Abandoned Tracks

Chapter Twenty One: Family Ties

Ethan and Alex tidied themselves and came downstairs to have dinner. Ethan turned to Alex and said, "My family is really cool, so you don't need to be nervous."

Alex gave a slight nod, trying to suppress his nervousness.

At the dinner table, Ethan’s mom and his sister-in-law were getting the dinner ready while the others were setting the table. The spread was impressive, with a variety of dishes that made Ethan's eyes light up.

"I made some of your favorite dishes, Ethan," his mom said, smiling warmly. There was a beautifully roasted chicken, creamy mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, a fresh garden salad, homemade bread, and a rich chocolate cake for dessert.

Ethan's face lit up with happiness at the sight. Alex was stunned, both by the number of dishes and the delicious aroma that filled the room. They sat side by side, Ethan subtly squeezing Alex's hand under the table for reassurance.

As they started eating, the conversation began.

"So, Ethan, how was your trip?" James asked.

Ethan hesitated for a moment, knowing he couldn't tell them the truth and even if he did, he knew they wouldn't believe him. So, he made up a story and  quickly composed himself and started, "It was quite an adventure. I went hiking in the mountains, stayed in some small villages, and met a lot of interesting people. There was this one village where they had a festival, and I got to try all sorts of local foods and even learned a bit of traditional dancing."

Alex looked at Ethan in surprise, marveling at how quickly he came up with such an elaborate story.

"That sounds amazing!" Ethan’s sister, Emily, said. "I can't believe you didn't write to us about it."

"Yeah, I got so caught up in everything that I forgot," Ethan replied smoothly.

"And how did you meet Alex?" asked his sister-in-law, Emily.

Ethan glanced at Alex and smiled. "We met at one of the villages. Alex was there visiting too, and we ended up on the same hiking trail. We got to talking and became friends pretty quickly."

Alex nodded, adding, "Ethan was kind enough to help me when I got a bit lost. We've been friends ever since."Ethan and Alex acted so real that nobody knew what really happened.

"What else did you do?, you were actually gone for a month." his brother, James, asked.

Ethan took a sip of water, thinking quickly. "Well, after the festival, I decided to explore some more remote areas. There were places without facility to write letters or phone reception, and it was difficult to keep in touch. But it was worth it. I saw some incredible landscapes and had a lot of time to think."

Ethan’s mom smiled, "It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

After dinner, everyone moved to the hall where Ethan's mom brought out a beautifully arranged platter of fresh fruits. There were strawberries, blueberries, slices of mango and pineapple, and a few pieces of kiwi, all neatly cut and presented on a silver tray.

As they talked and laughed, Sarah suggested, "Why don't we clean the guest room for Alex?"

Before she could finish, Ethan interjected, "Actually, Alex can stay in my room. We'll share."

Ethan's mom looked at Alex and asked, "Is that okay with you, dear?"

Alex, feeling a bit shy, nodded, "Yes, that's fine. Thank you."

James then asked Alex, "So, Alex, how old are you? And tell us more about yourself and your family?"

Alex took a deep breath. "I'm 23.I recently graduated and thought of taking a break from everything. My parents passed away when I was young, and my grandmother raised me. She passed away recently, so it's just me now."Alex remembered his grandmother and felt a light pain in his heart.

The room fell silent, and Alex's eyes filled with tears, though he tried hard not to cry. Ethan's family looked at him with sympathy and compassion.

Ethan's heart was in pain when he looked at Alex who was holding up tears.He wanted give him a tight hug and tell him that he's there for him, but he couldn't do that infront of his family. So, he held back.

Ethan's mom got up and hugged Alex, saying, "You can think of this family as your own now." Ethan felt really happy by looking at this.

Alex felt a warmth in his heart and said, "Thank you so much."

To lighten the mood, Ethan quickly changed the subject. "So, what have you all been up to while I was gone?"

James replied, "pretty much the same, legal stuff and cases.Dad and I had a lot of cases last month."Emily replied, "well , I already started going to university. And I made some really nice friends."

They spent the rest of the evening chatting and catching up until it was time for bed. As everyone got ready to sleep, Ethan's mom asked Alex, "What would you like for breakfast?"

Alex replied, "Anything is fine. I'm not a picky eater."

Everyone went to their rooms to sleep. As Alex and Ethan were heading upstairs, Alex said, "Your family is really nice. I like your mom a lot."

Ethan felt a swell of happiness and intertwined his fingers with Alex's, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad you like them. Alex, I'll be here for you no matter what."

They entered Ethan's bedroom, and Alex got on the bed first. Ethan locked the door behind him and joined Alex under the blanket. Alex snuggled closer to Ethan, kissing him lightly on the neck.

Ethan couldn't resist. He held Alex tighter and whispered in his ear, "Tomorrow, I'll take you out to show you around the place," then he lightly bit Alex's ear.

Alex gave a light "Ouch" and asked, "Why do you always bite my ear? Are you a dog?"

Ethan laughed and replied, "I don't know why, but I like biting you."

Alex teased, "Do you always bite people?"

Ethan responded with a smirk, "Nope, only you." He bit Alex's ear again.

Alex couldn't hold back anymore and bit Ethan's lip. Ethan gave a playful "Ouch, that hurts. Can you do it again?"

Alex laughed and said, "Shameless."

Ethan held him tighter, and they cuddled each other, finally falling asleep in each other's arms.