“I was going to be a freshman. Officially a teenager…the most awkward age ever, and I had to be the new kid in school. I hated most of my freshman year,” David said.

Marc remembered that time all too well.

“I became that angry, brooding teen. If it hadn’t been for the photography classes I took at the community college on weekends, there’s no telling how I would have wound up.”

“Well, we both turned out okay in the long run, but it was a hard transition, for sure. And for me, the biggest loss was being torn away from all our extended family.”

“I’m really looking forward to seeing some of them tonight,” Marc said.

He braked for a light and then turned right on the green arrow. Ten minutes later, they were pulling up to the Adamos home. The driveway was already full of cars, so he parked against the curb.

“It’s sure going to be weird without Uncle Wayne here,” David said.

Marc nodded, and then they both got out and headed to the house. The door was always unlocked during family gatherings, so they walked in without knocking.

Marc was immediately surrounded by family, all welcoming him home. He went into the kitchen to look for his aunt, and when he saw her at the sink, he walked up behind her and gave her a quick hug.

“Hey, Aunt June.”

June turned in his arms. “Oh, Marco! You’re home! I’m so glad you came,” she said.

“I’m so sorry about Uncle Wayne,” he said.

“So am I, but it was a blessing. He suffered so much this past month.” Then she wiped away tears. “I hear you are retiring.”

“Yes. Getting too old to chase rainbows, I think.”

She smiled and patted both his cheeks. “You are such a handsome man. Still young enough to find a wife. Someone to grow old with.”

Marc laughed. “I’ve been growing old just fine by myself. Is there anything David and I can do for you?”

“You can go answer the door, show people where to put their things, and play host for a bit until Leo gets here.”

Marc thought of their oldest son and the good times they’d had as children.

“It will be good to see everyone again.”

“And they will be glad to see you,” she said.

Marc greeted his sister-in-law with a hug, and then two aunts and a cousin, before leaving the kitchen.

After that, he and David took turns answering the door and welcoming the family until Leo and his family arrived. Once he’d been relieved of his duties, Marc took it upon himself to work the room, making sure everyone had a drink of some kind and a place to sit.

It wasn’t until later when the food was laid out buffet-style in the dining room and people started pairing up to get in line that he realized he was the only single male in the room, and the only Adamos with no children. It didn’t actually leave him regretting his life choices, but not for the first time did he wonder what he was missing.