Destiny

9- Years Later

  "Dad, can we talk a minute?" Nine year old Chris asked me as we were riding horses.

  I have known that something was heavy on his mind. He was quiet. Christopher David Hyatt is never quiet!

  "Sure, son! What's on your mind?" I answer.

  "You have always said that we can talk about anything. Soo. Why is Mason Andrew, named after you and he is the second son? Shouldn't I be named after you as first son?" I see that he is kinda nervous.

  "Well, son. You are our first son. You are also named after me. You are also named after pops. My name is Christopher Mason. Pops name is David Andrew. You are named after our first names as the first son should be. Mason is named after our second names as he is the second son." I explained. I know that he is thinking about what I said.

  "That makes sense to me. I just never knew that Mason was your second name. So now my only question is.... why did you marry when I was a baby. Why not before I was born? Why don't I look like Mason or Kiara?"

  I stopped my horse by the pond and got down. Chris followed my lead.

  Mariya and I have discussed this very topic. We had decided on the truth. Just not the violence behind it. We had decided that we would tell him him when he asked. It didn't matter where or when or who.

  "Well son. Your mom and I were pen pals. She was living in Reno, Nevada. I was in the Army in Afghanistan. We got close through the letters. Then when I got a letter one day, I made up my mind to find her when I got home. The next day, we got ambushed by some isis members. I was hurt along with uncle Reed and the rest of our unit. I spent some time in the hospital, about five months total. When I got out, I went looking for her. I couldn't find her. I flew back home and Reed and I went to eat. That is where I found her. She was a waitress at the steak house. She was already pregnant by then. I didn't care. I wanted her as my wife." I turn to look at my son straight on. He turns to me. "No matter what, Chris. You are my son. From the moment that I saw your mom, I knew that I was destined to be her husband and your dad. I have never doubted my decision. No matter who your biological father is, I'm your dad. I adopted you when you were six months old."

   Chris hugged me tightly. "I love you, dad!"

  "I love you too, son! We are for eternity."

  "For eternity! Cause that's how mom says family is supposed to be."

  "Yes sir! Now as to why you don't look like your siblings. Because you look like your mom and they look like me. So that means that you are better looking than them."

  "Well...I have noticed that." He said as if he already knew the facts. "Do you know who my father is?" He had turned serious again.

  "I met him once. He tracked your mom down and was trying to force her to go back to Reno with him. He wasn't a nice guy. When I saw him hit her, I stepped in. That was the last time we saw him."

  "Some idiot hit my mom?! I will find him and make him pay!" Chris said with fire in his eyes.

  "Last I heard, he fell into a snake pit in the woods. He and three other people were there together. So you don't need to worry about him."

   He straightens his shoulders.  "I will always protect mom and Kiara. That is our duty as men of the family."

  "That is our duty. Do you feel better now?" He nodded. "Is there anything else on your mind?"

  He thought for a minute. His eyebrows were scrunched together. "Will his family try to come after me? Like that woman did."

  "As far as I know, they don't know about you. So I doubt they will come here for any reason. What happened with Billie will never happen again. She wanted to take you to hurt your mom. But mom stopped her. That won't ever happen again either. I think that mom taught Billie her limits."