Jed slipped out of the house, but not before Danny caught the wounded look in his eyes.

Something was off with him. Murmuring brought Danny’s attention back to Bill and the dog. It almost seemed as if Honey was holding him still.

“That’s a terrific dog,” Danny said.

“She’s special.” Bill hugged her close. Honey licked his face.

While Bill communed with the dog, Mandy started the breakfast prep. She kneaded dough and mixed batter, but she kept one eye on her brother until he seemed to be back to normal. Danny hoped the company and conversation eased her workload. He wished he could do more.

Bill glanced at the oven clock. “Oh, it’s time for Phineas and Ferb.” He rushed from the room, the dog plastered to his side.

“Honey’s uncanny.” Mandy went to the fridge and pulled out a pitcher of iced tea. “I don’t understand how she knows what to do.” She poured two glasses and set one in front of Danny. Mandy took the sandwich bag, now just full of cold water, from Danny. “Did you really need ice?”

“Not really. It was all I could think of on the spot.” He flexed his fingers and grimaced.

“Does it hurt?”

“Just stiff.” He winced. “I don’t have much feeling from the elbow down. In fact, I had no business handling a knife this morning. I have permanent nerve damage from the explosion. My fingers get shaky. I’ve had trouble accepting that isn’t going to change.”

“That’s understandable.” Mandy loaded the last pan of muffins into the oven and set the timer. “Thanks for being nice to my brother.”

Danny’s brow creased. “Why wouldn’t I be nice to him?”

“Lots of people aren’t.”

“Yeah. Assholes.” He stood up and rounded the island to stand in front of her.

“I’ve even had guys fake being nice to Bill to get close to me,” Mandy said. Even years later, the memories were a shocking stab of reality. “Then once they realized it wouldn’t work, they’d never bother with him again. It was hard on him.”

“Is that what you think I’m doing?” Danny brushed a hand across her cheek. “You had flour on your face.”

“I’m not the neatest baker.” She looked up at him. Hold your ground. But the sincerity in his eyes was too much to resist. Danny was too much to resist. Her shoulders fell forward as her resolve crumbled. “No. I don’t. But it’s not fair to him to make him like you. You’ll leave, and he’ll be heartbroken again, like he was when Reed moved.

“Bill can come and visit Reed anytime.” His fingers trailed along her jaw.

Mandy shook her head. “Bill has anxiety attacks when he leaves Huntsville. As soon as he doesn’t recognize where he is, he loses it.”