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Her husband moved on autopilot to pull out a chair from around the kitchen table and slide into it, a look of confused defeat on his face.
Within seconds, Emma's mother approached the threesome, first hugging her daughter before pulling Chase into a big hug. When she turned towards Jaxson, their eyes met and he saw her approval shining back at him. He hadn't expected her to take him in her arms too, hugging him tightly. A foreign homesickness for his own mother invaded and he realized it would be good to at least see her the following week, even if it meant putting up with his father.
When the hug ended she stayed close, addressing Jaxson directly, her hands on his chest. "My husband did me a favor when he stormed out of the diner. Emma finally opened up on the walk here and told me everything."
Jaxson's face must have betrayed some of the panic he felt at the thought of Mrs. Fischer knowingeverythingbecause she quickly stammered "Well almost everything.... Enough anyway..." clearly flustered.
Jaxson turned his mega-watt smile on her, relief at her acceptance sinking in.
Emma questioned her parent, "Wait. You're not mad mom?
The women turned to each other. "Mad? My goodness, no. I'm happy for you. All of you. All I want is for my baby to be happy and right now, it's easy to see these men are making that happen. I want you to travel... to see the world. Live your life. There is more than enough time to settle down and figure out the long term plan later." She paused, glancing back at Jaxson and Chase before finishing. "But, if you do anything to purposefully hurt my little girl... I'll hunt you down and castrate you. Understand?"
Jaxson didn't doubt her for one minute and loved that Emma's mother would go to the mat to protect her daughter, something his own mother had refused to do when confronted with her husband's will.
"You have my word, ma'am. That will never be necessary."
"That's good. And stop this ma'am stuff. I'm Linda."
"Linda? What the hell are you saying?" Emma's dad was still not up to speed.
"I'm saying these men make my daughter happy and that's the best present a mom can ask for."
"But, you don't understand. They're just using her to cover up their own relationship as a couple."
Jaxson jumped in to clarify. "But sir, you don't understand. I'm not with Chase. I'm with ChaseandEmma. Together. There is no couple."
It took several long seconds for Mr. Fischer to finally work out what they were trying to say. As understanding dawned, he looked away from his daughter in confusion.
Jaxson couldn't really blame him. The relationship they had formed was the kind normally hidden behind closed doors, never to be discussed. With the men's high profile, the minute they stopped hiding out in an off-campus house in Madison, Wisconsin, they would put Emma at risk for public scrutiny and scorn.
The last thing he wanted to do was change her mind, but he just had to know. "So you really decided to come with us?" He heard the vulnerability in his voice.
Chase had gone to her again and was hugging her as she answered them. "I kept thinking about how sad I was when I got home from France without you. I regretted not staying in touch. My heart hurt when I thought I'd never see you again. If I'm honest, I'm still scared shitless I'm going to get hurt when you come to your senses and realize you settled for me when you could have any woman in the world, but I will never forgive myself if I don't give us a shot. I mean... you came for me. You took a month off for me. You stood up to Roberta for me. The least I can do is see what happens, right?"
He had to be careful, but he couldn't let it pass. "Emma. What have I told you about putting yourself down? That sounded a bit like you were still thinking you were somehow less deserving than others." He raised his eyebrow to get his point across, while his back was to her father. The rosy blush to her cheeks assured him she got his message loud and clear.
"I didn't mean... At least I didn't call myself fat this time. I just meant..."
Chase was hugging her, trying to help. "I think you should stop while you’re ahead, sweetheart."
Emma's father sat at the kitchen table, silently taking it all in. He was no longer flushed. In fact, he looked pale as if he were in shock. The rest of the occupants of the room seemed oblivious to his distress. Jax wasn't sure it was a good idea, but he moved to the table, taking the seat across the table from the older man. He didn't register Jaxson immediately, too lost in his own thoughts.
Jaxson extended the olive branch first. "I know this is coming as a surprise, sir. I don't entirely blame you for your concerns. I can only try to reassure you that I really do have Emma's best interest at heart."
Gone was the man's anger. It took her father a long minute to reply as he processed his shock at the news of his daughter’s unconventional relationship. By the time he spoke softly, what remained was loving concern. "What will happen to her when this doesn't work out after all?"
Jax knew that was a fair question. "I'm going to do all I can to make sure that Chase and I never hurt Emma, but no matter what happens in the long run, she will never want for anything the rest of her life."
"How can you promise that? She is giving up on her education."
"No, sir. She already has her undergrad degree and I will encourage her to get her masters online. She'll be able to keep up with her education from anywhere on the globe."
"And how are her mother and I going to be able to see her? She used to visit every few weeks. Having her in France last year almost killed me. She's our only child." He looked so sad. "I'm going to miss her."
It was Emma that answered him, moving to sit next to her father. "Daddy, I may not be able to visit as often, but I'm sure I'll be able to fly home, right Jax?" She looked at him expectantly with hope in her eyes.
"Of course you can, Em. In fact, your parents can fly to visit you too. We'd love to have them come see the world with us."
