A few weeks passed and Micah was looking at the floor plan with Jay and Miss Anderson. The kitchen was all done and now they were installing some utilities such as toilets, and were bringing in extra wood for the stage that will be coming through.

"Alright, so now the kitchen is finished so we are going to work in the dining area, and have the stage here as you wanted," Miss Anderson said, moving her hands around the map and furthest back into the restaurant plan.

"Yeah, that sounds good." Micah nodded in interest. His eyes scanned over everything. Everything was looking good and falling smoothly into place like a puzzle piece being put into place.

"Are you going to have regular performances?" Jay asked.

"Well, not at the beginning. I would see how it goes, but I would mostly like to have late afternoon or evening shows because it will make it more fun." He loved it when there was music playing inside restaurants and it added to the enjoyment of the food.

"That would be pretty fun. Food and singing going together," Miss Anderson said cheerfully.

"Yep, that's the point. I want the atmosphere to be joyful and for everyone to have a good time," Micah said and smiled in triumph.

"So you want to have the stage built first and then we can set the tables around after?" Miss Anderson suggested softly.

"Yeah, I think that sounds like a good plan. But also, I want to put some plants around, so should I do that before or after we place the tables?"

"You should do before so that you know how to arrange the tables around them," Jay said.

"That's true," Micah said, stroking his beard and having second thoughts, "yeah, I'll do that, thanks." He then got up and tucked in his chair. "Is there anything else I need to know?"

"Not really, that's all I got updated for you," Miss Anderson stacked her papers neatly.

"Okay, I'll see you next week for any updates."

"See you later."

"Hey Micah, you wanna do baseball this weekend?" Jay asked.

"Sure," Micah agreed and then went out the door.

When he went to pick up the kids, he got a box of cookies that Mariana made out from the trunk. found them with his mom in the living room. She was sat on the couch while knitting to keep her occupied.

"Hi, Mom!" Micah greeted her in Spanish.

"Hi, mi hijo!" Crystal's face brightened up as she placed her needles down.

"How are you doing mom?" Micah placed the cookies next to her and hugged her.

"I'm good, are those for me?" She asked, pointing to the tin.

"Yeah, Mariana made them for you."

"Aw, that's so sweet." She looked through them and picked one up. "So you didn't help her?" Her words were as sharp as her eyes shot up.

"Well—um—um..." he stuttered as he felt like he had been put on the spot. He started scratching his head awkwardly, not knowing how to answer.

"I'm only joking." Crystal started laughing and ate the cookie. Micah laughed along and sat down next to her.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Elisa and Axel stopped what they were doing and ran to hug him.

"Hey, guys!" He hugged them and lifted them off the ground. "We're you guys good for Ita?"

"Very good!"

"They were so behaved and helped me make an apple and banana cake for you to take home," Crystal gave him the cake that was wrapped in aluminum foil.

"Me and Axel took turns pouring stuff in," Elisa explained.

"Really? I bet it tastes amazing," Micah said and put it into the plastic bag, "thanks Mom, we can have this for dessert tonight." He was excited to have this as his mom always made the best cakes.

"I'm glad you like the little surprise." Crystal smiled and rested back on the couch, a sad mellow tone in her voice.

"Hey Mom, you okay?"

"Yeah, just thinking about how all of you used to live here. Sometimes I miss that but I'm glad you're all moved out now," she replied, reminiscing.

"Yeah I know," Micah said, "But I'm sure we drove you insane sometimes."

"That is true." Crystal started laughing. "There's finally some peace and quiet around here."

Micah also laughed as there was a hint of truth to it. Coming back felt so different and he did miss it at times, but not too much. 

He then glanced up at the time and realized it was getting quite late.

"Anyway, I love you mom and I'll see you tomorrow but I have to go now." He got up and gave his mom a tight hug.

"Aw, I love you too Micah." She hugged him back and let him go.

When they got home, Micah unlocked the door and Rio came meowing in between his legs.

"Hey Rio, you hungry?" He asked as he allowed them inside. Rio meowed in response and rubbed his legs while his tail was stuck up. Micah then went into the kitchen and refilled his food and water. He started stroking Rio as he quickly lapped up his food.

He then noticed Axel had his crayons and headed towards the wall while drinking from his sippy cup.

Oh no, oh no, oh no no no...

But before he could react, Axel stopped for a few seconds and turned around to say, "daddy, paper please." he asked innocently.

Oh good, Micah thought and he then had a better idea of something they could do together.

"Elisa and Axel, do you want to do something fun?" Micah turned to them as they waddled over with their cups.

"Like what daddy?" Elisa asked curiously.

"Like this." He went and got some laminated menus out from the cupboard and a pack of stickers.

"Oooh looks fun!" Axel grabbed it and then started shaking it around.

"I want it look pretty!" Elisa grabbed some off and they ran to sit at the table. Micah joined them and they all sorted the menus out. The red theme were the different courses, the blue was for the drinks, and the yellow was desserts.

"What do you think should go on there Elisa and Axel? You're free to choose whichever stickers you like like," he said as he leaned on the table. He wanted this part reserved for his kids because he knew how much they loved playing with sparkly stickers.

"I want tree stickers!" Elisa announced and quickly got them from the pack.

"I want animal," Axel said and took them too.

While they were doing that, Micah got his phone out and started texting Mariana to check up on her.

Micah: Hey my flower, are you okay?

MyQueen🥵💞🍭: Hey! Yeah, I'm fine🥰still at work but finishing soon and going to hang out with Leilani and Mona later.

Micah: Oh okay, be safe and I'll see you when you get home.

MyQueen🥵💞🍭: thank you my love 🥰I hope your safe too x. Are you at home now with our little munchkins?

Micah: Yes haha, we are home now lol.

MyQueen🥵💞🍭: Aw, give them a kiss for me.

Micah: I will😊.

He put the phone away and continued putting stickers with his little kiddies.

****

Mariana kicked her legs out as she sat on the grass with Leilani and Mona. They were sat in a field, eating food, and sharing some funny stories.

Mariana opened her bottle of coke and as it spritzed to life. She quickly put her mouth on the top and sucked the smoke before it could escape. She then blew it out like she was smoking. She started laughing at how silly she looked and started drinking it properly.

"Mariana, why are you playing around with your coke?" Leilani chuckled.

"Just for the look and I find it kind of fun," Mariana chuckled and ate some chips.

"I know how that feels." Mona started laughing. "I used to smoke for real as a coping mechanism. But I don't do it so much now, only every now and then."

"Really?" Leilani said, in surprise and interest.

"Yeah..." Mona said, her voice quivered nervously and she lightly tapped the gap between her teeth. "Although it did make my gums a bit dark when I was doing it."

"Actually, I think it suits you," Leilani said and leaned back towards the tree. She glanced up at Mateo who was trying to climb it. She called at him to be careful as he hopped onto a branch.

"So do I, especially with that piercing of yours." Mariana pointed out while giggling. She adored the jewelry and wondered how it felt having it on if it was painful or not.

"Mhm really," Mona raised her eyebrow in amusement and brushed a strand of her hair away. "I am thinking of getting one on my tongue though, but I'm not so sure yet."

"I remember when someone that had a crush on me had that. I was thirteen and I remember sneaking out to meet him in the night."

"Did you ever get caught?" Mona asked while intrigued. She leaned forward as a glint of curiosity passed through her glowing eyes.

"No," Leilani snickered, "never, but this boy wasn't that good, and kept pressuring me so you know what I did?"

"What?" Mariana folded her legs inwards and rocked gently, fully immersed in the story now.

"I agreed, but that doesn't mean I was going to turn up." Leilani brought up her maroon nails and blew on them like she was brushing off the situation. "I hid behind this old bin," she crinkled her nose, "and I watched him wait for me for more than an hour. He just stood there looking foolish. Then his friends soon showed up which we never planned."

"Wow, it looks you dodged a bullet there," Mariana said and sighed in relief.

"Yeah," Leilani mumbled and rested on her knees. Her black hair was in wavy locks that flowed within the wind. "but back then, I accidentally knocked over a lid and I think they heard so I ran away while cackling." She then squinted her eyes as if she was uncomfortable.

"I just realized how long ago that was. I really miss being young."

Mariana drank her coke and then had some Hershey's. "Same. You know, I remember when I was fifteen and I was hanging out with this boy that my parents didn't like." She smirked. "I was going in and out my house like it was some hotel and they were going mad."

"Their daughter thought she was some bad girl," Leilani started laughing.

"I actually did!" Mariana exclaimed, "but the thing is, that was around the time my younger siblings got adopted and I felt left out and replaced." She folded her arms in protest.

"Aw, that's understandable," Mona said, "Mariana just needed some attention. and some loving," she started giggling because it was just so funny.

"Yeah, I needed it. I even kissed him right in front of my house where my mom and dad were watching," Mariana said with a smug look.

"You really don't fear anything," Mona muttered and tutted.

"Yeah, my dad came and chased him out while barking out threats, and my mum dragged me inside and I got grounded for the rest of the year!" Mariana started cackling and fell on the floor.

"So, what did they say?" Mona asked.

"I had a talk with them about why I was acting the way I did, and then we began doing more family stuff together. That's when I realized that my new siblings weren't all that bad despite the massive age gap."

"Yeah, it could be harder to connect more when it's like that," Mona said, "sometimes I wish I had either a younger or older sibling since I was an only child."

"I only have a younger sister, but she's still living in France," Leilani said while casually rocking her body.

"I used to live in this place called Maramures, in a nice little village where me and my dad had a farm." Mona smiled like she was reliving a happy memory once again. "I remember when I was feeding the piglets and one ran out so I chased him down the village, it was so funny." 

"I sometimes have to chase my son like that," Mariana started giggling. She sighed happily and then her head hit the grass. She gazed up at the sky, trying to get comfortable, but the prickling wind sent nerves up her spine that made her shiver.

"Hey, one day, let's have a girl's night out," Mariana suggested.

"To where?" Leilani said.

"I don't know, just anywhere."

A/N: Hey I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Honestly, I think one of the sweetest things for parents is having ur kid running up to you in excitement🥰🥰🥰