Visit the orphanage

After those who planned to stay were shown to their rooms and the other guests had left for their own homes, the proud parents could finally retire to their room as well. After placing Charlie in his bed, who had fallen deeply asleep in the midst of all the festivities shortly before the last guests left, they could finally drop themselves on the bed as well. Feeling much of the exhaustion that Charlie must have been feeling from all the excitement that this day had brought. "I can't believe those two came here today. Who would have thought the two of them would ever come here on their own to apologize?"

Jason grumbled a bit. Still not fully happy with accepting them back into the family. Seeing the unsatisfied expression on her husband's face, Jenny hugged the tall man from behind as she smilingly looked up at him from underneath his arm. "You did the right thing. I know it might not feel like that yet and I don't expect you to suddenly be all nice and friendly with them. For that you can slowly take your time and even if you never get there that would be fine. But for the courage they showed today they should at least be allowed to come back into the family and attend events that the whole family is present for."

Jason let out another soft sigh at his surprisingly forgiving wife as he knew he wouldn't be able to win against her anyways. Quietly accepting his defeat, while intending to keep an eye on the two of them in case they had some ulterior motive in approaching them and apologizing. "Though I have a hard time believing their change of heart and I consider their crimes quite severe, as long as it makes you happy I am fine with turning the other way when they enter the room." Jenny took that as the unwilling acceptance that it was and chuckled as she felt Jason was adorable when he behaved this way. Not seeing the scariness that others saw in him. Jason ruffled her hair in response to Jenny's happiness in the situation, before heading into the bathroom and getting ready for bed.

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When the next morning came, the staff was already busy with cleaning up after yesterday's celebration. By the time Jason, Jenny and little Charlie were ready to come down, most of the cleaning had finished. Along with Stephen and Susan they enjoyed a late breakfast, while the other guests were served breakfast in bed. After they finished the regular morning foods, the meal was topped off with some leftover birthday cake. Jenny's favourite and a fondness she had passed along to their young son, who seemed to be enjoying it almost as much as his mother. With big smiles the both of them dug into their large pieces, while the remaining people at the table watched them eat with a chuckle and a laugh.

After breakfast was finished and their guests slowly trickled out of their rooms and into the living room, all the Westwoods became busy with entertaining their guests and providing transportation for each of them to the airport when the time for their flight back had come near and a drive back home for those who lived in the country but too far away to feel like going back on the day of the party. Once the house was empty, they could finally truly feel that they had survived another celebration and used the rest of the day to laze around as much as they could before their busy weeks would start again.

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The evening passed and the morning came once again, starting off another week of work, internships, childcare and events. Like this the weeks that passed after Charlie's birthday piled on and they again found themselves having neglected to visit the orphanage with Charlie to continue last year's tradition. Having seen how much Charlie had enjoyed himself last time, Jenny was even more determined than last year to be the one to take him there and watch him give out his unwanted and unneeded presents himself. It wasn't until the week of Julia's due date that the busy couple managed to find a weekend they were both available at. They planned their visit to the children's home knowing full well that their visit might be cut short if Julia indeed gave birth on her due date. But with the next available option being another three weeks away, they were willing to take that risk.

So, that Saturday they woke up early and Jenny dressed Charlie up in another heart-stealing adorable outfit, before they headed out as a family with the pile of gifts that had resulted from Charlie's birthday. Along the way Jenny insisted on stopping by a toy store, where she bough a large amount of presents for the older children that would otherwise keep missing out on the gift giving. With a trunk and most of the backseat filled to the brim with all sorts of wrapped presents, they finished the rest of the drive and they finally arrived at the orphanage an hour later than planned.

When Charlie saw the familiar building, his excitement grew and as soon as his small feet touched the ground, he ran towards the entrance as fast as his little legs could take him. Thus leaving both his parents and his usual reservedness behind.