The SUV was surprisingly spacious. In just half an hour, everyone had unloaded all their things.
“Staying at the foot of the mountain tonight isn’t a bad idea! This grass field is perfect-spacious and level,” Spencer remarked, eyeing the pile of tents. “We can climb to the top when it’s time to watch the meteors. Carrying all these tents up there would be exhausting!”
“Agreed!”
“Sounds good. Let’s set up the tents nearby. The kids can nap here if they get tired from playing,” someone added.
“Exactly, let’s do that.”
“Here, let me help you with the tent,” Rowan said, joining Spencer as they began setting one up.
“Be careful not to hurt your hand,” Spencer warned.
“No worries.” Rowan smirked.
Spencer teased, “A surgeon’s hands are too valuable to risk injury.”
“Young Master Spencer,” Rowan quipped, “I strongly suspect if you were a woman, you’d fall in love with me.”
Spencer chuckled. “Confident, aren’t you?”
In no time, the two had set up one tent, then moved on to another, working efficiently.
Ivan and Andrew hauled a long barbecue grill to a nearby spot. It was big enough to cook over six pounds of food at once.
The women busied themselves setting up folding tables and bringing out food and fruit, preparing some of the simpler dishes.
This trip was exceptionally well-prepared. They had brought ten folding chairs, five large picnic mats, speakers, power banks, and even strings of decorative lights shaped like stars and moons. There were mosquito repellents, board games, and playing cards.
Finnley thoughtfully set up two sun umbrellas, ensuring shade for everyone.
The food was abundant. To avoid duplicates, they had coordinated in their group chat the night before. There were all kinds of skewers ready for grilling, marinated meats that the house staff had prepared that morning using only the freshest, high-quality ingredients-not the frozen kind found in stores.
A large bowl of fresh crayfish was among the supplies, far more than they could possibly finish. There were sweet potatoes, sushi, pizza, sandwiches, lemon chicken feet, and a variety of cold dishes. Dozens of food containers were stacked neatly.
Summer brought snacks for the kids-nuts, sausages, chips, beef jerky, cookies, and an assortment of drinks.
Elisa contributed a wide variety of fruits: grapes, blueberries, bananas, longans, cherries, and coconuts.
Agnes even brought two bouquets of fresh flowers, arranging them in vases to decorate the tables with a smile.
Although Jennifer had suggested the trip, everyone had pitched in, making it a collaborative and delightful gathering. These kinds of outings, where everyone worked together and shared the joy, strengthened friendships.
Jennifer retrieved a large bag from the car and called out, “Alfie, Diana! These are gifts for the kids-come and hand them out! Everyone gets one!”
“Coming!”
The siblings ran over, grabbed the bag from their mother, and darted towards their friends. “Bubble machines! Come get yours! Let’s blow bubbles!”
The girls squealed with delight; who didn’t love bubble machines as a child? The boys, equally excited, joined in, eager to see whose bubbles were the biggest and most beautiful.
Meanwhile, Finnley and Mya set up a tea station at one of the tables. They had brought large jugs of mineral water, enough for everyone. Finnley began boiling water and laid out several types of tea leaves to cater to different tastes.
By the stream, Ansel and Susan Clark set up over a dozen easels in a spot that was far enough from the barbecue to avoid the smoke but still offered a clear view of the sunset.
“Take a break. I can handle this,” Ansel said gently as he worked.
“It’s fine-just small tasks,” Susan replied while arranging paints. “It won’t affect the baby.”
At six months pregnant, her belly was already prominent, radiating the glow of a happy expectant mother.
They had prepared plenty of paints for the children, planning to teach them how to paint a sunset once the kids were tired and full. Thoughtfully, they had also brought aprons for each child to prevent their clothes from getting dirty.
Taylor, always meticulous, had brought a first-aid kit filled with anti-inflammatory medicine and supplies for treating minor injuries-essential when so many children were present.
The weather was perfect. The warm sunlight wasn’t too harsh, and the valley was serene. A clear stream ran through the middle of the grass field, fed by cascading waterfalls. Large, flat rocks dotted the shallow water, creating natural stepping stones.
The children jumped from stone to stone, laughing as they played in the shallow stream. Two adults sat nearby on the grass, keeping a watchful eye.
“There’s a crab! Look, a crab!” Alfie shouted, bending down to lift a small rock and revealing a tiny crab underneath. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he turned to call his friends over.
Hearing this, all the older kids rushed to join him.
Alfie carefully picked up the crab, earning gasps of admiration from the girls.
“Alfie, you’re amazing!”
“Careful, don’t let it pinch you.”
“Are there more crabs? I want to find one too!”
“There should be!”
The children began flipping rocks enthusiastically.
“This could be grilled!” one of the kids suggested.
“I bet it’d taste great!” another chimed in.
“Dad!” Alfie ran towards Ivan, who was busy grilling nearby, holding the tiny crab proudly. “Look, Dad! Can we grill this?”
“Of course. Everything can be grilled,” Ivan replied with a grin, grabbing a small bowl. “Put it here, son.”
“Awesome!” Alfie placed the crab in the bowl and dashed back to the stream, determined to find more.
Before long, the children had filled the bowl with crabs. Ivan, ever the skilled chef, began grilling them right away. The kids huddled around, watching with anticipation, snacking on freshly grilled sausages and corn that Rowan had just finished preparing.
“Taylor, what’s going on with you and Danielle?” Monica asked mischievously as she skewered food next to the grill.
“Huh?”
Both Taylor and Danielle looked up at her, neither offering a clear answer.
Ivan, now tending to the crabs, joined in. “Don’t tell me there’s nothing between you two. You’re both single, no one else is in the picture, so why haven’t you gotten together?”
“Too familiar to make a move?” Monica teased.
Danielle blushed, glancing at Taylor. She didn’t seem opposed to the idea, though, and smiled shyly. “These things… they’ll happen naturally.”
“It’s been four years. At this rate, you’ll miss your chance,” Jennifer said bluntly, eager to play matchmaker.
Everyone could see the mutual affection between Taylor and Danielle. Over the past four years, they had frequently attended gatherings together, and their connection was obvious.
Taylor, holding a skewer of chicken wings over the grill, finally turned to Danielle. “What do you think about all this matchmaking?”
Danielle smiled playfully. “Doctors are too busy. You can’t give me what I want.”
Taylor sighed. Life as a doctor was demanding, but did that mean he was destined to stay single?
Grinning, he handed her the first skewer of chicken wings, sprinkled with cumin. “Here, the first one’s for you. Today, I’m at your service-all my time is yours.”
His words, simple yet sweet, made everyone around them swoon.
Danielle accepted the skewer, her eyes sparkling. “Thank you!”
“What do you like to eat?” Taylor asked, glancing at the table of ingredients.
“Corn and eggplant,” she replied without hesitation.
Taylor grabbed an eggplant and a skewer of corn, placing them on the grill. For the rest of the evening, every skewer Danielle ate came from Taylor’s hands.
“Want to try some?” Danielle would leave a small portion of each skewer and offer it to him, blowing on it gently before holding it up to his lips.
Though Taylor was a meticulous person who usually avoided sharing food, he made an exception for Danielle, eating everything she offered without hesitation.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, their relationship seemed to warm and take a step forward.
The kids’ crabs were soon ready, with each child getting two. They sat cross-legged on the picnic mats, dipping the crabs in sauces and savoring their meal.
The adults chatted while enjoying the grilled food and the relaxed atmosphere. Most of their conversations revolved around family and children. With successful careers and no financial worries, they simply enjoyed these moments of peace.
The children, meanwhile, shared stories from school and their dreams for the future. Their independent thoughts and ambitions made them seem like little adults, full of ideas and determination.
After eating, the kids grabbed their bubble machines and divided into teams, chasing and laughing as they played.
The valley echoed with their joyous laughter as colorful bubbles floated into the sky. The sunlight reflected off them, creating dazzling, translucent orbs.
Ansel had finished preparing the paints and brushes. The kids, brimming with excitement, planned to paint later, inspired by their parents’ artistic talents.
Susan, her hands gently cradling her belly, walked leisurely around the easels. She occasionally glanced at the bubbles floating overhead, her expression soft and serene.
Ansel watched her intently, his gaze warm and filled with affection.
“How beautiful,” Susan murmured, her eyes following the bubbles. When she turned to Ansel, she found him looking at her. Their eyes met, and a radiant smile spread across her face, glowing with maternal warmth.
Sometimes, love doesn’t need to be pursued. It comes naturally, like fate’s gentle arrangement.
The men sat in their chairs, sipping cocktails and discussing work, recent events, and future plans.
The women gathered in small groups, chatting about marriage, family, and children.
Happiness was written all over their faces. Even after years of marriage, they remained as loving as ever, gradually discovering the true meaning of life.
Too often, we chase after distant goals and forget to appreciate the scenery along the way.
Sometimes, all it takes is pausing to watch a free sunset with your loved ones or sharing a simple picnic with friends.
Admiring roadside flowers, cherishing small moments, and embracing life’s little joys-this is what life should be.
The evening breeze carried a quiet reminder: to love and live fully.