A Mixed reception

Trace looked over to Anaisa as she finished climbing down from the wagon. She looked at him with a complex expression but said nothing. Clearly she was nervous and conflicted about meeting his family, but it didn't fully occur to him until this moment the significance of this introduction.

Until now, she'd been thrust upon him by a king's edict. A guest, a stranger in his home.

By showing her to his family now, he would be claiming her, ratifying a decision that had been made for them. Did she want that? Did he? 

"What did you ring the dinner bell for, Mom?" Seth asked hurriedly, out of breath as he came to a stop beside Sarah. 

His emotion was understandable. The bell was normally used to summon the men from the far fields for supper. If it was rung at a different time, that usually meant some kind of emergency that required everyone's immediate presence.

Trace's father and brother were both worried that someone was hurt.

"Your brother is about to introduce us to someone," Sarah, Seth's wife, patted his shoulder and gestured to the guests.

"Oh, Good Morning, Trace," Seth blinked at his brother as he noticed him for the first time.

Trace nodded before taking a deep breath and plunged ahead. "Good Morning. Everyone, I would like to introduce you to my wife, Anaisa."

He sort of hoped that by putting the title first, by not making "wife" the last word in the sentence, it might soften the impact of the news.

"Your wife?" Trace's brother was the first to react, and Sarah hit him with the dishrag in her hand.

"Be kind," She whispered, barely loud enough to be overheard.

"Well, isn't this wonderful!" Trace's mother gave him a perplexed look, "I didn't know you'd met somebody special! Come in, and tell us all about yourself. When did you two meet?"

"A couple of weeks ago in the city," Trace realized the answer painted their relationship in a very different light. The whole family trooped inside as he continued. "She was employed as a server in the inn where I stayed after being released from the army."

"And we didn't hear about her the moment you returned home a week ago because…" His mother quirked an eyebrow at him. Normally he told his mother a lot, so he could see how she found this strange.

"He probably did not think anything of it then, and I did not intend at the time to become a volunteer." Anaisa replied before Trace could think of a good answer.

"A volunteer?" Sarah tilted her head. "For the army?"

There was an awkward pause. 

"I heard gossip in town yesterday afternoon about a wagon of volunteer brides ordered by the king to marry all the veteran soldiers," Trace's father eyed the couple. "I suppose that must be true."

Trace nodded, and his mother pursed her lips, her gaze darting between the couple. Doubtlessly she was putting new significance to the physical distance between the pair, and the fact that Trace had breached the good manners she'd taught him by not helping Anaisa down from the wagon.

"It must be fate, then," His mother finally declared with a smile. "I'm sure no other soldier got a bride he'd already met before!"

She came forward with her arms open and hugged Anaisa gently. "Welcome to the family, Anaisa. We are glad to have you."

Trace's wife stiffened, and he grimaced slightly. He had yet to touch her at all, even in handing her things or showing her around.

Sarah came forward to hug her next, and this time Anaisa hugged back, releasing some of the tension in Trace's shoulders. His father and brother each shook her hand in turn, and the children looked up at her in awe.

"You're our aunt? What do we call you?" The eldest asked with a glance at Sarah.

Anaisa paused, glancing at Trace. He shrugged. "They call me Uncle Trace. I suppose you would be Aunt Anaisa."

"I can't say all that!" Mia whined. Anaisa smiled at the little girl gently.

"My sister calls me Annie sometimes," She volunteered after a moment. "You could call me Auntie Annie, if that's easier."

"Auntie Annie," Mia nodded. "That's easier. Do you want cookies?"

The whole family laughed, and Anaisa looked to Trace in confusion.

"Cookies are normally reserved for special occasions, like when there is a guest. Mia is always trying to invite people over so that cookies will be served and she can have some." He explained with a smile.

"I'm not sure how long we can stay today," Anaisa told the child, "I think we may have a lot of shopping to do in town?"

She phrased it as a question, clearly uncertain about her place in all of this.

"Oh, Goodness, Trace, you didn't prepare for her to come at all, did you?" His mother suddenly blustered, and he reddened.

"Well, no," He said. "The king did announce the edict when I was in the city, but I forgot about it until the wagon showed up yesterday afternoon and dropped Anaisa off."

"And I bet your home was as dirty as ever," She clucked lightly. "Anaisa, I'm sure you'll forgive my son's lapse in manners! We'll get you fixed up soon enough–Did you bring anything with you? Did your mother send you with her pewter dishes or fabrics?"

Trace grimaced, but Anaisa spoke frankly. "My parents are dead. I have nothing but the clothes provided to me by the king's organizers."

A shocked silence followed the announcement.

"Children, go see if there are any chores in the barn that need doing," Sarah said quietly. "Auntie Annie is going to need to try on some clothes and you'd best be out of the way."

"Yes, Mama," The trio chorused before looking curiously at their new aunt and obeying.

"Come along," Trace's father said to him, "You'll need another chair if I'm not mistaken."

"Darling, load your mother's pewter dishes in the wagon for them to take. They're in the shed, I believe," Trace's mother said to her husband as she took Anaisa by the shoulders and led her into the house.

"You've given your mother a great delight today, Son," His dad confided as he went to comply, "She's been wanting to get rid of your grandmother's things for ages, and you've given her the perfect excuse to do it."

"She didn't like them?" Trace asked, growing amused.

"Your mother had her mother's things, and had no use for more. Luckily for you, she would never throw out anything sentimental. We'll get you fixed up right."

"Thanks, Dad," Trace nodded gratefully. He'd been honest with Anaisa that he would afford whatever they needed, but the less he needed to buy, the better.

"Your table should be big enough, and your kitchen… the bed we built you was pretty narrow, though. I wish I had a larger one to offer, but we can come out and build one as soon as I buy some lumber for it. That and a rocking chair; every wife needs a rocking chair." He mused.

"You just think everyone needs rocking chairs because you love building them, Dad." Seth elbowed the elder man as they came to the lean-to where everything unneeded was stored. "And that wasn't quite a subtle way of asking how the wedding night went."

"It was incredibly subtle!" Their father rolled his eyes.

"I slept on the floor," Trace interrupted, not wanting the conversation to stray into suggestive places. "We're strangers."

"That won't last long," Seth smirked.

"We don't have to discuss this." Trace shot back.

"Now, now, when your brother married, he got a very straightforward talk about the responsibilities and joys of being a husband. It would only be fair if you got the same lecture." Their father said seriously.

"That's something I'd rather not relive," Seth covered his mouth with his hand. "If you need me, I'll be loading this box in your wagon very slowly and then whatever other tasks my wife can find to keep me out of this conversation."

"Thanks, Brother." Trace rolled his eyes as Seth walked away. A laugh that was very near a cackle rose from the departing man.

"Now, then," Their father stroked his chin with one hand. "It's been a few years since I gave this talk last, but I remember the important parts."

"Can we please not?" The younger man begged.

"Oh, don't worry, the main part of the lecture is about honesty, leading a family, and responsibility," his father laid a hand on his shoulder, "It's only at the end when we get to the part your brother truly despised talking about with me. We can start there, however, if that's your preference."

Trace shook his head vehemently, wondering if he could get everything loaded, collect his wife, and leave before they got to that part of the talk.

"Well all right, then, we can start somewhere that's perhaps a little bit more pressing. How long are you planning on keeping your secret from your wife?"