Sadly, not long before the Topaz and the girls were supposed to leave for China, their lives were turned upside down by an unexpected visit from the grim reaper. It was her mom's time, and nothing Topaz or Coal could do was going to stop it.
She wanted to cancel the trip, but her dad wouldn't hear of it. He insisted it would do them good to get away for a few days. Topaz at least tried to convince him to come with them, but he didn't want to do that either, claiming he was way too old to be gallivanting all over the world - and besides, who would take care of his garden?
They finally reached a compromise, where Agate would stop in every day to check on their dad, and make sure he was doing alright. Topaz was still reluctant, but felt a little better, knowing that her dad would be taken care of.
When they arrived at the hotel in China, she was immediately accosted by a group of autograph seekers. They had heard a 'famous artist' would be visiting, she was told. She hadn't realized that people in China had even heard of her! Rose and Coral waited impatiently. They couldn't wait to begin exploring.
Their first stop was at the Terracotta Army. Topaz' contract specified that a painting of the ancient burial grounds be included in the final portfolio. Rose and Coral had a great time playing tag among the giant figures, and were only lured away by promises to visit the market square the next day.
The next day, they all headed down to the Forbidden City. Topaz set up her easel to capture the view of the market square.....
....while Rose and Coral wandered off to explore. Soon they came running back, all excited.
"Come here, mom, you gotta see this!"
"Wait just a minute, girls, let me put my paints away."
"Look, mom! It's a pad with footprints on it, just like the ones you told us you found in the tombs of Egypt!"
"Smart girls! It does look like some kind of triggering device. I've heard there is a secret entrance to the treasure rooms of the infamous Dong Huo somewhere in this square. I wonder if this is it?"
"There's only one way to find out, isn't there?" Topaz exclaimed.
Rose and Coral looked none too pleased with their mom's 'try it and see' attitude, and were even more shocked when a stairway appeared, leading down into darkness.
They stood in open-mouthed silence while Topaz explained about hidden doors, and directed the girls to pick up anything interesting that they found.
They were thrilled for a few moments, at finding a bag of money and a silver bar, but soon they lagged behind again, afraid to pass the silent watchers in the hall.
"Come on! You need to keep up, girls! Now stand back! I found a key. Let's see what it opens!"
Everything seemed safe so far, so Topaz wasn't really worried. After all, who would hide anything dangerous under the market?
As they descended the next set of stairs, however, Topaz stopped short in alarm. There were definitely traps here - dangerous ones.
"Stop right now, girls. Not another step. I never expected to find traps like this here. I'm taking you back to the surface."
After depositing the twins back at the market, and giving them some spending money to keep them occupied, Topaz returned below. There was no way she was going to leave this place unexplored. But so many traps! It took hours to navigate through the maze.
Her persistence finally paid off, and she found herself standing in one of Dong Huo's ancient treasure rooms. She didn't know if she should just take the loot, or... or what? Turn it in to the authorities? But who would that be? She gathered it all up, anyway. She would just have to ask around later.
When she arrived back at the market, she was amazed to see Rose and Coral working on a writing project. She had forgotten that they were supposed to write a report on their travels, as make up work for missing a week of school. She left them to it, while she went to check in with the relic dealer. There she got another surprise - she could keep all the relics she had found in Dong Huo's treasure room!
Then, the treasure packed, and the reports complete, it was time once again to head for home.
They arrived home to find Agate and Coal engaged in a rousing game of foosball. Topaz was a little put out, that they were so involved in the little swinging men, they couldn't be bothered to ask her about her trip.
Coral and Rose scurried up the stairs to their bedroom as fast as the could, as soon as they stepped out of the car.
They couldn't wait to be back together with their imaginary friends.
Topaz surveyed her work one last time, before loading her new paintings into the car and heading to the art museum. She was please and was sure she'd be able to fund her next trip, on the proceeds from these China paintings alone.
One last stop on the way back from delivering the paintings - a new tattoo in the shape of a koi, to remind her of China.
Turn about is fair play, or so the saying goes, and Agate and Jojo needed a vacation. So Coal and Topaz agreed to watch all the kids for a few days. Reagan was now a teen, and was a huge help with her little sister and twin brothers, but there was no way she could handle that mob alone.
The twins, Lowell and Bennie, were quite a handful.
Jana was a real sweetie, and she and Rose and Coral had a great time together.
But Coal's favorite was little Bennie - maybe because he was the only one of all the grandchildren to inherit the famous Sinbad's red hair?
Note:
Sorry about the lame ending for this chapter. I wanted to include all the kid spam from Agate and Jojo; their kids turned out really cute, I think.
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