moved Deacon to his left arm so he could hold Molly’s hand with his right.
“Mols, these are the littles. Jane’s the oldest. Then Tucker. Then Deacon.”
“It’s so great to meet you,” Molly said, her smile genuine and kind. “Let’s see…Tucker, you’re in second grade, right?”
“I finished second grade,” Tucker said.
“Molly teaches second grade,” Hunter said.
“I’m going to start kindergarten this year,” Deacon said.
“Is that so?” Molly asked. “Do you know how to read already?” She glanced at Hunter. “I bet you do. You Hammonds are all so smart.”
“Momma’s teaching me,” Deacon said.
A dog barked, and Hunter turned to find Hutch standing at the top of the porch steps. He was an old dog now, and he’d always been silver, so the only way Hunter knew was because he hadn’t nearly been knocked down by the overeager goldendoodle.
Hutch barked again, and Hunter set Deacon on his feet and went up the steps. “Hey, my friend.” He scrubbed the pup behind the ears and along his shoulders. “Can’t go down the steps, huh? It’s okay. I’ll come to you.”
Footsteps came up behind him, and soon enough, everyone joined him on the porch.
“There they are,” Dad said, and Hunter straightened, his heart leaping at the sight of his parents. He surged toward Dad and Elise, engulfing them both into a hug at the same time. They both laughed, but a tight pinch in Hunter’s chest prevented him from joining in.
Dad and Elise both held him tight, seeming to know that he needed them to do exactly that, and several long seconds later, he stepped back. He expected Dad to ask him what was going on, but it was Elise who linked her arm through his and said, “Introduce me to your Molly.”
“You’ve met her before.”
“Not for a long time,” Elise whispered. “Be a gentleman, Hunt.”
He turned back to Molly, who was still surrounded by the littles. They all talked to her at the same time, and Molly glowed with their attention. He wondered if she wanted a lot of kids, because looking at her, Hunter suddenly did. A lot of them—as long as they were hers too.
He wasn’t sure what that meant, and he quickly dismissed the thought. “Molly, this is Elise.” He smiled at her. “My mom. And you remember my father, Gray.”
“Of course,” Molly said as Elise’s arm in Hunter’s tightened. He’d never called her his mother before, and they both knew it. He wasn’t even sure where the introduction had come from today either. It was just there, and it was just right.
“Nice to see you both again.” Molly glanced at him, somehow sensing that something bigger than her meeting his parents was happening.
Elise stepped forward and hugged her, and even Dad gave her a quick embrace. They both looked at Hunter again, and he saw the searching questions in their eyes. He had so much to talk to them about, and he didn’t want to let any of it come out.
It has to all come out, he told himself, but so much happiness filled this space and this moment, and he didn’t want to ruin it. So when Jane said, “Hunt, come have a piece of the cake I made with Mom,” he allowed himself to be swept inside with the children, as if he were still one of them and didn’t have to engage in difficult adult conversations.
That evening, Hunter helped clear the table, very aware when Elise said, “Tucker, you and Deacon take Hutch out. Jane, go get your skirt to show Molly.”
Dad joined Hunter at the sink. “Uncle Colt wants to host dinner at his place tomorrow.”
“That’s fine,” Hunter said. “We don’t have plans other than going to Uncle Ames’s place, but that’s in the morning.”
“Elise and I would like to talk to you.”
Hunter nodded, because they needed to talk. “It’s going to take longer than just taking out a dog or getting a skirt.”
Dad nodded and patted Hunter’s upper arm. “We know.” He indicated that Hunter should leave the dishes and go with him. Hunter followed his father, glancing at Molly, who nodded. She’d handle the kids, and Hunter sure did appreciate that.
He detoured over to her. “I think we’re just going to be on the back deck. You can come out.” Anything he had to say, she should get to hear.
“I don’t mind entertaining the kids,” she said. “You have some important things to talk about with your parents.”
Hunter gazed down at her, wanting to kiss her very much. He leaned down, hoping his