“So, you go back to warming the bench but at least you’ll know.”
“Know what?”
“Who you are and what you want.What you’re made of,” Levi said.
“When do you need to decide?”Dalton said.
“By next week.I guess I better talk to that agent,” Renn said.
“Good—and you’ll move in here or you can stay out at my Silver Bullet,” Levi said.“It’s amazing.”
Wes rolled his eyes.“Levi will build you a house when his baseball season is over,” Wes offered.
“Y’all are sure about all this?”
“I told you on the first day we met: Gran won’t ever let you go now.It doesn’t matter what you do, you’re our fourth.Accept it,” Levi said.
They spent the rest of the evening breaking bread and talking about sports.It was the first time since his mom died that he felt mostly whole again.There would always be an ache in his heart for her, but knowing he wasn’t alone anymore was the kind of comfort only a family could provide.And he had one again.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Miranda
Surprise Me
The sun streamedthrough the curtains and hit Miranda right in her eyes, causing her to pop up out of bed.She had overslept.Big time.
Stomping out of her room she looked out over the railing in the open hallway to the first floor living room to find Jeremy and Sara sitting by the window.
“Why’d you let me sleep in?What time is it?”
“It’s seven thirty and I gotta get the bus,” Jeremy said.
“What about the horses?Jeremy, this is so irresponsible.”
He stood with a smirk, looking up at her.“Actually, I was letting you sleep in because you work too hard and then Renn showed up and helped me finish the morning routine.So even with three new horses, I got all the chores done.If you’re nicer to me, I might let you sleep in one more time this month.”
She stood up straighter.“Oh.Thank you.You’re the best brother I’ve ever had.”
“I’m your only brother.”
“True, and you’re the best,” she said, winded after taking the stairs two at a time and looking out the living room windows.There was a big black truck parked out by the barn, which meant Renn was still there.
“He’d probably like some coffee,” Sara said with a smile as she wound a pile of yarn into a ball.
“Thank you, Jer.”Miranda kissed her brother’s thick wavy blond hair.
“Gotta go.”He leaned down and kissed Sara on the cheek.“See you after practice.”
“Have a great day, honey.You’re a good boy.”
“Yes, mama,” he called and made a beeline out the door to the end of the driveway where the bus was pulling up.
“I’m just going to get dressed.Do you need anything?”Miranda asked her stepmom, crouching down to look her in the eyes.
Sara reached out and cupped Miranda’s face.Although she was her stepmom, Sara had arrived in Miranda’s life just in the nick of time.She’d been eleven, hanging out with older kids and getting in trouble at school.Sara had sat Miranda down and explained how if she kept down that path she’d probably be stuck in this small town forever.Sara said she understood how Miranda probably felt a little lost after her mom left, but that she thought Miranda was smart and could be anything she wanted in life.Sara told Miranda she would never leave her.
That blunt conversation had made a big difference in the trajectory of Miranda’s life, and they’d shared a special bond ever since.Sara had been the only one to ever really see Miranda and ask about her dreams.Miranda did go to college, but then the year she graduated they found out Sara had MS and Miranda moved home.Sara had been clear she didn’t want Miranda to spend her life taking care of her.But Miranda’s dad was too busy gambling and cheating to take care of them, so Miranda stayed.She could never turn her back on her stepmom or her little brother.They were the only family that ever loved her unconditionally.
