"Hey, Mamaw. Papaw?" Renne called out in the quiet house once Swayde and Renne got to her grandparent's ranch.

"Shh..." The small whisper came from behind the couch.

"57...58...59...60...ready or not, here I come!" MJ shouted as she ran out of the kitchen. "Aunt Reagan!" She said, distracted from her game of hide and seek. She ran over to Renne and hugged her tightly.

"MJ, where is Mamaw and a papaw?" Renne asked MJ who was still tightly clenching her waist.

"How am I supposed to know? We were playing hide and seek, but then you came. Mamaw usually hides in the kitchen pantry and papaw hides in the library." MJ said, pulling back from hugging Renne.

"Do you want to call it, or do you want me to?" Renne asked her adorable niece.

"Ollie Ollie oxen free!" MJ yelled. turning and running throughout the house. "Ollie Ollie oxen free! Auntie Reagan and Uncle Swayde are here!"

"Aw, man. I was gonna win, too." Taylor said in a defeated voice as he emerged from his hiding place in the hall closet next to where Swayde and Renne stood.

One by one, each one of Renne's nieces emerged from their hiding place. Even Mamaw and Papaw snuck out from their hiding places. "Reagan, it's good to see you sweetheart. How are you?" Papaw asked, giving Renne a hug.

"I'm doing well. I'm excited to spend time with my nieces and nephew today." Renne replied as she ruffled a pouting Taylor's hair.

"Auntie Reagan, do we have to leave yet? Can you and Uncle Swayde stay and play hide and seek with us. Just one game, then we can go. Please?" Susan pleaded with Renne. Chuckling, Renne looked at her grandparents.

"Susie, I think Mamaw and papaw are done playin'. Y'all wore us out. But, Reagen and Swayde could take our places." Mamaw said with a smile on her face.

Renne looked to Swayde. "I think we can play a round or two. You okay with that, Uncle Swayde?" Renne smiled at Swayde. She knew it made him feel old when he was called "uncle."

"Y'all better go hide. I'm gonna count to sixty then come find y'all." Swayde said, closing his eyes. "One...two..." All four of Mallory's kids all ran in different directions in the house as Swayde counted.

"Thank you, Swayde." Renne said, placing a hand on Swayde's shoulder, making him open his eyes and pause his counting momentarily.

"You better go hide, Aunt Reagen." Swayde whispered, winking at Renne.

Renne knew exactly where to hide. It was where she always hid whenever Swayde, her, and their siblings would play hide and go seek. Walking through the living room, Renne made her way to the upstairs staircase. Opening the skinny door, Renne carefully slid in to the small closet beside the stairs. Pushing a few old coats out of her way, Renne got to the back of the closet. It was too short for her to stand up fully, so Renne knelt down, tucking her knees to her chest and waited for Swayde to come and find her. The closet was a lot smaller then Renne remembered it, but then again, the last time that she had hid in this closet, she was only about 10 years old.

Sure enough, after only about a minute or two later, the closet door slowly opened. Swayde pulled the string on the light, then got down on his hands and knees and crawled to the back of the closet. "Gotcha." Swayde said, smiling at Renne. "I knew you'd be in here."

"You caught me." Renne replied, exiting the closet with Swyade's help.

Swayde followed Renne back out to the living room and followed her lead as she dramatically said, "Hmm, I wonder where on earth the kids could be?" She then proceeded to pretend like she didn't hear two girls giggling behind the couch.

"Shh. Reagan, I think I hear something over here by the couch. Maybe we should look under the cushions." Swayde said, saying every word with emphasis, pretending like he didn't know where all of the kids were hiding, even though he knew MJ and Hope were behind the couch with pillows over their heads. Susan was under the small table in the kitchen, and Taylor was still in the hall closet.

Renne and Swayde made their way through the whole house, pretending to look for the kids in all the nooks and crannies. After doing a thorough sweep through the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen, Swayde just "accidentally" found Susie under the table.

Renne's search in the living room turned up one Taylor, who pretended like he was a coat as he hid in the hall closet. Once Taylor emerged and looked around, he realized that he wasn't the last one to be found. "I didn't win...again?"

"Uh oh, Reagan, look what I found behind the couch." Swayde said before Renne could answer Taylor. With a squealing Hope under his arm, Swayde answered his own question. "I found a Mallory Junior and a Hopie. I heard something that sounded like giggling comin' from behind the couch, and when I looked, I found these two rascals."

"So it looks like it was a tie then." Renne said, standing with her hands on her hips and a smile on her face.

"Looks like it." Swayde removed his cowboy hat to place it on little Hope's head. The brim of the black Stetson immediately tipped forward. Swayde tilted the hat back so he could see Hope's eyes, but the hat nearly engulfed all of Hope's head. The three year old giggled uncontrollably as her "uncle" held her on his hip. "Y'all ready to go?" Swayde asked the hyper kids in Renne's grandparent's living room.

"Where are we going, Uncle Swayde?" Susan's quiet voice asked from Swayde's side where she tightly clenched onto his free hand.

"We are takin' you kids out for some pizza and ice cream, then havin' a sleepover at my house afterwards." Swayde replied.

"Ice cream!" One of the kids shouted.

"Sleepover!" Another one yelled.

Taylor groaned, knowing he would have to be in a houseful of girls again. Hope just clapped her hands and kept saying, "Yay! Party!"

After several minutes, Swayde and Renne were finally able get the herd of children to pack up clothes and toothbrushes for the night, and head outside. Amidst all of the commotion, Renne somehow managed to pack up her own overnight bag, since she would be spending the night with the kids at Swayde's house. Once goodbye's were said, Swayde started walking towards his truck with Hope in one arm, a book bag on his back, two duffle bags, and Hope's car seat all in his right hand.

"Swayde." Renne called his name from beside her truck. "Let's take my truck. There's not enough seats in yours." She said over the shouting voices coming from the young kids. Taylor and MJ were shoving each other, both trying to be the first in the truck.

Swayde nodded in approval and walked over to Renne's truck. Manhandling the load he had in his hands, Swayde managed to open the passenger side door of Renne's truck and set the car seat on the middle seat. Setting Hope and the bags down on the ground for a minute, Swayde secured the car seat before placing Hope in it.

Eventually, all four kids were buckled into their seats, Swayde was in the driver seat, and Renne sat beside Hope on the passenger side. Even though it is her truck, Renne knew that Swayde tends to be a bad passenger, so she let him drive without an argument.

The whole way to the Pizza Palace, Renne led the kids in various car-ride games. "I spy with my little eye...a red sign." Renne said as Swayde stopped at one of the two stop signs in town.

"A stop sign!" Susan exclaimed.

"Yup. Your turn." Renne passed the lead to Susie.

"I spy something...brown."

"The Pizza Palace. Finally, I'm starvin'." Taylor said as Swayde pulled his truck into a spot in the gravel parking lot.

Renne hopped out of her seat as Swayde unbuckled Hope from her car seat. The rest of the kids rambunctiously toppled out of the back of the cab. Swayde led the pack to the door, before holding it open for the herd to file through. Hope, who was situated comfortably on Swayde's hip, said the appropriate "welcomes" as everyone thanked her and Swayde for holding open the door.

After choosing a table for them to eat at, Renne took the girls to the ladies room to wash up before eating. Independent Taylor went by himself to the restroom, leaving Swayde alone to hold down the fort.

Several minutes later, the gang was seated at the table, and their order was placed for a pepperoni pizza. While waiting for the pizza to come out, Swayde and Renne played tic-tac-toe and hangman on the back of the paper place mats. A happy Hope sat on Swayde's lap, bouncing and giggling as he made an "X" on the tic-tac-toe paper in the game he was playing with Taylor.

After three more games, the steaming, hot pizza was brought to their table. Renne passed out plates and doled out the slices of pizza to each kid, meaning sure Swayde and Taylor got enough to make their bottomless stomachs full.

Once the pizza was dealt, Swayde removed his cowboy hat, setting it on the little available space on the table, and said, "Let's pray before we eat."

While Swayde prayed, it was the quietest that Renne had heard the kids all day. That silence was quickly filled the second Swayde said, "Amen," however.

After their stomachs were full and the pizza was gone, both MJ and Taylor asked, "Can we get ice cream? Please?"

Renne chuckled as they walked out of the Pizza Palace. "I thought y'all were full?"

"We are, but we always have room for ice cream, Auntie Reagan." Susie said from beside Swayde.

Swayde still held Hope on his hip, and Susan was glued to his side, holding his free hand. When Renne gave Swayde a questioning look to ask about getting ice cream, Swyade answered her silent question. "Fine by me."

With that, MJ and Taylor decided to have a race to see who could make it to the ice cream stand the quickest. Competitive Taylor won, but just by a hair.

Not to any surprise, the ice cream place was packed in the hot summer day. With blue skies and a slight breeze, it was the perfect June day to get a cold treat. After about ten minutes of standing in line at the shortest line of the three window shop, the kids began getting impatient. They had spotted the small play set beside the ice cream stand, and were begging Swayde to push them on the swing. "Y'all go on ahead. I'll get their ice cream." Renne offered.

Instead of playing with her siblings, quiet and reserved Susan stayed right next to Renne. "You don't want to play, sweetheart?" Renne asked, walking forward in the line after another customer was helped.

"No, Auntie. I'd rather stay here with you. Someone will need to help you carry all the ice cream." Susan flashed that bright smiled that made her think of her sister. She couldn't believe how much Susan and Mallory Junior were almost a spitting image of their mother. It brought comfort to Renne to know that even after Mallory had passed, she would still be here, in the form of her daughters. The only difference between Susie and her mom were their personalities. Susan is a quiet, shy girl while her mom is outgoing.

"Okay. You can help me carry the ice cream, then, Susie." Renne returned the smile. "Thank you."

"I've missed you, Auntie. I'm glad that you're back." Susan said, grabbing Renne's hand.

Renne smiled down at her niece and said a silent prayer thanking God that she was too young to know why Renne had left, and that she was really too young to remember all of the drama and bad feelings that followed Renne's leaving.

After another several minutes later, it was finally Renne and Susie's turn to order their ice cream. The pair carefully carried all of the cups of ice cream over to the only open picnic table around the little ice cream stand. "Alright, kids, we got the ice cream." Renne called over to the playground as she set the spoons and ice cream down on the table. MJ and Taylor galloped to the table, sliding onto the seats. Swayde was a little ways behind them, holding Hope's hand as they walked over to Renne.

Before she sat down, Renne announced that she was going to go get more napkins for all of them. Taylor and MJ sat next to each, which they always did despite Renne's suggestion that they switch sides since Taylor was right handed and MJ was left handed.

Chuckling to herself, Renne walked back over to the ice cream stand. As she grabbed a handful of napkins, Renne heard a voice behind her. "Excuse me, ma'am."

Renne turned around, and was greeted with a short, white haired woman with kind, soft eyes. She flashed a smile at Renne as she said, "I know you don't know me, but my name is Marjorie." The grandmotherly like lady stretched out a wrinkled hand to shake Renne's.

"It's nice to meet you, Marjorie. I'm Reagan." Renne introduced herself, shaking Marjorie's warm hand. This was the first time that Renne had instinctively introduced herself as "Reagan" instead of Renne for as long as she could remember. It sounded good on her tongue...sounded natural again.

"I just wanted to take the time to say that I think that you and that handsome cowboy over there are one of the cutest couples I have ever seen. And your kids are cute as a button!" Marjorie was smiling over at the table where Swayde had his little buddy, Hope, on his lap, feeding her small bites of the ice cream. He was chuckling along with Taylor and MJ as they elbowed each other on the small bench. Susan sat by herself, silently eating her ice cream, ignoring the horseplay going on between her two oldest siblings. She was definitely the quietest, most reserved of all of the kids, the complete opposite of her mother. When Swayde caught Renne and Marjorie looking over at him, he flashed that famous, charming smile of his. It was the one that could make any girl swoon. Even elderly Marjorie. Swayde lifted his hand to wave at the girls. Beside her, Renne heard Marjorie chuckle. "Your family is just the cutest!"

Renne smiled and waved back at Swayde before responding to Marjorie. "Oh, they're not my kids."

"They aren't?" Marjorie brought her eyes back to Renne. Her eyebrows pushed together. "Then whose kids are they?"

"They're my sister's. Swayde and I are just babysitting them, then they're coming over for a sleepover." Renne explained.

"So you and Swayde don't have any children?" Renne's newfound friend asked. She was the kind of lady who was the caring, grandmotherly type that you instantly became friends with.

"No. Swayde and I are not married."

"But y'all are soon though, surely. You two are too cute together." Marjorie said, looking back over at the table.

Renne let out a small chuckle. "We aren't. I mean, Swayde and I aren't dating. I'm actually seeing someone else. Swayde and I used to date, but that was years ago." Renne explained, unsure why she was sharing her love life to this stranger.

"Well, y'all remind me so much of my Kenny and I." Marjorie said, turning back around to point to a two person table about ten feet to their right. There sat a man about the same age as Marjorie, at least seventy years young. He was wearing a blue plaid shirt tucked into a faded, old pair of Wranglers. His outfit was completed with a worn out pair of rounded cowboy boots. Renne also noticed "Kenny" was wearing a military veteran ball cap, stating the wars he served in. Kenny sat at the table with a bowl of ice cream in front of him. He took a small bite of the cold treat as he waited for his wife. In a dreamy voice, Marjorie said, "We've been married for 52 years. Got hitched when we were eighteen, right before Kenny went off to the war." Turning back to face Renne, she got to her point. "I don't mean to sound strange, but I have been watchin' you and Swayde with the kids and I have seen how that cowboy and you look at each other. That's true love right there." Marjorie smiled a knowing smile.

Renne returned the grin. "Thank you. You are not the first person to say so."

"And I know I will not be the last." The adorable old lady winked before placing a hand on Renne's forearm. "Reagan, I am not sure what is keeping you two apart, but may I give you a little advice?"

"Sure." Renne replied to the stranger, just to be polite.

"I recommend that y'all work out whatever is keepin' you two from the life that y'all could have together. Even though I have only seen about a half hour worth of interaction between the two of you, I can still see pure, true happiness and love between y'all. Life is short, and time is precious. My advice is to not take it for granted. Every moment is precious, and this is time that you will never be able to get back." Marjorie stated the truth. "The kind of love that I have seen between y'all is rare and not many people are blessed enough to have it, but the two of you certainly do have it. Don't let true love, a once in a lifetime love, slip from your fingers, Reagan."

Renne's smile faded from her face as Marjorie's advice hit her. Looking over to where Swayde was surrounded by the kids, Renne couldn't help but think just how good of a father he would be. She remembered when she used to think the same thing of Matt, but now, Matt is more of a maintenance man than a father to the kids on her ranch. At that current moment, Renne had no idea what was keeping her and Swayde apart. It was at that moment that she knew for a fact, without a doubt, that she still loved Swayde.

Marjorie, seeming content with her mini-sermon, smiled and said, "Well, I will let you go. It was such a pleasure getting to meet you, Reagan. I will be praying for you, and for Swayde. I hope that you will definitely think about what I said. I truly meant every word of it." Turning away, Marjorie added, "God bless you, Reagan."

Renne struggled to find words. Her future very well might have just been changed...all because of a little old lady at the ice cream stand. A very thankful smile was about the only acknowledgment that Renne could manage towards Marjorie before she turned away. Renne watched as Marjorie walked over to her husband, who placed a soft kiss on her faded pink lips. There still seemed to be fireworks in that kiss, even 52 years later. Looking back to Swayde, Renne remembered Marjorie's words. "That kind of love is rare...don't let true love, a once in a lifetime love, slip from your fingers, Reagan." Renne knew Marjorie was right. What was keeping Swayde and Renne apart? Was it just her stubbornness? Because if it was, Renne could easily change that.

Blinking, as if that would clear her mind, Renne walked back over to the table where Swayde and the kids sat. After Renne set the napkins down on the table, Swayde asked, "Who was that you were talkin' to?"

Looking back over her shoulder at where Marjorie and Kenny were sharing ice cream from one spoon, Renne replied, "A wise lady...a very wise lady."