They went on ahead of the family, shook hands with the preacher, and were already gone by the time Cody and Stevie made it out to the parking lot. Not a single cloud floated in the sky that morning, and warm sunshine had melted most of snow that was piled up at the four corners of the lot and had looked like small dirty mountains the week before.

“See y’all at the house?” Jesse called as he put Sam into the car seat, and then reached to take Taylor from Addy’s arms.

“We’re going out to dinner  today.” Cody raised his voice above the noise of more than a dozen vehicles leaving. “See y’all later.”

“Oh, so we’re going out?” Stevie asked when Cody opened the door for her and she had gotten into the truck and fastened her seat belt. “The new smell is still here.”

“Have you ever bought a brand-new car?” Cody asked as he slid behind the wheel.

“One time, and I brought it with me when I came back to Texas, but I learned real quick that I needed a van to do my work,” she answered. “So, I traded it in. The van wasn’t exactly new, but it was in good condition. A vet had owned it before, so it was already tricked out with bins I needed. The tires needed replacing, and you know the rest of that story. Where are we having dinner?” she asked again.

“Sonic,” he told her, and drove out of the parking lot. “I thought we’d go over to Bonham and have burgers and fries.”

“That sounds great, but this is not our fourth date,” she told him.

“All depends on how you look at it. It could be our fourth if you count it my way. First was breakfast at the diner. Second was when I kissed you the first time, and third was last night when we decided to stay in Honey Grove,” he told her. “That would make this our fourth, and it’s also your first ride in my new truck, so we’re celebrating.”

“You had me at a hamburger and fries. Who cares about counting?” she laughed. “Are you still happy with your decision to stay in Honey Grove?”

“Are you?” he fired back.

“Yes. I’ve already called Rodney, so it is now set in stone,” she told him. “I’m going to get in touch with Bobby Blalock tomorrow morning and tell him he can tear the house down as soon as all the stuff is out, and I’m at peace with that too. I also decided I want to do the packing myself so I can make decisions about what to save and what to throw in the trash.”

“Sure you are ready for that?” he asked.

“Yep,” she answered.