Prologue: The Hollands
Dove Holland never claimed that her family was normal. It wasn't. Anyone living in Shallow Creek could tell you that. It didn't take a genius to figure it out.
The two oldest children, Aster and Piper, were currently living in big cities in far-away states. Aster was going through a messy divorce; his wife had taken their only daughter and gone to live with his younger siblings. Piper's children were taken away from her by the state. They, too, were sent to live with Aster and Dove's siblings.
Valentine Holland was twenty-two years old. he had won custody of his younger sister, Dove, when he was eighteen. Two years later, he was given custody of his newborn son, and also of Piper's twin four-year-olds.
Dove was fifteen, but she hadn't gone to school since she was thirteen. She had quit school to take care of Piper and Valentine's kids, which she did without complaining. And when Aster's soon-to-be ex-wife came calling with her young daughter, Dove had gladly volunteered to take care of her so Luna could go back to work.
No, the Hollands were not a normal family. So when Valentine announced his intention to sponsor a group of Japanese students, Dove simply shrugged and went along with it. Honestly, she took care of four children all by herself on a daily basis. How difficult could a couple of students be?
She was about to find out.