The Cost of Family      

[EVE]

Days had passed since I found my family, and life had never been more . . . chaotic.

My mother, Helen, and my father, Dave, had sold everything they owned back in Germany and moved here to be with me. Not that I minded—I was overjoyed to have them close.

After years of being alone, after struggling in silence, I finally had them by my side. But their arrival also brought challenges I hadn't anticipated.

Since they had just moved here, neither of them had jobs yet, which meant I was now responsible for all the household expenses of five. I didn't mind, really—I had more than enough money to support them—but still, it was a drastic change.

We sat at a breakfast buffet in the restaurant downstairs, plates filled with food. No one had wanted to cook for so many people, so I had simply brought them here to eat.