by Charlie Hart
“You did so well,” Em tells me, taking my hand in his own. “You were so brave.”
“Can we get you anything?” Giles asks, his face ruddy with pride.
“There’s only one thing I need now,” I say, looking around the room at my husbands. Six fathers. They’ve never looked more handsome than they do now, gazing adoringly at the incubators.
“What’s that?” Sal asks. “Your wish is my command.”
“I want to go home,” I say, thinking of the island and the home my husbands have been building there.
Fallon smiles softly. “Tia, haven’t you learned by now that home is where the heart is?”
I smile, the tension I’ve been carrying for the last thirty-five weeks beginning to fade. “That’s true, but I was kind of imagining a house with an extra large bed… big enough for all of us.”
Banks gives me a cocky grin. “That’s my girl. You gave birth to six babies hours ago and already you’re thinking about sex.”
I shrug, a playful smile spreading across my lips. “What can I say? It’s been a long time.”
But I know it will be a longer time still as my body heals.
Just then, a baby begins to whimper and Banks lifts Charlotte from the incubator. “Ready to hold your daughter?”
He places her in my arms, and I press my lips to her head, breathing in her perfect baby smell. I should have no idea what I’m doing, I’m a first-time mother and my only experience is reading books and watching videos. Yet somehow, as I cradle Charlotte, I know exactly what to do.
My husbands gather around the bed, every eye trained on mother and daughter, all of us filled to the brim with gratitude.
I lower my dressing gown, offering her my breast for the first time. Her tiny hands curl into fists, strong and delicate. She begins to suckle and tears pool in my eyes as the miracle of life is held in my hands.
She shouldn’t be here.
I shouldn’t be here.
Somehow, with all the odds against us, we somehow survived.
I look up, at my husbands, and I realize that isn’t quite right. We didn’t somehow survive.
We survived because we weren’t in it alone.
We survived because we were together.
Chapter 20
Huxley
“They should be here by now,” I say as I pace the small airport we built close to our new house.
Tia and the babies are finally coming home today, and it’s the first time she’ll see the place. Fallon is flying them in, and Banks is with them as well. The other three husbands sit in the lounge chairs looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows toward the landing strip.
“I don’t know why you’re so nervous,” Giles says, always so damn laid back. “She’s going to love it.”
“I hope so,” I mumble, checking my watch for the hundredth time. “There are so many changes. I just...” I rub the back of my neck. “I want everything to be perfect.”
Emerson chuckles, bouncing Caroline on his knee. “We have six babies, and two toddlers now. I’m not sure perfection is something we should be striving for.”
I glance over at Beth who is sitting quietly with a coloring book and smile, knowing her easy-going temperament isn’t the norm for most kids, but grateful that so far both she and her sister have seemed to skip the toddler tantrums.
Salinger stands and comes beside me. “Have you told Tia about your plans, about what Grace and Charles are doing?”
I shake my head. “I thought Em should be the one to tell her.”
“Why?” Emerson says. “It was your idea. My parents couldn’t do it without you, or the money you gave them.”
My face heats up, never comfortable with praise. Sure, I may be the one who mentioned having the Saint Augustine survivors come live on the island, but it’s really Grace and Charles who are the true heroes.
Those women and children who didn’t have families, or safe places to return to after the Thorne’s program was shut down, had been placed in a temporary camp. A sort of limbo.
With the money I had remaining after we built our house, I purchased some property on the island and had a series of homes built. Many of the nuns, including the woman who had helped Tia escape her father’s prison, have come as well. But it’s Grace and Charles who have stepped up to help rehabilitate them into society. To help them function again after, for some, years of abuse.
Most of the children were motherless, and so their care has become a communal thing, with Grace as the matriarch.
“Your parents are amazing people,” I say to Emerson.
“They said the same thing about you.” He grins at me, then stands and places Caroline beside Beth and handing her a package of crayons.
“I think your brothers are the happiest about all this,” Salinger jokes to Em. “You should have seen their faces when those women got off the plane for the first time.”
Emerson grunts. “They’ve been warned to keep their distance.”
Giles chuckles. “How likely is that to happen?”
“Not likely,” he admits.
But there’s hope for them now, and for Mason, to eventually have a wife without having to leave the island.
After hours of debate, I convinced Miriam to shut down the lottery, and Salinger and I have been discussing how best to change the law to support women’s rights as well as the growing popularity of polygamous marriages.
While the lottery worked for our family, and for years, helped women needing an escape from the brutality of the outside world, it’s time for a change. Time for women to once again be allowed to choose their husband, or husbands, if that’s their desire.
Instead of laws that tell people what is right and wrong, Salinger is working to create a government that is shaped by the family unit, no matter how different that family may be.
While six husbands and one wife work for us, we know that it may not be the ideal for many. Opening the minds and hearts of the world to the possibilities of what family really means is our main goal.
Love. Support. Trust. Commitment.
Those are the four cornerstones of what we seek. To what we’ve created here.
And today is a new beginning for our family. Maybe it’s because I never really felt like I had a real home before, that’s made me so nervous about today. But as Fallon’s plane finally touches down, and I see my wife’s beautiful face as the door opens, I can’t help but rush to her, lift her in my arms and spin her around.
“Someone’s happy,” she says laughing against my lips.
“Happy to finally have my family home.” I set her down gently, remembering that she just had surgery a few weeks ago. “How are you feeling? Did I hurt you?”
She inhales deeply and smiles up at me. “No, I’m good. And I can’t wait to see the house. Banks wouldn’t even let me look out the window when we were flying in.”
I glance up at Banks, who carries two car seats as he comes down the plane’s steps. “Thank God, all six of them slept on the way here.”
Fallon comes out behind him, carrying another two car seats with sleeping newborns who have already grown so much in the past few weeks.
Salinger and Giles each take a car seat while Fallon disappears back into the plane, then comes out a few seconds later with the last two babies. Emerson juggles Caroline in one arm and Beth in the other, and I wonder how people in the past with multiple children and only one husband ever did this.
One of the babies starts to cry as we place them in the extra large, customized van that I purchased, which technically is more of a bus with leather seats and a high tech security system built in.
Only the best for my family.
I take Tia’s hand and don’t let go until we finally pull up the ten thousand square foot house that sits on the top of a hill overlooking the ocean.
Our house.
Our home.
“Oh, my God.” Tia’s eyes widen in shock. “It’s...” She shakes her head. “It’s huge.”
There are tears in her eyes as I lead her to the wraparound porch, and through the double front doors that lead to the two-story foyer. The men follow behind us with the children.
I take in every small gasp, every smile that my wife gives as I lead her through each of the rooms, including the bedroom I designed specifically for her. I wanted her to have a special spot, somewhere she could have some privacy in a houseful of people.
There’s a small nook in the corner with a shelf full of books I thought she’d enjoy, and a plush reading chair and ottoman.
“Do you like it?” I ask, wrapping my arms around her from behind. “Anything you want to have changed, we can--”
“It’s perfect, Hux. So much more than I ever expected.” She turns in my arms and places her hands on my cheek, then leans up and kisses me.
There’s so much emotion in such a simple act. We know each other's bodies, as well as we know our own, and while I’m dying to be inside of her again, I know that it’ll still be weeks before she’s up for anything more than gentle touches. Which seems to irk her more than any of us.
Right now, I’m just happy to have her here, in my arms.
A small distant cry reminds me that I’m not just sharing my wife with five other men anymore, but with children who need her more than I do at this moment.
“That would be Devin,” She says with a sigh.
“You know their cries already?”
“No.” She chuckles. “I just know he’s the hungriest of them all. I swear he needs to feed every two hours. Banks said he’s already gained almost four pounds since he was born.”
“Then we better not keep my son waiting.” I take her hand and lead her back downstairs, where the men are each cradling a baby in their arms.
Only Blair, our littlest is still fast asleep in her car seat. I don’t hesitate to pick her up, my heart swelling with love and pride as her lashes flutter open and she smiles at me.
“Did you see that?” I say. “She just smiled.”
“It’s gas,” Banks grunts. “They won’t smile for real for another few weeks.”
I ignore him, my gaze trained on my daughter, her big blue eyes studying me intently.
“You did smile at me, didn’t you?” I coo, and I swear to God she smiles again, and my heart squeezes so damn tight in my chest.
How the hell I got this lucky is beyond me. But I know entering the lottery was the best gamble I ever took.
Epilogue
Tia
Six Months Later
“I don’t know how you do it,” Lilah says as she places her son on the floor with my children and Kate’s little boy.
Already, my own boys seem to dwarf their two in size, even though they’re a couple months younger. And despite being premature, all six babies are already starting to become mobile.
“I’m exhausted with just one,” Kate says, picking up Maja who’s crawled to the edge of the carpet and setting her back in the middle. “But they sure are cute. I heard you’ve been asked to do a reality series.”
I laugh and shake my head. “That’s not happening. We’re already in the spotlight enough. We don’t need any more attention.”
“Still,” Lilah says. “It would be a great way to show the world how our families work. Make it more...” She shrugs. “Real I guess, and not something to be afraid of.”
I know what she means. There will always be people who fight against what they don’t understand Who’ll spew hate at people who are different than them.
“Well, maybe you should do the show,” I say.
“I think it’s the whole six babies, six husbands that have people intrigued.”
“Maybe.” I take a sip of my tea. “But Salinger is working on other ways to help the world come to terms with the new family structures that are becoming the norm.”
“Did I hear my name?” Sal asks as he comes into the room, scooping up Finley in his arms and tickling him, before setting him back down again and kissing each one of the children before placing a kiss on my cheek.
“I thought you had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada today.” I grab his tie and pull him back for one more kiss, this one on the lips, then release him.
“I do, but I wanted to see you before I left.” He nods at Kate and Lilah. “Sorry for interrupting.”
I swear they both give a little sigh as they look at him, and I shake my head, knowing that even women with six husbands of their own are in awe of my men.
“We were just about to leave,” Kate says, standing and picking up her son.
Kate follows suit. “Our husbands were helping Grace and Charles build a new community center in town, and we’re going to talk with the Saint Augustine ladies, see if there’s anything we can help Grace with.”
The work that’s already been done is incredible. The small community of women and children are already starting to thrive, and Grace reported yesterday that some of the families that left the island years ago have started to return.
Hope started here with a single white blossom; it’s only fitting that Emerson’s parents have renamed the small town Hopetown.
Salinger stays with the children as I walk Lilah and Kate to their car. Six months ago they wouldn’t have been allowed to drive, and especially not alone, but things are changing.
We’re safe and free.
And I have each of my husbands to thank for that.
Back inside, I find that all of my men have come downstairs and are sitting on the floor with the babies, and Huxley has brought Beth and Caroline in from the pony ride he’d taken them on.
Even Mason is here, sitting amongst his half-siblings with a grin that is so much like Emerson’s. The boy had a difficult time after his mother kidnapped him and tried to use him as leverage for me. I’m not sure how much he saw, but it was enough for him to turn silent for a few months. It was only after the babies were born that he finally starting opening up.
He stays with us more often now. And while I know Grace would rather he was with her, she’s also busy with the Saint Augustine survivors. And I appreciate having Mason around.
“I think Devin’s hungry again,” Mason says, the baby on his hip, matching turquoise eyes shining up at him like he hung the sun and the moon. “Do you want me to get a bottle for him.”
I tousle the boy's hair, then kiss his cheek which even though he makes a face, I know he loves it.
“What would I do without you,” I say. “Thank you, Mason.”
Taking Devin with him, he leaves the room to get a bottle.
As I turn back toward the living room carpet, I see that my husbands are all in a heated conversation.
“What is it now?” I ask, scanning the room as I kneel down on the carpet beside them.
They may all be fathers, but they all have different ideas about parenting and I’m wondering if we are going to have another lively debate on tummy time or cloth diapers. Not that I mind. I appreciate their passion and involvement. There is no way I’d want to make all of the decisions on my own when it comes to raising children.
“It’s kind of important, actually,” Emerson says.
“What? Tell me,” I say, reaching for Maja and pulling her to me. There has been so much trauma over the last year and a half, and some days I still doubt this is my life and that we are safe. Now, looking at the somber faces of my husbands, I wonder what terrible news they are about to deliver.
Giles clears his throat. “We need to discuss....”
“Just say it.” My tone is demanding and fear crawls up my throat.
“The thing is, we need a schedule,” Fallon says.
“Schedule?” I sigh, relieved that our problems have changed so drastically. We used to discuss how to outrun mercenaries, now we are worried about childcare shifts. “Is this about the night feedings again? Because I spoke with Grace and there are two women we
can hire to help--”
I’m cut off by Banks. “No. No one can help us with this.”
I take a deep breath to steady myself. “I may be capable, but I’m not superwoman. More help might be a good thing.”
“If you want another nanny, or two or ten, that’s wonderful,” Emerson says gently. “We know you’re not a superhero, but Tia, you’re doing so well.”
“Then what’s the schedule for?” I ask.
Salinger twists his lips, as if not wanting to say the words. “It’s for… us.”
“Us who?” I ask, looking at Maja in my arms. She’s rooting around and I offer her my breast.
“Us as in your husbands. We thought maybe we could each take a night, and then on the seventh day, it’s your night alone.”
“You want a sex schedule?” I ask, lowering my voice, surprised at the suggestion. “Am I not meeting your needs?”
Huxley moves closer to me, taking my hand. “Baby, it’s about us wanting to meet your needs. To take one more thing off your plate. We know how you make such an effort to give us equal attention, but that isn’t fair to put all on you.”
“When I met with the president of Finland,” Sal says. “He mentioned a schedule that his family uses.”
“You talked to the president of Finland about our sex life?” I ask, eyes widening.
Sal chuckles. “Of course not. He said he needed to leave after dinner because it was his night with his wife. I thought, huh, that’s interesting.”
I twist my lips, thinking it over. “But where is the spontaneity in a sex schedule?”
Giles shakes his head. “Not a sex schedule. A nighttime schedule. We want a way to respect you, to take one more thing off your mind, and at the same time, make sure we all get time to take care of you. Cherish you.”
“You’re sure it’s not because I am doing a crappy job of taking care of you?” I look around the room.
Fallon laughs. “You do nothing halfway Tia.”