Homecoming

Chapter 22

The first half of the summer holidays passed like water. With the children, I honestly fulfilled my written list of activities. We visited several museums, we were at the zoo, where not only Caroline and her children joined us, but also my parents and boys were in seventh heaven. Twice we had a barbecue at our house, which was also attended by Max, and when he was out of town, the boys even slept without me at my mom's with my father. They took so-called holidays with their grandparents.

On the twentieth of July, on Jared's ninth birthday, Max and I organized a garden party at his home terrace. Max also invited my sister-in-law, my parents, and a few of Jared's friends from school. And although the celebration was to take place at two in the afternoon, my family appeared at the gate at ten in the morning. They came to help us prepare everything, which pleasantly surprised me.

The men pulled a grill from the garage, which Max borrowed from his teammate, connected him, then lifted the benches and tables that Max also borrowed, and later inflated balls and inflatables into the pool.

My sister and I and I wandered around the kitchen. We prepared a vegetable salad, cut pastries, brought paper cups and plates to the terrace, as well as bowls with chips and cakes that my mother brought. While we were adults twisting around the preparations, Jared and Garrett were playing with Alessia and Theo in their room. Later over lunch, their sister put them to sleep in the guest room, and since the boys joined them, it went without crying.

The celebration was a success. The weather was good, the sun was shining all day and it was really warm. The children were allowed to swim, so the entertainment was taken care of. They chanted happily in the pool, where they already had various inflatables and balls ready. Alessia and Theo also fell in love with the pool. If their sister and brother-in-law were not constantly dragged out, they would be able to spend the whole day in it and get completely wet.

Later, the guys who had been guarding the pool so far prepared to prepare the best steaks, sausages and burgers I had ever eaten. They drank beer, debated passionately, and laughed out loud. Looking at them, one would say that they have known each other all their lives and not just two months.

After a hearty meal, I brought a cake from the fridge, which I baked for Jared myself. We sang and congratulated him together. Mom and Dad gave him a blue backpack with new pajamas, a toothbrush, toothpaste and a comb. While the children laughed at this, we adults tried to understand the father's hidden joke. When he noticed that we didn't miss it, he explained it to us. It was to be first aid or complete equipment so that he could sleep with them more often. Max bought him new football boots and I gave him an encyclopedia about animals. I noticed how he liked the zoo and how carefully he studied all the enclosed leaflets and the available information about the lifestyle of the animals present.

When everyone broke up and took home, I couldn't stand it anymore and had to ask Max about his family. I admit that I have not paid any attention to it so far, but when his parents or his siblings, if he had any at all, did not appear on Jared's birthday, it seemed strange to me. Even in the memories of the feedback conversations we had with the children, there was no mention of their grandparents. Pretty suspicious, isn't it? That they had an argument? Did they have any rifts? I guessed. Max did not have the lightest character, which could have caused many disagreements.

"Can I ask you something?" I started carefully.

"Sure," he looked at me, further unloading the washed dishes and dishes from the dishwasher into the shelves in the kitchen counter.

"Why didn't you invite your family to the party?"

I didn't miss how he froze. Apparently I hit a sensitive topic. "Boys are my only family," he finally said.