After a few more kisses for me and a handshake to Sawyer, Hunter left, agreeing to pick me up at the administration office when he was done breaking down our campsite. I took a seat behind the desk with Sawyer and took out my phone, checking the weather to find that there was truly a massive storm coming from the north and they had issued a flood warning for the Little Missouri River, worried that it was going to overflow.

“Oh wow…” I whispered, “We get crazy weather in Montana, but this is intense. The first night I was with Hunter, there was a sudden downpour with thunder and lightning for hours. I was so scared we’d lose power.”

“You don’t remember being here at all?” Sawyer looked at me confused.

“Only during the summer,” I shrugged, setting my phone down, “Mom would send me to Granddad when I was out of school so she could work extra hours. She worked four jobs.”

“Where did you go when you first got to Montana?”

“A women and children's shelter. Then an apartment. Then we had a really cute house. I moved out when I was 18. I had been working at a bookstore and they paid me well so I got my own apartment. Mom was so proud of me. It made her life easier too. She wasn’t paying my bills anymore and had time to relax. Then she… then I lost her. Then my job. The bookstore shut down. I couldn’t find another job in time to pay my rent and lost my apartment. Then I got my car stolen when I was showering at a gym one day. Then my backpack. I slept wherever I could during the winter. It was scary honestly. But I promised Mom I wouldn’t give up. So I didn’t. One of the worst days of my life also led me to probably the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Hunter?”

“His family. I mean him too, but his family is lovely.”

“I’m glad,” Sawyer smiled, “tell me about them?”

“Well. Judah is his father. He’s a surgeon. His mom is named Allison. I work at the library with her twice a week. Hunter’s little sister Hazel is hilarious and her wife Robin is quiet but a sweet woman. She’s also taller than me. Or us, I suppose.”

“It’s nice that you found them even if it was for such a terrible reason.”

“Can… I know more about you?”

“Well… there’s not much to know I suppose. I work here,” he gestured to the building, “my family has owned it for generations. I took over for my dad. My mom never worked she just took care of Adam and me. I went to high school and then just… worked here. I was the groundskeeper for a long time. Then when I was ready, I started learning the business side of everything. So my main job is simply managing new plots. I don’t handle the funerals, the preparation for bodies, or anything like that. But I help to maintain the plots, find the right one for a family, order flowers, and things like that. I like to knit. I read and watch documentaries. I’m pretty simple.”

“You’re… we’re very similar,” I smiled, “I like to knit too. I cook all of the meals at home because Hunter forgets to eat. There’s a lot of work he has to do on the farm. I take care of the chickens and one cow. But we spend every evening on the couch. I knit and Hunter reads while the dogs sit with us.”

“I… Grayson, I’m so proud of you,” he hesitantly patted the top of my head.

“You’re not disappointed in your son showing up twenty years later and he’s… nothing really. I have a high school diploma. I’m gay. I’m not…”

“You’re exactly who I wished you would be. Because you’re happy. That’s what I wanted for you. I’m just… angry with myself. I failed you. Please understand that I did. I didn’t fight to keep you with me. I didn’t just follow Natalie to be there with you both.”

“You were 18, Sawyer. I can’t blame you for that. I’m not disappointed at all. Because I get to know you now. I wouldn’t have been okay when I first lost my mom if you suddenly showed up. I would have been so confused and angry. But… it was time. I’m glad we came here. I didn’t want to be here at first. I felt… like I was saying goodbye to my mom officially. But I’m not. I get to tell her really good news now. Beyond just Hunter.”

“What news?” he sniffled, wiping his nose with a tissue.

“That I found you. That you’ve been taking care of her. Taking care of me.”

“I’ve always taken care of you,” he smiled, “I left gifts at your granddad's farm every year when you’d come to visit. We knew you were there. But he literally threatened to kill me if I got close to you again. I don’t know why.”

“He didn’t really like me being there,” I whispered, “told me I got in the way. He still taught me a lot about running the farm, but he clearly hated that he had to take care of me. I stopped coming when I was 12. I was old enough to be alone when my mom was at work.”

“12 is still so young, Grayson.”

“Well, I know. But I didn’t leave the house. I’d just watch TV, draw, and work on summer work for school. Mom would have a few times a day she could stop by the house to check on me before going to another job. Plus, the old lady who lived next door let me stay the night there until I was 14. She was sweet.”

“I… okay,” he nodded, “she did well with you. I know that. I just wish I had seen it happen.”

“I had pictures. I had so many. But the kids who attacked me broke my phone. So I have nothing left.”

“I… have more pictures at my house. I have an entire album of photos of you, your mom, and me. The one I showed you is just one I like to keep close because it was a really nice day. It was the first time you called me Dada. It made me so happy.”

“Well that’s because you are… my dad,” I smiled, leaning against his arm and he hugged me tightly, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head.

“Well that couldn’t be denied,” a deeper voice called and Sawyer froze, “he isn’t mine that’s for sure. Looks just like you and Natty.”

“Get out,” Sawyer whispered, staring at the counter, “get out of here, Adam.”

Turning my head, I found who Sawyer was talking to and quickly realized why Sawyer never knew if he was biologically my father. Adam had the same colored hair as both Sawyer and I, but his eyes were blue. As my mother Natalie also had blue eyes, the chance that Adam was my father was incredibly low. My eyes were the same bourbon color as Sawyer's.

“Aw come on baby brother,” Adam came closer and Sawyer jumped up, putting himself between Adam and me, “I just need to borrow a little more money.”

“No. I told you. No more.”

“You’re such a pain in the ass. Why do I put up with you?”

“Put up with me?” Sawyer scoffed, “Please. You’re a drunk. I can tell you’re drunk right now. You ruined your own life, Adam. I had nothing to do with that. Now, get out. Dad already banned you from the building. I have every right to call the cops and we both know that if I do, you’re going back to prison. You’re already violating the restraining order by being within 500 feet of Grayson. I refile it every two years after all. Just in case. Now get out. You have ten seconds before I call the police. If you show up at the house, I’ll call there too.”

“You’re a bitch, Sawyer,” Adam came closer and the door suddenly opened, Hunter now walking in.

“What’s goin’ on?” Hunter looked confused at the tense scene in front of him, “oh. You’re the one who hurt Natalie, ain’t ya?”

“Who brought this hick?” Adam snorted.

“Hey!” I shouted, pushing Sawyer to the side, “Get the fuck out of here. You hurt my mom, insulted my partner, and you’re making my dad uncomfortable. You need to leave.”

“What are you gonna do about it, Nephew?”

“I am not your nephew and you are not my family,” I came around the counter, anger causing my hands to shake, “you are nothing but a sad, drunk, lonely man who destroyed his own life because he just couldn’t keep his hands off of a child.”

“Natty wasn’t a child.”

“She was 15!” I shouted, tears in my eyes, “15 fucking years old. There’s a difference between her and her boyfriend,” I pointed at Sawyer, “who was also the same age agreeing to be intimate over you raping my mom! You were 23 you piece of shit.”

“She wasn’t the only one,” Sawyer called softly and we all looked at him, “I know she wasn’t. After Natalie came forward, at least 6 other girls at the high school did too. That’s why you spent so long in prison, isn’t it? You’re a registered sex offender, Adam. Which is why you have to live outside of town. There’s nowhere you can live that isn’t near a school or park in this town. You’re not even supposed to come to the city. So, leave.”

“Or I’ll make ya,” Hunter cleared his throat, staring down at Adam, “you’re upsetting Grayson and Sawyer. I won’t stand for that. You’re ruinin’ a good thing for ‘em and I don’t care what ya want to call me. I’m not some hick. But it don’t matter to me. What matters is my Gray and his dad. So leave, or I’ll pick your ass up and drag ya out of here myself.”

Adam stared back at Hunter before clicking his tongue and walking to the door, “Sawyer, if you send me away now, you’ll never see me again.”

“Good. We haven’t been family in years. Not since you hurt my Natalie,” Sawyer crossed his arms across his chest, “get out of here, Adam. I’m sure your girlfriend has plenty of money to throw at you.”

Adam gave us one final look before throwing the door open and stomping away. Sawyer ran over to the desk, grabbed his phone, and quickly called someone as he started to pace the small office.

“Hey, Dad. Yeah. I know. How’s Chicago?” Sawyer held back a sigh, “That’s great. Adam showed up again. He’s drunk. I threatened the police but he refused to leave. No. No I don’t want you guys to come back early. You still have another day on your trip. Besides,” he smiled at Hunter and me, “someone else scared him away. I have a visitor. Can you video call? Thanks,” he gestured me over and I nervously came close as the video connected. An older gentleman who looked identical to me and Sawyer popped up with a beautiful blonde woman at his side, her eyes a soft gold, “Mom? Dad? Look who came back.”

“G… Grayson?” Heidi gasped before she started to cry, “Oh my God. Oh, look at you..”

“Hi,” I whispered, “I remember you… I just never… I didn’t know you were my grandparents. I’m so sorry… I wish I had…”

“Shh. It’s okay Kid,” Jon smiled, clearing his throat, “how did you find Sawyer?”

“Not on purpose,” I laughed softly, “I came to see… see my mom and grandparents. I didn’t know he worked here. Actually,” I gestured to Hunter and he came over, “my… uh almost-boyfriend is kind of the reason it clicked for me. I didn’t put two and two together on how much Sawyer and I looked alike. I was too focused on what I was here to do.”

“Oh hello!” Heidi giggled, “You’re so big.”

“Um… I know,” Hunter smiled with a nod, “I own a ranch. Gotta be big to do so I suppose. Gray helps me out there and works the library with my mama. We live in a really small town in Montana.”

“Oh, you’re so close! You can come to visit.”

“We have a farm to run, Heidi,” I sighed gently, “I already feel guilty for being away for four days. But I already told Sawyer that if you three want to come to visit for the holidays, you’re more than welcome. We have a huge house.”

“We would love that,” Jon wiped another tear away, “we never thought we’d see you again. You look… you look so much like your mom. We miss her terribly.”

“Can I ask something?”

“Absolutely.”

“Um… why didn’t you come to see her placed… in her grave? I was alone…”

“We were there,” Jon sighed, “we just didn’t want to scare you. So we stayed back and as soon as you left, we paid our condolences. Helped get the headstone.”

“Oh. Um… thank you. I called to try and cover it, but I was told it was already handled. Oh! I must have talked to you,” I smiled at Sawyer.

“Mhm. That’s how I figured out you were in Billings. I wanted to tell you then. I was so excited to hear your voice and to know you were okay. But…”

“Ya didn’t wanna scare him either,” Hunter nodded, “we get it.”

“Can you forgive us, Grayson? We tried but… we weren’t the best grandparents. We didn’t fight Edward to keep you and Natalie here,” Heidi sniffled.

“I don’t hold anything against any of you. I didn’t remember Sawyer other than the necklace he gave me. I didn’t know that you were my grandparents. I just thought you were a sweet couple that lived across the street and baked me cookies.”

“That’s the most we could do without Edward freaking out on us. How long are you two staying?”

“Three more days.”

“We’ll be home tomorrow. Can… can we meet you? Again? Now that you know the truth,” Heidi smiled hesitantly.

“Mhm. We’re staying in Granddad's ranch house because of the storm. We were camping originally. So we’ll be across the street.”

“Wonderful,” Jon smiled widely, “we can’t wait. We’ll see you both soon okay?”

“Okay. Have fun,” I waved as Sawyer hung up, “it’s nice to know the truth.”

“You’re not overwhelmed?” Sawyer patted my arms softly.

“No. Not that I realize. I’m… everything feels right finally. I thought I was complete when I met Hunter,” I smiled up at him and he kissed my forehead making me giggle, “but… knowing I had a family that’s been waiting for me makes me feel whole finally.”

“We all waited. We did what we could but I just… because we had no paternity test for you, I couldn’t take Natalie to court to petition for visitation rights. Even if she didn’t want to come back to me, I wanted to see you.”

“She never dated,” I smiled at Sawyer, “she never met anyone, wanted anyone. I think she was trying to get the nerve to come back to you and just… didn’t have time.”

“I know. I got a letter from her a week before we lost her. Telling me that she still loved me and would be home to me soon. But… it didn’t happen. The universe decided it couldn’t,” Sawyer sighed, “but that’s okay. I never need anyone. I have my kid back,” he smiled finally, “and that’s more important to me than anything.”

“We can find ya someone,” Hunter laughed, “just move to Montana. It’s nice.”

“I just might but more to be near the two of you than find love. I already have it,” he pulled a small necklace out of his sweater and opened the locket to show us a tiny picture of him and my mother, “she’s right there. Always with me.”

“That’s so beautiful,” I whispered, “you’re… so dedicated.”

“Nat would probably kick the shit out of me for not moving on after she was gone but I just… I can’t. She was my soulmate.”

“Yeah Mom was pretty feisty,” I snorted.

“Oh is that where ya get it from?” Hunter poked me in the side and I glared at him, “Grayson about killed a guy that was mean to me when I was a teenager. He showed up at a party we were havin’ at the farm. I had to pull Gray away.”

“Yeah, that’s one hundred percent Natalie. I’m pretty passive. You saw that with my brother,” Sawyer sighed, “I don’t know how to stand up for myself.”

“But you did great,” I smiled at him, “you defended me.”

“I think it was the other way around, kid,” Sawyer snorted, “well… are you ready to head out? I need to close up for the night.”

“Sure. I’ll take Hunter out to the ranch and we’ll walk over in about… two hours?”

“Perfect. Be careful. Oh and… welcome back,” Sawyer hugged me tightly, “I missed you so much.”

“I know. I’m glad I found you.”