Page 94 of Takedown

“He wishes,” Ethan says.

“He sure does, baby,” Tara chuckles.

“Yeah, you would be so lucky to look like me,” I say back. “I’m taller than he is. And younger. And more fit. Oh, and I box.”

“Show off much?” Ethan says.

“Can you teach us to fight?” Evan asks.

“Yeah. Everyone should know how to defend themselves. Come on.”

Mel gets up from my lap, and the boys follow me to the living room.

45

Between the dog barking, the boys talking and laughing, and Adam’s grunting, the house is alive with activity. Tara and Elizabeth plate cookies and ice cream, and I smile in relief at how amazing tonight has gone. I want this for him, and when I look at Elizabeth, she’s wiping tears from her eyes. She did that upstairs too.

“It’s going great,” she says to no one in particular.

Tara yells that dessert is ready, and Adam comes walking into the kitchen with a boy hanging off each of his biceps.

“A little resistance training before I put this sugar in my body.” Both boys giggle when Adam uses them as weights. “Do you have strawberry for Mel? She’s the only person I know who eats strawberry ice cream.”

I stick my tongue out at him, and he wiggles his eyebrows at me.

“No, but I’ll remember that for when you guys come to New York,” Tara says. “We’ll have a good time. I promise.”

“And we’ll be here until Sunday, and we want to see you guys every day until we leave. Adam, you can’t avoid us anymore.” Elizabeth hands him a plate of cookies and vanilla ice cream. She runs a hand through his hair and caresses his face. This time, he doesn’t move away. “I would have put a dress on you and forced you to play barbies with me if we had known about you.” The announcement surprises everyone, and we all burst into laughter.

Adam blushes and says, “As if I would ever wear a dress.”

“You have.” I tell the table about how Adam’s mom prayed he would be a girl. When he denies ever wearing a dress, I show everyone the picture of a six-month old Adam in a pink, frilly dress, complete with a matching headband.

“I think the sparkly headband is my favorite part.” Tara giggles uncontrollably at the picture, and everyone else laughs, even Adam.

“Wait until I get my hands on her,” he says of his mother. “But I do look good in pink.”

While we enjoy dessert, I rest a hand on Adam’s lap.

“We’re having a Fourth of July party in Montauk. Not sure where we’ll celebrate Labor Day, but we’ll let you know. And Thanksgiving and Christmas, of course. Tara’s birthday is at the end of November. Ethan’s birthday is on New Year’s Eve, and Tara’s planning a party. Vincent’s birthday is—"

“When isyourbirthday?” Adam asks Elizabeth. She sits there, stunned by the question. Tears pool in her eyes and she croaks, “It’s September nineteenth. Will you come?”

“Elizabeth, Adam and Mel have families too,” Ethan reminds her.

“Yes, but we’ve never had him for any holidays. You can bring all your family. We’d love to meet your mother, Adam. But you’re not pushing us away anymore. You have to listen to me. I’m your big sister,” she says. She stares at him, almost daring him to contradict her.

“Is that how it works?” Adam asks.

“Yes.”

“Since when? You never listen to me, and I’m your big brother,” Ethan says.

“That’s different.” Elizabeth impatiently waves him off. “I’m not about to let a man tell me what to do, brother or not.”

“Oh, but you can tell Adam what to do?” Ethan puts his dessert down and waves Elizabeth off the same way she did to him.

“Yes, he’s the baby,” Elizabeth says.

---