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As we drove down the gravel path, Maya rolled the back window down and stuck her hand out, catching the wind. It felt like the last glimpse of summer.

I scanned the lot in front of the house, not seeing his truck, but then I spotted it by a big line of round haybales near the barn. “There he is.”

Maya followed my pointing finger and said, “Let’s go!”

We bounced over the trail formed by years of trucks driving over the pasture, green grass passing below us and blue skies bright above us. As we got closer, his truck started driving our way. The driver’s side window rolled down, his tanned arm resting on the door. “If it ain’t my two favorite girls!”

Maya was already on my side of the truck, her window rolled down too. “Grampy! We have something for you!”

“What’s that?” he asked.

She held the folded invitation across the gap between our vehicles. “For my birthday party.”

He read the invitation and scratched his chin. “Sounds like a good time, sweetie. I’ll be there.”

Maya smiled so big, it made my heart melt.

“Can I bring anything?” he asked.

“Do you have a few extra innertubes we could have in case someone doesn’t have one?” I replied.

“Sure thing... and wait a second...” He reached into his glove compartment and pulled out a sucker from the stash he’d kept there ever since we were kids. We could always count on him to have a sweet for us. “Here you go.” He passed it to Maya.

“Thank you!” she said, taking it.

Grayson’s smile deepened the creases around his eyes. “You’re welcome.” Then he handed me one. “We sure appreciate you and all you’ve done, Olivia. You’re a fine young woman.”

My heart melted at his sweet words. “Gray.”

“I mean it.” He pointed at me. “Now I gotta check the windmill on the east section. Stick around too long, and I’ll put you both to work.”

“GO, GO!” Maya said with a giggle.

I laughed, peeling my truck away and waving out the window to Gray.

For the rest of the day, we made all the stops around town, from her uncle Hayes at the body shop to Della at the insurance agency, and all her friends’ houses too. It was so fun to see how excited Maya was to invite them, but I was completely wiped out as we started home.

I just hoped Fletcher would be okay with all the news I had to share about my run-ins with Regina and Rhett.

44

Fletcher

I went to the clinic Sunday morning while the girls were in Dallas, and I spent the day barely getting up from my desk as I went over the information regarding ownership of the practice. I’d need to meet with my accountant, but from what I could tell, it was a good investment.

And now that I knew Liv and I were solid, I felt like I could really take this on. I couldn’t wait to tell her about this new step in my life. Our life. And I realized, that’s what love felt like—wanting to share life with someone. I’d finally found that person in Liv.

My cell phone rang, and I checked it to see Regina’s name. An uncomfortable feeling swirled in my gut as I walked to my office door and closed it out of habit. She never called.

“Hello?” I said, holding it to my ear.

“I met the nanny today,” she replied.

My eyebrows drew together. “What?”

“She was in Dallas with Maya.”

“How did they run into you?” I asked. I hoped Liv hadn’t planned a meetup with Regina without even consulting me... That would be a big overstep. “Did they go to your house?”