“No!” Dixie and Wade said in unison. “You’re staying home,” Dixie stated.“And that’s that,” Wade added. “Surely the two of us can manage for a while in the morning. If it looks like we won’t make it on our own, you can call in help. Or maybe that man who came by looking for work will come back.”Pops squeezed one eye shut and peered at the two of them with the other. “It could work. If everybody hustles.”Dixie had to agree. It could work. “If business is light. I can’t believe I’m hoping business will be light. Still, I guess we’ll give it a try. And, Wade, I really appreciate this extra effort. We’re all of us grateful for your help tonight.”“Hell, girl, don’t go thanking him. He’ll start thinking he’s not one of the family, and I guess we’ve pretty much adopted him after tonight.”She smiled. “I guess you’re right. He’s ours.”She had no idea, Wade thought, just how true that was. At least, his heart was theirs. In more ways than one, if the emotions tumbling around inside him me

We’re getting to know each other,” he said cryptically. “Speaking of ladies,” he added, “I’m supposed to tell you that Miz Ima Don’t-Make-Fun- of-My-Name Trotter will be taking a casserole to Pops this afternoon, so you’re not to worry about him sitting home all alone and starving to death.”“My, my,” Dixie said. “You really are getting to know the ladies, aren’t you?”He trailed his fingers down her back, then poked them in her ribs. She flinched, jerked away and shrieked with laughter.“Now I know where Tate gets his ticklishness from.” “Watch it, buster.”Laughing, he let her go. “I’ll have you know that I’m also getting to know the men, too.” He shook his head as if in sorrow. “I’m sorry to say, they don’t like me as well as the ladies do.”“Is that so?” She held a spatula out to ward him off as she circled around him to get back to the grill.“Yes, indeed. How was it the man from the hardware store, Frank, I think he said his name was, put it? Something about…oh, yes. My butt’s n

That evening Dixie looked around her dinner table and felt her heart swell. She was so lucky to have her family gathered around her every night.Pops’s accident last night served to remind her never to take her life and the people she loved for granted.“So, Pops, how was Miz Ima and her casserole?” she asked.A deep red flush stole slowly up his cheeks. He scowled at her. Dixie hooted with laughter. “Boys, I think Miz Trotter is sweet onPops.”“You mean, like, boy-girl sweet on?” Ben asked, alarmed at the idea. “Exactly.”“Eww, yuck,” Tate said.“My sentiments exactly,” Pops muttered.“Shame,” Dixie said, laughing. “You’ve had a thing for her for twenty years.”The boys spent the next few minutes making gagging sounds. They had yet to learn the value of girls.“Have not,” Pops protested. “Why, she’s a good six months older than me.”“You know what they say about older women,” Dixie teased. “Oh, hush, you.” The red blush now reached the tops of his ears. “All right, all right,” she c

“Dixie? Dixie!” He reached across the coffee table separating them and squeezed her knee, giving it a little shake. “Dixie?”Dixie shook herself out of the ridiculous trance or whatever she’d been in. “I’m sorry,” she said, her mind clear now, clear and vehemently denying the silly idea that kept leaping at her. An idea that was preposterous.“Dixie?”She pushed herself to her feet. “That’s an incredible story,” she said. “I’m sorry you had to go through such a traumatic experience. I assume that everything went well. You look perfectly healthy to me.”“I am healthy, especially if I keep up with my meds and exercise.” “Oh, well, that’s wonderful.” She started toward the front door, hermovements sharp and jerky. “I’m really glad for you.” “Dixie, come sit down.”“You’ve said what you came to say. Oh.” She stopped and turned around. “I forgot your check. Wait here.”“Dixie, sit down.”Her eyes were overbright. Her hands fluttered in the air. “I’m glad you came by to tell me this, but I

When Dixie called the boys home, she asked Pops to come with them. When she got her sons into the tub, she took Pops to the kitchen, where the boys, who were not silent bathers by any means, would not overhear. There, once Pops was seated at the kitchen table with a dish of peach cobbler to work on, she told him first about Wade’s true background and identity.Unlike her, Pops didn’t feel the least deceived. He laughed. “Ha! I knew there was more to that boy than he was lettin’ on. Rich, you say?”“Filthy rich.”“And him washing our dishes.” He laughed again and shook his head. “Did he say why he was here?”“Yes, he did.” She told him the rest, about Wade’s heart transplant, and where his new heart came from.Pops cried. His tears were a mixture of renewed grief at the loss of his only grandson, and pride that a part of Jimmy Don lived on in another person. More than one person, most likely.“That’s something, isn’t it?” He wiped the moisture from his cheeks and eyes. “I’m so proud of