My Country Hero

Chapter 11~ A Very Proud Dad

*a few years later*

Morgan is 8 and Megan is 5.

Jason's pov

Luke and his crew came over. Me and Luke were talking while the kids were playing on a slip and slide. "It's been years man. What's wrong with us?" "Nothin' is wrog with you bro. You just gotta be patient." I watch Lisa playing with the girls. We've been trying for kids for a few years. Megan runs over, dripping wet. "Can I have some juice?" I smile and walk inside. Even if we never have more kids, I've got the girls and I'm great with them. Megan tugs my pants leg and I realize I'd been standing there with a juice box in my hand for a few seconds. I hand it to her. "You okay daddy?" "Yeah princess daddy's just thinking." She smiles and runs back outside. Tate walks in shivering from the cold. I wrap him in a towel then I go find Lisa. She was laughing at the kids being silly. I sneak up and grab her shoulders. "Ahh! Hey you butt!" She says, swatting my shoulder. I laugh. "Couldn't resist. Opportunity strikes baby." She rolls her eyes. Luke and Morgan were throwing a Frisbee together. "I'm open!" I call. Morgan tosses the Frisbee and I catch it and throw it to Lisa. She laughs.

*later*

The kids were all watching a movie in Luke's den. He was keeping an eye on them. Me and Lisa took a walk. My hands in my pockets. "Jason, you seemed down today. What's up?" I sigh and glare at my boots as we walk. "I guess I'm a little bummed." "About what?" "We've been trying to have kids for a while now. I don't know what's going on." "It'll happen, Jay. We've got all our lives to worry about that." She wraps her arms around my arm. I smile. "You know you always know how to cheer me up." "I love you Jay." "I love you too."

Luke's pov

I was teaching Morgan to play guitar. She wants to surprise Jason with a song of Brad's. "Like this?" She asks, strumming a few chords. I smile and nod. "I'm excited to surprise daddy." She says, strumming to the song she wants to sing. Megan and Tate were playing connect four. Bo was reading. I walked outside and took a deep breath. As tough and hard as that cowboy is, I bet Morgan playing this song for him will bring him to tears. I see them coming back. "Hey Morgan. They're on their way." "Ooh!" She cries, getting on the makeshift stage I made out of boxes.

Jason's pov

"Lookin' good, cutie." Luke says, his back to us. "What's going on, man?" I ask. He moves aside and Morgan's holding Luke's guitar. "Daddy! I have a surprise for you!" She cries excited. I wonder what's going on? Me and Lisa sit down on the couch. "Fire away." Luke says, turning the light down low and pointing a flashlight like a spotlight. "When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new, it always winds up feeling more like a job interview. My mama used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run. I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old. He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go. A few months later I remember lying there in bed, I overheard him pop the question and I prayed that she'd say yes. And then all of a sudden
Ah it seemed so strange to me, how we went from something's missing to a family
Lookin' back all I can say about all the things he did for me is I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be." I try to hide my shock at this but I'm not very good at that. I look at Lisa and she's got tears in her eyes too. When she finishes the song, she does a bow and runs over. I hug her tight and pull her on my lap. "That was beautiful baby girl. I am one proud daddy." "I love you daddy." "I love you too sweety." Megan walks over, a hand in her mouth. "Up!" She says. I smile and pick her up too. "I thank God he brought you girls into my life. My life is a million times better with you and mom." I hug both my girls. Lisa joins in the hug. "Each day with you it's just another gift." She says, kissing me. I'm a lucky lucky man.

*later*

I hear Lisa singing in the shower. She was singing the song Morgan sang to me. I smile and close my eyes. Then the door creaks open. I open my eyes and sit up. Megan is standing in the doorway, tears in her eyes. "Megan what's wrong?" I gasp worried. "I had a bad dream." She mumbles. "Come on up here, sweety." I say, patting the bed. She closes the door and climbs up. That nightmare must've really shaken her up. She's shaking like a leaf.I hug her to my chest and sing her a lullaby. Pretty soon she's asleep so I take her back to her room. I smile, passing Morgan's room. She's holding my ball cap in her sleep. "Goodnight princess." I whisper, closing her door.