Chapter 51

Mia POV
 
"Good news, family!" Ethan exclaimed.
 
"Why is there a meeting?" I asked, approaching the sitting room.
 
******
 
As I stood there glancing through all of their eyes, frozen in discomfort from the meeting, I couldn't help but think about how this vacation had been Ethan's idea all of a sudden.
 
. He had been the one to suggest all of this, to plan it, and to excitedly share the details with us.
 
. But now, as I looked at Alexander's tear-stained face, I couldn't help but wonder if Ethan had thought this through before unleashing the secret to the little boy.
 
Had he considered how Alexander would feel, being left behind and knowing he doesn't have a space in the vacation? 
 
Had he thought about the impact this would have on our already fragile family dynamics that Alexander already hugged? 
 
Or had he just been too caught up in his own excitement to think about anyone else—that means pure selfishness?
 
I felt a surge of frustration towards Ethan saying his words, mixed with a deep sadness for Alexander, whose eyes were red and nose already dripping. 
 
"Why had we not considered this before?" I asked myself.
 
Why had we not thought about how our actions would affect him?
 
As I looked around the whole room, I saw the tension and sadness etched on everyone's faces. Ethan's excitement had been short-lived already, replaced by a sense of regret and uncertainty for saying his words. 
 
. I knew that we had to make things right now to find a way to include Alexander in our plans for the vacation.
 
But for now, the room was filled with an uncomfortable silence and killing tension, the only sound Alexander's heartbreaking sobs with pain.
 
I felt a lump form down in my throat as I watched him, my heart aching with sadness for him.
 
I knew that we had to do something to make this right in this family.
 
"But what?" This was the question running through my head.
 
I looked at Ethan eyeball to eyeball, hoping that he would have some answers to give me, but he just shook his head slowly, looking helpless.
 
I took a deep breath in and out, trying to think of something to give everyone a smirk on their faces—anything that we could do to fix this challenge. And then, suddenly, an idea struck me.
 
"Why don't we make this a family vacation for everyone?" I exclaimed, trying to sound enthusiastic just to give all a smirk.
 
"We can find a way to include Alexander, to make him feel part of it and not left out," I smiled forcefully.
 
Ethan looked at me, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. 
 
"How?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper still giving me a werid glance.
 
I thought for a moment with no words, just trying to come up with a solution for all this. And then it struck me.
 
"We can just find a resort that caters to families," I said, excitement growing in my voice quickly.
 
"One that has activities and amenities for kids also. In that way, Alexander can come with us, and we can all spend quality time together as a family."
 
Ethan's face lit up with excitement also, and he turned to Alexander, who was still sobbing quietly.
 
"Hey, buddy, what do you say about this idea?" He asked, his voice full of hope. 
 
"Want to come with us on vacation, as family?" Ethan said.
 
Alexander looked up to his father, his eyes red and puffy from crying. He sniffled and then nodded positively, a small smile on his face already.
 
I felt a surge of relief wash me, mixed with happiness and excitement.
 
Maybe, just maybe, we could make this work and still have a good time. Maybe we could find a way to include Alexander in our plans to make him feel part of our family again.
 
As we three hugged, the tension in the room began to dissipate little by little, replaced by a sense of hope and possibility within all.
 
We still had a long way to go on all this, but for now, we had taken the first step towards healing, towards becoming a family again.
 
"So, Alexander, I would have a chat with your dad?" I said as soon as everyone departed from the hug.
 
"A chat now?" Ethan asked.
 
"Yes," I added with a grin on my face, holding Ethan by his arms.
 
He tried pulling himself out, but I still held him, dragging him through the staircase leading to both rooms.
 
"Ethan," he interrupted.
 
"What happened to the romantic names we talked about?" he asked as I raised an eyebrow.
 
"Are you possed?" He gave me a strange look.
 
"Why asking such a thing, my little sunshine?" he smiled.
 
"Cause you act like one," I confused.
 
" What? Why?" He exclaimed.
 
"Spare me, Ethan," I sat on the bed quickly.
 
"You just acted so abnormal and not immature." I raised an eyebrow arrogantly.
 
"My little sunshine.".
 
"Shut up," I whispered.