“Breakfast looks good, babe,” he muttered, slapping my brief-covered ass and giving me a quick kiss on the lips.

Sitting down, Hank began to eat. After going quickly through his first cup of coffee, I poured him another.

“Today is a big day, huh, boy?” he asked, putting his arm around my waist and resting it on my ass.

“Tomorrow is even bigger,” I shot back playfully.

“I can’t imagine a bigger day than the one when a boy as sweet and as beautiful as you was brought into this old world,” Hank offered genuinely.

I blushed. “I can think of a better day,” I said, putting the coffee pot on the stove.

“And what’s that?”

“The day you married me and gave me your last name... Which just happens to be tomorrow.”

“I reckon we’ll have to agree to disagree on that one,” Hank said, pulling me onto his lap. “Both are fine days, though.”

I put my arms around his neck and looked up into his eyes. He leaned down and kissed me.

“Oh, we’re having some people over to celebrate your birthday tonight,” he announced.

“Really?” I questioned. This came as a surprise. “I wish you’d have told me. I’d planned on polishing your boots, shaving my legs, and doing some cleaning tonight… I guess that I’ll need to run to K-Mart and cook up a storm today.”

“No—no—no!” Hank exclaimed. “You ain’t cooking today! This party is to celebrate your birthday! I’m picking up the cake, some beer, and one of them party platters from Kroger. Ms. Woaweesa is taking care of the rest.”

“Wow!” I gasped. “You planned all this for me?”

“Yeah,” Hank replied, looking at me incredulously. “You’re my boy... I love you. This is your birthday, so I’m gonna make this special for you.”

“I’m touched, Sir.”

“Austin, you’ve made me happier than I’ve ever been in all my life! I’ve never had anyone take care of me like the way you do. You obey my word, you cook and clean for me, and you love me like no one ever has. You’re everything to me, boy.”

Tears emerged, flowing from my eyes. “Oh, Hank!” I sobbed. “You don’t know how much that means to hear you say that!”

He rolled his eyes. “Stop them waterworks, Austin,” he ordered. “Ya know that seeing ya cry tugs at my heartstrings.”

“Sorry,” I replied reluctantly, wiping the tears from my cheeks. “I just love you so much.”

“And I love you too, boy,” Hank countered. “Ms. Woaweesa wanted to keep it a secret, but I didn’t want ya to have some big meal waiting for me when I got home tonight. So act surprised!”

“Anything you say,” I replied, holding him closely and kissing him on the cheek. “So who all is coming?”

“Ms. Woaweesa, of course,” he began. “My secretary, Tonya, her husband, and their baby… Also, that couple we went to dinner with last week: Coach Murdock and his boy, Rob Hill.”