The Smiths strung up fairy lights that blinked on and off with different colors. There were various colorful balloons taped to trees and the backs of chairs.

"Don't pop any balloons!" Charles shouted. "I blew up every single one of these." He grabbed a balloon by its string and tied it around Erin's wrist. "Together. Forever, Erin," he snickered.

Erin frowned at the purple balloon. "Does this come in another color?" she asked.

Charles laughed. "Oh, I forgot that wasn't your favorite color. My bad." He untied the balloon and handed it to Pam.

She smiled. "You remembered," she said.

Charles slapped his hand on his leg. "It took me a minute," he said.

Bentley carried Sara across the yard. He gently placed her down on a lounge chair near the pool. "So, what'll it be? Hamburger or hot dog?" he asked. He glanced at the silver grill that stood to the side of the backyard table. There were various packages of groceries in plastic bags. "Ah, looks like your mom got veggie burgers, too."

"I'll take a veggie burger," Pam called. She poked at her purple balloon.

Erin marched over to the grill and spun the dial to turn on the gas. "Well, I'M COOKING!" she said. She reached out a hand for the matches on the outdoor kitchen counter. "Wait a second. Where'd the matches go?" she asked, looking around.

Bentley held them up beside her face. "Looking for these?" he asked.

Erin made a swipe for them, but he held them high above his head, out of her reach.

"I'll be doing the cooking," he said.

Erin, looking a bit mystified by his intense gaze, just nodded her head and went to sit next to Sara and Pam in the lounge chairs.

Bentley grinned at the girls as he tossed the match into the grill.

Flames shot up into the air.

He turned down the dial to reduce the intensity of the flame. "Anyone care for a charcoal burger?" he laughed.

"I'll take one!" Charles joked. He jabbed a fork into one of the hamburger patties on the counter. He attempted to toss it onto the grill. But instead of sticking to the grill as he'd hoped, the burger, slick with grease, slid off and started to fall to the ground.

"Oh no!" Charles shouted. He made a grab for the burger.

But Bentley was faster. He flung a plastic plate like a frisbee towards the quickly descending burger. The plate flipped the burger mid-air so that the plate landed on the ground first. The burger fell neatly onto it.

"Whoa, Dude! That was SICK!" Charles yelled. He slammed a hand against Bentley's back to congratulate him. Usually a blow to the back like that would cause anyone to collapse forward, gasping for breath. Charles was a very strong guy.

But Bentley didn't even react to the friendly hit.

Charles, eyes wide with surprise, pulled his hand away, shaking it slightly as if he'd been injured. "Ouch. Man, your back is a solid brick wall."