"Aw, your sweet boy has really grown up, hasn't he Janet?" Nix's mother, Isla, said with a giggle as she saw how Alex had set up the grill so perfectly.
"Oh, come on. It's just setting up some grill," Janet shook her hand and said.
Isla giggled again and said, "Alright, alright. Come, us ladies should prepare the veggies while the men take up the grill."
"Good idea. Mel, Nix, come help your mothers here," Janet called the two girls.
Melissa and Nix nodded their heads and went to Janet and Isla to help them wash and cut the veggies.
"Bravo, ragazzo!" David hit Alex's back and said happily. "The grill is well set."
"It definitely seems like it," Josh added with a nod.
Nothing made dads happier than knowing their child can perfectly set up the grill. It was the code, it was the most important life skill for them!
"Did you bring in the beef patties?" Josh asked.
Alex nodded. "Yes. There's filet mignon, tenderloins, pork belly, sausages, and a lot of other varieties of meat."
"Ooooh! Fancy!" David did a chef's kiss and exclaimed. "Is there some Guanciale and eggs too? I can make some good carbonara."
Alex nodded. "Nix did mention you'd be making pasta and carbonara."
"Danggg! You're cooking too David?" Josh asked with a surprised tone.
"Why, yes. I met you after such a long while, my friend. I must do cook and celebrate our old friendship with some wine, haha!"
"Hahaha! Just like the college days, eh?"
"Just like the college days! Hahaha!"
The two men had a good laugh together while Alex watched them with a smile.
Josh took to the grill and started cooking the meats while David prepared pasta like he said he would.
Alex was told by David to cut some veggies for the pasta and he did as asked.
He went to the ladies' side and said, "Hello."
"Oh, Alex. Need something honey?" Janet asked.
Alex nodded. "I need the cherry tomatoes, baby corn, and a few bell peppers."
"Oh? Is David making pasta?" Isla caught onto things immediately as Alex asked for those veggies.
Alex smiled. "That's right, aunt."
"Pasta during a barbecue? Now that's something new," Melissa added.
Nix nodded from the sides and said, "Pa loves to cook. It's his way of expressing love."
"Ho. Ho. We know about it sweetie," Janet said with a chuckle. "It was his cooking that attracted Isla to him in the college days."
"Hey!" Isla nudged her elbow onto Janet. "We were talking about our daughters. Why bring me into the conversation?"
"Your daughter has all the right to know the embarrassing things her mother did in college, hehehe."
'It sure is much lively here,' thought Alex as he saw the contrast between the two sides.
The dads were seriously doing the cooking while the mothers were as relaxed as one could be and enjoying themselves.
Alex sat down beside his wife and continued to listen to the conversation while cutting the veggies in the way David had asked him to.
As he started cutting them and made chopping noises, Janet and Isla's attention fell on him.
"Wow! Such fine knife skills." Isla commented.
"Indeed. Where did you learn this Alex? I don't remember teaching you." Janet was curious to know.
Ever since Alex started his gene cultivation, he started having better control over his body. Not to mention, he was also a neurosurgeon and his hands were very steady from the start.
Those factors coupled with him cooking on a daily basis while living with Melissa were the results of such fine chopping skills.
Alex smiled and nudged Melissa's shoulder with his. "This pretty lady here is the reason for these skills."
"Aww." Isla's heart melted watching the young couple's lovely gestures.
"My dear, you can cook?" Janet was surprised.
Melissa smiled. "Yes, mom. Surprise, right?"
"Yup, very surprising." Janet nodded. She couldn't believe that her son, who has never even spoken to a girl, could end up getting married to someone so well rounded in everything.
Somehow, from his mother's expression, Alex could feel he was thinking of something bad about him.
Melissa giggled and said, "Now you know. But it's not just due to me. Husband's a surgeon. His hands are really steady and the fine skills are a result of his own work."
Isla's heart melted hearing Melissa refer to Alex as husband and shift all the praise unto him.
'Such good children!' She exclaimed in her mind.
These kids were on par with her own daughter Nix! They were all so well behaved!
As the conversation continued, Alex realized something.
Despite the conversation steering towards him being a surgeon, his mother showed no reaction to it.
It seems they've not been watching the news lately and weren't aware of the recent changes.
His aunt wasn't aware of it either, it appears.
If it wasn't the case, his mother and father were sure to cause a big ruckus in the house after knowing their son had become famous.
But it was fine.
If these social butterflies didn't know about such a major event, then it probably wasn't a major event.
Sure it was something big in medical history, but from a general perspective, it wasn't something big.
The world had changed. There were blessings of Gods available and anyone could become a superhuman overnight.
Alex may have been seen as someone gifted like that and probably wasn't given a lot of attention by the non-medical community.
Whatever the case, it was good that he wasn't in the limelight. This would help him better in his future goals.
Alex chopped the veggies and talked to the ladies in between.
Once he was done, he went towards his dad's side and helped his uncle David in cooking pasta and carbonara.
The ladies took their plates once they were done preparing the veggies and queued up in front of David's little place where he was cooking fresh pasta.
David continued to cook while Alex ensured to give him the necessary ingredients in a timely manner.
The ladies added the toppings and sauces of their choice in their burgers and Josh gave them their patties with melted cheese on top.
The ladies admired the men's hard work and had a good time watching them cook.
David, Josh, Alex, all these guys apparently knew how to cook and were pretty skilled in their craft.
Isla had to admit to Janet that her husband made much better food than her. However, he rarely cooked at home and it was always a delight for her to eat food made by him.
Nix vouched for her mother on this and Janet and Melissa had a good laugh about it.
Once the ladies were satisfied with the pasta and carbonara, David cooked some for Alex, Josh, and himself.
The ladies then took the grill and freed their men from the work, letting them hang out and have a good time.
Alex sipped on normal cola while Josh and David both had shots of vodka like the old times.
David was an Italian but didn't drink wine when he was with Josh.
They were old friends and it was their little ritual to only have vodka shots until either one of them passed out whenever they first met.
"Hey, I am old now. My body can't handle vodka. The last time I had it was when I met you." David said and laughed.
"Shut up old bones and drink up." Josh was slightly drunk by now and said.
"Ugh. You'll be the reason for my demise." David said and had a shot of vodka.
It was a lively and fun atmosphere in the backyard and everyone had a good time.
Among Josh and David, both men passed out at the same time after four shots as their tolerance to vodka was low.
They both only drank it when together and it was no surprise to see them be in this condition.
Janet and Isla shook their heads with a smile and carried their husbands to their rooms.
Alex, Melissa, and Nix were now alone in the backyard.