Without You

I nodded my head. “Did you and Gramps have a lot of downs?”



She laughed. “We had a few. Nothing big, but yes, we had a few. There were times I wanted to knock that man senseless, but I always took a deep breath and stared at him. All he had to do was look at me with those beautiful blue eyes of his or play Nat King Cole’s ‘Send for Me,’ and I would be butter in his hands.”



I giggled. “I remember Daddy playing that song once, and he and Mama danced in the kitchen to it. I walked in and saw how Mama looked at Daddy. I knew then, in that moment, that I wanted what they had. I want a love like that.”



Grams laughed. “Oh, Gramps must have told your daddy about that song.”



“What about it?”



“Your grandfather only plays it when he’s done something to upset or anger me or when he’s feeling…romantic.”



She winked, and I could feel the blush hit my cheeks.



“How romantic,” I whispered.



She nodded her head and began walking again. “Yes. Yes, it is.”



We continued to walk in silence as I tried to figure out why I was feeling like I was.



“Grams? Do you think I’m feeling this way because I’m just worried that Will and I will grow apart?”



She didn’t look at me as she kept walking. “When I had to move back to Austin and leave Garrett, my whole world felt like it was over. We went for months without seeing each other, and we could only talk on the phone a few times. I’m not going to lie. It was hard, Alex, but nowadays, you kids have those phones, and you can talk to each other over video. You’re only going to be a few hours away from each other. You can visit him, and he can visit you. I will agree with your daddy on one thing. If your love is strong enough and is meant to be, you will be okay.”



I smiled and nodded my head. “Grams, only you can make me feel so sure about things.”



She laughed. “No, darling. You feel sure about things when you finally learn to listen to your heart and not your brain.”



I chuckled and then felt sad. “I’m going to miss our walks.”



“So will I.”



“I’m taking Emma to school.”



Grams looked at me and laughed. “The doll I made you when you were little? Why?”



“Yes! I love that doll. Emma and Banjo are the two things that make me feel happy—well, besides, Will and family. Oh! And our walks together make me feel the happiest of all.”



“Well, I’m glad to see I came before the horse at least.”



Grams and I both laughed as we turned around and started back for home.



Grace and I were in the barn, taking care of Banjo when Luke walked in humming a song.



Luke walked up and smiled at us. “Are we ready to party?”



Grace rolled her eyes. “We’ve had way too many parties this summer, Luke.”



“Come on, baby sister. You’re heading off to college. You’re going to the big city. Lord knows what will happen to you.”



I laughed and shook my head. “Luke, if I remember right, you got pretty drunk last week, and Uncle Jeff and Aunt Ari had you training horses the whole next day as punishment.”



“Hey, I don’t mind working on the land I was raised on. Shit, that reminds me of the song by Sam Hunt, ‘Raised on It.’ I was raised on it! Worked hard and played on it. Hell yeah, ladies, it’s time to play on it.”



“Whose place? And who are we inviting?” Grace asked.



I instantly knew where I wanted to have our last field party.



“Will and Lib’s? How about if we make it just us and a few of our closest friends?” Luke said as he took the piece of watermelon from Grace.



I quickly agreed and pulled out my phone. “Let me see if Maegan and Taylor can come. They just got back from Baylor.”



“What are y’all doing in the barn anyway?” Luke asked.



“Ugh…Alex wanted to spend some time with Banjo,” Grace said.



“Alex, you know you can bring him to A&M. Oh, wait, you’re going to UT.”



I gave Luke a dirty look. “Funny, asswipe.”



My phone pinged, and I looked down at Maegan’s message. “Maegan and Taylor are down for a little get-together. She wants to know who we’re inviting.”



Luke laughed. “Tell her we are limiting it, so she can’t invite anyone from Fredericksburg.”



“Libby said it’s not a problem to have it at their place,” Grace said as she read her text message from Libby.



I smiled, knowing that Will and I could sneak off to the clubhouse.