Page 124 of Peaches & Pistols

My body squirms involuntarily in revulsion at Meredith’s cruelty.

Both my and Delilah’s phones chirp at the same time.

Group Chat: Greyson, Mia, James, Reid, Isabelle, Delilah, Connor, Cecelia, Walter

Greyson: Can everyone meet me in the main stables?

Greyson: Cecelia and Walter, whoever isn’t watching the kids, would you please come down?

Delilah and I look to each other and start walking that direction.

James: Mom and Dad get a please?

Greyson: Can you be here or not?

James: I was on my way home anyway.

Cecelia: James! No texting and driving!

James: Talk to text, Mom. My car has Bluetooth.

Cecelia: Walter’s on his way now.

James: I’ll swing by and pick you up, Dad.

Walter: How do I get out of this god-forsaken message club?

Group Chat: Greyson has removed Walter and Cecelia

Group Chat: Greyson, Mia, James, Reid, Isabelle, Delilah, Connor

Reid: Isabelle and I are on our way over.

Delilah: I’ve got Mia!

James: Did you already get ahold of Liv?

Greyson: Why the fuck do you care? And no. She doesn’t need to hear this.

The texts stop just as we step into the warmth of the stables, gloriously impervious to the brisk wind. I go straight to Greyson.

He’s resting his forearms on a stall door, watching a young colt Reid recently rescued. He’s broken down from the labor I know he spent the afternoon doing, and from the mental load he’s carrying.

I wrap my arms around the man I love more than I ever dreamed possible and press my cheek to his back.

“I’m filthy, Mia. I don’t want to get you all dirty,” he says, trying to escape my hold.

I stretch onto my highest tiptoes, wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss everywhere I can reach.

“Okay, okay. Point taken.” He chuckles, turning to accept a real kiss.

Once everyone has arrived, ready to rip of the bandage, Greyson takes my hand and walks us over to our found family. The stables fall quiet—only nickers, sighs, and the clop of hooves in the background.

“Thanks for coming down. Would’ve met y’all at the main house but as you can see, I’m past dirty.” He motions up and down his work weathered body. “Word travels fast and I wanted you to hear it straight from me.”

From where I stand, I have a clear view of every reaction. Right now, it’s a wall of confusion and concern.

“I met with Meredith to see if anything was salvageable for Harper and Everly to have another set of grandparents and relatives—more people to love them.” His voice chokes on love and my heart breaks for him again.