It was a sunny day in California, Grace had been begging her parents to buy a pool for the backyard or to take her to Uncle Gee's house. Gerard had a hot tub! Grace really wanted to try the hot tub, but with Bandit being a fussy newborn, Frank back at work and Gerard stressed out of mind, Mikey didn't want to bother him.
Everyone needed a break. Ray had been working in such sweaty heat with no coolers, Grace had to do sports day in school in leggings and a long sleeve shirt and Mikey was overwhelmed with everything going on. Also counting Gerard, Frank and Bandit. They all deserved to get away from home for the day and take things easy.
"I got Grace in the car with air conditioning on, and shes got her juice. Do you want me to get Gerard, Frank and Bandit while you get the picnic finished?" Ray asked Mikey. Mikey was making finger sandwiches for Grace and bigger ones for the adults. Gerard was back at his own home preparing Bandits food, waiting for the Toro's to pick all three of them up. They had a big car, Mikey always said it was such a mom van and he hardly liked it. It was ideal for trips out with the entire Iero-Toro families.
"Yes please. God, you're a saint Ray."
"Are you feeling okay? You're super sweaty."
"So are you. Have you felt how fucking hot it is?"
Ray giggled, "Sorry. I just worry because every time you get sick, you're always sweating bad."
Ray smooched Mikeys cheek and picked up the car keys from the counter, returning to the gray van in the driveway. Mikey had to keep rising his face in the sink, and to absolutely no surprise, it was warm. He was even chilling bowls full in the fridge just to cool himself down with.
He had a little note of everyones food and drink needs. Frank couldn't have anything with meat or dairy, so Mikey used an alternative to butter (non dairy), and bits of salad in his sandwich. Gerard wanted anything, so he would share the ham and cheese sandwiches he was making. Grace hated salad, to no surprise. Kids hate vegetables, everyone knew that. Bandit was still newborn and only drank milk. He packed some junk food snacks like chips and crackers, things that wouldn't melt. He had bottles of juice and water in the fridge too.
Heatwaves were awful. Mikey didn't mind the heat normally, but when it was too hot, he couldn't stand it.
Thank God i'm not pregnant Gerard always said, even before Bandit. Mikey was pregnant a few years back in the middle of a heatwave, he ended up getting sunstroke three times that week and was in constant need of cooling down, it was one of the worst things he'd experienced in a long time. Gerard was so relieved that Bandit was born just a month before summer.
"Oh, fuck!" Mikey yelled. "The damn Haribos melted all over the bag!"
It was a hot and sticky mess he didn't want to have to clean up. He scooped it all up with his bare hands, being covered in the sticky, sugary mess. He told Grace not to put Haribos in, but she didn't listen.
He quickly washed his hands under the 'cold' water to get it off his hands, scooping it away from the drain and throwing it in the trash. Drain blockage in the middle of a heatwave would be Hell.
"Sunscreen, where did i put it?" That first time Grace got sun burn was a whole long night of her crying. They had to keep dabbing the burnt skin with a damp towel, applying a full bottle of lotions and aloe vera gel onto it to cool it down. California was a dream come true to live in, but it got so unbearably hot to Mikey and Ray who were used to the complete opposite.
Mikey saw the car pull back into the driveway. Frank sat in the seat next to Ray, Gerard was in the back with Bandit in his arms and Grace next to him. To Mikeys surprise, Gerard was wearing black. Not just black, but baggy cargo pants and a thick hoodie.
