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“Sorry, I saw a cat.”
“Of course you did.” She glared over to Tex, her expression softening. Wade usually wore his prosthetics when he had to navigate terrain that varied—or go out in public, really. So something must be wrong that Tex didn’t know about.
What that could be, Tex had no idea. He and Abby lived right next door to Wade and Cheryl, and they saw them several times per week.
“Denzel’s here too,” Wade barked. “He’s going to need help.”
“All right,” Tex said easily. “You okay, brother?”
“I couldn’t get my right prosthetic on,” he grumbled. “It’s been shifting out of place for a while, and I’ve just been lazy about going to the doctor.”
“If it’s about money,” Tex started, not sure if he should continue with his offer. Wade was a quiet, strong, hard-willed man. He worked like a dog, and Tex admired him on many levels.
“I can’t ask you for money,” Wade muttered.
“I can,” Cheryl said, giving her husband a withering glare too. “It would be great if we could get some help with the new prosthetics, Tex. He hasn’t gotten new ones for overfifteen years.”
Tex blinked at her. “When should they be replaced?”
“At the rate he uses them? Out on the farm every day?” Oh, Cheryl was mad-mad, and Tex had never seen her like this. “Three years, max. Sockets every six months.”
“I’ve done the sockets,” Wade grumped at her.
“He needs brand new ones from the bottom to the top,” Cheryl said, ignoring him. “Two or three sets, to help them last longer.”
“No problem,” Tex said, moving Wade into the shade next to Daddy.
“What’s no problem?” Blaze asked.
Tex glanced over to Cheryl. “You and me goin’ to help Denzel.”
“If you think I’m bad,” Wade said. “Y’all should know he fell last week and didn’t tell anyone. So he’s havin’ a hard time walking.”
“That isnotyour story to tell,” Cheryl said crossly
“You just told them I’m a pathetic man who hasn’t taken care of his prosthetics.”
“Part of that is true,” Cheryl said. “And it ismystory to tell.I’mthe one dealing with you in a wheelchair. You think it’s not fun for you? No kidding, Wade. It’s no fun for me either, and it makes my heart hurt to see you so angry.”
Tears spilled down her face, and Tex turned to find his wife. He whistled through his teeth, and Melissa, Carver, Pippa, and Abby all looked at him.
He waved his hand in a circle, as if he was gearing up to throw a rope, and Abby left Hilde and Lynnie and came right over. Tex didn’t have to say a word, because Abby could see Cheryl crying and then stalking away from the group.
“Georgia,” she called, and the two of them went after her.
Faith arrived too, and she said, “Bennett, Wyatt, come over here and get a balloon.” She herded them in that direction as Shawn and Enid Avery arrived with more long, aluminum pans that smelled deliciously like caramel and vanilla.
They had two small children that clung to their mother—at least until they spotted their aunt Ev.
“I need help with Denzel,” Tex said to Blaze, and his brother went to recruit some more brothers to go with him.
As Tex, Blaze, Trace, and Otis started to leave the party, Bryce, Codi, Matty, Harry, and Belle arrived. “Where you guys goin’?” Bryce asked.
“To help Uncle Denzel and Aunt Michelle,” Otis said. “Keep an eye on my kids, would you?”
“Mine too,” Tex called to him.
“Everyone’s,” Trace said as he hugged his oldest. He grinned at him. “It’s a Young family party, all right.”
