Cantrell: The Middle Years, Part Two

Homecoming! a Cantrell: The Middle Years, Part Two, Update-7

 

The house was entirely too quiet with only five children. Erik really missed the chaos one child, a teen could create.  Three long weeks they had kept him under wraps at Children’s Hospital over in Chestnut Ridge. Although they visited him every day, his absence at home was palpable.  Finally, they had a date for when they could bring him home.  He and Kayleigh were nearly giddy with the news. Immediately they started planning his homecoming. They invited their family, under the guise of a Family Reunion.  Kayleigh baked the Macha Tea cake Andrew was so very fond of.

 

Harmony and Cadence busied themselves in the time they had before school, setting the tables in the dining room.  Jamison, assisted by a very eager Peter, hung the red and green paper decorations along the walls in the room, as well as the green balloon banner, above the draped table for the cake. The family was simply abuzz with excitement. Erik didn’t have the heart to tell them Andrew was going to have to take things a bit slow for awhile. Erik peeked in on their progress. “Looking good, kids, thanks for pitching in.” He smiled grandly and they smiled back.

 

He gave Kayleigh a quick kiss on the cheek, as he was headed off to both a concert and a photoshoot. The summer had quite gotten away from them, as Fall would soon be upon them.  The DemiSemiQuaver, the first Sunday of Fall. Record of the Year.  He was glad he had one. The air, though, was still too warm. Erik did his best not to focus on it. Turning his thoughts to the afternoon when he and Kayleigh could finally bring their son home.

 

He was glad for his full schedule today, allowing him to squelch any misgivings he was feeling about his son’s health.  The tumor was gone, and so thereby was his cancer. They would keep a close watch on him, and if something looked suspicious at the consequential follow-up, he would undergo an additional round of the Infusion-injection. The Oncologist assured the anxious parents, that was rare. They believed they had cured the teen.

 

When Erik beamed himself back home again, a couple of Paparazzi were there just outside of his gate. He was so overjoyed, since they were close to the time to pick Andrew up, he leapt for joy.

“Looks like the concert went well,” Mallory said, with a smile.

“Yes, it did and soon it will be time to pick-up Andrew and bring him home. It’s been too long. Excuse me, I have to go.”

“Yes, of course. Wish him a happy homecoming for me.”

 

Kayleigh and Erik opted to beam over to the Children’s Hospital in Chestnut Creek. Happily, there was very little activity outside, so they weren’t deterred by Paparazzi. “You okay?” Erik asked as he pulled his dear wife into him, giving her a tight squeeze.

Smiling back at him, “Just a tad anxious, is all,”

 

They entered the Infirmary through the front doors. Looking around they found their son asleep on one of the benches, used for waiting patients. “Should we wake him up?” Kayleigh asked.

“No, we still have to sign all the paperwork, pay the bill and release papers. He’s obviously more tired than excited to go home. Let’s let him finish his nap.”

 

Next thing they knew the doctor found them. Before they knew it a whole slew of medical personnel gathered around. Awaking the sleeping prince. Andrew groggily sat up. “You’re here, am I sprung, yet?”

Erik laughed as he hugged his son. “Almost. A signature, here and there and then we can go home. Be prepared for the onslaught. Your siblings missed you.”

“Oh,” Kayleigh said, “and don’t be mad, they wanted to throw a little homecoming party for you.”

“A party?  All I want to do is sleep, get reacquainted with my own bed.”

“Well, we’ll try not to keep you up too late. Your grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins will be there, too.”

 

“Here, they come,” Jamison said, gesturing at them to get to the foyer.  “Line up, line up, come on, line up already. Who are we missing?”

“You mean besides, Melody and Cadence?”

“Hey, Melody, Cadence, front and center! He’s here.”

 

As if on cue, the front doors opened and in walked the star of the moment. Melody

pushing her way forward to be the first one to greet Andrew. “Andy,” She cried. “How are you feeling?”

 

“I think I now understand why some people who have been far away from home kneel down and kiss the ground. I have the same urge. Other than that all I can say about my confinement is, the doctor gave me a pill and I grew a new brain.”

“But, I liked the old one,” Cadence said.

 

With that Melody threw her arms about his neck and all but hugged the stuffing out of him. “Hey, hey, hey, let a fella breathe, okay? I love you, too.”

 

“Walk with me,” Melody said, as she drew him into the dining room.

Slowly, the immediate family, plus their extended family arrived, taking a seat at the decked-out tables.

 

Once all had enjoyed the feast provided, Erik made his way over to a small round, draped table. Taking a bottle of fizzy juice out of the bowl filled with ice, he deftly removed the cork. It gave off a muted popping sound. Pouring a few glasses, he filled his last. Smiling, he held it aloft and said, “Come on up here, Andy, this is for you.” The boy, taking out his phone, a habit he never lost from his childhood, stood opposite his father, still messing with it. “What’s so important on your phone, that you can’t give me your attention. I’m toasting you, after all.”

 

Shrugging his shoulders, Andrew said, calmly, “Just setting up my Simstagram to record, is all.”

“Ah, okay I suppose. I would like to begin by saying you are one of the bravest people I know. —”

“Dad, wait, it’s not recording, yet.”

 

“Uh, you’ll tell me when? I’m not sure I can work like this. I think I may even have lost my train of thought. Will you just put that thing down and listen.”

 

“Okay, go,” the boy said, pointing at his father.

“Are you sure, are you quite sure? Unbelievable. I have lost my train of thought. And put that thing away. Thank you.”

Shaking his head in dismay, Erik held his glass up again, clearing his throat, “To my son, Andrew, who has fought his way back from a deadly tumor. He underwent his treatment with nary a complaint. I’m told he was even sweet to the nursing staff. And while you claim you got a new brain, I’m very happy to see you are still our very own Andrew. May God continue to watch over you as you fully recover.”

 

The rest of the family continued to party-down, discussing their genealogy. After a time unable to keep his eyes open, Andrew begged off. “I’m really tired. Thanks for the homecoming, I enjoyed it very much. Mom, the cake was primo. Good night, everybody. Don’t stay up too late.”

 

“You’re a fine one to talk. Sweet dreams, Angel-face,” Kayleigh said, with a smile. “Get some rest. And, just because you won’t be going to school in the morning, doesn’t mean you can stay up all night playing games. You heard the doctor. He prescribed sleep.”

 

“Ah, Mom, you’re just no fun at all. Loosen up a little, okay? I promise I’m so tired I’ll be asleep almost before my head hits the pillow.”

“Good night, Andrew,” the rest of the family chorused.