up fighting again. I don’t want another argument at home! She couldn't understand why neither Howard nor Zinnia seemed to get her side of things.

Betty said–Zinnia’s just holding a grudge and forcing me to choose between them? She wondered, “Is it really like Betty says?”

“Why does Zinnia have to push me like this? I’m her mom. Why can’t she understand how hard this is for me? Isn’t it good to have a sister? Why do I have to pick one and let go of the other?”

Maelis felt a pang of sadness just thinking about it. She wished Zinnia was as understanding as Betty.

“Mom, what did you decide to do about Zinnia?” Howard looked at Maelis, his eyes filled with confusion.

Maelis felt hurt at his serious and questioning gaze, “Howard, didn't I tell you? I didn’t give up on her. She just isn’t ready to come back yet. I thought it was better for her to stay with your grandma for now.”

She thought to herself, I knew it–Betty was right. Zinnia must have complained to Howard.