Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey

tell him,
    'Welcome to the family'." As he reached the door, he almost turned around, but he heard the phone ring. His father answered it, but there was definitely something different in his voice that Preston had never heard before.

    Closing the door behind him, he felt light, free. His life was his own. Preston had no illusions that his father wouldn't still try to interfere, but the man had no power over him now, and it was time he lived his own life.
    "Is it okay?" His mother met him in the hall.
"Everything's fine, Mom." He kissed her cheek. "Could you give me a ride back to the hospital?"
She nodded. "What are you going to do?"
Preston smiled, a big, bright smile. "I don't know, and it feels great. Best I've felt in a long time."
"But you'll have nothing." She spoke softly with genuine concern.
    "I won't have nothing, Mom. I'll have you and Stone and all the people at the farm. They accept me and care about me, even when I'm an arrogant ass." He could help smiling at his own use of Stone's words. "He loves me, Mom, and that means I'll have everything."
    To his surprise, she hugged him, hard. "I'm proud of you." He rested his head on his mother's shoulder. "You probably think me an old fool, but I am so proud." She let him go. "You remind me so much of your father when we first met. He wanted to do it all on his own too." For a second, he thought he saw tears in his mother's eyes, but she turned away. "Get your coat and I'll take you to the hospital." She opened the closet door, getting her own, "Will you be back tonight?"
    "I hope not, Mom." He smiled and got a wicked look from her in return. She walked out of the house and he followed her, moving slower, but under his own power. He got himself in the car, and she pulled out of the drive.

    "What are you going to do about your stuff?"

    Stone peered out the window, watching the white caps on the lake lifting the ice and letting it fall back again. "I'll fly back to Kansas City in a few days to get my things. I need to find a job and a place to live." He looked across the seat. "I'm not going to be staying at the house anymore.
    I need to be on my own." God, that felt good to say.
"I'm going to miss having you around." She sounded... lonely.
On impulse, he responded, "You could take riding lessons at the farm." He was being facetious, but saw her face brighten. "Do you really think I could?"
    "Of course. You can do anything you want," he responded, as she pulled the car into the hospital drive, stopping under the front portico. "I'll see you later, Mom." He leaned over the seat, kissing her on the cheek. "Thanks for everything. I'll let you know what's going on." He unfolded the walker and got out of the car. "I love you, Mom." She smiled, a simple, happy smile that he hadn't seen in a while, and as he watched, she put the car in gear and drove away. Turning around, Preston walked into the hospital. A man greeted him and offered some help. "I'm okay."
    He smiled and made his way to the elevator and up to Stone's floor.
Stone was dressed and sitting on the edge of his bed. Geoff and Joey were there as well.
"We were just waiting for you." Stone slipped off the bed, and an orderly appeared, helping him into a wheelchair.
"Would you like one as well, sir?"
    Preston smiled. "No thanks. I've spent enough time in one of those to last a lifetime." He followed along behind the procession, making his way slowly back through the corridors and then down and out of the entryway. Geoff pulled his truck around, and Stone got in, with Preston sitting next to him, and Joey following in his own car. Pulling the door closed, Preston found himself leaning against Stone, his Stone. Extending an arm, he tugged him close, holding him the entire way back to the farm.
    When they arrived, Preston got out and began walking toward the house, but Stone hurried toward the barn. "I'll be right in; I just have to check on Buster." Preston turned around and followed him. They both smiled when they reached the stall.
    "If it's possible for a horse to look sorry...."
Preston had to agree. Buster seemed excited to see Stone, but tentative.
"You're a good boy." Stone rubbed his nose. "I know you didn't mean it."
"You should go inside. You just left the hospital and need to take it easy," Preston admonished lightly.
    "Okay, Mom." Stone turned and smiled, making Preston's gut quiver with the heat, excitement, and love in that look. With a last pat, Stone said good-bye to Buster and put his arm