Homecoming

Chapter 21

I was not in the best of moods today. It was Friday and Jared was the last day of school today. They received a certificate, and thanks to my tutoring talent, he was second in mathematics. I was proud of him and I was sorry I wouldn't see him today. I wanted to congratulate him and enjoy with him the feeling that his second year is over and the summer holidays are beginning.

He will no longer have to get up early in the morning, but he can hatch in bed until lunch. Then he can focus on Gerrett, who was still clinging to him and could have thrown away textbooks and especially mathematics, which had bothered him so badly this year. From morning till night, he can practice football, go cycling or just cheat with Garrett at home in the pool and enjoy the holidays. He had so many options ahead of him.

I was extremely pleased with the idea of spending the summer with them. I had already made a list, apparently I really couldn't work without it, and I wrote down what we could do together. For example, such a zoo, where we could go together with Caroline and make a nice trip. Visit a few museums, an amusement park, or have a barbecue with your parents again. My list was so full that I was afraid that we would not have time for those activities by the end of the year, not by the end of the summer.

But that important day - the end of the second year, I could not spend with them and it ate me. Max made it clear to me that this day belongs to them. He planned to take them to carousels, shopping, and then to dinner. Without me. On the one hand, I understood that. I probably wouldn't like it if a stranger got in my car if I wanted to spend such an important day only with my children. But on the other hand, I wasn't such a stranger. At least not for children. I didn't like that Max excluded me completely from the whole day. He could at least let me stop for a few minutes in the evening, right?

But whatever it was, there was no point in worrying about it now. Max wanted it that way, so I had to respect it. At least I could be glad he didn't take them out of town for the whole summer. Jered reminded me that I was going on vacation somewhere in Bali in early August, and I was already missing the thought.

It was only one o'clock, but I was already worried about how I would stick around until the third. For just a good two hours, only parents and children or groups of students crowded into the café to celebrate the start of the holidays, which only made my mood worse.

The whole time I had before my eyes the bright smile that was on Jared's face last night when he showed me the suit in which he was going to pick up his certificate today. I was shocked because I wanted to be there. I stopped by them only for a moment, and only because I brought Jared the flower I promised him for the teacher.

I smiled artificially at the customers and congratulated here and there on the excellent achievement at school. Also, in the last year I have learned to smile through tears. Now I really got it.

"Kirsten, Kirsten," the cafe bore my name, and before I could remember, children's hands were already wrapped around my belt. Well, who else could it be like Garrett?

"Hello, sweetheart," I greeted him, apologizing aptly to the guests at the table, who were just waving and melting over Garrett like an angel.

It was like a cure for my soul. As soon as I heard his voice, the annoyed mood left me and the hormones of happiness spilled over my body. I leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.

"You can't even imagine how you improved my day with your arrival," I smiled at him.

"That's weird," Max said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Because I didn't even notice that my presence would do you any good," he added.

I knew he was just kidding because there was laughter in his eyes. Apparently he was relieved to see me. He could finally get rid of the boys and focus only on himself.