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“I married Johntwice, Daddy –I love him– and you are just going to have to be nice to my chosen husband, for my sake.”
“Emily, it’s okay,” John said gently, returning to her side. “It’s not the first time…”
“Wait a minute,” her father snapped. “Have you been married before, Jim?”
“John,” he snapped, correcting him, and Emily could tell her husband was starting to get angry.
“It’s John, sir. John Masden. I have never married anyone before Emily – and I was saying before I was cut off? That this is not the first time someone has taken a dislike to me simply because I exist. Not all families get along, and I’ve lived like that most of my life, so I can manage my way around a tense room knowing that I’m hated…”
Emily’s breath seized in her lungs, realizing just how badly John’s childhood had been – and how he had sugarcoated it for her.
No wonder he worried about raising a child…and she knew deep down that he would do everything he could to make sure his son or daughter never felt like he did when he was little. He would be such a good, protective, loving father – just like her own!
John was on a roll now, and the words were just streaming from him, calm, cool, and collected – but she could tell he was exceedingly hurt and angry by this cool welcoming.
“I’m the man that married your oldest daughter,twice, because I love her. I know we didn’t call you until afterwards – and yes, you didn’t get to walk her down the aisle, but she’s everything to me.”
“John…”
“No, Emily, we are going to clear the air so we can put this behind us like adults,” John began again, before facing her father.
“I’ve never met anyone so beautiful, so pure, and so gentle as my wife… and I sure don’t intend to let your hatred of me affect her life. So, if I need to eat crow on the holidays, family dinners, or get togethers – I will,” her husband took a deep breath, unphased, and kept talking, while the rest of them stood there stunned.
“I’ll shut up, sit at your table and smile while you glare at me, and treat you with the upmost respectbecauseof Emily, Mr. Marks. You can hate me, say what you want, and I will not say a word… but know this: I’m not going anywhere without her.”
“John,” Emily’s mother said fretfully.
“I see where my wife gets her stunning eyes…” John tossed out casually, before looking back at Emily’s father. “And I see where my beloved wife gets her quick temper and brilliant wit. She’s my wife, my soulmate, my everything… and someday? Emily will be the mother to our children.”
Emily and John glanced at each other in a split second.
“So, my name isJohn, not Jim…JOHHHNNNN,” he enunciated, turning back to look at her father, who stood there unmoving, and held out his hand again towards her father. “I would very much like to start over, make your acquaintance, and sayhelloto my new father-in-law.”
“Dadgum…” Chase hissed openly, whistling softly.
“You’re not helping things,” Karen muttered.
Her father stood there for several moments, before his eyes glanced over John’s shoulder to Emily, and cracked a smile.
“He’s got a mouth on him, just like you,” her father began, and looked at John. “I like that protective streak and a man who isn’t afraid to speak his mind. Just make sure the two of you don’t gang up, because you’re a lot alike. It’s nice to meet you, son…”
“Hey!” Chase interrupted. “That’s my title… he’s the ‘son-in-law’.”
“Would you boys like some coffee?” her mother said nervously, trying to break up some of the tension that still hung in the air.
“Please, Mrs. Marks,” John smiled charmingly, and Emily knew he was trying to endear himself to her mom.
Emily moved to his side and lay a hand on his chest, before leaning up to kiss John’s cheek.
“Sorry,” he said softly, leaning down to her.
“Nah… but if I didn’t already think you were hot before? You are scorching now, my sexy husband,” she whispered against his ear.
“Em…” he chuckled softly, glancing up nervously. “Later,mon Coeur…”
“Get a room you two,” Chase muttered playfully, taking John’s arm. “C’mon, BRO… you get to play with the big boys and field some questions. Emily, go find some fly tape, ya’ pest.”
“Be nice to her,” John growled…
