Page 128 of As the Years Pass

“You’ve been shifting the gifts around for five minutes now.” He looks up at me with a frown. “I know you’re nervous about this, and it’s fine. Just try to relax. Have a beer.”

“I don’t know…”

I go to the fridge and grab us each a beer. “What?” I say when I see Adam staring at me in horror. “Chris said to grab a beer.”

“Oh, so you’re friends with him now?”

I roll my eyes and shove a beer at him. “You should be friends with him, Adam. I think you have more in common than you think.”

“What the hell does that mean?” he asks, popping his beer open.

“Talk to him and find out.” I take a long swig of my beer and grab the bag that holds all the decorations. “Come on. Let’s go figure out where these need to go.”

Once people start showing up, Adam relaxes. Maybe it’s the couple beers he’s had or maybe it’s the distraction of people he hasn’t seen in a long time. He told me that most of Leslie’s family liked him, and these are people he hasn’t seen in a few years. The first few introductions of me as his boyfriend were uncomfortable, but the more people who accepted it and didn’t make a fuss, the easier it was for him. Now, it seems almost natural for him. Honestly, I think this is exactly what he needed.

“I’ve never been to a little kid’s birthday party before,” I say when we get a moment to ourselves. There are at least fifty people here, a mix of family and a few of the kids Ian’s friends with from day care. The yard has decorations everywhere, a tent with tables and chairs underneath, and a long row of food that Leslie made all herself.

“Really?” Adam asks, taking a sip of his beer.

“Whose would I have gone to?”

He takes a moment to think about it, and then nods. “Good point.”

Ian runs over then, shouting, “Daddy!”

Adam hands me his beer and kneels down just in time for Ian to leap into his arms.

“Hey, buddy. Are you having fun?”

“Yes! It’s my birthday!”

“Well, it’s your birthday party. Your birthday is in two days.”

“No suh, daddy. It’s today. See, all these people.”

He just laughs, and agrees. “Yep, sure do, buddy.”

Ian wiggles to get out of his grip, then runs off toward the ring toss game that’s set up. Judy is over there playing with one of her cousins, and Ian runs in like a wrecking ball. Judy gets frustrated, so she and her cousin walk off, letting Ian stay and be destructive.

When it’s time to open gifts, we all gather around. Judy grabs gifts and hands them to Ian, being the best helper. He tears through the paper like Wolverine, making such a damn mess. Leslie and Adam try catching the paper, but some of it floats away and other guests catch it. The kids have fun trying to see who can get it faster.

I’m grateful the rain held off today, but that doesn’t last forever. When Ian is on his last gift, the drizzling starts.

“Well, it held out longer than I thought,” Leslie says with a laugh.

“Let me help you get this stuff inside,” I say, as I walk over to the food and start covering the tins.

Everyone, without direction, just starts helping, and soon enough everything is in the house safe. The clouds open up then, and it’s a downpour.

“I hate the rain,” Judy pouts.

“Welcome to Seattle,” I say with a laugh.

She walks off, and I stay a moment, looking out into the backyard. The games are still strewn about, and the tent and tables are still up, but they won’t be ruined in the rain.

“Hey,” Leslie says, moving to stand beside me. “Thanks for coming.”

“Thank you for allowing me to be here,” I say.