the grass next to us. “This is nice,” she says, gazing into Donny’s eyes.
She’s happy now. She sings in the shower. I can hear her because the bathroom is on the other side of the wall where Luke and I sleep in bunk beds. And she makes pancakes a lot. We used to only get cereal, but not anymore.
Mom pulls me into her lap and draws Luke close. “Donny and I have something we want to talk to you about before we rejoin the others.”
For a second, I feel sick. When she sits us down and talks to us, it’s usually because we have to move again. I hate moving. We do it a lot. Luke told me every time we move, we end up in some place smaller. I don’t remember like he does. He’s ten and knows more than me.
“It’s okay, Liam,” he whispers and gives me our secret handshake, the one he said will always protect us.
I turn in Mom’s lap and ask, “Are we moving?”
“Yes, but this time it’s not because I have to change jobs.” She glances at Donny, and they smile at each other. “Donny and I are getting married. We’re going to live with him.”
I look around at the huge yard that’s big enough for lots of football fields, at the pool that has a slide and a diving board, and at the great big house Luke and I got lost in earlier when we went looking for a bathroom. Excitement makes me jump off her lap. “We’re going to live here?”
She laughs. “Well, not here. This is Dirk’s place. Donny doesn’t live with his brother, you know that. You’ve been to his townhouse before. But guess what? He just bought a house a few miles away. It’s not quite like this one, but it’s much bigger than our apartment. You will each have your own room, and there’s a yard with a swing set.”
“A yard? Can we put a tent up and have sleepovers out there, like Will?”
“Who’s Will?” Donny asks.
“My friend from school. His dad puts up a tent in the backyard, and they eat hot dogs and cook mores.”
Donny chuckles. “I think you mean s’mores, sport.”
“Yeah, s’mores. Can we do those?” Excitement overcomes me. “Are you going to be our dad?”
Luke perks up, eagerly awaiting an answer. He really wants a dad. He’s the only kid in fourth grade that doesn’t have one. He says that even though some of his friends don’t live with their fathers, they get to see them and go out for ice cream or pizza. I always wanted a dad to take me out for ice cream.
“There’s something else we wanted to talk to you about,” Donny says. “When your mom and I get married, I’ll be your stepfather. That’s kind of a dad, but not really a dad. We’ve talked about it, and if it’s okay with the two of you, I’d like to adopt you.”
“What’s that?”
Mom pulls me back on her lap. “It means a judge will sign papers, legally making Donny your father. It means he will make you pancakes, like I do. He’ll take you to baseball practice. We’ll go on vacations together. He’ll keep you safe—keep us safe—always.”
“I’ll get to call you Dad? And so will Luke? And we’ll live with you forever?”
“That’s exactly what it means,” Donny says. “Assuming it’s okay with you.”
“Can we get a dog?” Luke asks.
Donny laughs. “I think a dog would be a fine addition to our family.”
Our family. Suddenly tears prick my eyes. Backyard campouts, vacations, a house, a dog. Luke and I are about to get everything we’ve dreamed of.
Donny grabs me and then Luke, tackling us to the ground, tickling us again. “What do you say?”
“I say yes,” Luke says.
Donny turns to me. “What about you, sport?”
“Can we name our dog Sally?”
Mom and Donny laugh and then the four of us have the biggest tickle fight of all time.
Someone comes over. “Excuse me, lunch is being served in the tent by the pool.”
Mom helps Luke and me wipe the grass off our clothes. Heading to the tent, I spy Donny’s older brother standing by a tree, watching us. He’s been doing it all day.
Luke sees what I see. When Mom and Donny walk ahead, Luke says, “I’m glad we’re not going to live here. That Dirk guy gives me the creeps.”
“But he has a pool.”
“I’m sure Donny will bring us over to use it,” he says. He stops walking. “You know if