We met them and Alannah In Key West for a week before they headed back to Tampa and us, to Ireland.
I took them on one of my treasure hunts and Chase told them tales of our younger days and all the hell we raised. That was the night they all realized why we all take family so seriously and what being a “Grayson” or “Evans” entailed.
Brianna sat wide eyed when Tyler told her stories Of Him And Janessa, Their tours together and how much they
loved each other.
Eric still loved to hear all the stories of Dad, and my boy could recite things that I had told him in passing about Ian and Don. He had just turned twenty-one and told me it was time to let him try some of my top shelf tortures.
I looked sharply at Tyler and Chase. “Which one of you told him about that?”
They both grinned pointing at each other before agreeing that it might have been a joint effort that my kid knew that I was a bartender from hell.
I looked back at Ian and said
“Alright, I suppose we could start you off with something lighter. You’re not ready for the big leagues yet, Kid”
“That’s what you thought about the case, too. But, look where we are now.” He replied.
“Alright, big shot, Drink this.”
“Yeaaah! What is this? It tastes amazing.
“It’s a blend of the highest octane top shelves and you’ll get the recipe when I’m dead. Haha!”
He slammed back two more and was out.
I remember Brianna and Eric giving him hell for it and us all letting him believe that they had drunk him under the table.
After that, we taught them a few of our bad habits that they could clean up with like, turning them into pool sharks and Poker phenoms… C’mon, we were in the navy, when our kids came of age it was a right of passage that they learn how to do all those things properly.
We took the rest of that week to relax, we went surfing, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, all of it. We took in the sights,and caught shows. It was the first time in a long time that life felt semi-normal and it was nice.
When we got back, we made it a point to bring the family back together more often. We realized in that week that we had been burnt out for a long time and didn’t even notice.
So twice a month on weekends, We got together, had a big meal and just enjoyed each other's company.
That summer, Eric met his wife Corrine and two years later, We welcomed Annalise to the family.
“Megan, we got something going on, You and Chase
need to get here as soon as you can.” “What’s Wrong?”
“Nothing, But we need you to get here.”
Something didn’t feel right, so we got on the plane and took off for Florida. We got there ten hours later to Find the entire FBI chapter, The kids, Bryson and the original crew of now grown children that our Organization had housed at Eric’s house for a big blowout party - a thank you to Chase and I for everything we’ve done and our service.
“You jackass, we thought something was seriously wrong.”
Tyler Smirked with an “I told ya nothing was” reply.
“Oh and uh.. Don’t get mad… I watched you make some of your “top shelf terrors” And taught the kids how to drink while you were gone,”
“Tyler - you’re supposed to be looking out for them, not teaching them how to self-destruct.”
“Right, and teaching them how to drink in moderation is
looking out for them.”
I rolled my eyes and walked further into the party as Ian handed me one of my mixes and grinned.
“See what happens when I leave my boy alone?” “Here, this is for you and Chase.”
Tyler handed Chase and I an envelope. This is for the organization, we pulled it together for you. The envelope was fat, My eyes welled up.
"Thank you, all."
Chase put it in his pocket with a thank you and we both went in to find Corrine and Annalise.
“How’s my angel doing today?”
“Good, how are you? Oh, you were talking to Annalise.” she joked.