Drew shook hands with each of them as they filed out the door, then asked Sally, “Have you heard from Granny Hayes? It’s not like her to miss the services, and today is such a lovely day. A little chilly, but sunshiny and no wind or rain.”

“I had the same thought. We’re going to check on her,” Sally said. “I keep trying to convince her to let me come get her and take her home so she won’t be out in the weather. She tells me that Dusty needs the exercise.”

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” Drew said.

“Sure will,” Sally told him. “Now, who’s riding with me?”

“I’m going with Mack,” Braden said.

“So am I.” Holly had run on ahead and was already getting into the back seat.

“I’ll ride out there with you.” Lily got into the passenger seat of Sally’s business van. “Why’d you drive this today?”

“My car is in the shop getting new tires and a tune-up.” Sally got in and turned the key to start the engine. “I get it back tomorrow. So we’ve got about five or ten minutes at the most. Tell me how the day went yesterday with Nora and Orville.”

“It went fine. Nora was so happy to meet Holly and Braden. Orville and Braden really struck up a friendship, and Holly visited with Nora until it was time for her to go to Faith’s house that evening. I was so damned—oops, forgive me, Lord, for cussin’ right after church—proud of her that I could have shouted.”

“That’s great,” Sally said. “Things are working out just like they should. How’re things between you and Mack?”

“I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. I know something will go wrong because nothing can be so right,” Lily said. “The kids like him. His dad asked him if he was going to marry me. Oh, and Wyatt called last night.”

“What did that bastard want?” Sally asked.

“Victoria kicked him out for a younger man, and he wants to sublet my apartment. Allegedly, when he gets his life straightened out, he wants another chance at being a father,” Lily told her. “We’ll see.”

Sally drove up to Granny Hayes’s yard. Chickens squawked and ran around the house. The ducks on the porch eyed the two vehicles cautiously. “He doesn’t deserve it, but you’re going to say, ‘for the kids’ sake,’ aren’t you?”

“What is that?” Lily pointed to a huge pile of dirt with rocks laid all around it.