Heartbreak Town (COMPLETED)

Chapter Fifteen

       "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.