The family group chat celebrated everything Gavin’s children did.
Soccer games.
School projects.
Birthdays.
New haircuts.
Meanwhile, Caleb brought home a nearly perfect report card.
My mother responded with a thumbs-up emoji.
That was it.
I could handle being overlooked.
I was an adult.
But Caleb was beginning to notice.
Then Gavin and Naomi announced a family weekend in the mountains.
They had rented an eight-bedroom cabin surrounded by pine forest.
Naomi sent a cheerful message to the family group.
There would be wine by the fireplace.
Games.
A scavenger hunt for the children.
A full weekend of “family memories.”
Everyone was invited.
My parents.
Jenna and her fiancé.
Our uncle.
Gavin and Naomi’s twins.
Caleb and me.
I messaged Naomi privately.
“Anything you want us to bring? Food? Snacks?”
She replied almost immediately.
“We should have everything. Maybe bring some books for Caleb. He’s not really an outdoors kid anyway, right?”
I ignored the comment.
We arrived Friday evening.
The cabin was beautiful.
Huge windows overlooked the mountains.
There was a stone fireplace in the living room and enough bedrooms for everyone.
The kitchen looked fully stocked.
Then Caleb opened the refrigerator.
One shelf had been labeled:
GRANT AND CARTER—KIDS’ SNACKS.
Juice.
Cheese.
Fruit.
Granola bars.
Caleb quietly closed the door.
I caught Naomi watching him.
“Should we have brought food specifically for Caleb?” I asked.
“Oh, no,” she said casually. “Those labels are just so the twins don’t argue. Caleb can find something in the pantry.”
I checked.
There were some old rice cakes and two cans of lentils.
That evening, Gavin grilled an enormous seafood dinner.
Salmon.
Scallops.
Lobster.
The entire place smelled incredible.
Caleb sat beside me.
As plates were passed around, Naomi stopped when she reached him.
“Oh. I forgot. Does he even eat seafood?”
“He does.”
She looked down at the remaining food.
“Well, Gavin portioned everything out already. Maybe Caleb can share something with somebody.”
Gavin barely reacted.
Then Naomi smiled.
“He’ll survive. Like I said before, he’s used to going without.”
This time, a few people actually laughed.
I looked at my son.
Again, no reaction.
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