Emerson

After Mason storms out of the living room, running down the hall and slamming his door, I stare at my parents.

“Well that was a fucking disaster,” I say, running a hand over my beard, a numbness settling over me. “I should go after him.”

Tia presses her hand to mine. “I don’t know, Em. Maybe give him some space?”

My parents nod in agreement. “It’s a lot for him to take in,” my dad says. “For all of us.”

“I hate that I hurt him.” My face falls into my hands, and Tia rubs my back.

“You didn’t hurt him. You did everything you could to give him a chance at life. You’re a good man, Emerson,” my father says, more sternly. “And he’ll come around.”

“I’m just glad he didn’t take his anger out on you,” I tell them. “You’ve sacrificed so much for us.”

“We’re family,” Mom says shaking her head. “It’s what we do.”

“You guys are all so lucky to have one another,” Tia says.

I sit up and put my arm around her.

My father smiles. “Tia, we’re lucky to have you, too, you know.”

She bites the side of her lip, her telltale sign that she doubts what she hears.

“It’s true,” Grace says, some of the tension already dissipating in the room. “I always wanted a daughter. And I couldn’t have asked for a stronger, braver one than you. And I see how much you love my son. For that alone, we love you.”

Tia’s face crumbles as she begins to cry. “You’re all too good to me. You raised such a good son, I can’t believe I was able to marry into your family. That you’ve welcomed me with such open arms. You know that I haven’t been the ideal daughter-in-law. I know Em told you some of the secrets I kept. I deceived my husbands. I wish I were--”

Grace cuts her off. “You know what Emerson said to us the day he called, letting us know his name had been drawn in the lottery?”

My cheeks grow red at the memory. Tia, though, stops crying and leans in to listen.

“He told us that he had just married the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He asked us to picture an early summer strawberry, ripe and sweet and so perfect. He said that was Tia. He said, somehow, I just married the woman of my dreams.”

“You said all that?” Tia asks, turning on the couch to face me.

I nod. “I loved you since the moment we met. And I certainly don’t wish you were different than you are.”

“But now you know I’m not like a strawberry. I’m not as sweet as you first thought.”

I smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my wife’s ear. “Maybe. But you’re just as delicious.”

Her jaw drops and she smacks me playfully. “Oh, my God, Emerson! I cannot believe you just said that in front of your parents.”

They’re laughing too though, and at least his comment lightened the mood.

“This is so awkward,” Tia says, covering her face as a fit of giggles overtakes her.

“Hey, you kids should pack a dinner and then head to the barn for the night,” Dad says.

Mom stands. “It’s been a long day and with your brothers gone until tomorrow, the house will be quiet and we can spend some time with Mason whenever he is ready to open up.”

“Should I stay?” I ask, not wanting to shirk my responsibility.

“No,” Mom says. “You may be his biological father, but he sees you as his big brother. Let him take some time to adjust, okay? We can have a big farmhouse breakfast in the morning before you guys head home.”

I take Tia’s hand and help her to stand.

Somehow, we got through the hardest conversation of my life. And I’m glad my wife was by my side.

As Tia and I leave the farmhouse with baskets of food in tow, we see the other husbands out in the far field. We head that way, Tia cracking up over the sight of everyone scooping horse manure for my father. Her tears are gone, and I’m relieved to see her smiling.

“I can’t believe my dad gave you this job,” I say, unable to hold back my laughter.

“Yeah, it’s the shits,” Hux says with a grin.

“You about done?” Tia asks. “Grace packed our dinner to take to the barn. We’re sleeping out there tonight.”

“In the barn?” Banks asks, raising his eyebrows. “You’re kidding, right?”

“How long have you lived in Alaska, city boy?” Fallon jokes. “It’s time you got used to roughing it.”

“Why would I?” he asks. “I plan on returning to the compound, with all it’s bells and whistles tomorrow.”

“Fair enough,” Giles says. “Besides, you’re already knee-deep in crap, you’ve definitely earned some mountain man points today.”

“So, the barn?” Salinger asks. “Does it have running water, because I could use a hot shower.”

“It’s has everything you need, I promise.” I grin. “Why don’t a few of you grab our bags from the house and meet us there?”

A few minutes later, we’re pulling open the side door of the barn and Tia gasps in surprise.

I twist my lips, enjoying the way her face lights up as she looks around. “Not what you were expecting?”

“Um, no. This place is gorgeous, Em.”

It may appear to be a regular red barn from the exterior, but inside, it is a top of the line mancave. There are leather sofas, a large kitchen, a pool table, and a massive loft that can easily sleep a dozen people.

I didn’t build it all on my own, but I designed it and made sure it was outfitted with plenty of custom bells and whistles. Heated tiles in the bathroom, a home theater room, and a well-stocked whiskey bar.

The guys come in behind us and Huxley lets out a low whistle as he looks around appreciatively. “This place is nice, man,” he says. “I had no idea.”

“I built it with the money I made after I joined the Navy.”

Tia frowns. “I thought that was the money you used to enter the lottery.”

“Oh, well, I did a few special ops missions too.”

“The ones that gave bonuses?” Salinger asks, interested.

I hate talking about myself so I just shrug. “Yeah.”

“Uh, I know the names of the officers on those missions are strictly top secret, but man, I know the payout on those gigs. You must have done like half a dozen to afford this place.”

“Something like that,” I say.

“I had no idea, Em,” Salinger says, giving me real respect for what seems like the first time. “Those are insanely dangerous.”

“I was asked to do them, so I stepped up for the State of Alaska. That’s all. It was my duty.”

Giles, though, doesn’t want to drop it. “Emerson, you don’t need to be so fucking humble. Fallon and I are in the service. We know what those missions entail, to some degree.”

Fallon clears his throat. “In the old world, they would have called you a Navy Seal. Alaska doesn’t have that branch, but man, much respect.”

I shake my head. “Not necessary,” I say. “But I am grateful. It afforded me enough tickets to get a wife. This barn is where I’d spend most of my leave before getting married.”

“Why didn’t you show me last time?” Tia asks, looking at me in an entirely new way.

“I figured telling you I had a kid was enough to process. Didn’t need you to think I was some fancy-ass sailor to boot.”

At that, everyone laughs.