Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
“It’s only for a couple of hours,” Greer reminds him before gesturing for Chase next. Chase sighs but lets Greer do his tie too.
It’s been a year since we moved in with Greer, and the change in the boys has been incredible. They’ve both grown so much in different ways. Parker is calmer now. He’s settled in with a friend group who accepts him, and he excels at basketball. He even made the boys’ team this year.
Chase has turned his grades around. Once he was nearly failing with most of his courses, but he’s at the top of his class now. I know a big part of that is because Greer is always pointing out the way the various subjects will make him a better rancher. He’s determined to go into farming, just like Greer.
They’re not the only ones who have grown. Thanks to Greer’s help with studying, I got my high school diploma. I started college classes a few months ago. I take my courses online in the evenings. When it’s time for me to do my clinical requirements, Cash has already made it clear I have a spot with him.
Greer finishes helping the boys with their ties, and I can’t help exclaiming how handsome they all look. It’s so rare that they dress up. Even on the holidays when we drop in for church, I’m lucky to wrangle the boys into clean t-shirts and blue jeans.
“You promised you wouldn’t get mushy,” Chase complains as he adjusts his Stetson. He started wearing one not long after we began living here. His is the same color and shape as Greer’s. I swear he’d sleep in that hat if I let him.
Greer wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Your sister is just excited today. We all are. Now, let’s go make this thing official.”
It’s not a long drive to the Courage County courthouse, but I still can’t help how nervous I am. There’s no reason to be. Everyone has worked so hard to support us.
Greer used his favors with the Taylor brothers to have my mom tracked down. She signed over her parental rights without a fuss. I expected drama, but it was all done quickly.
Mrs. Maple called in favors to various social agencies and before I knew it, the home inspections were done. Then the legal documents were pushed through the system.
A few weeks ago, I submitted DNA for me and the boys to an ancestry website. Maybe one day we’ll get to meet our biological fathers. If not, we’re still surrounded by so much love.
As if he senses my nervousness, Greer takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze as we walk into the courtroom. It’s a series of simple questions and then we’re officially signing the paperwork.
The boys are mine, and I don’t ever have to be afraid they’ll be ripped from me again. A weight rolls off my shoulders as tears roll down my face. A year ago, the boys and I were living in a motel room and just trying to scrape by each day. Now we have a comfortable home and a good man who loves us fiercely. I couldn’t ask for more.
When we step outside the courthouse and into the afternoon sun, I can finally breathe. We take pictures on the court steps.
Surprisingly, the boys don’t get too grumpy with me even when I take dozens of selfies that I’ll print out later. It’s one of the things I love about living at Greer’s house. Well, it’s my house too. Greer had my name added to the deed the day after we moved in. He said he didn’t want me thinking that the boys and I would ever get kicked out again. We have a home now.
I take photos all the time and I’m always printing out my favorite ones. They get framed and hung around the house. I have pictures of the boys learning to ride horses, of Greer cheering them on at their sports games, and even a photo of the four of us back at the arcade where he took me on our first date.
Finally, we drive back to our house. Well, I think that’s where we’re going but Greer passes his driveway and continues until he stops at his mom’s house. He leads me and the boys to the backyard where a grill is set up.
There’s a table stacked high with food as a thumping country song plays. Everyone in the Maple family is here including Greer’s mom, his brothers, his sister, and even her husband. The moment we round the corner, the music stops and a hush falls over the crowd.
I turn to Greer. “What’s going on?”
“We’re here to celebrate the signing today, and because I have a question for you,” he says as he pulls a velvet box from his suit coat. He gets down on one knee and opens his mouth.