A World Without Sun discussion

"The pleasure is ours." Jade said unable to stop her smile. He was a cutie! "Its not often that Mellie brings a suitor around."
Melody rubbed her forehead. Her mom hadn't even been around in years, how would she know?
"Do you like tea? My mother and I were in the middle of tea before you arrived." Jade asked him

Jacob nodded, “we’d love to join for a bit.” He honestly hated tea, but wanted to make a good impression.

"Lovely!" Jade turned to a maid when she told her about Sunny's change for them to sit out the gazebo and pulled Miles along to lead the way.
"Dont let her interrogate you the whole time." Melody whispered to him as they walked

“I don’t mind,” he whispered back.
They got to the garden and headed to the small structure where Sunny was already setting up their placements.
Jacob pulled the chair out for Melody before taking his own seat and sitting closer to her so he could hold her hand under the table.
Sunny took a seat after she and Jacob exchanged introductions.

Jade sat next to Miles trying to contain her excitement. She never thought Melody would ever be interested in guys. Much less than she would find someone she was interested in since Melody protested going to any balls. "So Jacob, Miles mentioned that you pretended to be a butler's son at first?"

Jacob nodded. “Melody seemed very hostile towards nobility, and I wanted to get to know her. So I lied. It wasn’t a good idea, but I don’t regret it.” He took her hand. “It let me get close to her.”

Melody squeezed his hand. "And i already gave him a hard time for it. So you dont need to."

Miles nodded slowly. “Right.”
Jacob offered her a small smile before focusing on Melody’s parents again. Mainly her mother, who looked like she was going to jump up and start dancing.

"The Perrys have a long history of advancing the arts in the city. That must be an exciting lineage to set into one day." Jade said. "Does your family already have a wife for you in mind?"
"GranMummy is Grandpa home?" Melody jumped, hoping they could ignore that conversation point about marriage. Besides she did need to see what he could do about the whole Peter thing.

“I have a fiancé,” Jacob stated flatly.
Sunny glanced around the table before focusing on her granddaughter, “I believe he’s in his office.”

Jade's excitement about this blossoming relationship stopped. "Do your parents know about this relationship?"

Jacob nodded. “So does my fiancé. She doesn’t care. She has her own boyfriend. We don’t really get along and have been wanting to break our engagement for years now. My father refuses to sign the documents.” He explained. Even her father wanted it over with now, but his dad was just too stubborn.

"Do you have to probe so much?" Melody frowned.
"I just want to make sure your safe. " Jade explained. "Legally. So you dont end up in the rumor mill."
"Im not like you. Im not going to rush into some relationship just to have a title, Lady Jade." Melody said picking up a teacup cup.

“Melody,” Miles warned.
Jacob cleared his throat. “I don’t intend on dragging Melody into any sort of spotlight. I know that’s not who she is and not what she wants.”

Melody sipped her tea, ignoring her father.
Jade gave Jacob a strained smile. "Thank you for that

Jacob nodded. He sipped his tea, restraining himself from making a face at the taste.
Sunny pores herself more tea. “Why don’t we talk about something else?”

"Have you gotten anymore inquires for your art since it's been installed?" Jade asked Miles taking a pause on questioning Jacob before Melody had another tantrum

Miles shook his head. “It’s in the museum. That’s what matters. My busy time for commissions is coming up, though.”

Jade added honey to her tea. "Well have you gotten anymore feedback? Reviews? This is a big step for your career."

“I’m aware. I can’t force people to give reviews.”

Jade nudged him lightly. "With your skill, you won't have to."
Melody fake gagged to Jacob over her parents

Jacob smiled lightly. “I’m teaching Melody photography.”
Miles looked at his daughter surprised. “Really?”

"I didnt think anything could pull her away from a paintbrush." Jade said.
"Its different and it's interesting to see how Jacob sees the world

Jacob smiled at her. “Just wait until I take a picture of you.”

Melody hit his leg under the table, blushing. He needed to stop being so darn flirty in front of her family. She looked at her GranMummy, "How's the tea business?"

Sunny was smiling in amusement as Jacob rubbed his leg with a chuckle. The woman nodded. “It’s going well. I’ve been thinking of returning soon. Not that I don’t love it, but I’d like to spend my time with your grandfather instead of working all the time.”

"Does that mean Grandfather is going to retire? Now that he's done toturing my classmares by making us go to school with the Prep School kids? No offense." She said to Jacob.

Sunny giggled. “Maybe. I’m not going to push him to do that. He’ll have to choose someone to take over looking after family affairs. And I’m not sure if he’s put much thought into it.”

"Too bad Greyson has been doing such a great job on the Royal Council." Jade said.

“Plus he’s been running Hannah’s family’s estate. I don’t think Cole wants to add more to his plate.” Sunny sipped her tea.
Jason leaned forward, interested in the goings on of the Steonoff family. They worked so quietly, it was interesting to be sitting at a take with Sunny strongoff. Yes, she didn’t run the Strongoff family like her brother did, but she had her own estates and stakes in the city, plus what Cole brought to the table.

"Maybe there's a colleague he could bestow it to. Elevate a loyal worker of our estate with it." Jade offered. It wasnt completely abnormal but still rare to essentially make a new member of nobility.

“I think Greyson would be offended if Cole didn’t pass the role onto him,” Miles stated. “He’s married to Cole’s only daughter, after all. He’s a hard worker. Plus he looks up to Cole.”

Jade leaned over to rest her head on Miles shoulder. "Aww. Miles. I will have to let Grey know how you've advocated for him."

Miles smiled lightly. “It’s the truth.”
Sunny finished her tea. “Speaking of handing off the torch. Jade, may I speak with you a moment?”

Jade looked at her mom confused but nodded. "Of course." She set down her cup and walked with her mom out the gazebo area

“I’ve been thinking about who will take over my teaching business. I need someone smart, with good taste, and a passion for tea.” Sunny said as they walked.

Jade nodded, "Well Cecilia is happy at the bakery and she's done good with increasing the sales of Sunshine teas there with her baked goods. But do you think she could honestly balance both?"

“I wasn’t thinking about Cece. Don’t get me wrong, she’s doing well. But mom trusted her with the bakery. I was honestly thinking of giving Sunshine to you. If you want it.”

Jade stopped walking. "Me?" She hadn't even considered herself an option. Sure she help with business more than any of her siblings and she actually enjoyed it. But she was always the disappointment kid. The one that was always messing up and making mistakes. And her mother wanted to trust her with Sunshine Teas?

“Yes, you. I know I can trust you to keep the heart of Sunshines Teas while also adding your own heart to it.” Sunny smiled at her daughter.

Jade's eyes started watering. "But mom, im not....Im not deserving of that. I mess up. I mess up all the time."

“Who doesn’t?” Sunny shrugged. “But you love it, don’t you?”

Jade nodded and hugged her mom tightly. "You won't regret this. I promise! I won't even change the logo or colors. Just maybe a few flavors

Sunny giggled. “It’ll be your company. I just ask that you keep the colour changing one. It was made in memory of my grandfather.”

"I know. I know." She bounced still holding onto her mom. She couldnt wait to tell Miles and Greyson. "And whenever your officially ready to retire we can throw the biggest tea party for you to celebrate. No rush of course but it will be fabulous. "

Sunny giggled. “I was thinking at the end of the year.”

"End of this year? Thats kind of fast." Jade said nervously

“It’s not like I won’t be around if you need help. And we can ease into it if you’d prefer. But I’d like my retirement to be the end of the year.”

"Okay. Okay. End of the year. Retirement Tea Party Explosion." Jade said taking her mom's arm to keep walking. "So what do you think of this Jacob boy?"

“He’s definitely the son of a duke,” Sunny said with a giggle. “He’s amusing, really. I can tell he cares for our Melody. But he also has a lot to learn about the world. He’s curious, though, I could tell that much. I think he has a good head on his shoulders.”