It's always better when we are together
- Jack Johnson
Ruby was running about her room like a headless chicken, trying to get ready. Today was the day. Wait, not her wedding day. It was the day she met Hunter's family. For years, it had been just Ruby and Zach and her small circle of friends. Now he had a whole other family. Hunter's family. A grandfather, grandmother, and an aunt. She did not want to admit it, but she felt a bit jealous. She did not want to share her son with anybody. But she knew it was for the best. It was best to have Zach grow up surrounded by a community of people he knew loved him.
Ruby was still dressed in her bathrobe and putting finishing torches to her makeup when her bedroom door opened and Zach ran in. He was dressed in a pale blue shirt and black trousers. She crouched to her knees and opened her arms as he crashed into her. She buried her nose in his hair. He smelled so good.
"Mommyyy." he cried excitedly.
"You look so handsome baby." she said.
"Do you think Grandma and Grandpa would love me?" he asked, chewing on his bottom lip. She looked at him intently.
"Of course baby. They would, and you know why? Because you are the most lovable person on earth. They're so excited to meet you." He smiled shyly at her. She kissed his forehead. At that moment, the front door bell rang.
"Daddyyy!" he cried, racing out of her front, down the stairs and towards the front door. She chuckled, stood up, tightened the belt of dressing robe to follow Zach. Ruby was still shocked that Zach knew Hunter was his father without even an utterance from either Ruby or Hunter to that fact. It just really showed her how intuitive of a child he really was. It took Zach looking into Hunter eyes, the same jade green eyes to know he was talking to his father. She had never seen her son so happy. It just made her realize just how much was missing in her son's life. So far, Hunter has been a present father, patient and understanding. It was working out, so far.
Ruby descended the stairs slowly. She was expecting to see Hunter standing in her living room. Instead, she was surprised to see Matthew, her neighbour who checked in on them from time to time standing in the living room talking to Zach. He looked up at her as she descended the stairs. She wrapped her robe around chest tighter as his blue eyes twinkled at her in a smile.
"Hey Ruby. How is it going?" Matthew asked. She smiled back at him.
"I'm good Matthew. Thanks for checking in." she replied.
"Looks like you guys are heading out for the night." he said as he glanced at Zach who was all dressed up and Ruby who was all made up. "You look beautiful." he said to her.
"My daddy is taking us to go meet my Grandma and Grandpa." Zach said excitedly as he tugged on Matthew pant leg. Matthew looked from Zach to Ruby, confusion etched on his face. Ruby blushed.
"Daddy?" he asked Ruby. "I thought Daddy was not in the picture anymore."
"Well, not anymore." Ruby replied.
"What happened?"
"Well, we reconnected recently, and decided its best for Zach to have his father in his life."
"Are you sure that's the best thing for you to do? I mean this man left you pregnant and left you to raise your child all by yourself for three years, and now he's back when it's convenient for him? How are you sure he isn't going to run away again? If you ask me, I think you and Zach are better off without him in your lives." Matthew said passionately.
Ruby was taken aback. She had never heard Matthew speak so passionately on her personal life before. She gave him a tight smile.
"He did not even know Zach existed until a few weeks ago." she said.
"All the more reason why I think it's a bad idea. What if he's a criminal or something. Ruby, there's a number of things that could go wrong. I just don't want to see you two hurt or disappointed."
"Matthew its okay. I can assure you he's not a criminal. It would be okay, don't worry about us. This is the best thing for Zach. Thank you for your concern but I have everything in hand." she smiled reassuringly at him. He stared at her for a while, still wearing the upset expression on his face. After a while, he sighed deeply.
"Whatever you say Ruby." he muttered. She nodded at him, still smiling. He gave her a tight smile in turn.
"Would you meet my daddy. He'll be here soon." Zach said as he tugged on Matthew's pant leg.
"I'm sure Uncle Matthew has other things to do honey. Maybe some other time." Ruby said to Zach. She just wanted to get Matthew out of the house before Hunter arrived. She had gotten a whiff of his jealous nature and she did not wish to experience it at that moment.
But as dumb luck would have it, her front door opened, and Hunter stepped through it, without knocking, which has become typical of him.
"Daddyyy!" Zach screamed as he jumped on Hunter. Hunter reached out to catch him, causing the bouquet of flowers in his arms to fall to the ground. Ruby took a quick peek at them to see that they were daisies. She felt her heart give a little flutter. Daisies were her favorite flowers. She ignored the fluttering for now, she would deal with it later.
"Is it just me, or you're getting bigger by the day?" Hunter said to Zach with a playful frown on his face. Zach smiled back at him. "I'm a big boy Daddy." Zach said. "That you are." Hunter said as he kissed Zach on the forehead. Hunter glanced at Ruby with the appreciation visible in his green eyes. "You look beautiful." he said to her. "I'm not even dressed yet." she said. "It doesn't matter." he said, in that silky voice of his. She felt her face reddening.
It was at moment Zach decided to show out. "Daddy Uncle Matthew is here." The change was instant. Ruby saw how the playfulness leave Hunter's eyes, and was replaced with a hardness. He turned his head slowly to look at Matthew, who was standing silently on the sidelines, watching the interaction. Hunter and Matthew stared at themselves for a minute, not saying words. The tension in the air was so thick, a knife would have gone right through it. Zach was oblivious to it, as he happily concerned himself with the lapels on Hunter's jacket.
After a while with no words spoken, Matthew made the first move. He held his hand out. "The name's Matthew, I live around the corner." Hunter stared at Matthew's hand for a while before slowly and grudgingly taking it. "Hunter. This is my family." he murmured.
"Fine way to treat your family." Matthew said, under his breath. Hunter looked up at him sharply.
"I beg your pardon?" he said in a low, harsh voice.
"I said you have a fine way of treating family." Matthew said, looking sharply at Hunter.
"You have no idea what you are talking about."
"Don't I? You left this woman pregnant and alone to raise your child all this while. Now you want to come back into their life when its convenient for you? What sort of man are you?" Matthew said, his face reddening from the anger.
"And who do you think you are to speak on my family?" Hunter said, his eyes flashing warning signals.
"I'm the person who's been taking care of them for the last year." Matthew spat at Hunter.
Ruby saw Zach shift uncomfortably in Hunter's arms. He was no longer oblivious to the tension, he could feel it. He looked from Hunter to Matthew and back, apprehension etched on his face. She decided then it was enough. Hunter was just about to open his mouth when she cut him off.
"That's enough. Both of you, cut it out now." she said, sharply. She took a bewildered looking Zach out of Hunter's arms. He went with her willingly. She set up on the floor. "Go meet Laura baby." He walked out of the room without protest. She looked at both, her eyes moving from Hunter to Matthew slowly. They both the decency to look shamefaced.
"That would never happen again, especially in front of Zach. I hope you both understand me." They both looked away from her, saying nothing.
She looked at Matthew. "I understand your motives but I can take care of myself Matthew. Thanks for everything, but I got it from here." He looked at her, nodding his head slowly. "I'll always be here for you Ruby. Don't worry I'll see myself out." He walked out her front door without a backward glance. She turned to Hunter. He was still staring at her, wordlessly.
"What were thinking getting into it with Matthew in Zach's presence. Why are you even getting into it with Matthew to begin with?"
"Ruby, be serious. That man started it. Who does he think he is? Who is he?"
"He's my neighbour. He comes around once in a while to check in on Zach and I. He's just a friend, no need to so riled up."
"I don't want that man around my son."
"Hunter please."
"I am serious Ruby. Something about him doesn't feel right."
"You just met him."
"I have all I need to know that I do not want him around my son."
"I'm not having this conversation with you right now. I'm going to get dressed." she said, walking out and leaving him alone in the living room. Sometimes, Hunter acted like he was the same age with Zach, Ruby thought.