“I’ll be glad to be still and let the pain medicine take effect,” she answered.

“Maybe some chocolate would help,” he suggested with a reassuring smile.

She leaned her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. “It sure couldn’t hurt.”

At the end of the lane, Cody turned out onto the main road. “I forgot to ask what Bobby said about your house.”

“He said it has bone cancer.” Stevie’s voice cracked. “Black mold, termites, dry rot. It’s not worth saving, so I guess the only thing to do is euthanize the place.”

“I’m so sorry, Stevie,” Cody said. “But please know, you’ve got a home at Sunflower Ranch for as long as you want.”

“Before I can have it torn down and put the lot up for sale, I’ve got to pack up everything that’s still usable and store it,” she said with a sigh. “Everything in there has a memory of some kind. I’m not looking forward to doing that job, Cody.”

“In my opinion, you shouldn’t do that right now. For one thing, you don’t need to be in a place like that until your leg heals, and for another, you’ve been through enough this past week without reliving every memory. Would you mind if I talk to Mama about getting someone to help you with that?” Cody asked.

“I couldn’t ask Pearl to do that,” Stevie said. “She’s got to take care of Sonny.”

“Mama knows people who would be glad to make a few dollars packing up everything for you,” Cody said. “Remember, she and Dad have lived in this area their entire lives.”

“That would be wonderful,” Stevie agreed.

“Then I’ll take care of that job,” Cody said with a smile. “Now open your eyes.”

“Why, so I can see more of my world falling apart?” she asked.

“No, because when your eyes are closed, all you feel is pain, both emotional and physical. When they’re open, you can focus on things around you and ease that pain,” he answered.

Her eyes popped wide open and she sat up straight. “Did you study psychology as well as medicine?”

“Had to take a few classes in it, and besides, coming from the background I did, psychology interests me,” he answered as he made a turn in to Sunflower Ranch. “We’re almost home. I forgot to tell you that I’m going to drive Dad down to Dallas on Wednesday morning. Mama hates to drive in the city, so she volunteered me to do the job. We won’t be back until Thursday afternoon. He has appointments both days for MRIs, X-rays, and other things. Will you be all right while I’m gone?”

Stevie shook her head slowly.

“You won’t be okay? I can ask Jesse to take him, but the family thought that since I’m a doctor…”