“Family,” Liam corrected, sliding up next to us and poppinghis collar.“Handsome family.What do you say Grams?Are the girls gonna fallat my feet in this new button-down Mom got me?”
Okay, so Toni and I got a bit carried away at the mall.Wewere in the men’s department at Nordstrom.
Sue us.
“Liam Edward, I hope you’re more worried about your studiesthan girls,” she chided.
“Get on this planet, Grams, and get ready,’causeDad bought me new wheels, so it’s date night everyFriday and Saturday night for Liam Edward Clark Tucker.”
Yes, we had the conversation with Liam that morning overbreakfast.
And yes, he was all the way down with taking his father’sname.
And yes, when Dorothea’s gaze raced to her son’s after hergrandson’s announcement, a nanosecond later, her eyes filled with tears.
Darius pulled her in his arms and said over her head to hisboy, “Smooth, son.”
Liam grinned unrepentantly.“Surprises are the best.”
“What’s going on?”Danni asked.
She was carrying two glasses of wine.
It looked like Gabby had a glass of Coke, which I frownedat.My son didn’t drink pop.There weren’t a lot of things I refused him, but abeverage that could break down a nail over time was one of them.
“I’m taking Dad’s name as soon as he gets it sorted to gobefore a judge,” Liam announced.
The real Gabby came out when she exclaimed, “Oh my God!That’s amazing, honey!”as she handed him the Coke and gave him another hug.
Danni didn’t even look at me when she passed off the glassof white wine, and I didn’t think it was just because she was all about Liam asshe added, “Totally!That’s great.”
She definitely looked at Darius when she handed him hisglass of red.
I actually preferred red, but she didn’t ask, and I didn’tsay anything.
“Liam,” I said softly, dipping my head to his Coke.
He didn’t hesitate.“Yeah, Aunt Gabs.I don’t drink Coke.”
“It’s a special occasion,” she replied.
“Mom doesn’t like it.And I don’t really like it either.”Helooked to his grandmother.“I’m sorry to waste, Grams.”
“That’s fine, love,” she said, sending a side eye to Gabby,telling me that Liam had told them this already, including the part that Ididn’t like it.“I got you cranberry juice and some of those sports drinks youlike.The blue ones.Your favorite.”
“Thanks,” he mumbled, then hustled to the kitchen.
“Okay, now, let’s sit,” Miss Dorothea said.
Darius led me to the couch, and I sat, but he didn’t.Hestood at my side, arms crossed on his chest, eyes tracking every move hissisters made.
Oh boy.
He hadn’t missed the Coke thing either.
Dorothea sat on the opposite side of the couch to me.
I shrugged off the strap of my purse, placed it by my feetand settled in.
