White Oleander Setting

As of today, I am on page 230 in "White Oleander" by Janet Fitch. Up to this point, Astrid has made her way through three foster homes and seems to be quite happy in her fourth. This house belongs to Claire and Ron Richards, a couple looking to adopt in Hollywood. To Astrid, they were a very warming, gentle couple, and she quickly became use to the loving atmosphere of the home. She often painted the house's white walls and the poinsettias that grew right beside them. They were a great subject, contrasting so drastically in color. Inside, the walls were a very soft, white pink color, with a few paintings here and there. Astrid liked the fact that there was actual art in this house, people had painted them by hand. The kitchen was a classic red and white tile that Claire described as "the colors of love," with a red and white table accompanied by metal chairs. Through the room with the comfortable looking bed all in white, which was Claire and Ron's there was a set of French doors that opened up to let the afternoon light shine through. Astrid loved that too. The only room that was left free of much decoration was Astrid's. Claire wanted to make sure that Astrid was able to decorate it herself, and make it her own. Claire cared for Astrid in a way that she'd never experienced before, and she didn't want a thing to change.