Harris?” Meredith was standing in front of the large windows inside the kitchen at Tall Pines. She was trying not to look as though she were dying for a glimpse of Gage. She had gone through Gage withdrawal this last week. She crossed her arms and squinted against the setting sun. Two male forms in the distance were coming into focus and her heart squeezed, hoping one of them was Gage. They stopped close to the barn, still too far for her to make them out for sure. “Of course not, my dear. Everything is done, just waiting for those boys to come inside.” Meredith’s heart stopped and then did a little dance. “Oh, is Gage back then?” “Yup. Cole went to pick him up. They should be back soon,” Melanie said, walking over to stand beside her. “Much quieter without Gage around here.” Meredith didn’t turn to look at her. Mel was fishing. “Well, the chocolate cake certainly lasts a lot longer when that man isn’t here,”
