Chapter 6

“We’ll let her sleep, then. Mr. Tom called his momma last night, and she’ll be over later to take you and your sister grocery shopping with her.”

“That will be great.” Tad pretended he hadn’t heard that the night before. “Miss Abby is a nice lady.”

“She is. You won’t give her or Mr. Tom any problems, will you?”

“No, Daddy.” He went to the cabinet and reached for a glass. Momma hated when he drank from the carton, and even Becca made a face when he did that.

“Do you… er… do you like Mr. Tom?”

“He’s always been nice to us. The thing is, do you like him, Daddy? It seems to me that’s what’s important.”

“I love him, Tad. How does that make you feel?”

“I told him you did.”

“What? When was that?”

“Last night when you were talking to Momma. He thought you’d chosen him over us, and he got real upset.”

Daddy looked concerned. “Tad, you and your sister mean more to me than anything in the world, and I would never choose anyone over the two of you. But…”