Chapter 16
Dad and I celebrated my one year anniversary in South Carolina with a bonfire and the guys.
He gave me a frame with a pic of us standing in front of the house the day I arrived.
Troy took it with his phone, unbeknownst to me.
We cooked hot dogs and made s’mores over the fire while music played in the background.
It was a great way to unwind after midterm exams.
Troy updated us that Nick was still okay, but there were no specific details offered by the FBI, other than the fact that he had some cuts and bruises on his face. I both loathe and crave the updates. I need more details than the FBI offers, but to have evidence that he's alive is everything.
The following week is spring break. Alex, E, and Steven flew to the Caribbean on Sunday.
Seb, Bay, and I worked at a wedding in Charleston with Dad and Troy for two days mid-week.
Jake is standing regularly and using his wheelchair more, and Colette and Joseph visited him while we were working at the wedding, but there was no drama.
I hung out with Jake a lot and went to the beach with Seb, Bay, and Penny on Thursday.
Seb asks to sleep over on Thursday and Friday nights so we can get the garden planted.
Friday morning, Dad joins Seb and me at the landscape supply company to order compost to be delivered to the house, and we pick out some seeds and transplants. Bay, Olivia, and a young boy are waiting for us at the house when we get home.
“Summer!” Olivia shouts when I get out of my Jeep.
I bend down to give her a hug. “Morning Olivia. Thanks for helping with the garden today.” I smile.
“Welcome, Summer. Come meet my best friend, Ellie.” She takes my hand and walks over to the boy and Bay. “Ellie, this is my friend Summer.”
“Hi Ellie, nice to meet you.” I smile at him.
“Hello.” He gives me a big smile and a wave.
Olivia shows me a trowel she has in her back pocket and gloves. “Look, I’m all set. What are we doing first?”
I hand her some seed packets to carry as Seb, Bay, Ellie, and Dad grab the transplants for me. I went a little crazy and got some perennials I thought were interesting to add to the flower beds around the yard, too.
We set everything on the back deck and then get tools out of the garage to till the soil in preparation. I have Seb and Olivia help me find spots for my new flowers while the others till the garden beds.
A few hours into our work, the compost arrives. Bay and Seb grab the wheelbarrow and shovels and then scoop the compost into the center of each veggie bed. Olivia, Ellie, and I spread the fresh mixture evenly, while Dad retreats to the kitchen to make us lunch.
We enjoy salad and sandwiches on the back deck before returning to work.
We each take a bed and either seed it or plant the seedlings, and then Bay checks the irrigation system and gets it set up for me.
Oliva and Ellie did really well with the seedlings I gave them to plant.
They were very gentle, and Olivia asked one of us to check each seedling they planted to make sure it was okay.
Between her and Seb, we had a running commentary of stories while we worked.
I’m so pleased with how the veggie garden looks when we're done. I'll have to do some succession planting in the weeks ahead and will add more tender veggies next month, but we should have a large bounty again this year.
Dad orders Chinese food for dinner, and Bay leaves with Olivia and Ellie afterwards. Dad, Seb, and I grab showers and then settle on the couch to watch a new movie. I missed Alex and E this week, and Nick, but it was relaxing.
That night after Dad goes to bed, Seb gets up from under his pile of blankets and lifts me out of my corner and sets back down with me between his legs. We make out and bring each other to orgasm very quietly before Seb lays me on top of him to sleep.
Alex, E, and Steven return midday Saturday, looking happy, tanned, and relaxed. They stop by to see the garden in the afternoon before joining me to visit Jake. Alex invites all of us to use the pool on Sunday afternoon.
We celebrate E’s 18th birthday at the end of March at the apartment.
He seems bittersweet today. Happy to be free from his controlling family, but also sad?
I can understand that. Having a family that isn’t blood is not better or worse, but it feels different.
This estrangement is still new to him, too.
E didn’t want a big party to celebrate, just us.
I baked a four-tier cake after finding out his favorites.
Seb told me he liked lighter, citrusy cakes and mousse, and Dad helped me bake the cake layers the day before.
I went with a white cake and a lemon cake in alternating layers with a citrus mousse between the white layers and a fluffy buttercream between the lemon layers.
I decorated the outside with large swirls of Swiss buttercream and topped it with fresh berries.
Alex is having the food catered from a few different restaurants that E enjoys.
Bay offers to pick me up for the party so I can hold the cake during the drive. When he arrives, I hand him E’s gift to carry for me. Carefully picking up the cake, I say goodbye to Dad as we leave. He helps me into his car, having to clip in my seatbelt before we are off to their house.
Up on the third floor, we find balloons outside the apartment door. Bay knocks before opening it up for me. “Sunshine,” Seb hollers, rushing over to take the cake from me.
“Hi Hurry. Hey guys,” I wave. I admire the balloons in various shades of blue, black, and silver covering the main living area as I walk over to hug E. “Happy 18th, E.”
He bends and wraps me in his arms, holding tight. “Thanks Summer. Seb went overboard with the balloons,” he tells me, stepping back and waving his hand around.
“Not surprising,” I chuckle as the guy in question slings an arm over my shoulder.
“We gotta grab the food. It just arrived. Be right back,” he tells us, kissing my cheek and jogging out of the apartment.
I go to the kitchen to grab plates and cutlery for everyone, as E stands awkwardly. Raising an eyebrow at him, I question what he’s doing.
“I was told to relax tonight and leave the kitchen alone,” E responds.
“Well, that’s just silly. It’s your happy place. Come help me set up.”
A genuine smile splits his golden face as he takes the plates from me and starts placing them around the table. We’re just setting soda and water down when Alex and Seb return with bags full of food.
“E, you couldn’t help yourself, could you?” Seb says in exasperation.
“No Hurry, I told him to help. It’s his birthday, and you stopped him from being in his happy place.”
Seb’s mouth opens and closes several times, like a fish, not sure how to respond.
“It has been some time since Summer rendered you speechless, Seb,” Alex grins.
We all laugh a little until he composes himself. “Shit, sorry E. You know that’s not what I meant. You’re always cooking for us, and I wanted you to relax on your birthday,” Seb finally speaks.
E walks over and grabs one of the bags he’s carrying. “I know Seb.” He kisses his lips gently. “Your heart was in the right place.”
We spread out the food in the middle of the table and dig in. I try several dishes at E’s recommendation, and they’re all lovely. The guys share funny stories, centering on E growing up. Apparently, he was a very awkward kid when he hit his growth spurt in his early teens.
Seb takes great delight in recounting basketball tryouts in freshman year, where E often tripped over his own feet.
He had a major growth spurt the summer before and was still adjusting to his longer legs.
Bouncing the ball while running down the court was beyond his capabilities for the first week, so Seb and E spent every evening practicing to help him adjust.
Once the food has disappeared, I light the candles and grab the cake from the island. We sing Happy Birthday to a blushing E before I offer him the knife to cut slices for us all. He seems to love the flavors, which makes me happy.
Next, he opens his presents, and he seems really touched by everything. He received clothes, a chef’s coat and hat, a photo album that includes pics of our friend group, a bracelet, and a knife set from me for culinary school.
After dinner, we soak in the hot tub and then relax until it’s time to head home. I get a hug and a kiss on my cheek from E before Bay drives me home.