Earth and Sky

off, not even to wash his hands or to work. After he died we had a hard time getting it off his finger, and once we did, my mom gave it to me.”

    “I don’t think she meant you to find a guy to give it to, Hunter. I think she meant for you to wear it.”

    Hunter shook his head. “It’s mine to give and I’d like you to wear it.”

    “To show I belong to you?”

    Hunter cocked his head. “Well, not in the slavery sort of way, just…. I’m proud of what we have, of us. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll get one too, and then we can belong to each other.”

    Grant fingered the ring. “It fits perfectly.”

    Hunter nodded. “You have his hands. That’s one of the first things I noticed about you. I love your hands. They’re large and strong but sort of elegant too.”

    Grant grabbed Hunter’s hand and pulled him closer. “Come here before you really go all sappy on me.”

    Hunter crawled under the covers next to Grant.

    “Shit, you’re freezing, Cowboy.”

    They snuggled closer and started kissing again. Hunter was much calmer now that they’d had their little talk. Grant was here to stay, and he’d done what he’d dreamed about and given Grant his ring. That was as good as being married, he felt. And now that they had their own house, they could finally start their life together.

    The next morning, after breakfast, Grant walked into the kitchen of the main house. Hunter followed close behind, with Matthew in his arms, while Grant walked to the counter to pour them both a cup of coffee. Hugh was eating breakfast with his daughter on his lap, and Izzie was frying eggs.

    “You’re wearing Daddy’s ring,” Izzie remarked when Grant extended his hand to grab the cups.

    Hunter noticed his mother had stopped eating, but he couldn’t read her expression.

    “Hunter gave it to me last night,” Grant said softly.

    Izzie smiled. “Looks good on you. It’s about time it got worn again.”

    Hunter wanted some sort of acknowledgment from his mother, but she resumed eating without looking at either him or Grant. Hugh gave him an encouraging smile, but Hunter could tell he’d picked up on the tension as well.

    “So are you going to throw us a wedding bash, Hunter?” Hugh said in an attempt at lightening the situation.

    “Oh, like when you married Izzie?” Hunter rebutted. “Big dinner and a keg of beer?”

    “Hey!” Izzie shouted from the kitchen. “I looked like a beached whale. I was afraid I was going to deliver her on the day of the wedding.” She moved behind Hunter and placed her hand on his shoulder as she put a plate of bacon and eggs on the table. “We had our party last night, honey,” she told Hunter. “Besides, one day you might want to make it legal, and then we’ll really have something to celebrate.”

    Matthew started fussing, and Hunter got up to bring him to the living room, where the bassinets for both babies were set up so they could sleep during the day. He’d just tucked Matthew in when he heard the door open and close behind him.

    “You gave Grant your father’s wedding ring.”

    Hunter turned to face his mother. “Yes.”

    “I hope he takes good care of it.”

    “He will,” Hunter replied.

    “I hope he’ll take good care of you too.”

    “We’ll take care of each other, and together we’ll take care of Mattie.” Hunter resented her stone-faced look and wished he’d had a warmer mother. He vaguely remembered what she was like before his dad died. She was never the most lovey-dovey mother, but he remembered her smiling more when he was young.

    “Like a real family?”

    Hunter nodded, trying not to show the anger that statement made him feel. “We are a real family, Mother. It’s not because I don’t have a wife that we can’t raise Mattie together. Would you rather have had me marry Miranda? At least now I have a partner who loves me and who helps me take care of my boy. She doesn’t want anything to do with our son!”

    “She does, but I told her not to come here.”

    Hunter couldn’t believe his ears. “You talked to her?”

    “She turned her back on my grandson. She doesn’t deserve to be his mother.”

    Hunter looked from his mother, ignoring her dismissive look, to Matthew, who still hadn’t settled. He wasn’t happy with Miranda turning their son away, but he didn’t want to have to explain to Mattie that he hadn’t tried every avenue for him to have a relationship with his mother.

    Swaddling his son