Augusto, Elisa, and Rob woke up early and, right after breakfast, started packing things up. The constant smile on his wife's face and the bright sparkle in his son's eyes were enough fuel to keep this dad feeling good that morning. While Rob darted back and forth through the house, gathering up toys and books, Bóris followed close behind—ears low, eyes cautious, as if he were ready to protect his little friend from danger at any moment.
That same day, Augusto got everything squared away. He went to Rob's school to handle the transfer paperwork and invited Sam over for a farewell dinner the next evening. By the end of the day, almost everything they wouldn't be using anymore was packed away.
Rob asked his parents if he could sleep with them that night. He didn't want to sleep alone. He also asked if Bóris could sleep in their room too. Augusto and Elisa agreed, making an exception just for him.
The boy lit up with joy. He ran to his room, grabbed his blanket and favorite book—ready for his dad to read him the next chapter.
— So, Dad, yesterday we stopped when Harry and Ron took the flying car to go to Hogwarts. I spent the whole day wondering what's gonna happen next, Rob said, grinning wide.
Augusto pulled him up onto the bed and tousled his hair.
— Then let's find out what happened to those little wizards.
Bóris tried to hop onto the bed too, but Elisa shot him a stern look. The dog seemed to get the message and laid down on the floor instead. Augusto and Rob laughed, and then the doctor began to read.
Thirty minutes of story time, like every night. Then he closed the book and pulled his son between him and Elisa so they could all sleep together. Rob's mom already had her eyes shut, which made the boy feel more comfortable asking the question that had been on his mind.
— Dad, do you think the other kids will like me where we're going?
Augusto looked at him with tenderness, hugged him, and replied:
— Of course they will, champ. Maybe at first some won't talk or start conversations, but I'm sure you'll make great friends there too.
The boy grew thoughtful, pressed his lips together, and finally nodded. He pulled the blanket up to his neck.
— Good night, Dad! I'm excited for moving day to get here.
Augusto kissed his forehead and turned off the bedside lamp.
— Then let's sleep so time flies. Good night, champ!
Elisa was the first to wake up. When she saw the time, she shot out of bed—it was 2 PM. She had to rush to the market to buy everything for that night's dinner. She woke Augusto and asked him to start prepping the grill. Sam would arrive at six, so they had to hustle.
Augusto let Rob sleep in. Bóris didn't seem to care about their conversation and stayed sprawled on the floor. The doctor knew the dog wouldn't budge until his boy woke up too.
Almost everything was ready when Elisa got back from the store. Sam would arrive in two hours. Elisa and Augusto agreed not to mention the emails or the people from the hospital. They'd just say it was an offer they couldn't refuse, show Sam some pictures of the house, and invite him to visit once they were settled in.
Even though they'd said six o'clock, Sam showed up thirty minutes early. He hung his coat behind the door and gave Augusto a tight hug. It would be the first time, since college, that the two of them would be apart. The thought of no longer having the other around to talk to or help with problems was terrifying—like having a piece of themselves taken away without permission.
— So, are you happy about the move?
Augusto opened the fridge, grabbed two beers, and handed one to his friend.
— It's a mix of excitement and anxiety. It's a big shift for us—job, city, environment. But yeah, we're excited to see what's waiting for us there.
They left Elisa finishing the salad and went out to the backyard to fire up the grill.
It was almost 7 PM when the table was set. Sam asked all kinds of questions about Rio Denso, the hospital, and the new house. Augusto and Elisa answered, doing their best to hide the uneasiness they still felt about the people who had forced them to move. Once dinner was over, Augusto pulled out his phone to show pictures of the new house.
— You don't happen to have a spare room for me, do you? Sam joked, smiling at Augusto.
Even though he knew it was just a joke, Augusto couldn't help but imagine how happy he'd be if he could bring his friend along to Rio Denso.
— I'm going to miss you, Sam, he sighed.
They spent the whole night reminiscing—talking about childhood, college, and their old job. Rob had fallen asleep on the couch. It would've been hard for anyone to keep up with those two anyway. It was already late into the night when Sam finally decided to leave. He grabbed his coat and said:
— I'm going to miss you guys. I really hope you're happy out there. And... I'm sorry, Augusto.
The doctor felt a tightening in his chest.
— You know there's nothing to be sorry about. He hugged Sam. As soon as we're settled and the house is set up, we'll invite you to visit.
Sam nodded, opened the door, and left. Elisa scooped Rob up in her arms and carried him to their room. They let him sleep with them again.
It was their last night sleeping in São Paulo.