Earth and Sky

torture to end.

    “Are you saying I’m not considering your feelings in the matter?” she asked calmly.

    “Yes, that is what I’m saying.”

    As Grant heard Hunter answer as softly as his mother had asked the question, it dawned on him where Hunter got his strength. He’d never noticed how much they were alike, and it somehow calmed him down.

    “I still think you’re dodging your responsibility.”

    Hunter exhaled loudly. “I’m doing anything but,” he replied. “But my responsibility lies with the person I love, not with Miranda.”

    Grant felt his heart beat in his throat. This was the moment of truth.

    “There’s someone else in your life?” She seemed puzzled and, Grant felt, utterly clueless about her own son.

    “Yes, Mother, there is. And what I feel for him, I haven’t felt for anyone else in my life.”

    BANG.

    Hunter’s mother didn’t immediately respond, but Grant didn’t need to look more intensely at Izzie to notice the shift of the gender-neutral conversation about love to something undeniable.

    “Him?” Hunter’s mother eventually said. Her voice was calm, and she said the word as if she were tasting it.

    Without looking, Hunter reached out for Grant’s hand, and Grant took it without hesitation. “Yes, Mother, him. Grant.”

    For the first time in what felt like hours, Hunter looked at Grant. Right then, Grant knew that no matter what, no matter how horrible Hunter’s mother’s reaction was, he knew without a doubt that Hunter loved him. Of all the looks Hunter had given him over the last weeks, Grant hoped he would never forget this one.

    “I drove after him on Friday without him knowing it, because I didn’t want to let him go. This weekend, we finally found the time to talk things out.”

    “You’re throwing this whole family into turmoil because of something you decided over the weekend?”

    “No, Mother. This wasn’t something I decided. It’s something I’ve known all my life. I’ve just never allowed myself to accept it. Grant and I have been trying to figure things out for a number of weeks now, but there were too many questions still unanswered. This weekend, we answered them all.”

    All of a sudden, Hunter’s mother got up from her chair. “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry. It’s way past dinner time, and there’s a very sad boy upstairs who’s still growing and needs a good meal.”

    With that she left them behind in the living room, all of them stunned into silence.

Chapter 32

    “ What just happened?” Izzie was the first to speak as she looked between her brother and his lover.

    “At least she didn’t throw me out,” Grant said with a chuckle that immediately made him reach for his sides.

    “Oh, she’d never do that,” Hunter replied. “Above all, she’s the perfect hostess. She doesn’t know you well enough to throw you out yet. I, on the other hand, am glad I still have a roof over my head.”

    “Your redeeming feature is that you run this ranch, Hunter,” Izzie stated matter-of-factly.

    “Maybe it was just a little too much for her?” Grant offered. “I mean, how many days do you get told you’re going to be a grandmother not once but twice, and that your only son is gay and that your oldest daughter is running off with her brother-in-law, leaving her son behind, and your middle daughter is in love with her sister’s husband?”

    The more Grant talked, the more Hunter started laughing, and Izzie followed close behind. Hunter couldn’t stop himself. The absurdity of the whole situation made it impossible for him to take it seriously. “I told you, Izzie, if they were to write this into those soap operas Mom loves so much, she’d tell you it was unbelievable.”

    Izzie was doubled over laughing, but she managed to get up and sit down next to Hunter, wrapping her arm around his broad shoulders. “I’m glad it’s all out in the open, though. It was hard to live with all those secrets.”

    Hunter put his hand on her stomach. “My little sister’s pregnant. I can’t believe it.”

    “Guess our kids can grow up together,” Izzie added, now calmer.

    “That’ll depend on Miranda, sis. I’m not marrying her, so she may take her revenge, especially after she finds out about Grant.” Hunter gave Grant a loving look to convey he was in no way inclined to change his mind.

    “That’s right. She doesn’t know about you yet!”

    Hunter saw Izzie’s mind working and wanted to curb her