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Chapters (47)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. Epigraphs
  5. Prologue
  6. Part One
  7. ONE
  8. TWO
  9. THREE
  10. FOUR
  11. FIVE
  12. SIX
  13. SEVEN
  14. EIGHT
  15. NINE
  16. TEN
  17. ELEVEN
  18. TWELVE
  19. THIRTEEN
  20. FOURTEEN
  21. FIFTEEN
  22. SIXTEEN
  23. SEVENTEEN
  24. Part Two
  25. EIGHTEEN
  26. NINETEEN
  27. TWENTY
  28. TWENTY-ONE
  29. TWENTY-TWO
  30. TWENTY-THREE
  31. TWENTY-FOUR
  32. TWENTY-FIVE
  33. TWENTY-SIX
  34. TWENTY-SEVEN
  35. TWENTY-EIGHT
  36. TWENTY-NINE
  37. THIRTY
  38. THIRTY-ONE
  39. THIRTY-TWO
  40. THIRTY-THREE
  41. THIRTY-FOUR
  42. THIRTY-FIVE
  43. THIRTY-SIX
  44. THIRTY-SEVEN
  45. Acknowledgments
  46. About the Author
  47. Newsletter Sign-up

“Look at them, they’re fine.” Maureen pointed at the patio doors that opened to the family room. Through the glass, Ann could see the boys sitting on the couch, absorbed in whatever it was they were watching on the television. “There are so many children who need homes. I was thinking we could adopt a child from Nicaragua or Vietnam, but then again there are children just like Michael right here in our own backyard.” She looked out at the rich green landscape and conveniently saw Michael bent over a pile of cedar chips. “Everything is so out of balance in this world. I mean, look at me, here in this huge house. Your family has really gotten me thinking about my own family, Ann. About how we can be better, do more.”

We. That word sounded funny to Ann.

“Do you know,” Maureen said, “that I sent a note to your mother and father telling them what lovely young people they are raising?”

Oh God, now she was sending notes to her parents?

“Your upbringing seems so simple. So good. I’m jealous of you Gordons, all of you. So wholesome, like a television family.”

Ann thought of her dad’s bong hidden in the linen closet, the way he swore like a sailor, her mother’s stash of Valium, the way she felt when she’d barged into Michael’s basement bedroom back home and caught a glimpse of him without his clothes on, and the secret, forbidden fantasies that moment had produced. “We’re just like anyone.”

“No, no. That’s not true. I hope Toby and Brooks turn out to be half the young people you and Michael are. Tony thinks it’s because you’re from the Midwest.”

She thought it was both shameful and exciting that there was so much that Maureen didn’t know. The other day, while Maureen was out, she was cleaning up after the boys in the family room. When she looked up, she saw Anthony in the hallway, watching her. He was headed to the beach, and wore just his swim trunks and a towel around his neck. She stood up straight, blushed, and pulled her shirt down, because it had slid up while she was bent over to pick up the LEGOs. “You have great legs,” he’d said.

“You’re so dear,” Maureen said.