Read Online That Lucky Old Sun (The Bella Novella Collection Book 4) by Janice Thompson - Free Book Online

Most of us were well educated and familiar with American ways. We knew of Texas, of course, through the television show Dallas .”
    “Who shot J.R.?” Mr. Pappas said. “Loved that show.”
    “Did we ever really figure out who shot J.R?” Mrs. Pappas asked. “I mean, I know they said it was Kristin, but was it really? I always suspected Sue Ellen.”
    “Mama, that’s irrelevant.” Darian rolled his eyes then turned his attention to Grandpa Nguyen. “What happened next?”
    “We were bussed to Houston, and that’s where we first came to know about Galveston Island. We were told there were jobs here. My wife and I, along with our son, were among the first Vietnamese citizens in Galveston in 1979.”
    “And you were welcomed with open arms, no doubt,” Mrs. Pappas offered a comforting smile. “Galvestonians are so kind.”
    “Hardly.” Grandpa Nguyen shook his head and I saw a hint of tears in his eyes. “After all my training as a doctor in our own country, I was turned away from even the most menial of jobs. So, I did the one thing that made sense. I’d been raised a fisherman’s son, so I headed out to sea. Used what little money I had to buy a boat, and started my own fishing company.”
    “He grew it into the largest deep sea fishing company on the island,” Ling’s father said with a smile. “Quite a feat.”
    “And raised the smartest boy on the island,” Grandpa Nguyen added. He turned to give his son an admiring look. “I never regretting coming to Texas. Well, after the first couple years, anyway. My son—and his wife and daughter—have had a life of opportunity we would never have known otherwise.”
    “I feel the same way about my children,” Mr. Pappas said. “My parents moved from Greece when I was just a boy. Babbas always said it was because of me. He wanted me to have a shot at a better life.”
    “Isn’t that what all of us want?” Mrs. Nguyen asked. “In the end? Don’t we all just want our children to have more—better—happier—than we did?”
    In that moment, pride swelled up within me. My parents, along with my Aunt and Uncle, had risked everything to leave their lives in Italy to come to America. They’d done so, so that we, their children, could have all we could wish for, and more.
    I tried to swallow the lump in my throat that rose as I thought this through. It would not be swallowed.
    Mr. Pappas wrapped his wife in his arms. “Ah, but it’s been a happy life for us, too, my darling girl. Not just the kids and future grandkids.”
    “And us, too.” Mr. Nguyen swept his sweetheart in his arms and planted a kiss on her forehead.
    In that moment, I did the only thing that made sense. I made a beeline for my hubby. The minute his arms enclosed around me, I realized the truth: We all had more—better—happier lives because of those who’d gone before us. And I would never take it for granted again.
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER NINE
    Love and Mercy
     
    On Friday afternoon, Brock Benson, sitcom star and long-time friend of the Pappas and Rossi families, arrived on the island with his wife and kids. They settled in at the Tremont hotel and then met up with us at sunset at the Pappas home. We greeted them with the usual gusto, then turned our attention to the real guests of honor, the bride and groom.
    Ling looked particularly beautiful this evening, dressed in an off-white chartreuse sundress. She’d pulled her hair up, and her makeup job was impeccable. Darian matched her in style, his cream-colored button-up shirt just right with his Bermuda shorts. Yep. Dressed for a wedding rehearsal on the beach. Perfection!
    As everyone gathered for drinks on the patio, I did my typical wedding coordinator-thing. I placed last minute calls to the vendors, checked in to see how Scarlet was coming with the cake, looked over the weather report for tomorrow evening’s event, asked Ling about last-minute changes to the program, then flew into gear, welcoming the bridesmaids,