Emerson pointed to Luca’s small, serious, round face in a photo.
When Luca didn’t say anything, Emerson looked up. That concerned look had returned to his brow.
“Hey, Luca,” Emerson assured, voice soft. “It’s okay. I’m okay. Keep telling me stuff.”
With a small huff and a shake of his head, Luca returned to pointing out people and places in the photographs. Jacob showed up next, and then a shocking blonde-haired girl. “Dagny,” Luca said, a smile returning to his face. “She’s the best of us.”
“What the hell?” A new dark-haired Yaeger entered the room, this one wearing a checked apron. “There was a picture party happening in here, and no one even invited me?”
The picture party paused for another round of introductions.
“Oh, right, Daniel,” Emerson said. “I’ve seen you naked a few times in here now.”
“Okay.” Daniel threw up his hands, one of which was still holding a spatula. “It’s weird, right? Why are there so many naked photos? It’s not right.”
“You werebabies,” Leah said, re-entering the room with an eyeroll.
“Babies still have rights,” Daniel pointed out.
“Yes, but tell me, Emerson.” Leah slid into a chair on the other side of Bailey. “Have you seen as many naked photos of my other children?”
Emerson did a quick memory check. “No, actually.”
Leah reached out and gave Daniel a quick swat on the thigh.
“You always loved to be in the nude, Dan Dan. Nothing me or your dad could do to stop it.”
“Well.” Daniel huffed, hands now on his hips. “It’s possible I have some slight sensory issues, and clothing is restrictive. Whatever, food will be ready in ten.”
“Thank you, love!” Leah called as Daniel exited the room.
“I think I have another observation,” Emerson said after another few page turns. They were into Luca’s elementaryyears now. He’d lost some of his childhood chubbiness, to Emerson’s regret, but his eyes remained solemn. “You were a bit into Captain America.”
Luca’s face flushed at once.
“I—”
Jacob snorted. “Abit!He carried that shieldeverywhere.”
“I’ve noticed,” Emerson said with a smile, turning another page.
“I bet it’s still in our closet somewhere.”
“Well,” Luca said, only half defensive. “Fuck the Nazis.”
Another snort from Jacob. “Yeah, I’m sure the Nazis were what you were thinking about every time you stared at Steve Rogers.”
“Fine.” Luca sighed. “It’s possible I’m still a little into Captain America.”
“I mean,” Emerson said, “who wouldn’t be?”
And then he reached under the table and squeezed Luca’s thigh. Luca found his hand and tangled their fingers together.
They’d only gotten through a quarter of the albums when the table was cleared for dinner. Two separate family friends, Joe Halpern and Molly Riverman, had joined the party by then, and extra chairs were squeezed around the table until everyone was tight and cozy.
There was a bit of talk about how the rest of Bailey’s family was doing, a family that, Emerson surmised, was large and deeply rooted in Greyfin Bay like the Yaegers. But soon, as everyone was well into the grilled chicken and baked beans and corn and potato salad—there was a slight zest to it that Emerson really liked; he’d have to ask for the recipe—Adrian’s focus turned to Luca.
“How’s everything been going in the new career since we’ve been gone, Luca?”
