From the Embers

by Aly Martinez

but like so much of my marriage, I just kept right on smiling. “Sounds great.”

“Guess what?” Asher asked. Eason didn’t miss a beat. “You found a fossil in the backyard that unearthed a new species of dinosaurs. With no teeth, it appears this dino could have been friendly, so scientists have decided to use its DNA to bring them back to life with hopes of taming them and using them as a new form of transportation, thus saving our precious…well, fossil fuels.” Asher’s freckled nose crinkled adorably. “What? No!” “Dang,” Eason breathed, his face filled with wonder as he stared off into the distance. “I was really looking forward to riding an Asherosaurus.” My son howled with laughter,

“Gross. I don’t want hair on my chest!” “You will one day.” “No, I won’t. Dad doesn’t have hair on his chest.” “Well. That’s weird. Every man has hair on his body. Maybe check his butt next time he’s in the shower.”

Having company in hell didn’t change the fact that you were still actually in hell.

He rocked us from side to side, more like he was trying to calm a crying baby than slow dance. “We got this, Bree. Me and you. We got this.” And for the first time since our world had exploded, I felt like maybe he was right.

But carved into my soul for all my days to come was the life-altering moment when a naked photo of my wife appeared on the screen.

“You’re all I have left, Bree. And dammit, you were his too.” As he straightened, I fisted a hand in the front of his shirt. “No, I wasn’t. You know it as well as I do. I was a fucking puppet in his show, and I’m done wearing the strings.”

He disappeared into the room, and I took a moment to practice a little breathing exercise I liked to call hyperventilating.

There were so many nights when everything hurt and I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to breathe again. But there you were. With me every step of the way.” I tapped the screen again when it started to dim. “This picture, Bree. It’s not what we have to lose. It’s what I’ve already gained.”

“I can’t wait any longer to kiss you from head to toe, to make you feel good and know for sure it was because of me.”

Being in love with Eason Maxwell was the easiest thing I’d ever done. I’d spent so many years trying to build the perfect life with the perfect husband, the perfect kids, and the perfect company. But mastering the perception of perfect isn’t the same as finding genuine happiness.

“Okay, what the hell is this?” “It’s a veggie burger.” “I got that. But I’ve grown to enjoy your veggie burgers and this is not that.” He lifted his top bun and pulled out a stalk of green, pointedly dropping it on the corner of my plate. “What did I do to you? Asparagus? In a burger? That is some seriously unnecessary violence, babe.” I barked a laugh. “I didn’t have enough black beans. I had to get creative. Look, Asher likes it.” “Yes, but I’ve had concerns over his taste buds for years.” Eason took another bite, adding another hum of approval for good measure. He was right. They were terrible, and there weren’t enough mmm’s in the world that would get the girls to eat it.

“It’s an LA number. I should probably take it. Can you hold down the fort?” “Yep. And there will be three clean plates by the time you get back.” They would be clean because I dumped them in the trash and made peanut butter sandwiches, but he didn’t need to know that.

“This is wild,” Bree said as a hulking security guard pulled the door open for us, no questions asked. I folded my hand over hers and shot her a smile. “I know. Out past midnight and we haven’t turned into pumpkins yet. Who knew?”

Bree suddenly froze, pulling me up short. “Oh my God, is that Shawn Hill? Ohhhh, sweet lord it is.” Chuckling, I leaned into her. “Yes, and after letting your boyfriend hear that moan, we will be staying on this side of the party for the rest of the evening.”

Levee aimed her smile down at Bree. “I heard a lot about you today. I think your guy might like you a little bit.” Bree tilted her head back and smiled up at me. “Well, the feeling is very mutual. I kinda sorta maybe like him too.” “Oh, please. She loves me. Really, it’s more of an obsession. Though I think she might be holding out for Shawn Hill over there?” I winked and Bree pinched my side.

“Bree, I’m not actually there right now. But I’m here for you. If this is what you want, don’t ever go back to Prism. I can take over the bills. I kinda failed Jessica on that front, but it’s different this time. I’m not going to get dropped. I can take care of us now. All of us. I swear I can.” Oh, my sweet Eason. After everything, he still felt like he didn’t do enough.

Our bond might have been forged through tragedy, but our love flourished through patience, genuine respect, and understanding.

He pecked my lips again and then stood up. “If we have packers here, why are you sitting there packing your stuff?” “Oh, right. Why don’t you just go grab one of the guys and tell them to come box up my underwear?” He let out a horrified gasp. “No way any man is touching my woman’s Hanes Her Ways.” I barked a laugh. “Hey! I have some sexy stuff too.” “Yeah, but you know what those white cotton granny panties do for me.” He bit his bottom lip and waggled his eyebrows.

“I have loved you since before I knew I loved you. I have loved you since before I was supposed to love you. And I will continue to love you every single day for the rest of eternity. I cannot tell you life will always be easy. Let’s be honest, I’m still going to call you Sug sometimes.”

“But I can tell you that I will always be here for you in any and every way you need. I’ll be your best friend. Your biggest fan. The man who drives you crazy in both good and bad ways. I don’t care how you need me or even if you need me at all—I’ll still be here, considering myself the luckiest man on the planet as long as we do this life together.” He lifted the diamond ring from the jar and held it out in front of him. “Bree, will you do me the biggest honor of my life and marry me?”