This Summer

Chapter 17

There's a long silence that stretches between us to the point where the only thing that is heard are the crickets in the grass hiding around us and the meat sizzling on the grill. The smile that I picture in my mind from years ago replaces with the shock I see on Matthew. He doesn't move. He doesn't speak.

"Happy birthday, Matty." Hannah says with hope in her voice as the banner shakes in her grasp.

Everything makes sense. His behavior today, our parents leaving, and the planned barbecue. Every summer we spent with the Kennedy's, we had a barbecue for Matthew's birthday. I remember him being so happy to see everyone get together each year to celebrate his special day. I picture Matthew as a little boy with the widest smile after blowing out the burning candles on a giant decorated cake. The flooding memories make me feel awful for forgetting.

It's quiet. Way too quiet. I can't tell if he's happy or mad about this. Hannah's wide smile slowly starts to fade away as Brian cautiously makes his way down from the ladder. Mom, Dad, and James are as silent as I am and unsure of what to do.

So, I do the only thing that makes sense. I wrap my hand around his arm and whisper so that only he could hear, "Matthew, say something."

That seemed to do the trick. He blinks several times before speaking.

"Wow, this is all so much. Mom, you didn't have to do all this." Hannah's smile returns along with a few sighs of relief from everyone else.

"We're celebrating your 21st birthday. We have to do something."

I have to say it's a little weird. I never pictured Matthew being the type to spend his 21st birthday with family around him. A few weeks ago, I would've pictured him as the type to be with friends out at some bar drinking until they couldn't anymore. But now that I think about it, he hasn't mentioned any close friends that he talks to.

Matthew steps away from me and walks up to Hannah, wrapping her into a long hug. I wish he would've told me today was his birthday.

I step over to my parents as Matthew talks with his. I receive a long stare from my mother. "Where were you?" Is the first thing she asks.

"I left you and dad a note." She scoffs and rolls her eyes.

"I called several times." She's mad. I don't remember receiving any calls from her. But, I was also distracted and didn't bother checking my phone.

"You had me and your father worried sick. The least you could've done is texted and let me know that you were safe. Jade, when I said to have fun, you know this is not what I meant." She whispers the last part. I have no doubt in my mind that she is talking about Matthew. It's bad enough that she's made her opinion about him very clear, and now this.

I pull my phone out from my back pocket to find the battery drained. "I'm sorry, I think my phone died." She gives me a scowl.

"Make sure it doesn't happen again."

"Okay." I feel guilty enough for forgetting his birthday and now worse for making her worry.

"I mean it." She says sternly, making sure I get the message.

My eyes follow the family across ours. It's hard to picture them the way Matthew talks about them. They're talking, smiling, and laughing. They're a picture perfect family.

I take everyone settling in as an opportunity to quickly head to my room to freshen up and grab a sweater. I tell my parents that I'll be right back and head inside. I'm not sure how to apologize to Matthew. This day might have been the best one I've had since I got here and it's because of him. He shocked me today, making it hard to picture him as the little boy I once knew. He's different. A good different.