I looked at her and she looked at me. She was definitely crying now. No matter how many times she wiped her eyes, tears kept coming out.
I started to worry. "Do..."
"Don't. You don't have to if you don't want to." She cried.
Mr. Atkins wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He looked me in the eyes. "Don't let Grampa bully you."
"Bully?!" Grampa raised his voice while turning to face Mr. Atkins. "Are you taking this kid in or not? Isn't the whole point of adoption is to become his family?!" He started to cough again, turning red in the face.
Noah went up to the old man and rubbed his back, trying to comfort him. "We think Jake as family. He's just shy."
"Have you asked him?" Gramma asked. A few pair of eyes drifted to the little old lady. She looked up at her daughter. "Have you guys asked Jake what he wants? In my experience, kids are looking for acceptance in all kinds of ways." She looked at me through her thick glasses. "What do you want to do, Jake?"
I swallowed a lump in my throat and looked up at Mr. and Mrs. Atkins. "Do you...mind?"
Mrs. Atkins let out a sob and ripped away from her husband. She pulled me into a bear hug. Our second in the past week. She squeezed me tight, but I wasn't afraid. "It would be an honor to hear you call me, 'Mom'."
"M-M-Mom." I croaked out. A few tears escaped the corners of my eyes. This woman deserved that title. She helped me since day one. Even when I was scared to be alone with her, she wasn't mad at me, she was mad for me. The word mom isn't just a person who gives birth to you, but someone who takes on the role. Mom is caring and kind. She's hardworking and nurturing. She is generous, not with her money, but with her time and emotions. She protected me and has been reliable every step of the way.
I've decided. The woman who gave birth to me is no longer 'Mom'. I'll strip that title away from her and give it to someone who is more deserving. Mrs. Atkins. The mom I want and the one I need.
"Poor Dad..." Dave laughed. "You're last."
Kyle joined him. "How does it feel, Dad? Grampa, Gramma, and Mom all got to hear Jake, but you're left out."
Startled, I pulled away and looked up at Mr. Atkins, scared he would be mad or sad or disappointed.
He smiled down at me. "It's different."
"What? How?" Dave asked, not understanding.
I smiled, wiping my face. "Mr. Atkins is the only dad I've ever known."
The twins went silent.
Mr. Atkins reached out and patted me on the head. "You never have to ask to call me dad. I already treat you like a son. A name doesn't define our relationship."
"Dad." I said clearly and confidently. I didn't stutter. There was no stress. No inner demon to fight. Dad may not be related to me by blood, but he knew where I was coming from. He knew my demons and didn't mind being my support every step of the way.
"Hey!" Grampa yelled. "Let me hear you say my name without stuttering."
"Yes, Grampa." I looked up at him, thankful. He's only seen me for a minute before accepting me. He integrated me with this family without a care.
"Again!"
"Grampa." I repeated.
"Again!"
"Grampa."
"I can't hear you! Again!"
"Grampa!" I raised my voice.
The boys started to laugh and the other adults smiled at the scene.
Noah looked up at Grampa with a grin. "You're so lively today, Gramps."
"I'm old." He claimed. "No time to waste." He said again. "It's a day of celebration. Who knows if I'll ever see you guys again after this trip."
The atmosphere turned somber.
"Dad..." Mom went up to Grampa and hugged him. "Don't say things like that. It's just going to make me more forceful in getting you two to moved here. It would really help make my worries go away."
"Yea, Gramps!" Dave smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "And you could see our games if you were closer. You missed an exciting season of us dominating the area."
"You know we don't care for sports." Grampa frowned at him. "It's good enough if you kids are having fun and living well. For now..."
"We can think it over some more." Gramma interrupted.
Mom looked to her with genuine happiness. "Really, Mom?? You mean it?"
Gramma nodded. "It'd be nice to see you more before we go."
All this talk about death and dying made me sad. I've never seen old people talk about it so nonchalantly. It sounds a bit ominous.
"Mom, Dad, can you please stop with the pessimism? You both are so healthy, you'll live for a couple more decades." Mom put a hand to her head and started to stress.
"If I live any long, I'm going to start resembling Jack Skellington." Grampa muttered.
The twins and Noah laughed outright.
Dad also laughed. "Okay, okay, let's save this conversation for after lunch. Maybe talk more about it then. For now, let's go for lunch before it becomes time for Zeke to graduate. I've got some reservations for us already." He looked at Zeke. "Take your grandparents bags to the office. I've already set up the roll away bed for them to make it a guest room."
Zeke nodded and grabbed both bags with ease. He took them to the office and came back immediately.
"Zeke, you'll take the twins and your grandparents." Dad said. "I'll take your mom, Noah, and Jake. We'll meet at Sanderlings."
We divided up into the two cars with Zeke driving one group and Dad driving the other.
"Man, I didn't expect Grampa to be so lively today." Noah said aloud. He glanced at me. "He usually just a quiet old man." He leaned forward between his parents. "Do you guys think he's really dying?"
Mom looked sad while Dad sighed.
Noah blinked, thrown off by the response. "Really? Is he really dying? That can't be true right?"
"Noah...we just don't know." Dad said. "Just...cherish the time you have left with them."
Mom started to cry. This time it was tears of sadness.
Noah sat back, stunned.
Dad glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "You okay, Jake?"
I slowly nodded. I can't imagine getting grandparents and now I'm already losing them?
We arrived at a nice, upscale restaurant a town over, closer to the ocean. We met up with the other half of the family and went in together. Dad spoke with the hostess and we were soon directed to a table that had a good view of the sea.
"How lovely!" Gramma gushed.
"You can see views like this if you move closer to us." Noah quickly pointed out.
Later on in the meal when Grampa complimented the meal, Noah was quick to tell him, "You can eat here more often if you live here."
Mom and Dad caught on to what Noah was doing, but didn't stop him. Soon the twins picked up what he was doing and saying, and joined him on the quest of convincing the old pair to stay.