Page 26 of Reuniting with the Rancher

LILY

The evening air was thick with unspoken tension as Lily stood on the back porch, a heaviness in her heart. Greyson leaned against the railing, watching her, his expression a mix of concern and confusion.

“Lily, can we talk about what’s happening between us?” Greyson began, his voice low and cautious. “We’re dancing around a lot, and it’s time to address it.”

Lily took a deep breath, steadying herself against the railing. “I don’t want to dance or dodge it anymore, Greyson. I need to be honest with you.”

His brow furrowed, apprehension tightening his features. He stroked his beard to give his hands something to do. “Alright Songbird.”

“I need to focus on Ivy and Caleb right now,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “After everything we’ve been through, they need me, us, more than ever. I can’t let anything—or anyone—come between us again.”

“Are you saying you want to throw what we were building away?” he asked, disbelief creeping into his tone. “Is that really what you want?”

“It’s not about throwing this away; it’s about prioritizing my kids,” she clarified, her heart racing. “I’m scared, Greyson. Scared that if things don’t work out between us, I’ll lose Ivy again. I can’t go through that kind of pain again.”

His expression softened, but confusion lingered in his eyes. “But I thought we were building a family. We can do this together.”

She shook her head, stepping back slightly, a barrier forming between them. “I need to feel secure in my relationship with Ivy. I want you to sign the paperwork reinstating my parental rights and agreeing to shared custody.” She picked up the large envelope on the small wooden table, passing it to him.

Greyson’s eyes widened in shock, and he felt a pang of hurt. “You really think I’d try to take her away from you?”

“No, but I need the assurance. If I’m going to move forward, I need to know my rights are protected,” she explained, holding out the documents.

He hesitated for a moment, looking at the papers as if they held the weight of their entire relationship.

“I need you to understand how serious I am about this.”

After a moment’s hesitation, he took the papers and after looking them over closely; he signed them, his heart heavy. “I’ll always support you and Ivy. You know that.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, relief washing over her, but quickly overshadowed by the gravity of what she was about to say next. “There’s one more thing. I need you to agree to never allow your mother near us.”

He stiffened, a flicker of defensiveness flashing across his face. “Lily... my mother?—”

“Greyson, after everything she did, she’s not well and hasn’t been right for a long time,” she interrupted, her voice firm. “If she’d do that to a twenty-five-year-old me, what will she do to a ten-year-old because it’s what she believes is right? It’s not just about us anymore.”

He hesitated, the weight of his mother’s influence pressing down on him. “I... I need time to think about that.”

Lily’s heart sank at his uncertainty. “This is about our children, Greyson. I can’t compromise on this.”

“I will always protect my family,” he replied, his voice strained.

“Which one? Ivy and Caleb need us to be strong enough to make the tough decisions.”

Greyson looked at her, his heart heavy with the reality of their situation. “You aremyanchor, Lily. There is not a reality where I exist, and I don’t have you in my heart. I’ve carried you with me in my soul, embedded in the marrow of who am ever since I first saw you walking across the quad. There is no choice, Songbird… It will always be you.”

13

WINGS

LILY

She stood on the porch,her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her t-shirt damp against her skin as the wind picked up, blowing her curls every which way. Pulling her hair up into a bun, her skin prickled against the thick, humid air that always signaled a storm. The sky darkened far too quickly, and her gut twisted with unease.

Something wasn’t right.

She slipped her sunglasses to the top of her head and turned to Grey, who stood by the truck, his face tense as he glanced up at the swirling clouds overhead.

“Have you seen the kids?”

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