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Unfortunately, before I grabbed the tack for my next horse, my phone rang. It was Brynn. I swore internally and answered, trying to be the bigger person. I sensed anger before I’d even picked up.

“Yes, Brynn?”

“Well, I cannot spend the day with Piper. I have a client issue,” Brynn said.

Of course you do!

“I need you to come get her.”

“In the loop?” I fought laughter. “I can’t. I have horses. I don’t have any ability⁠—”

“Well, I don’t want her taking the train back. I was angry about that this morning, you know?”

“Brynn, she takes the El at your place. Metra is even less of a concern. She’s on the train with a bunch of businesspeople and a book. It's good for her.”

“Well, if you won’t go get her, then I will send her in a cab.

“That’s nonsense. It’s too⁠—”

“Look, you shouldn’t talk about money when you’re living up in Lake Forest.”

So, she’d gotten my notification about the change of address from the courts? The courts required me to update our address once I knew where it was—by law. I played everything by the book.

“I’m getting a sweet deal on a tiny apartment,” I said. “It’s close to the barn, the school is good, and everything is safe. It’s temporary.”

“How did you land a sweet deal? Did you move in with someone? Is my child being subjected⁠—”

“Brynn, it’s one of my clients. They offered us a carriage house and Piper loves it there. It was too good of a deal, and I didn’t have a lot of options that would have made you happy, okay? But, even if I was in a relationship, that’s none of your business.”

“Fine.” She piped down. “Well, I’m texting her now. She’ll be home in a bit.”

If Brynn wanted to light money on fire that was fine. I hung up and returned to tacking up Doobs. My phone rang again.

“Hi, sweetheart,” I said. “Your mom called⁠—”

“She ditched me,” Piper protested. “Now, she wants me to take a cab! Total bullshit!”

“I’m sorry sweetheart. It will be okay.”

She let out a frustrated groan and said, “Well, I can’t get it.”

“What?” I asked.

“To the house. I pulled the lock closed like you said,” Piper said. “But you still haven’t given me a spare key to get back in.”

“Oh, shit,” I said. “We can do that tonight. I’ll take you out to dinner, and we’ll go to the hardware store. We gotta pick up some other things anyhow.”

“I was supposed to go to this iconic Italian place, Dad,” Piper whined.

“This weekend, let’s plan to do something super cool,” I said.

“Super cool? Dad, you don’t understand.”

“Think about it,” I said. “It’s our last weekend here before we go to Tulsa. I know you’re not jazzed about Oklahoma, but whatever you want, you can get. I’m going to kick off after I finish this ride and meet you at home.”

“Fine. It will take forever in traffic.”

“I know. I tried to convince her to let you take the train, but she was⁠—”