Chapter 45: Joy ride

EMMA

"Thank you."

As he slowly navigated the dirt drive that led from his grandparents' home to the road, Deacon cast me a questioning sideways glance.

"For . . .?"

"For bringing me to the farm. For introducing me to your grandparents. They're wonderful."

He smiled. "Yeah, I kind of like them. They've been . . ." He paused as though searching for the right words. "Stalwart and steady support as long as I can remember. I never felt a moment of insecurity growing up, even with one parent dead and the other constantly MIA. Gram and Pop had my back, no matter what."

"I got that sense from them. As my mom would say, they're good people."

He nodded but didn't say anything else as he turned onto the paved road. The car picked up speed, and I let my head fall back against the seat, the wind rushing through my hair and filling my ears.

It had been an almost perfect day. I'd loved spending time with Deacon's grandmother, who was funny, irreverent and shrewd. She had made me