"Yeah, my dad likes to cook too. Soda and I have some of his lasagna in our fridge right now."

Katie served Steve a slice of the meatloaf she'd prepared, adding mixed vegetables on the side. "I love lasagna. I hope to meet Soda and your dad sometime too."

Steve got up from his chair, pulling Katie's out for her to sit down at the table with him. "You will. Audrey too. She's my dad's wife."

"Yeah. You told me they met at church, right?"

Steve watched Katie start to eat, his eyes taking in every delicate feature of her face, as his heartbeat began to speed up. "Um, yeah, five years ago. They got married two summers ago. I was even my dad's best man. Soda's brother, Darry, got married a couple of months later, and he was the best man at that wedding. We all had a really good time at both."

"Weddings are happy occasions. Or they should be anyway. My cousin got married last spring to a man her parents aren't crazy about, so it was pretty tense."

"Oh. That sounds awkward."

"It was. I was glad when the reception was over. But anyway, what do you think about that case study Dr. Harris gave us?"

"I think the counselor has a lot of work to do with that guy. He has to find a way to guide him into opening up about what happened in his family. Because if he doesn't, things will only get worse."

"Hey, Dar. You got a minute?"

Darry heard Soda's voice on the line, as he took a seat in the recliner. "Sure, little buddy. What's up?"

Soda pressed the phone receiver to his ear, sitting down on the arm of the couch. "Um, actually, could you come over? I know it's getting kind of late, but-"

"I'm on my way, Sodapop. I'll see you in about ten minutes."

"Has anyone ever told you you're a great kisser, Steve?"

Steve felt himself start to blush at Katie's comment, as their lips parted. "Um, no, no one's said that to me before. Not that I've kissed very many anyway. I don't want you to think I'm one of those guys who's going to make you believe I've been around. Cause I really haven't. I've been single a lot."

Katie touched the front of Steve's shirt, her fingers tracing the plaid pattern on his chest. "So what about now? Are you single tonight?"

Steve gingerly put his hands on Katie's waist, feeling the soft material of her dress, as he then let them slide down to her hips. "No. It sure doesn't look like it."

Katie leaned in for another kiss, speaking just before their lips connected. "I agree. I think we've just become a couple."

"Hey, Soda, I'm here."

Soda heard Darry's voice, as his big brother entered the third floor apartment. "I'm in my room, Dar."

Darry passed through the living room, going down the hall to the second door on the left and finding it partially open. He looked in to see Soda there on his bed, brown eyes staring at the framed photos that decorated one wall. "So what's going on?"

Soda felt the weight on the mattress, as Darry sat down beside him, the presence of his older brother still one of strength. "I love her so much, Darry."

"Who?"

"Emily."

"Oh. Did something happen tonight?"

"No. I just spent some time with her. That's all."

Darry took Soda's hand, able to feel a slight tremble in it. "If that's all, then why are you shaking?"

"I don't know. I just got to feelin' sad. I'm so damn happy to be in her life. To be really close to her. But sometimes, it hits me that it's not me. I'm not the one raisin' her. She's not mine."

"But she loves you, Sodapop. And you and Penny made the best decision you could when she was born."

"I just hope Emily understands that when she's older. She knows she's adopted. She knows her Uncle Soda and Aunt Penny had a baby. She knows that baby was her. But I don't want her to ever think we didn't love her or somethin', so we just gave her away."

"I think the fact that she knows where she comes from is the first step in preventing that, little buddy. The adoption's not some secret that's going to come out in ten or fifteen years and shatter her world. It's already part of who she is."

"I know. And I'm glad it is. I'm glad Samuel and Vivian started telling her this stuff over the past few months. I'm glad I've been able to share in it too. But it's hard not to wonder if Emily will see it in a different light later. She thinks it's cool now, you know? Little kids accept things. They're innocent like that."

"Yeah. They are. But whatever questions she has later, they won't go unanswered. All of you will be there to field them."

Soda felt a tear start to slide down his cheek, Darry's thumb then touching his skin to wipe it away. "Thanks for comin' over, Dar. I know I'm a little old to be callin' my big brother cause I don't want to be alone at night."

"Age has nothin' to do with it. You've been through hell at night more than once, and you didn't need to be by yourself."

"Tell Maryanne I said hi and that I'll be lookin' for some of her chocolate chip cookies next time I come over."

"I will. She should be home soon. Is Steve out with Katie?"

"Yeah. They were havin' a dinner date at her place tonight."

"When's Penny coming home?"

"Next week. I'm going to drive up for her graduation on Friday, and we'll both come back on Saturday."

"Good deal. I know you'll be glad to see her."

"Yeah. We'll have to have a date night of our own."

"You should double with Steve and Katie."

Soda grinned along with Darry, then put his arms around him. "Yeah. Maybe we will."

Darry hugged Soda back, resting his head on his brother's. "You okay?"

"Yeah. It's just that I like talkin' about what's different, but I also want to be able to feel what hasn't changed."