||Hello Neighbour: A Better Timeline||

||Chapter 33: An Apology||

"It's a nice neighbourhood."
Thomas nods, parking in front of the nice bluish house.
Hailey exited first, getting a look around Raven Brooks Friendly Court.
Houses in a row, all different colours and shapes, a llama field and it just felt very homely and welcoming.
"Grandma! Grandpa!"
Nicky rushed to hug his Grandmother Roth, she was caught off by the energy but hugged her boy back,"Oh-Ho! What energy you have, so nice to see you again; You've gotten taller!", Nicky nods, Thomas came over once he had adjusted his hat and cane,"So this is where You've been relocated.", Nicky nods,"Yeah, I've been happy here and I've made a lot of friends.", Thomas smiled,"Friends?","Yeah, like Aaron and Mya, they live across the street.", glancing across the road, two kids ran inside as a man followed.
"That's their dad, Mr Peterson."
"Ah, he seems nice."

Mr Peterson had glanced across the street, seeing the elderly couple and he had assumed was Nicky's grandparents.
He gave a wave to be polite, and the man gave a wave and smile back before following his wife and Nicky.
"Grandparents?"
"Yeah, they're his dad's parents, we asked about his mom side but he said they wouldn't be coming."
"Huh."

=

"It seems like Nicky's settled in nicely here."
Jay nods, handing a cup of tea to his mother,"Yes, definitely; He's been very happy here, school's been well and he's got a lot of friends here.", they could hear Nicky talking about his friends to his grandfather, it was like he lit up and had so much nice things to say about each of them.
"He's so happy."
"Mhm."
Jay leaned against the counter,"Work has been good too, for both Luanne and I; Miguel's here too.", that was surprising,"Miguel's here?? Oh, it would be so wonderful to see him again; you two were like peas in a pod!", Nicky and Thomas came into the kitchen,"You also knew Miguel?", "Of course, such a nice man; When Jay came home from college to visit, he'd bring Miguel and join for dinner.", Thomas nods,"It would be nice to see him again.", Nicky was now more curious about his dad's college life and Miguel's, they did seem pretty close.

=

"So wait-"
Ike was struggling to understand, though he wasn't the brightest, he wasn't getting this rule Mrs Roth had.
"So, Nicky's not allowed to invite anyone over unless they're invited first, but even though Aaron invited Nicky first it doesn't count?"
Mya nods,"Yeah.", Aaron leaned back, stretching bit,"Though, I think she means well; Maybe she's not social or maybe she's just worried about Nicky, she does seem to always be a bit on edge.", Diana nods, though she turned to her husband,"Though I think it's time we invite them for dinner?", Theodore thought about it, he hadn't spoken to Luanne but he had been having some conversations with Jay and he can say he was definitely a very nice man, he can see how Miguel, Ike, Norman and Nicky spoke so highly of him.
"Yeah, I'll think about it."
For Diana, the kids and Ike; That was improvement as he'd usually dance around the idea, but he just said he'd think about it.
. . .
Mya and Aaron quietly fist-dumped.

=

"Miguel, it's so good to see you again!"
Hailey hugged Miguel,"So good to see you again, Mrs Roth and Mr Roth.", Thomas smiled, raising his cane,"No need, please Thomas and Hailey is just fine.", Hailey smiled, Miguel nodding having not seen them in so long.
Hailey looked around Miguel's home, many wonderful pictures of his two kids but someone was missing.
"And how about Natalie?"
Jay immediately got tense,"Uhm, Mom-", Miguel shook his head,"It's fine Jay, I uh. . .", he turned to Jay's parents,"Uhm. . . Sorry, I didn't tell you both, but. . . Natalie, she isn't with us anymore. . .", a heavy truth was brought to them, their son not meeting their gaze as Miguel had his eyes glued to a picture not to far from them.
His wedding picture. . . His beautiful wife. . .
"I had asked Jay to keep it private, as. . . I was still thinking and processing. . ."
Hailey pulled Miguel close,"Oh, I'm so sorry, dear. She was a wonderful woman.", Miguel nods, though his throat felt a lump in his throat, his heart beat seemed faster, his eyes began to water and he rested his head on her shoulder, hiding his face and couldn't hold back.
"Oh dear. . ."
From the upstairs, hidden in the shadows from atop the stairs was Maritza and Enzo, who looked at each other in great sorrow, they didn't like seeing or hearing their dad cry.

=

Enzo was finally not grounded anymore.
. . .
He saw the group all sitting together, Maritza took his arm,"Just do it dummy, they'll forgive you; course it will take time but they'll forgive.", Maritza dragged him to the ground, he didn't look at them.
"Hey guys!"
They all looked up,"Hi, Maritza.", they looked at Enzo.
Maritza nudged him, she gave him a look and he sighed.
"I'm. . . I'm really sorry guys, what I did was wrong and. . . I was stupid, Seth and Ruben weren't really my friends, and. . . Aaron, I'm sorry that I spread those rumours about you and your family, and. . . I'm sorry too, for turning a blind eye to their actions and what I did."
Enzo bowed his head.
. . .
"You know how we kept saying you were looking through pink lenses? It's hard to see the red flags with those on."
Nicky picked at his hat,"And, you really did see them as your friends; And considering you did, when it comes to friends and family you want to defend them as much as you can.", Aaron nods,"Yeah. And, none of us are saying we're complete saints: We have our flaws, all of us.", Maritza nods, smiling as she hugged her brother and gave a big smile,"And you're our idiot, bro.", Enzo sighed, patting her head as he really did have good friends already.