My Country Hero

Chapter 16~ Emotional And A Familar Place

Lisa's pov

We were celebrating with a backyard barbecue and a gender reveal party. I'm so excited to announce our two amazing boys entering the world in 6 months. None of our friends or family know the genders. We're going to cut pop balloons. "Not even the girls know." I say, patting Morgan's head. Our beautiful and goofy girls had been asking all week. I gently rubbed my large stomach and glanced over at my wonderful husband. He was manning the grill with Luke. I smile and walk over, hugging him from behind. "Hey sweetheart." He says, smiling at me. "I don't want to keep waiting. Let's do it now!" I say, excitedly holding his hand. He laughs softly. "Girl I don't know what I'd do without you." He kisses my head and finished up the food. "OK I know you all have been waiting." He says, grabbing the balloons. He hands me one and Molly gives me a pin to pop it with. Morgan and Megan run over super excited. "What is twin number one gonna be?" Jason enthusiastically says. He kneels down and Morgan pops it, revealing blue confetti. The crowd cheers and I let Megan pop the other one. Again, the blue confetti rains down getting in my young daughter's hair. The crowd cheers and I hug both my girls. "Two girls, two boys. Life couldn't be more perfect, babe." He says, kissing me. I smile. Even though I miss Ben. I will always miss Ben but I'm so very happy. "At least both amazing men can be honored with their own namesake." He smiles and hugs me tight. "I love you so much, Lisa." He holds my hands and throws them in the air as the crowd erupts in thunderous applause. "It's almost like we're at one of your shows!" I shout over the noise. He laughs as the wind picks up. "Heh, what a day!" He excitedly exclaims, smiling. I can't keep a smile off my face.

*a few weeks later*

I was making breakfast for the girls when Luke and his boys came in. "Who's ready for buck commander!" He cheerily says, making me laugh. "I thought that wasn't til next weekend?" I say, turning from the stove. "It was." Jason says, sipping a cup of coffee at the table. "But Willie asked for us to come up early to do some B Roll shots and interviews. Celeb junk." He says then laughs. "You all packed?" I ask. He nods. "I always keep a suitcase packed. Touring life honey." I smile and gently rest a hand on my stomach. "Adam and Ben. We can't wait to see you." "You alright sweetheart?" I nod, fighting back the tears of missing my first husband. My first love. He walks over. "No you ain't. What's wrong?" "Just the usual." I whisper, hiding my head in his shoulder. "Missing Ben again." "You know he's smiling down on you." He whispers, kissing my forehead after I look up at him. He wipes the tears that rolled down my cheeks. I heard Luke and the boys wrestling and the girls laughing. "I'm so happy, Jason... So... Why am I.... Crying?" I whisper, the pain in my heart gripping stronger. "Grief doesn't ever go away for good. It'll always get ya when ya least expect it." He says, concern and pain in his eyes. "I'm sorry." I whisper, hugging him. "Don't apologize babe. You know you don't have to be sorry for being upset. You love him. There is nothing wrong with that." "B-But I love you too." He smiles sadly. "I know you do. I love you too. That's the greatest thing about love. It's neverending." He always knows just the right thing to say. We get ready to go and drive to the buck commander lodge. The boys were doing their interviews and stuff while Tombo was making deer steak. Morgan was excitedly helping him cook. It was adorable. Megan was playing with a hula hoop. I took some pictures. "Eat up, you're eating for three." Tombo says as my beautiful daughter brings me a bowl. "I hole you like it." She says. "Of course I will, baby." I say, kissing her head.

*a few days later*

Jason's pov

We were going over the places we were going this trip and my heart leapt into my throat as I read the first hunting spot. Arkansas. I hope the girls will be okay. I'm worried to tell her. She's been down in the dumps, missing Ben again. I wish like hell I could do something. Anything. To heal her pain. Like I promised I would. "But that's the thing about pain. It demands to be felt." I mumble, sadly watching my beautiful wonderful perfect wife sleep. I kiss her head and try to get a couple hours of shut eye.

*the next day*

Lisa's pov

My heart ached when we pulled up in Arkansas. Do the girls remember a lick of their birth father? While the boys are hunting, I take the girls to our old house. We still own it thankfully. Jason is a saint. I know Megan doesn't remember anything but Morgan may. The ten year old stared at the familiar living room, mouth agape. "Wow. I remember this place." She said turning around to me. "Can... We go visit dad?" She remembers him! I hug both girls. "Of course baby." We go to the cemetery. "You will always be remembered Ben. You will always be loved." I kneel in front of the grave and put some fresh flowers on it. Just then I heard boots crunching on the gravel. I turned around, surprised to see Jason. "Hey hun." He says, sitting beside me. "How... How'd you know we.... I thought you were hunting?" He forces a worried smile as Megan sits in his lap. He pats her head. "I was but I had a feeling that you weren't doing so hot. I knew you'd be here or at the old house so I hedged my bets." "You know me so well." I say, hugging him. "Megan and Morgan will know who Ben was. I will not replace him. I know it's been hard on you." Both girls hug him. "We love you too though." He smiles. "Of course and I love you too. I'm glad to be your bonus daddy. Ain't nothin' wrong with havin' two dads." Morgan smiles. "I miss my other dad." She murmurs, looking at his gravestone. "Me too." Megan says. We lay in the grass in front of his grave. "Thank you Jason." I whisper, hugging him.

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. I've got way too many stories and way too little time.