Page 48 of Takedown

“Yes, and I’m her youngest child and none of my sisters wanted it, so I was her last chance. She was sorely disappointed, but I had my own life to live. Then, I have a baby out of wedlock, and she was not happy about that. At least not until I took Adam to meet her when he was about one. It’s funny how grandparents can treat their grandkids so much better than they did their own children. She fell in love with Adam the second she saw him. She doted on him, and he worshipped her. She was completely different with him than she was with me.”

I reach over and put a hand on top of hers.

“I was so in love with Adam’s father, but he didn’t feel the same toward me. I guess his feelings were more carnal, and once I realized that, I left. I wanted so much more in a relationship than he could have given me. Leaving him was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I did it. To his credit, he took care of Adam financially, but he was never interested in him. He stopped coming around when he realized he wouldn’t be getting in my pants anymore.” She opens her mouth to say something else, but she stops suddenly and gives her head a small shake. It’s almost as if she wants to say more but can’t.

“You were young, Molls. And you aren’t the first woman to love a man and not have those feelings returned. But the fact that you walked away shows how strong you are. You knew you deserved better, and he was a fool.”

Her eyes pool with tears, and she nods. “It took me years to come to that realization. I felt an incredible amount of guilt about not giving Adam a traditional family. He’s so full of love, and he deserves the best of everything. I tried to be a good mother to him, but I couldn’t be his father, you know. He was such a good boy, so I was lucky. Other than that boxing nonsense where he got himself hurt, he’s been a mother’s dream.” She smiles wistfully.

“You didn’t seem surprised or upset that we got married suddenly.”

“No.” She waves a hand as if the very idea of being upset at Adam is ridiculous. “I trust my son, and I saw the way he looked at you those two times I saw you. I always told myself that I would love the woman he ended up with. I didn’t want to be anything like my mother, a judgmental shrew who found no joy in anything. I asked him about it. Remember that time you barged in and left? He winked at me and said, ‘Just wait, Ma.’ And you’re so wonderful for him, Mel. And you’re going to give me grandbabies.”

I blush at the thought. The notion that our marriage is temporary comes to mind, but I shove it away, refusing to think about that now.

“Not right away, Molly,” I warn her, but that only makes her smile wider.

“As long as you’re not telling me never. And I want us to have girly time. When I was pregnant with Adam, I prayed every night he would be a girl. I bought a pink dress. Don’t tell him, but I put him in it once. I might have a picture somewhere.” She winks at me, and we both burst into laughter while I think of my very masculine husband in a pink dress.

We finish our food, and while I clear the table and wash the dishes, Molly reaches into her purse and pulls something out. When I’m wiping down the counter, she approaches.

“I didn’t get a chance to do this when you and Adam were over at the house, but I want you to have this.” She opens a square jewelry box and pulls out a gold chain with a cross. It’s the same one Adam wears, and I’ve noticed that Molly has one too.

“I gave Adam his when he was going through his rebellious teenage phase. I told him it would protect him, and since you’re my daughter now, I want you to have one.” I fan my face to dry my sudden tears. Molly stands behind me and puts the chain around my neck.

“I’m not religious,” I say, so choked I can hardly speak.

“You don’t have to be, darling. This isn’t about religion. This is because you’re my daughter now, and I want our savior’s protection around my kids.” I walk away and look at the mirror hanging on the wall behind the living room. It was one of the things that was delivered with the furniture. I run my hand over it, and this time, I can’t stop the tears from falling.

“Thank you, Molly. This means so much to me.” My words come out hoarse, and I clear my throat twice. She smiles and opens her arms. She’s a slender woman, but she holds me tight.

Adam walks in while we’re in the middle of our hug. He smiles when he sees us, shrugs off his coat, and wraps us in his arms.

“You’re sweaty and gross.” He doesn’t care because he grabs my face and kisses me deeply right in front of his mother. When he finally ends the kiss, he doesn’t move away or drop his hands. He peppers my lips with feather soft kisses.

“Go shower,” I say between kisses. “You have to help me set up for the party.” He finally steps away from me, but he kisses his mother’s cheek before running to our bedroom.

“Why don’t you stick around until the party, Molly? I can fix us some drinks.”

She smiles and walks to the coat closet. “I’d love to, but I have to get Finn. He’s not only deaf, but he’s blind as a bat at night.”

26

The talking is drowned by the loud whirring of the blender. Jason yells something, and a few ladies circle around him, holding their margarita glasses so he can pour. The blender and margarita glasses are another thing I got two days ago, courtesy of Amazon and their next day delivery. I catch Adam’s eye from across the room, and he winks at me. I wink back, and when I look up, Ananda is giving me a smug look.

“Lying ass.” Even from across the room, I can read her lips.

She leaves her husband’s side, walks over to me, and fingers the small gold chain around my neck. My new jewelry is on full display tonight since I decided on a red v-neck sweater to go with my short, black denim skirt. My outfit is complete with black ankle boots.

“This is new,” Ananda says. The shrewd look in her eyes tells me she knows exactly where the necklace came from. I decide to ignore her and sip my margarita, but she waves Alex over.

“Have you seen your sister-in-law’s new jewelry, Alexandra?” Ananda asks.

“Ugh, you know I hate being called that, and yes. It’s sparkling from across the room.” Alex reaches over and runs a finger along the cross. “I’m feeling pious just being near you, Mellie.”

“Whatever,” I say, waving them off.

“Maybe I’ve had too many drinks, so forgive me if I’m wrong, but that looks just like the one Adam wears. And it would also appear that his mother has one too. Hmmm. I wonder what the connection could be.”

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