Paula was busily at work in the kitchen, preparing what she considered to be a very special meal. The smell of brisket filled the air, mixed with the aroma of fresh green beans, corn on the cob, and homemade bread.

“Jason,” she called to her oldest son. “Will you boys set the table? Use the good dishes, please.”

 “Sure, Mom,” Jason appeared, his brothers close behind. They were all dressed for company, in good jeans and striped polo shirts.

Paula smiled at her handsome crew. They were growing up into young gentlemen so fast. Her heart swelled with pride, just looking at them.

“You OK, Mom?” Keith asked, as they all went to work on the table.

“Yes, I’m fine, Sweetie,” she patted his shoulder, “Listen, I need to run and change clothes really quick. You boys keep an eye on the stove for me.”

“No problem,” Kevin assured, “Do you want us to go ahead and put ice in the glasses?”

“That would be great, Honey,” she headed up the stairs, “Thanks, Guys.”

~*~

When Paula returned, she was wearing a sleeveless denim dress, with flowers embroidered around the edges. She had let her long brown hair down and it flowed tantalizingly over her tanned shoulders.

“You look great, Mom,” Jason complimented, glancing up from the dining room table.

“Yes, she does,” a pleasant baritone voice spoke from the doorway.

“Hey,” Paula turned to see Rob standing there, admiring his wife, “Now I have all my handsome fellas here.”

Rob crossed over to gather her in his strong arms and kissed her. They made a striking pair, with his long blond hair pulled into a ponytail, deep blue eyes and tall frame.

He looked down at her adoringly, “I see you’re all dressed for the occasion. Should I leave my jacket on?”

“No,” she smiled, “We don’t want to make Mitch feel uncomfortable. I doubt if he even has time to clean up after work.”

“Hi, Dad,” the boys all piped in together, running to greet their father.

“Hey, Boys,” he jostled them, all in turn, like the returning alpha male wolf greets his pack.

He removed his dark blue sports jacket and hung it on the coat rack. His light blue polo shirt fit snuggly around his muscular arms and shoulders. Even after eleven years of marriage, just his presence made Paula’s knees go weak.

Sam started barking on the front porch, announcing the arrival of the guest of honor. It was a dinner that had been postponed three times, for various reasons, and something they were all slightly apprehensive about.

“Hi, Sam,” a voice greeted the dog. It was a voice very similar to Rob’s, although not quite as deepened with age.

Rob went to open the door, “Come in.”

Dr. Mitch Martin stepped in, looking much like a younger version of Rob. His black jeans and yellow polo shirt fit his frame in much the same way, stretching around muscles. He was the same height, had the same eyes, same shape to his tanned face. His hair was brown, though, with the same wave and cut as the twins. He wore a closely trimmed goatee, and when he smiled, he had the same dimples that not only Rob had, but all three of the younger boys.

“Hello,” he nodded to Rob, then looked at Paula, “Sure smells good in here.”

“Thanks,” she grinned, “Rob, why don’t you show him to the table and pour the tea? Boys, you can help me get the food.”

They all followed her instructions, and soon they were all settled in at the table, starting to feel much more at ease. Rob had a knack for making people feel comfortable, and all of his sons had inherited it.

“This is the best brisket I’ve ever had,” Mitch commented, working on his third helping, “It must be your own beef.”

“The corn and beans, too,” Kevin offered.

“Paula saves the briskets for special occasions,” Rob informed, “You should feel honored.”

“I do,” Mitch glanced across the table at Paula.

There was an odd chemistry between the three of them. She was almost old enough to be Mitch’s mother, yet she found herself attracted to him. She reasoned that it was because he was the mirror image of Rob, the only man she’d ever loved. Rob was old enough to be his father, and in all likelihood that was the case, although it had not been technically determined yet. Mitch was obviously attracted to Paula, yet he yielded his respect to Rob.

“So,” Mitch asked Rob, “What brought you down here from St. Louis?”

“I came to visit my grandfather and brother,” he answered, also glancing at Paula, “And I met Paula while I was here.”

“So you stayed?” Mitch guessed.

“Sort of,” Rob confirmed, “It took a while, but I eventually found a job in Springfield and moved down here.”

“Knocked you off your feet, did she?” Mitch teased.

“To put it mildly,” Rob chuckled.

Mitch sighed, looking at the woman across from him, “I can see how that would happen.”

“Down, Boy,” Rob remarked, “She’s mine.”

Paula knew Rob was only half joking. He sensed Mitch’s attraction as well as she did. However, Rob knew he could trust his wife implicitly.

“I’m well aware of that,” Mitch conceded, respectfully, yet obviously not intimidated.

“Anyone want desert now?” Paula changed the subject, “Or would you rather wait till later?”

After several murmurs of ‘too full’, ‘no room’, and ‘couldn’t possibly eat another bite’, she stood to clear the table.

“Rob, why don’t you and Mitch move into the living room to visit?” She suggested, “The boys will help me clear things away.”

~*~

They were loading the dishwasher, when Kevin finally said what all the boys were thinking, “Dr. Martin really looks a lot like Dad, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, he does,” Paula agreed.

“Is he related to us?” Keith asked.

“Well, Honey,” Paula and Rob had never hidden things from their sons, “It’s possible. We really don’t know for sure.”

“But you think he is,” Jason guessed.

“Mitch was adopted as a baby,” Paula explained, “So he doesn’t know who his biological parents are. Your father and I may try to help him find out, though.”

“It’d be pretty cool to have a vet in the family, wouldn’t it?” Kevin seemed to like Mitch.

“Yes, it would come in handy,” Paula laughed, “Now, listen Boys, why don’t you take the scraps out to the chickens and gather eggs. Check the horses while you’re out there. Try not to get too dirty.”

“OK, Mom,” Jason grabbed the scrap bucket and Kevin reached for the egg basket.

“Can we take these carrots?” Keith pulled a bag from the refrigerator.

“Yes,” Paula nodded, “Don’t spoil them too much, though.”

~*~

Paula paused just outside the doorway. Mitch and Rob were sitting across from each other, in matching recliners, speaking freely.

“Watching you with your family tonight,” Mitch was saying, “Kind of makes me wonder, you know?”

“You mean, what if?” Rob shrugged, “Well, I can tell you it wouldn’t have been the same.”

“You and Paula have obviously spent a lot of time with those boys,” Mitch observed, “You’re a very close family and it shows.”

“Yes,” Rob agreed, “We are. Paula homeschools the boys and we’ve never gone off and left them with sitters and the like. If they’re not with us, they’re with my brother or her folks. They’re just now to the age where we let them stay over with friends sometimes.”

“You know,” Mitch reflected, “My folks both worked and I grew up with lots of things, but I never was close to either of them. They weren’t bad parents, they just weren’t around much. I had a full time nanny until I went to school.”

“You didn’t turn out too bad,” Rob acknowledged.

“I guess not,” Mitch shrugged, “but I think I would’ve liked having a dad like you.”

Paula could almost feel Rob wince from that comment. She considered going in, but didn’t want to interrupt.

“Listen, Mitch,” Rob told him, “I’m sure your mother did the right thing. I wasn’t always the man you see now. You’re mere existence is testimony of that.”

“If you are my father, you mean,” Mitch added, “Do you think we should find out for sure? Or should we just assume it? Or would you rather ignore it and me leave you alone? You’ve got a pretty special family and I’d hate to ruin that for you.”

“You couldn’t possibly ruin that for him,” Paula stepped in and sat down on the arm of Rob’s chair, “No matter what you find out, we’re still his family.”

Rob reached up and pulled her over into his lap, glad to have her support. He had never been hesitant to show his affection for her, regardless of who was around.

“A regular ‘stand by your man’ type, are you?” Mitch smiled, a bit envious.

“I’m his wife,” she explained, “It’s just that simple.”

“You two seem like you were made for each other, you know that?” Mitch admired.

“We were,” they both said in unison, then looked at each other and laughed.

“So,” Paula asked, “Are you guys going to find out for sure?”

“I don’t think this one is my decision to make,” Rob stated, matter-of-factly, “I think it’s up to Mitch to decide what he wants to do.”

“Mom! Dad!” They were interrupted by all three boys running in, full force.

“What is it, Guys?” Paula looked alarmed.

“Come see,” Kevin grabbed her hand and pulled.

“We’ve got chicks hatching!” Keith announced, grabbing his dad’s hand.

“They’re just cracking out,” Jason informed, turning to run back out.

Mitch jumped up, “I want to see, too!”

~*~

It was late when Paula came down the stairs, the excited boys all finally tucked in and sleeping. After watching the tiny chicks struggling into the world, they had all come in for dessert and then she had sent the boys off for showers.

Mitch and Rob were in the living room talking again, and she caught her husband confessing.

“…that was before Paula came along. She changed everything for me. I wouldn’t be who you see now, if it weren’t for her.”

“She seems like a pretty special lady, all right,” Mitch told him, “You’re pretty lucky to have her.”

“Believe me, I know that,” Rob replied, “But you don’t need to worry about us. She meant what she said. We’ll be just fine. You just let me know what you find out. It’s the least I can do for you.”

“Are you leaving?” Paula came in, seeing them standing by the door.

“I have to be at work early tomorrow,” Mitch nodded, “Thanks for dinner…It’s been ages since I’ve had a good home cooked meal like that.”

“You’re welcome at our table anytime,” she offered, genuinely.

“Yes,” Rob put his arm around her, “you certainly are. And rest assured that Paula always fixes plenty, so come by again soon, OK?”

“I just might do that,” he grinned, touched by their hospitality, “I’ll give you a call in a few days.”

“Night,” they called together, as he walked out.

~*~

“So,” Paula followed Rob upstairs, “Are you OK?”

“Yeah, sure,” he started turning down the bed for them, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I heard enough to know he envies what our boys have,” she put her hand on his shoulder, “You could be feeling a little guilty about now.”

He stopped what he was doing and looked into her eyes. They were made for each other. Always seemed to be able to read each other’s minds.

“A little,” he confessed and pulled her into his arms, “but even if Mary had told me, I wasn’t ready to be a father back then. I’m afraid I couldn’t have given him much of a life, even if I’d tried.”

“So,” she started pulling his shirt free from his pants, “does he want to find out for certain?”

“I think so,” Rob nodded, letting her undress him, “He’s going to check with a lab the clinic uses and see if they can run the test. He seems to think Doc would draw the blood for us.”

“I’m sure he would,” Paula confirmed, as he started pulling her dress over her head for her.

“Of course,” Rob warned, “you know this will be all over town soon.”

“I’m amazed it isn’t already,” she agreed. “You two look so much alike, it’s obvious.”

“There’s no doubt in your mind,” he slid into bed, turning the light off, “Is there?”

“No, Dear, there’s not,” she cuddled in next to him, their bodies molding together in familiarity. “Do you doubt it?”

“Well,” he thought out loud, caressing her gently, “Another possibility has occurred to me…Terry could be his father.”

“Terry?” Paula hadn’t thought about Rob’s brother being involved in the matter, “But he was at UMR at the time.”

“Yes,” Rob told her, “but his girlfriend lived in St. Louis.”

“OK, Rob,” she raised up and eased herself onto his chest, “We’ve been together for sixteen years and you’ve never told me the whole story about Terry. I think it’s time.”

“You really expect me to tell you about my brother,” he teased, “When you’re distracting me like this?”

“Do you want me to stop distracting you?” She started to move off of him.

“No,” he held her there and pulled her face down to kiss her, “but forgive me if there’s not great continuity to the story…you know how men can’t do two things at once.”

She laughed softly, “You talk and I’ll do the work, how’s that?”

“Is that what it is? Work?” He sat up, lifting her with him and holding her close, “Well, I can’t have my wife working…I’m the one who works in this family.”

She kissed him, “You’re not telling me the story.”

“What story?” His voice was getting heavier as he truly became distracted.

“About Terry,” she reminded him, thoughts of Samson and Delilah flashing into her mind briefly.

“Who’s Terry?” He taunted, laying her back down beneath him and covering her mouth with his.

It was quite some time before either of them were in any condition to talk coherently again. Her head was on his shoulder and their legs were intertwined. She slowly drew her finger over his chest, still sending little chills all through him.

“So, are you going to tell me,” she purred, “Or do I have to break out the handcuffs?”

His chest shook as he laughed, “I’ll tell you, I’m too weak to resist your torture.”

“Start talking, then,” she snuggled closer.

“Terry is three years older, you know,” he began, “Just right for him not to want me around, and for me to want to follow him everywhere. We were never close like our boys are. I was always trying to prove I could do anything he could and he was always trying to show me I couldn’t.

“When I started high school, he was a senior. He had no use for me. He had the same girlfriend all through high school. Janet was her name and she was a really sweet down to earth girl. She and I got along really well. Terry hated that, of course.

“Anyway,” he went on, “He graduated and got a scholarship to UMR. Janet stayed there, though, and went to cosmetology school. Meanwhile, I was trying to outdo his reputation and make even better grades than he did.”

“And did you?” Her finger had worked its’ way down to the soft hair on his stomach now.

“Yes,” he continued, trying to concentrate on talking, “And I got a full scholarship to UMR also. Our folks were thrilled, but Terry wasn’t. Here he is in Rolla with his own apartment enjoying life and along comes little brother again.

“So, right after I graduated, I went to Rolla and got a job flipping burgers for the summer. I moved in with him and started having a good time. UMR had a housing crunch about then, so they weren’t requiring freshmen to live on campus…You know, if you keep that up, I won’t be able to finish my story…”

“But I like keeping it up,” she kissed his chest playfully, “It’s what I live for, Dear.”

“Then you should live a long and prosperous life,” he chuckled, “Anyway, not too long after I moved in with him, Terry and Janet broke up. I still don’t know why. He never told me. I think it was her doing, but I really don’t know.”

“So, now you’re wondering,” she stopped playing and got involved in what he was telling her, “if maybe she got pregnant and that’s why they broke up?”

“Um-hmm,” he reached for her hand and guided it back down, “That’s what I’m wondering.”

“Well,” Paula mused, “the plot thickens…So what happened to Terry after that?”

“He met Karen,” Rob told her, “the one he married. She was in his class at Rolla and she was nothing like Janet. Remember those hotshot guys you told me about that played polo?”

“Yes,” she recalled her story from years ago.

“Well,” he explained, “Karen was a female version. Just thought she was a cut above the rest. Her parents had just enough money to make her have really expensive taste, so Terry was always buying her stuff he couldn’t afford.

“Well,” he told her, “after they graduated, he got a job at McDonnell Douglas. She went to work at Ford. They got married and bought a fancy house. They were pulling down pretty good money between the two of them, so they racked up some hefty payments. But, Karen got pregnant. It was not in the plan right then…my guess is it wasn’t ever going to be part of her plan. Terry wanted kids, but I don’t think she did. He wanted her to quit work and stay home with the baby. She refused and it all went downhill from there.”

“Did she have the baby?” Paula had never heard mention of Terry being a father.

“Yes,” Rob told her, “A beautiful little girl named Chelsea. But Karen and Terry were fighting like cats and dogs by then, I guess. I was still at Rolla, so I just heard most of this from the family grapevine.

“Anyway,” he went on, “Terry started having an affair with some girl at the office.”

“Oh, I’m sure that helped,” Paula rolled her eyes.

“Especially when Karen found out about it,” Rob agreed, “She filed for divorce and they drug it through the courts for a long time. He tried to have her declared an unfit mother, which she was, but he’d already ruined his chances by having that fling. Karen, instead, managed to have him declared a danger to his own daughter, which he wasn’t, and he didn’t even get visitation rights.”

“Holy cow,” Paula muttered, “Poor Chelsea.”

“Exactly,” Rob sighed, “About that time was when my grandmother died. The divorce was final and Karen picked up and moved to California. She screwed up, though.”

“How’s that?”

“She got the child support figured as a percentage of income, instead of a flat rate,” he informed, “figuring that Terry’s salary would increase, and she’d keep taking a bigger cut.”

“But he quit his job,” Paula suddenly saw things fall into place.

“Um-hmm,” Rob confirmed, “So she hardly got anything, because the farm barely shows a profit.”

“Well,” Paula’s hand strayed from its task again, “That certainly puts things in a different light.”

“All right,” he pulled her hand back, “Now, I was a good boy and told you the whole story. Do I get a reward?”

“A reward?” She joked, “You started out with a bribe.”

“It was a good story.”

“Yes,” she climbed on top of him, “It was a good story.”

~*~

It was two weeks later when Rob came home early from work with a strange look on his face and a dozen roses in his hand. Paula and the boys were all working together on a lesson in the living room, but she sensed that her husband needed his wife alone for a few minutes.

“Hi, Darling,” she ran to hug and kiss him and took the flowers, “How lovely. And what a wonderful surprise, you coming home early.”

“Hi, Dad,” the boys could tell something was amiss, so they stayed put, instead of clamoring all over him in the usual fashion.

“Boys,” Paula suggested, “Why don’t we call it a day, too? Put your books away and go out for a break.”

Rob followed her into the kitchen as she looked for a vase. He still hadn’t spoken. She put the roses in water and heard the door close as her sons went outside.

“All right, Sweetheart,” she put her hands on his chest, “Now tell me what’s wrong.”

“Mitch called,” he was visibly shaken, something very unusual for Rob, “You were right. He is my son.”

She hugged him, “OK, so where do we go from here?”

He pulled her as close as he could and buried his face in her hair, “I have no idea. I can’t believe this is happening.”

“It’s real to you now, isn’t it?” She understood perfectly. “Come on, let’s go sit and talk about this.”

He trailed after her like a puppy and sat down next to her on the couch. He leaned his elbows onto his knees, resting his head in his hands. She had never seen Rob worried like this.

“Hey,” she put her arm over his shoulders, “It’s all right, Sweetheart. Nothing has really changed. We just know for sure now, that’s all. We already had a strong suspicion…so, now we know.”

“What are we going to tell the boys?” He looked up at her, his eyes filling with tears.

“Is that what you’re worried about?” She took his hand in hers, “Honey, we’ll tell them the truth and they’ll be just fine. They’re good, strong, smart boys. They can deal with this.”

“What will they think of me?” He wondered.

“The same thing they think of you now,” she answered, “That you’re the best dad in the world and they love you.”

“Will you help me tell them?” He asked, still reeling from the situation.

“Of course, I will,” she moved closer to him and he took her into his arms, “Everything will be just fine, you’ll see.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, “You and the boys…You shouldn’t have to deal with this. You deserve better than this.”

“Listen to me,” she drew back, looking into his eyes, speaking firmly, “We can use this to a good end. Our sons have been raised on a farm, they know how things work. They’re not going to be shocked by this. And this is a clear lesson in cause and effect. A good example of consequences to our actions and why we should think about what we do, before we do it.”

“It’s a glaring example,” he complained, “Of what an idiot their father is.”

“No, don’t say that,” she scolded, “You are not an idiot. You can show them how a man deals with a bad situation by making the best of things. Don’t worry about the bad example you set 27 years ago… concentrate on the good example you can set now.”

He took her face in his hands and looked at her in total adoration, “What would I do without you?”

“You’ll never have to find out,” she promised, “Now, I’m going to go call the boys in…We should talk to them now.”

“Wait,” he grabbed her arm as she started to get up, “Right now? I don’t know…”

“Well, I do know,” Paula took charge this time, “Trust me, OK?”

“OK,” he sighed, “Always.”

~*~

Jason, Kevin and Keith all sat attentively at their father’s feet in the living room. They were accustomed to being included and informed anytime there were important family decisions. They were also accustomed to Rob being in total control and command of every situation. They waited patiently for him to tell them what was going on.

Rob took a deep breath and then started, “Boys, your mother and I need to tell you something. A long time ago, I did something I shouldn’t have done and now it’s caught up with me.”

“Are you going to jail, Dad?” Keith asked, his eyes wide.

“No,” Rob had to smile at that, “It wasn’t quite that bad. And it was a long time ago, before any of you were born, or I even knew your mother. It was when I was still in high school. I did some grownup things, but I wasn’t really grownup enough to be doing them…I shouldn’t have done them…”

“What kind of grown up things?” Keith asked.

“You know,” Kevin punched his twin in the side, “Like drinking beer and that kind of stuff.”

“Hush, you two,” Jason silenced his younger brothers, “Let Dad talk…You mean with a girl, don’t you, Dad?”

“Yes, Son,” he nodded, “I mean with a girl…It was very wrong, you understand. I shouldn’t have done those things then. And I left for college without knowing what the consequences were…She didn’t tell me, you see…”

“What you’re father is trying to say,” Paula finally spoke, sitting next to him, hand on his shoulder, “Is that she had a baby, but he didn’t know that then. She gave the baby up for adoption.”

“You mean,” Jason put the pieces together, “You’re Mitch’s dad?”

“Yes,” Rob answered, amazed at his sons, “I’m Mitch’s father.”

“That makes Mitch our brother, right?” Kevin exclaimed.

“Cool!” Keith cried.

“Cool?!” Rob raised his eyebrows.

“Yeah,” Kevin answered, “He’s a really cool guy! And he’s a vet!”

“Is he going to come and live with us?” Keith asked.

“No,” Rob shook his head. “He’s all grown up now and able to take care of himself. But I think he may want to come over and visit sometimes.”

“So can we call him our brother?” Kevin asked.

“Well,” Rob cautioned, “I think you’d better see how he feels about that. But I think it’s safe to say you can consider him part of the family now.”

~*~

“Feel better?” Paula asked, sliding into bed next to her husband.

“Yes, I do,” he tucked her in next to him, “They handled it pretty well, didn’t they?”

“Of course,” she kissed him, “They are just as resilient as their father, you know.”

“Is that the word for it? Resilient?” He played with her hair lovingly.

“Um-hmm,” she snuggled closer, “How was Mitch when he called?”

“He sounded a little shaken up, himself,” Rob told her, “And there’s something else I haven’t told you.”

“What’s that?” She looked up.

“He wants me to help him find his mother.”

“Oh,” she lay her head back down on his shoulder, “I had a feeling that was coming. So, do you know how to find her?”

“Probably,” he reflected, “I imagine I can find her brother and go from there.”

“Were you friends with her brother?” Paula was curious.

“That’s how I knew Mary,” Rob explained. “Her brother was on the chess team of a rival school, and he and I met at a match. We ended up being friends and we’d visit each other to practice chess.”

“I never knew you were on the chess team,” Paula smiled.

“Well, I had to be,” Rob justified, “Terry was before me, so you know, I had to follow along and outdo him. Anyway, I think her brother, James, still lives in the area. If I can find him, he’ll tell me how to find her.”

“Do you think he knows about Mitch?” Paula wondered.

“Not that he’s mine,” he reasoned, “He would have gotten hold of me at UMR and told me then, if he’d known. No, the best I can figure, is that she made up some sort of story that was plausible enough to convince her whole family. I bet she didn’t tell anyone the truth.”

“Well,” Paula kissed him softly, “I guess we’ll know soon enough. It’s late, Honey. We’d better get some sleep.”

“Hey,” he squeezed her, “Do you know how much I love you?”

“Yes, Sweetheart,” she reassured him, “Do you know how much I love you?”

Rob possessed that innately masculine ability to fall asleep mid-sentence. She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, listening to his heartbeat. It was her favorite sound.

~*~

Paula looked up from their schoolwork as the phone rang. She let the machine get it; too many interruptions if she answered it every time it rang.

“Paula,” Rob’s voice called out, “Pick up if you’re there, Honey, I need to…”

“I’m here,” she grabbed the receiver, “What’s up, Sweetheart?”

“Do we have anything going on this weekend?” Rob asked.

“Nothing on the calendar,” Paula checked, “Why?”

“Because we may be going to St. Louis,” he told her.

“You found her,” Paula surmised, “Have you talked to her yet?”

“No,” he replied, “I want to tell Mitch first. He still might change his mind about this. If he wants to go up this weekend, are you OK with it?”

“Do you want me along?” She asked.

“Absolutely,” he was quick to answer, “I can’t do this without you. Besides, the boys haven’t been up to see my folks for a while. We’ll make a weekend of it, if we go. I’ll get Terry to look after all the animals.”

“OK, Honey,” she told him, “We’ll do whatever you want.”

~*~

“Boys,” Paula called, stirring a pot on the stove, “I hear your father’s truck. Would you start setting the table, please?”

“Sure, Mom,” Jason grabbed plates from the cabinet. Keith and Kevin got glasses and silverware.

“Hey, Dad,” they each hurried by him as he walked into the kitchen.

“Hi, Guys,” he stepped aside to let them complete their task, “Hi, Baby.”

“Hi,” she turned to give him a hug and kiss, “Well, what did you find out?”

“We’re going to St. Louis this weekend,” he answered, the boys all returning to listen, “Mitch has Saturday off, so we can leave Friday night.”

“Are we all going together?” Kevin asked.

“We can’t,” Keith corrected his brother, “There’s not enough room in the Jeep.”

“Is Mitch staying with us at Grandma and Grandpa’s house?” Jason wondered, “He’ll love their horses.”

“Boys,” Paula herded them all to the table, “Enough questions, why don’t you let your father breathe for a minute… He just walked in the door.”

“It’s OK,” Rob laughed, “They just want to know. Yes, we’re all going up together. I rented a van, so we’ll have plenty of room. And, yes, Mitch is staying with us at Grandma and Grandpa’s. They want to meet him too.”

“So,” Paula asked, “Did you talk to Mary?”

“Briefly,” he nodded, “Just long enough to see if we could visit with her this Saturday when we’re in town.”

“You didn’t tell her why,” Paula supposed.

“Didn’t think I should tell her over the phone,” he confirmed, “I think this needs to be handled in person.”

~*~

Mitch and Rob drove up one after the other, and the boys descended on them both with equal vigor. Paula smiled from the front porch. She was proud of her sons and the way they welcomed Mitch into the family. She was also proud of her husband and the way he had faced this whole scenario. Perhaps he hadn’t always been the man she knew and loved, but she found it hard to imagine him any other way.

“Hi, Sweetheart,” Rob kissed her, “Everything packed and ready to go?”

“Just inside the door,” she greeted, “I made sandwiches for us to eat on the way, so we don’t have to stop for supper.”

“Good idea,” he started hauling things to the van. “Boys, help Mitch get his things, will you?”

~*~

In less than half an hour, they were on their way, eating their sandwiches. Rob was a pro at packing a vehicle, so that had only taken a matter of minutes. The longest delay had come when there was a major debate over who would get to ride next to Mitch. Finally Rob had determined that drawing straws was the only diplomatic solution.

“So,” Mitch asked, “What’s the plan?”

Paula could almost hear the word ‘dad’ at the end of his question. It wouldn’t be long.

“Well,” Rob told him, as he drove, “I’m supposed to go see her tomorrow morning. I did determine that she’s not married and has no family…That should make things a little easier. Nothing to worry about wrecking. I also found out she’s got a good job at Purina, so she must’ve gone back to school and gotten a degree.”

“Should I go with you?” Mitch asked, sincerely seeking the advice.

“I think I should talk to her first,” Rob suggested, “I think she should have the choice, don’t you? Instead of us both going in there, guns blazing.”

“Yes,” Mitch agreed, “If she doesn’t want to meet me…Well, I’ll understand.”

“That’s not going to happen, Mitch,” Paula predicted, “But I think it would be better if she heard this from Rob. I have a feeling this may hit her pretty hard, coming out of the blue and all.”

“Yeah,” Mitch nodded, “Listen, you’ll be sure she understands that I don’t hate her or anything, right?”

“Don’t worry,” Rob told him, “I’ll take care of it. Besides, Paula will be there to keep me in line.”

“I will?” Paula had assumed he would do this alone.

“Absolutely,” Rob gave her an insistent look, “I’m not doing this without you there.”

~*~

It was already dark when the van pulled up to the old ranch style house in Wentzvillle. It had been remodeled and expanded several times over the years, and had a pleasant, homey appeal. The stable was just visible behind the house, no longer teeming with horses, but still shelter to a few old favorites. The 20 acres of pasture stretched out behind the stable, into the darkness.

They all piled out of the van, legs stiff from the trip, and porch lights came on. They each grabbed a bag, and headed up the front steps. Rob led the way into his boyhood home.

Rob’s mother was a spry little woman of 70, shorter than Paula and thinner. Her once blond hair was now completely white and she wore it short and curled. Her eyes were still a bright blue, rimmed with glasses.

After hugging Rob and the younger boys, she took a good look at Mitch, “Oh my, you do look like your father. You didn’t exaggerate a bit, Robbie.”

“Of course, I didn’t,” Rob grinned, “I never exaggerate.”

“Still humble too, I see,” his father teased. Rob’s father looked like yet an older version of him. His blond hair had also turned totally white, and it was short, but still very thick and wavy. He had that same tall frame, and was quite muscular for 72. His blue eyes were starting to cloud slightly, but he still didn’t wear glasses.

“A lot more humble than I used to be,” Rob muttered, then went on, “Mitch, this is my mom, Sally, and my dad, Bill.”

“You can call me Grandma, if you like,” Sally offered, hugging him, “Everyone does these days.”

“Well,” Bill shook his hand, “I expect you to call me ‘Mr. Jackson, Sir’, you got that?”

“OK,” Mitch glanced at Rob, uncertain.

“He’s kidding,” Rob clarified, “Go easy on him, Dad. Don’t scare him off the first night.”

“Oh!” Bill laughed, “I’m not going to scare him off now, not if he hasn’t already been scared off by you!”

“Come on, Boys,” Sally led the way down the hall, “Let’s get you all settled in. Did you bring your sleeping bags? I’m putting you all together in Terry’s old room this time. We’ll let Mitch have your dad’s old room…”

~*~

Paula and Sally were drinking their morning coffee, watching all the men and boys joking and laughing. The family room where the guys were was an addition, and the ladies could look in on them through what once had been an exterior window, but now served as an opening onto a bar with stools.

“Look at them all together, would you?” Sally observed, “They look like a set of those little Russian dolls. You know the ones I mean—you open them up and inside there’s another one just the same only a little bit smaller?”

“Yes,” Paula liked her analogy, “I know just what you mean. Can you believe I had to convince Rob and Mitch? They just thought it was coincidence.”

“You know,” Sally recalled, “Bill’s father would have matched, too. You knew him, didn’t you?”

“Oh, yes,” Paula remembered fondly, “Funny isn’t it? The only male in the entire family that doesn’t look like a clone is Terry.”

Sally gave Paula a strange look, “Yes, funny…”

Paula looked back at her and then felt her intuition kick in. Well, perhaps funny wasn’t the word for it, after all. Maybe that was a whole other story she’d stumbled onto.

“Paula,” Rob called her from her thoughts, “We need to leave, are you about ready?”

“Yes, Dear,” she rose and grabbed her purse, “Ready when you are.”

~*~

Rob pulled the van into the drive and sat there for a moment. It was a nice house in Chesterfield, not too fancy, but not plain by any means. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, collecting himself for the task at hand.

Paula looked at her husband. He was wearing jeans and a red polo shirt. As the sun struck his hair, pulled back in its usual fashion, she thought she saw a strand of gray. This was taking a toll on him.

“Do you want me to go in with you?” She broke the silence, “Or would you prefer I wait out here?”

“I want you with me,” he answered, “I’m not brave enough to put my head in the guillotine unless you’re holding my hand.”

“You’re the bravest man I know, Dear,” she coaxed, “But I’ll be glad to hold your hand through anything. Shall we go?”

The woman who answered the door was not at all what Paula expected. She was tall, with a striking figure, and her brown hair was cut short and curled around her face. She had a pleasant face adorned with makeup that complimented her blue eyes. She wore tight jeans and a white Lycra shirt that had a deeply scooped neckline. It was very obvious that she wore nothing beneath it. Like Paula, she didn’t look her age, but more like a woman in her mid-thirties.

“Robbie!” She cried, immediately throwing herself into his arms.

“Hi, Mary,” he hugged her, a bit reluctantly, then pushed her back as soon as he could, “This is my wife, Paula.”

“Oh, hello,” Mary smiled, sizing her up, “Please, do come in. I heard you got married, Robbie, but I didn’t know if you kept her.”

Paula could feel her claws coming out, but she tried to keep them hidden. This was not the time for a cat-fight. Maybe later.

“I’ve kept her so far,” Rob didn’t seem to notice the dig, “What about you? Never married?”

“No,” she pointed to a sprawling sofa, “Please, do sit down. What can I get you to drink?”

She headed to an ample bar and started pouring herself a Scotch.

“Nothing, thank you,” Paula answered, while Rob just shook his head.

“Well, Robbie,” Mary remarked, “I know you’re an architect now, what about you, Dearie, what do you do?”

“I’m a wife and mother,” Paula answered the most dreaded question in the world.

“We have three boys,” Rob offered, “And she homeschools them, along with taking care of the farm.”

“Oh,” Mary had a smirk on her face, “How quaint.”

Paula could feel blood oozing from her tongue now, as she bit it back. If Rob didn’t move things along, Mitch was going to bury another mother. Paula gave him a look that said as much, so he jumped to the point.

“Mary,” he started, “I came here for a reason.”

“Not just a friendly chat?” Mary sat across from them.

“Mary,” he confessed, “I know.”

“Know what?” She made a scrunched up face like he was crazy.

“I know about the baby,” he announced, “Our baby.”

Her whole demeanor changed as his words hit home. She sat her glass down, looking back and forth between Rob and Paula. No longer smug and self-assured, she seemed unable to speak.

“Look,” he spoke gently, “I’m sorry you had to go through that alone. If you had told me…Well, I would have helped. I know I wasn’t the pillar of virtue at the time, but I wasn’t a total jerk, either.”

She suddenly burst into tears, “I know you weren’t. That’s why I didn’t tell you, Robbie. I didn’t want to ruin your life! I loved you, Robbie…I loved you too much to tear your whole life apart!”

“Hey,” he went over to her and she jumped into his arms again, “It’s OK. I know you just did the best you could with this. I’m sorry I put you in that situation.”

Paula found it hard to stay quiet, but she knew she was just there for moral support. That didn’t make it any easier to watch her husband holding another woman, though…A woman who was very attractive and sobbing in his arms.

“I’m sorry I hid it from you, Robbie,” she cried, “I know you would have come back for me. My father would have killed you, though. And even if he hadn’t…if we’d run away or something…I just wasn’t ready to be a mother.”

“It’s all right,” he consoled, “I’m not angry with you. I wasn’t ready then to be a father, either. What did you tell your family?”

“I told them I met a guy at a party,” she explained, “I said I didn’t even know his last name. I told them I had no idea how to find him…he was from out of town. They believed me.”

Paula felt a pang as she watched Rob rock Mary in his strong arms.

“Wait a minute,” Mary suddenly pulled away, “How did you find out? I never told anyone…not a soul…”

“I found out from him,” Rob dropped the next bomb, “From our son.”

“He found you?” She gasped, “But how? Even the agency didn’t know you were his father…How could he have come searching for you?”

“He didn’t,” Rob told her, “Paula, will you tell her the rest, please?”

Mary gave Paula a look that told her she’d forgotten her presence. She obviously didn’t consider Paula to be part of the equation.

“He’s a veterinarian,” Paula informed, “And he came to our farm to work on my horse. He looked so much like Rob, that I started asking questions and putting pieces together. I found out that he was from this area and that he was adopted. I just had a feeling there was a connection and I was right.”

Mary looked back to Rob, “And you knew it was me?”

“It had to be you,” he shrugged, “I wasn’t with anyone else at that time. We had the test run to be sure. He really is my son.”

“He wants to meet you,” Paula informed, “He’s a really nice guy. He wanted to be sure you know he doesn’t hate you or resent you or anything like that. He even told me once that he figured you did the right thing.”

“Is he here?” She wiped her face, mascara running.

“He’s with my folks,” Rob answered, “With the rest of the boys. Would you like to come back there with us to meet him?”

“What’s his name?” She asked softly.

“Mitch,” Rob answered, “Dr. Mitch Martin.”

~*~

Paula kept silent on the trip back. Mary occasionally asked questions, which Rob tried his best to answer. He glanced over at Paula often, glad for her presence, but also appreciative of her silence.

When they drove up to the house, Sally met them in the yard. She had obviously been watching for their arrival. She seemed a bit anxious when they all stepped out.

“Hello, Mary,” Sally’s smile was almost business-like, “They’re all out in the stable. Bill is showing Mitch the horses, and having him check them over.”

“Well,” Rob observed, “I hope Mitch sends him a bill for it then.”

“Paula,” Sally offered, “I was just on my way in to make lunch. Perhaps you should send your boys in to help me.”

“Good idea,” Paula got her message loud and clear.

Rob led the way to the stable and they found the whole lot of guys surrounding a pretty bay mare. Bill was holding her lead, Mitch was examining her teeth, and the younger boys were critiquing the entire procedure. They all stopped and looked up when the door opened.

“Holy Mother of Christ!” Mary exclaimed, when she caught sight of Mitch.

“Boys,” Paula knew she had to get them out fast, “Your grandmother needs your help with lunch.”

“Yes, Mom,” Jason sensed the urgency and shepherded the twins out quickly.

“Well, Mary,” Bill looked her up and down, “I see you haven’t changed much.”

“Dad…” Rob gave him a look.

“I’ll just put this mare up,” Bill headed for a stall, “and see if Sally needs my help, as well.”

“Mary,” Rob introduced, “This is Mitch.”

“My God!” She was still gaping at him, “You look just like him…”

“So I’ve been told,” he smiled and glanced at Paula.

“Even your voice…” Mary was staring at him like he was a piece of art, not a man.

Paula went to Rob and drew him back where only he could hear her, “I think I need to go help with lunch, too…You’d better stay here, though.”

“Are you sure?” He obviously wanted to bail out, as well.

“I think Mitch might need you here,” Paula told him, “I’ll send your dad out in a few minutes to fetch you all for lunch.”

Paula walked into the kitchen to a whole array of inquiring looks. It was obvious that more talking had been going on than lunch preparations.

“We’d better get lunch done quickly,” she advised. “I told Rob we’d rescue him soon.”

“Grandma thought we could eat outside on the patio,” Jason picked up a stack of paper plates.

“Excellent idea,” Paula nodded, handing napkins and cups to the twins.

“Yes,” Sally suggested, “You boys start getting the tables ready out there and we’ll bring the food out shortly.”

Both Rob’s parents looked at Paula when the boys left the room.

“She’s a real corker, isn’t she?” Bill was the first to say it.

“Uncorker, is more like it,” Sally muttered.

“Trollop was the first word that came to my mind,” Paula grinned, sending them both into laughter. “Poor Mitch, though. I think Rob should have warned him.”

“Mitch will be fine,” Bill assured, “He’s just like his father, he can handle her fine.”

“Yes,” Sally reminded sarcastically, “Look how well his father handled her before.”

“Well,” Bill defended, “He didn’t have Paula to take care of him then.”

Paula smiled at that comment. She had always been fond of Rob’s parents. In many ways, she was closer and more comfortable with them, than she was her own.

“Yes,” Sally was uncovering food as she talked, “And thank heavens he has you now, Dear. I can’t even imagine what that woman would do to him, if you weren’t standing in her way.”

“I can,” Bill chuckled, “I can imagine it quite vividly, in fact.”

“Well, stop!” Sally scolded, “You don’t need to imagine such things!”

“Let’s get this food out, so we can send for them,” Paula started carrying out dishes.

~*~

Lunch went better than Paula expected, mostly due to the fact she and Sally kept the conversation light and friendly. She tried to keep her boys as far from Mary as possible, just in case language, even more colorful, surfaced that she preferred they not hear. By the end of the meal, Mitch and Mary had taken lawn chairs under a tree and were visiting. Rob pulled a chair over, also, in case they needed supervision.

Paula decided it was her job to keep the boys out of harm’s way, so she suggested they all saddle up and ride. Rob gave her a look that told her he agreed, although he longed to trade places. Bill volunteered to ride along too. He still enjoyed taking his horses out, and it was the one thing that kept him looking and acting as young as he did.

When they returned from a pleasant ride, one glance into the yard told Paula all she needed to know. Sally had evidently provided them with a blanket, and they were all laughing and talking comfortably now. Mary was sitting in the center, legs crossed and leaning back on her hands. The men were on either side of her, each stretched out with one hand supporting his head. They looked like matching bookends, with her as the book. It wasn’t a good book, either, Paula thought. One of those dime store romance types…if not worse.

“Boys,” Bill spoke as they dismounted and led the horses into the stable, “Just tie your horses up on that rail there. If you’ll run in and wash up, I bet Grandma will fix you some lemonade to cool off. Your mother and I will take care of the horses.”

She looked at him and smiled. It was a statement that could have come straight from Rob’s mouth. She was very grateful for her in-laws right now.

As they started grooming the tired horses, Bill began talking to her, “Honey, don’t let what’s going on out there bother you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to Rob and he knows it. He’d never do anything to hurt you.”

“I know that, Bill,” she brushed the palomino gelding she’d ridden, “But thanks for saying it. I kind of needed to hear that right about now.”

“You know,” he reflected, “Watching him grow up, I would never have believed he’d turn out so well. He was always so wild and reckless. Never had to work at anything…not like Terry did. School came easy for him…riding was natural…sports…anything he tried, he could just pick it up and do it. It was almost like he was searching for something to make his life more challenging than it was.

“Then he found you,” Bill stopped and led his mare to a stall, “And he was like another person. He just suddenly grew up. Went almost overnight from being a carefree boy to a responsible man. I just thank the Lord every day that he found you before he ended up with someone like Mary for a lifetime.”

“Women like Mary don’t last a lifetime,” Paula observed.

“Not usually,” Bill chuckled, “But they can certainly ruin a man for a lifetime.”

“Like Karen did Terry?” Paula led her gelding to his stall and started on the sorrel Jason had ridden.

“Exactly,” Bill nodded, “You know, Sally and I have a good marriage. I can’t complain one bit…But I look at you and Rob, and I see what I saw in my own parents. Till the day Mom died, Dad loved her with his whole heart, and she loved him that same way. I’m afraid I’ll never be half the man my dad was, or husband or father, for that matter. But Rob…he’s already there.”

“Thank you,” Paula turned to him, tears in her eyes, “You couldn’t pay us a greater compliment. I knew your parents pretty much all my life. I remember when I was a little girl, we’d go visit them and my dad would help your dad with hay and such. I thought then that when I grew up, I wanted to be just like them. I wanted what they had. I think I probably learned more about how to be a good wife and mother from your mom than anyone else in my life. I just hope and pray I can live up to her example. If I’m half the woman she was, I’ll be happy.”

“You’re much more than half, Honey,” Bill crossed over and hugged her, “You’re the kind of wife that every man dreams of. I’m so glad Rob has you. And I’m so very proud of you both.”

She hugged him back and then wiped away her tears. They finished with the horses and she told him she’d like to stay in the stable alone for a few minutes. He understood perfectly and left her with the horses.

Paula was leaning on the rail of the stall, lost in thought. The palomino gelding, ButterScotch, nuzzled her gently and she stroked his nose out of habit.

“Buttermilk is his mother, you know,” a voice spoke softly from behind.

“Yes, I know,” she turned to see Rob standing in the doorway, “he has her sweet disposition, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, he does,” he walked up and the horse whinnied to him, “Sometimes, I wish I hadn’t gelded him.”

“I wish we’d kept one of her daughters,” Paula was still petting the horse, “So, how’s it going out there?”

“As well as can be expected,” Rob gave her a lopsided smile, “Did you have a good ride?”

“Yes, we did,” she answered, “Did you enjoy your visit?”

He chuckled and pulled her into his arms, “I would have much rather been riding with you. I missed you, Baby. I’m sorry I abandoned you today.”

“You didn’t abandon me,” Paula soaked in the comfort of his arms, “If anything, I abandoned you. I just felt like I needed to keep the boys away.”

“I know,” he kissed her, “And you were absolutely right about that. I’m so glad you were with me this morning.”

“Are you really?” She was feeling a little insecure.

“Yes, really,” he assured, “I know that wasn’t easy for you. I really appreciate the way you dealt with it. I know she was baiting you and it had to be hard not to take the bait.”

“So you did notice,” she smiled, “I wasn’t sure you caught all that.”

“Oh, yes, I noticed,” he kissed her again, longer this time, “And I was so proud of the way you handled her. Do you know how much I appreciate the way you’ve been through all of this? Never once complaining or getting angry? You’ve been an absolute rock through it all. My own private Rock of Gibraltar.”

“You give me too much credit,” she protested, “We’re not back home yet.”

“Home,” he sighed, “What I wouldn’t give for us to just be home, right now.”

“Me too,” she agreed, “You know, Rob, she’s nothing like I imagined. I mean, I keep hearing about what you were like before I met you…from you…from Terry…your dad…but I can’t fathom it. To me, you’ve always been this good, strong, reliable man who just knows how to do the right thing. I’ve never seen you be careless or irresponsible. But I look at Mary, and I see that you must have been very different then, or she wouldn’t have been your girlfriend…”

“She wasn’t,” he corrected her.

“What do you mean?” Paula questioned.

“Do you want the whole story?” Rob led her to some bales of hay and they sat together.

When she nodded, he continued, “Like I told you before, I met her when I was playing chess with her brother. I was 18, and she was 16. Her dad was really strict and wouldn’t let her date anyone. So her response to that was rebellion. She started pursuing me. She’d come over here, to my parents’ house all the time. She got her girlfriends to cover for her. They’d say they were going shopping or to a movie, or something, but they’d drop her off here and then come back for her later.”

“That sounds about right,” Paula recalled some high school days of her own.

“Anyway,” he explained, “one Saturday in May, she showed up and I was the only one here. My folks were gone to a horse show and I’d stayed behind for some reason. She started in on me with her normal games. She just hit me at the right place and the right time to take advantage of the situation.

“Paula,” he confessed, “I’m not proud of what I did or who I was then. It doesn’t make it better, it actually makes it even worse. I didn’t have a girlfriend because I didn’t want to be tied down. I was getting ready to leave for college and I wanted to be able to have fun. So, when she started telling me how she wanted me to be her first, I decided to take her up on it.”

“You were her first?” Paula was surprised.

“Yes,” he nodded, “Right out here in the stable, in fact. In one of those stalls over there. I didn’t love her. I didn’t have any real feelings for her at all. I just used her Paula…plain and simple as that. What Terry told you about me was right. I wasn’t a good guy back then.”

“Hey, Dad,” a voice interrupted and they both looked up to see Mitch standing there, “Mary says she’s ready to go home. She sent me to get you.”

Rob stood up and reached in his pocket, “Here, Mitch, catch!”

He tossed the car keys at his oldest son, “You can drive her home. I think I’ve done my part. She’s your mother, you can handle it from here on out.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Mitch smiled and headed out.

“He called you Dad,” Paula observed.

“I noticed,” Rob grinned, “You OK with that?”

“Of course,” she nodded, as he sat back down. “You really think he can handle her on his own?”

“Yeah,” he hugged her, “He’s a lot more mature than I was at his age. He’ll be just fine.”

“So,” Paula kissed him passionately, “Out here in one of these stalls, huh?”

“Um-hmm,” he smiled, “Shall I show you?”

“Funny,” she purred, “I was just thinking that perhaps a demonstration would be good about now…”