“No one,” Jesse said. “According to my brother here, old doctors and old farmers don’t know what retirement is.”

“I knew I’d raised some smart kids.” Sonny shifted his cane to his left hand so Pearl could help him with the sleeve of his coat. “See y’all tomorrow.”

Pearl slipped on her coat and then pulled a stocking hat down to her ears. “With all this snow, we’ve been coming up here sometime in the middle of the afternoon and having supper together, Cody.”

“You and Stevie are welcome to join us every evening. Addy and Mia appreciate seeing some faces other than mine since we’re all stuck in the house,” Jesse said.

Cody stood and headed toward the utility room, where he’d hung his own coat. “I know I’d love that, and I’m pretty sure Stevie would look forward to having someone to talk to other than me. I’ll see you in the morning, brother. And, Mama, if y’all need anything, we can be there in five minutes or less.” Cody turned back to Jesse. “Mind if I take a couple of slices of that cake with me?”

“Not one bit. Addy said she was making pies for tomorrow’s dessert,” Pearl answered and came back into the kitchen. She cut two wedges of the cake and put them on a paper plate, then covered it with plastic wrap. “Since she’s not been able to get out and go places with you and the doctoring business, she’s been keeping busy in the kitchen. We’ll all have to go on a diet when this snow is melted. And, son, you know you can drop in at our house anytime you don’t want to make food for yourself.”

“And bring Stevie with you. I like that girl,” Sonny said.

“Thanks.” Cody picked up the cake. “I might do that.”

“Y’all ever going to get past the fact that you broke her heart?” Jesse asked when Pearl and Sonny left.

“Ever think that I had my reasons?” Cody asked.

“Never doubted it for a minute,” Jesse said. “I’d love to hear them sometime, but right now, I’ve got a beautiful wife waiting for me in the living room. She told me that we’re watching a movie tonight. Want to join us?”

“No, but thanks anyway. Besides, you’ve got one kid at the barn playing with the new cats—you are welcome for that—and the twins are asleep. Might be nice for you and Addy to have a few minutes to yourselves.” Cody winked as he opened the door. “I’m going to leave the work truck and walk back to the bunkhouse. Tell Mia thanks for plowing a path for us, will you? I forgot to.”