Chapter 30 #2
Oh shoot, she had! It wasn’t like we hadn’t thrown a party.
It had been a fun event at some sort of animatronic restaurant.
There were only a handful of kids, two from her school, Valencia, Max, and her sister, but Eva had deemed it perfect.
She’d taken nearly everyone by the hand to tell them the long, surprisingly complicated lore of each animatronic figure, and then all the kids had ended up standing in front of the main stage and mirroring the jerky little dances that came with showtime.
It was endearingly creepy, so I was surprised that it had slipped my mind.
But maybe that was because Max’s birthday was coming up, and I was insanely excited.
Last year, we’d celebrated, but he had been too weak to do much and too immunocompromised to go anywhere, so we had a movie marathon and stuffed ourselves with pizza and cake.
This year, Remy and I were planning a real shindig for him.
And while I didn’t think it was healthy to always try to top past memories, I was pretty sure it would be even better than Christmas in July.
“You’re right, I did forget. Thank you for reminding me.”
“Don’t worry. Eva never lets me forget because we’re the same age right now. It doesn’t matter when I tell her that I tested into Addy’s grade, she keeps saying we’re both the youngest now.”
“Does she?” I asked, completely unsurprised as we got our final instructions from the doctor and then headed out.
It was no secret to anyone that our terrific trio was about as close to siblings as kids could get without actually being blood related.
I had worried that eventually the good times would end and they would all get into a fight, or the girls would not want a gross boy for a friend and my son wouldn’t want icky girls as companions, but that hadn’t happened yet.
It was pretty clear to me that somehow, our kids had always been destined to be in each other’s lives.
I really couldn’t be luckier.
Once we made it to the car, I called Remy, and the crackle that came over the line told me he was using the Bluetooth in his car.
“What’s up?” he asked, sounding as happy to hear me as he always did. There was a special sort of healing that came from having someone in my life who was always so pleased to hear my voice.
“Max just got the all clear at the doctor’s, so he wanted to know if we could pick up Addy and Eva and take them out for a little celebration. But I’m guessing you’re already either in line or heading there?”
“Yeah. They really need a new way to do this. The line takes forever and spills out onto the street.”
“Yeah, that sounds like a pain. But since you’re already there, do you want to just meet us at the ice cream parlor as soon as you can?”
“Yeah, I can do that. But all clear, huh?”
“Yes sirree-bob!” Max called from the back seat. I didn’t reprimand him for interjecting into a private conversation, because as far as I was concerned, he could put the all clear up on a billboard and I would be happy. As long as, you know, it didn’t have any other private information.
“Sounds like something worth celebrating. Oh, Jeannie, later tonight, if we could discuss present lists, that would be great. You give me yours and Max’s, and I can give you some rough suggestions for other people and kind of explain how it works.
Don’t panic, you are not expected to buy gifts for everybody. Or even most people.”
My brain stuttered for a second. “Present lists? What are you talking about?”
“For the Christmas holiday with the clan. Now that it’s your second year here, everyone wants to make sure that you’re fully included. I’m sure several are already knitting, sewing, or even carving things for y’all right now.”
Goodness. Sometimes Remy said or did the sweetest things and didn’t seem to have any idea that he was doing so. My stomach flipped a little, and the teary edge in my voice returned.
“Y’all don’t have to get me anything.” I glanced at Max in the rearview mirror. He was already reading the brand new (to him) Sherlock Holmes adventure that Remy had bought him. “I already have everything I could need.”
“Aw, I know, sweetheart. But both sides of my family want to give you gifts. I know it might sound crazy, but Zara’s family believes she sent you.
You’re her blessing and they want to celebrate you.
And while they don’t know about your parents and all that, they’ve guessed you didn’t have the easiest life and wanna give you the community you deserve.
“So even though you don’t need it, could you be a dear and let them spoil the both of y’all for a bit?”
Tears spilled down my cheeks, but I wore them happily, because they were glistening trophies of a life I thought I could never have.
“Thank you, Remy. I’d be happy to come. We can talk about present stuff tonight.”
“Awesome. I’m sure the kids will be thrilled about an impromptu sleepover on a school night. I’ll see you soon. Love you!”
“Love you,” I echoed back to him. I sat there for a moment, my heart full to bursting. I couldn’t say how long I sat there, but eventually Max cleared his throat from the back. “Everything okay, Mama?”
“Everything is perfect,” I answered honestly. “Now, let’s go get you that ice cream.”
“YAY!”