SAM

Doing inventory in the pantry is one of my least favorite activities, but so necessary to keep the order and hygiene in my kitchen. Since I've been covering for Adam on some days, I've been neglecting my responsibilities. After inspecting the expiration date on the shelf of seasonings, I feel glad that my tedious task is done. Almost in synchrony, my phone buzzes in my pocket and the message from Adam makes me smile and feel relieved.

"Lovey-dovey message from Marisol?" Claire asks while carrying a tray of marinated chicken from the fridge.

"No, from Adam. You probably got it as well. Rory can go home."

"Great news! Adam has been freaking out with everything that happened."

"He certainly seemed concerned in the last days, but was so busy that we couldn't catch up."

"What happened to Rory put things into perspective for him. Once he understood the seriousness of what happened to his brother, he realized that people must come first. The club will continue with or without him."

"Agree. I'm glad he's taking time to get better," I say and we walk towards our workstations.

"Sam?" She holds my arm before we split our separate ways. "Erin told me that Adam had was hospitalized nine years ago and it was serious. What happened?"

I motion for her to follow me to the empty basement. "He ended in a comma after getting respiratory failure. The first days were terrible. His condition was so bad that it felt like a miracle when he survived each day. He woke up, but was far from being well and had to follow a tough recovery program. His body was so weak and he had trouble talking. Took months before he went back to his old self."

"Did he ever get psychological treatment after that situation?"

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"Since he got released from the hospital we've had small issues. More like irritations about things regarding his health. He also has nightmares. I ask him about them or if I can do anything to help him. He always replies that I wouldn't understand and changes the topic. He wants no one to pity him or think he's weak, but not wanting to share what is going through his head with me makes me feel out of place. My dad takes the exact medication Adam got for his blood pressure and he's double Adam's age. I mentioned it and he got quite nasty with me."

Typical Adam. "I'm really sorry, Claire. I've known him for 25 years and he can be complicated like that. Erin moved in with me due to similar issues, just not about his health."

"I dare to say that I love him, Sam. But you can imagine that this isn't exactly how I pictured my relationship with him. Trust and open communication is so important, and we have little of that. I maybe jumped into a relationship with him when he wasn't ready," she looks quite disappointed.

"Don't think that, you are not wrong here. Claire, you are the best thing to have happened to Adam in a long time. Give him time to internalize that you only want the best for him."

Claire nods and we head upstairs again to prepare for the lunch shift. Our sous chefs are busy cutting ingredients and making sauces, and I make sure my cooking area is ready. Robbie enters the kitchen and his face shows an emotion that I can't figure out.

"Are you okay?" I ask. He seems to want to tell me something, but doesn't know where to begin.

"Sam, I have two walk-ins this early. They haven't even ordered yet and are asking to talk with you. They don't look like food critics to me."

"Press, maybe?"

"Don't think so. If they were, they need to show me a press pass."

"Peculiar indeed. Let's see what they want," I take my apron off and head upstairs.

Once at the gallery, Robbie points at the couple sitting next to the balcony and I freeze on my spot. I thank Robbie and tell him that I can handle it by myself. My heart races as I take slow steps towards their table.

"Samuel! Mi amor! It's been so long!"

My parents beam at me. In the past three years, I've had an occasional short call with them but haven't seen them.

"What brings you here?" I say and can't find it in myself to show emotion.

"We came to see you," my dad says. "We heard from Lars and Gretchen that we had to come to the club because you all had done a fantastic job. It's a bit quiet now, no?"

"Lunch starts in about 30 minutes."

Mom watches me with a confused look. "Won't you give us a hug? You don't seem too excited to see us. It's been a year since we saw each other."

"It's been three."

"Three?" Dad looks pensive. "That can't be right. When did we start in Asia? That was two years ago, not three."

"There was a recording session before that. And before the recording session was another tour, and TV shows and jazz festivals, and more recording. I think since your careers took off I have seen you a combined five years at the most."

"Come on, Samuel," Dad begins and waves his hand as if things don't matter. "Don't be bitter. We are here after all."

"Bitter? You left me in the care of Lars and Gretchen when abuela and tía couldn't watch me anymore. You always opted for your career instead of me. I'm not bitter, in any case disappointed."

"Okay, a different topic," Mom says. "We had a quick lunch yesterday with Lars and Gretchen. What happened to Adam and Rory is quite scary."

I'm shocked to hear that they first went to see friends instead of coming to see me.

"How long have you been in Greenwood?"

"A few days," Mom says. "We had an appointment with the notary on the sale of the house in Lonstino and have been meeting with the realtor."

"Days... I see I'm still not a priority."

"Don't be sarcastic. That's not how we raised you," Dad says.

"Are you listening to yourself? I got raised by Lars and Gretchen Sommer."

Dad bangs his fist on the table. "Stop this! We came here to see you and you throw a temper tantrum. We always made sure you were well provided for, even when you were staying at the Sommers. We are not the most horrible parents like you make us seem."

Frustrated, mad, and worried I'll do something stupid, I just turn around and walk outside until I reach Marisol's store. Her smile turns into a worried face once I'm inside. As there are no customers currently inside, she locks the door and turns a sign around to let customers she will be right back. After holding my hand, she brings me to the little room she uses as an office.

"Do you want some coffee? You must be freezing," she rubs her hands on my cold arms as I'm not wearing a jacket. "What happened? Is Rory okay?"

"Rory can go home. My parents are at the club."

"Right now?"

"Unannounced and days after they got to Greenwood. Even had lunch with the Sommers yesterday. They expected me to run into their arms and feel excited. I just can't. Why should I when I'm not even a priority?"

"Would you have been able to see them in the past days?"

The answer is no. Adam is working limited hours, Rory was at the hospital, and Erin was running around for everyone else. Claire led the kitchen in the past days while Noah and I took care of the club management.

"You told me your parents toured when you were a baby and brought you along. I honestly think it freaked them out to realize that they couldn't give you a normal life."

"I'm afraid I don't get what you are trying to say."

"Imagine you had restaurants in different cities or that I had a chain of stores. We bring our baby around while traveling to check on the performance of our businesses. It's fine for a while, until that baby becomes a toddler and wanders around the property."

"That would be dangerous. A restaurant kitchen isn't a place for a little kid."

"Sam, that's what your parents went through. Opportunities for musicians aren't plenty and that's their passion. They were responsible to find people who loved you as their own and could give you a normal life."

Marisol's words resonate and make me remember something. A time in which they brought me to the Sommers and got in a taxi to head to the airport. I thought I imagined seeing my mom cry and I told Gretchen. She just hugged me.

"I hope they haven't left the restaurant yet."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"Can you leave the shop?"

"My boss doesn't mind," she smiles.

We walk back to the restaurant and find my parents putting on their jackets to leave.

"I'm sorry." That is all I get to say before Mom grabs me in a hard hug; the same way that Gretchen hugged me.

"You've turned into an amazing man thanks to Lars and Gretchen and we'll be forever grateful. We love you so much. I lost count of how many times I called Gretchen crying because I missed you so much. Your dad would drive everyone mad talking about you."

Dad nods and caresses my cheek.

"We've rented a place here. Come by whenever you want, and we will be there. We've seen enough of the world and we'll only do local events or studio work. We can spend Christmas together."

I don't remember when was the last time I spend the holidays with my parents, but the idea fills me with hope. Marisol stands close to the entrance, probably to give us privacy while we talk.

"Mamá, Papá, I want to introduce you to my everything, my girlfriend Marisol."

"Girlfriend?" Mom looks at me with so much love and admiration. "Where are our manners? It's a pleasure to meet you," she shakes hands with my girl.

"I hope you can also join us during Christmas," Dad says to her.

"We'll be there," she says and my mom looks delighted.

Things aren't exactly perfect, but I have a better understanding about the reasons why my parents took their decisions. I'm looking forward to being part of their lives again.