Chapter 255: How Did You?
"AHHHH!"
Adam winced at the shrill voice echoing from the back seat, then turned to grin at Melanie, who was glaring daggers at him.
"With the way you two scream, I’m going to go deaf before I hit thirty five."
Adir blinked groggily, his head wobbling slightly as he looked out of the car window at the blur of trees and buildings passing by. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and mumbled, "How did I get here?"
The last thing he remembered was being tucked into bed at Adam and Melanie’s house. He’d fallen asleep thinking about cartoons and breakfast. Now, he was in a moving car, still in his pyjamas, the seatbelt uncomfortably pressing into his side.
Melanie shot another icy glare at Adam before responding dryly, "Adam has this charming habit of manhandling people without warning. Apparently, he’s planned a picnic today. And instead of, you know, asking us, he decided to kidnap us."
"Hey!" Adam said defensively, one hand gesturing from the steering wheel. "I did check your calendar. You said you weren’t doing anything today. So I’m taking you to do exactly that—nothing. Outdoors. With snacks. And trees. And as for Adir—" he glanced at the rearview mirror—"you don’t have school today. So tell me, would you rather stay home and be bored, or go on a surprise picnic?"
"A picnic!" Adir immediately brightened, stretching and yawning as he rubbed his eyes again. But his smile faded slightly, replaced by a hesitant frown. He turned toward Adam and asked, his voice quieter, "What about Father?"
Adam’s smile softened. He glanced in the rearview mirror again, meeting the boy’s worried eyes. His voice dropped slightly as he said, "He’s got a tough round of treatment today, and he asked us not to come. Said he didn’t want you seeing him like that. But we’ll stop by the hospital on the way back, okay?"