“Oh, I’m sorry, let me try that again. I’m seriously just using him for sex.”

Della bit her cheek harder as Jethro jumped in. “What kind of sons would we be if we weren’t looking out for you?”

Rosemary sighed, sliding her hands across the table, one for each son to hold. “I’m sorry, my darlings. Thank you for looking out for me. You’re good boys. But since when have I not been able to look out for myself?”

“Dad would have wanted us to,” Clay insisted.

“I think your dad knew I could look out for myself. And while we’re on the subject, if the shoe was on the other foot, if I was gone and your father had found himself a girlfriend, would either of you feel the need to have this conversation with him?”

Clay and Jethro looked at each other guiltily, and Rosemary gave them both a knowing look as she withdrew her hands. “Right. And above all else, your dad would have wanted me to live a full life. I know that because we discussed it often as we got older, and I think you both know it as well.”

“Yeah,” Clay admitted. “I guess it’s just…not been that long.”

“And you and dad were married for over sixty years,” Jethro added. “It’s taken us by surprise.”

Rosemary nodded slowly, like suddenly it was dawning on her, as it was Della, that this conversation wasn’t about Ray or their mother’s sex life at all. “I know you both miss your father,” she said, her voice gentle. “I do, too. I miss Winston every damn day.”

“I just…still can’t believe he’s gone some days, you know?”

The break in Jethro’s voice hit Della right in the feels. She was envious of these two men having a father that was worthy of grief.

“I do.” Rosemary squeezed her son’s hand. “And I’m not replacing him in my heart. I could never do that. I’m just…making some room for somebody else. Our hearts are always big enough for someone else.”

Della glanced at Tucker, feeling every one of Rosemary’s wise words.

“How about this,” Rosemary suggested. “I know you’ve already met Ray, but that was a brief hello one day. Why don’t I call him and get him down here so you can get to really know him? I think you’ll like him. I think Winston would have, too.”

Jethro and Clay glanced at each other, then nodded their heads, and Rosemary beamed. “Thank you, darlings.”