“The storm made a sweep to the south that no one expected. Maybe Mama ought to take that weatherman’s place on the morning news,” Cody said.

“She’d do a better job, but rest assured, there’s a reason for everything.” Sonny’s tone was dead serious. “We might not know what it is right now, but in ten years, we’ll look back and see things clearly.”

“What do you see clearly, Dad?” Jesse asked.

“That adopting you three boys was the best thing that happened to me and your mother. It’s time me and Pearl went to our house, if I can drag her away from Addy. When we first moved to Henry’s house after he retired, it felt strange, but now it feels like we’ve always lived there.” Sonny picked up his cane and headed toward the living room.

“Need some help?” Cody asked.

He had thought his folks might move to the house on the property across the road—the ranch they had bought from Addy’s parents when they sold out and went out to the Panhandle—when Jesse and Addy got married, but they’d opted to take over Henry’s place that was still right on Sunflower Ranch.

“Not tonight but thanks.” Sonny leaned heavily on his cane as he shuffled out of the kitchen. “When I do, I’ll ask for it.”

“Just remember, we’re all here for you, and don’t be too stubborn to ask,” Cody said with a smile.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without being stubborn.” Sonny disappeared around the corner and into the hallway.

Jesse waited until he was out of sight to ask, “In your opinion, what happens next with him?”

“Who knows?” Cody answered. “MS varies with the patient, and like he said, stubborn has taken him a long way, but I would think that he’ll need a walker before long.” Thinking about not being home to help his dad put a lump in Cody’s throat. He believed that nothing should ever be more important than family, and yet he had let his job stand between him and those most important to him. “One day at a time. That’s all any of us get anyway.”

Jesse stood up and clamped a hand on Cody’s shoulder. “You might do well to remember that.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cody asked.

“Just think about it,” Jesse said. “If you were a woman, your biological clock would be tickin’ pretty loud. If you had a child in a year, you would be retirement age before that kid got through college.”

“Old doctors are like old farmers,” Cody chuckled. “They never retire.”

“Who’s retiring?” Pearl asked as she and Sonny had passed through the room and stopped in the utility room that was right off the kitchen.