The days and few weeks that Mr. and Mrs. Winters were abroad seemed to go fast after Kiel and Archer’s talk.

Kiel was more happy and didn’t worry about his parents so much, he also was enjoying more activities than normal. Him, Archer, and the cook also played lots of games and ate meals together.

The day of Mr. and Mrs. Winters return came, it was cold and the forecast predicted for a chance of snow. They were gone for a month so naturally the seasons had shifted from fall to mid winter. Kiel and Archer spent the morning cleaning up and making sure everything was perfect for the Winters arrival home. The cook had also prepared a nice lavish meal for the whole family and Archer, making sure they were welcomed home properly.

At around late morning, early afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Winters walked through the door. They came in with unusual bright smiles and even some gifts. Mrs. Winters handed Kiel a bag containing clothes and novels for him to listen to and Archer, envelopes of money added to his monthly pay. She also gave the older lady a few days off.

This was very unusual for the two, something had to have happened during their time away, maybe good or bad? And what Kiel and Archer didn’t know is that they were moving soon and they weren’t planing on telling Kiel or even take him with..

The five of them sat down in the living room and Mr. Winters talked about the journey there and back and about their time in Europe.

“The buildings there were properly built,” He exclaimed with a smile.

“Everything is so well put together and the scenery, oh gosh don’t even get me started on the scenery.”

“Oh yes the ocean was so clear and the flowers are absolutely beautiful,” Mrs. Winters chimes in, talking with care and kindness.

As he and Mrs. Winter talked he also pulled out a bottle of expensive wine. He poured a bottle for his wife, Archer, and even the cook he thought so lowly of.

They continued to talk till the sun started to set. Kiel hadn’t talked at all during that time, just listened quietly to what everyone had to say. But he did speak up about one thing.

“Mom Dad how come you guys are so happy?” He looked in their direction.

This caught his parents off guard and they looked at him confused.

“Kiel what do you mean?” His mother replies.

“You guys seem so happy its unusually, did something happen on the trip?”

“Just a bit of good news from your dad and mine’s work, nothing you have to worry about,” She brushes off his question and totally changes the subject entirely.

“So dinner?” She looks over at the cook.

“I was told you made a big meal.”

The older lady looks over with a smile. “Yes steak, green beans, and mash potatoes. I thought a nice warm meal would welcome you home.”

“Most definitely, thank you,” Mr. Winters speaks up.

Kiel looked over in Archers direction and so did Archer. He leaned in and whispered in Kiel’s ear.

“Whats up?”

“Something is off they are being too nice. They are hiding something.”

“Yes definitely, but I don’t know what. Lets just leave it be for now,” Archer reassures Kiel.

Kiel nods and looks up hearing his parents talking to the cook and then leaving the room with her. Archer lets out a long groan.

“I don’t understand how they left being all grouchy but come back with sudden smiles and love.”

“I know it doesn’t make sense, buuut she gave me new books we can read,” Kiel wiggles his eyebrows up and down hinting to wanting to read.

“No I am not reading to you, the last time I did you fell asleep. Plus it’s too early for me to be reading right now,” Archer sighs and leans back on the couch.

“Why not?” Kiel whines.

Archer elbows him and sighs again. “No. Now stop.”

Over in the kitchen the Winters and cook were overlooking dinner and talking more about Europe. Mr. and Mrs. Winters kept dropping hints about moving and selling the house. The cook had noticed this but decided to keep quiet thinking they were keeping it a surprise.

It was now dinner time, the sun had gone behind the clouds a bit making the sky hazy and a hue of orange. Mr. and Mrs. Winters, Kiel, and Archer were all seated at the dining table waiting for the cook to bring out the food.

The older lady walked out with four individual trays for each person. Each person also had their food proportioned to liking and diet. Kiel had the smallest serving due to his small body and not needing much to ease his hunger. Mrs. Winters has just a bit more than her son but she mostly picked at her food, only eating things she thought would make her more skinny. Lastly Mr. Winters and Archer had the largest and fattiest steaks to accommodate their size and hunger levels.

The cook bows before leaving the four of them to their dinner and upcoming conversations. Archer and Kiel look around nervously before eating their food. Mr. and Mrs. Winters still had bright smiles for no reason at all.

“Earlier,” Archer starts off. “You guys were pretty happy and talked a lot about Europe but how did most of your guys meetings go?”

“Mgh… Pretty good,” Mr. Winters says as he puts a rather large piece of meat into his mouth.

“We actually have some news for the two of yo-,” He says after swallowing but his wife Mrs. Winters placed her hand over his mouth and glared at him.

“The wine your father was drinking must still be in her system,” She chuckles nervously and removes her hand from Mr. Winters mouth.

Kiel looks in Archer’s direction his expression skeptical and uncertain.

The night goes on and Kiel’s parents conversations start to differ. Mr. Winters always wanted to say something but Mrs. Winters always stopped him. Soon they stop talking and ignoring each other, this was the cook’s sign to take the plates and wipe down the table. Archer and Kiel also see this sign and decide to go upstairs.

The night comes and then goes welcoming the next morning. Like usual Archer brings Kiel his breakfast and read and plays a few games. After their morning routine Archer and Kiel go down stairs and see the cook making bread.

Kiel decided to take his chance and ask the older lady if she knew anything about their parents trip other than what they let on.

‘Kiel dear, good morning.”

“Um…hi,” Kiel sits at the island nervously and Archer goes off to do some work around the house.

“By any chance did my parents say anything to you about their trip or something?”

“Oh honey they didn’t tell you, their moving but its a secret,” She chuckles but instantly covers her mouth. “Wait no no I didn’t say anything. Kiel dear they will tell you when they are ready, it cant possible by something bad.”

Kiel’s mind races and his heart rate picks up he has to remind himself to breath before running off to find Archer.

“Archer!” He runs down the hallway to the library.

His yells were panicked and a few tears were about to fall. Archer peeks his head out of the doorway and a look of worry and confusion filled his face.

“Kiel, Kiel whats going on. Breath,” Archer grabs Kiel’s shoulders to steady him.

“M-mom and D-dad are moving….I-I-I don’t think they are taking me with,” He stutters.

“Hey breath,” Archer counts his breaths to help Kiel calm down.

“Lets take a minute to walk though this, tell me what happened from the beginning.”

“I was talking with the cook and she told me my parents were moving but they didn’t tell me yet so she said it was a secret,” He states a bit more calmer without the stutter. “And they didn’t tell me so I thought they were planning to move without me.”

“Alright that might explain why they were being so nice. Maybe we should look around and find some clues, does that sound okay?” Archer suggests. Kiel nods.

“O-okay…we could start looking in here and in dad’s desk.”

“There that’s the spirit come on wipe your tears and lets look around.

Kiel wipes his tears and pats his face before getting up and walking around the room. They check through books and tugging on them. Somehow they both thought that if they tugged on a special book it would open a secret room. Obliviously wrong because that is the type of thing that only happens in movies.

Kiel was unsuccessful since the only thing he was able to do was tug on books and throw them on the floor. But Archer on the other hand was over by Mr. Winters desk trying to find anything useful.

He felt under the desk and found a brown manila folder that was labeled Property Sale Documents. Inside the folder was papers confirming Winters’ intention of selling the house and a complete offer from the buyer. There was also information of how much the house was going for, mortgage and possible new house locations.

“Kiel, come over here.”

“Yeah,” Kiel trots over.

“They are moving, all the information is right here along with a buyer and where they might move too.”

“Huh?” Kiel’s heart drops. “Where are they planning on going, and am I going with?”

“It says Europe, some kind of condo? But nothing about if you are going with or now,” He signs.

“oh okay,” Kiel’s hand shakes as he feels the paper and the documents.

“Hey, we are going to sort through this. We can look over this a bit more and talk to them at dinner or tomorrow.”

“Alright, I guess but if anything happens you’re going to be there with me right?” Kiel looks up sad but hopeful.

“Yes I will always be here,” Archer rubs Kiel’s shoulder.

Archer puts the folder back under the desk and guides Kiel to his room.

They sit on the bed in silence, both their minds racing about what’s gonna happen and how everything will change. Kiel opens his mouth to say something but can’t find the words so he just shuts his mouth again. Archer notices and turns to him.

“What’s on your mind?”

Kiel looked over and his eyes were soft but heartbroken.

“I’m just confused. Why do they want to leave me?”

Archers sighs and takes Kiel’s hand in his. “Its gonna be okay, we are in this together.”

Archer’s mind flickers back to all he and Kiel went through. Not even a month ago Archer had convinced Kiel to let his parents go a bit more, but now everything was crumbling. All the hard work was gone, leaving Kiel bare and vulnerable to his parents and his own emotions all over again.