Lou called out as she saw her grandson cross the hall. “The guests will arrive soon, but we have time for a short visit.”
When he entered through the door, a lump lodged in Mattie Lou’s throat. Tres was a polished image of J.D. at that age—tall, lean, muscled from hard work, and so handsome it made her ache for times long gone. “Rosalinda wanted to know why you didn’t come eat when you got in this afternoon.” Mattie Lou smiled. “She worries about you.”
“I got busy and forgot. I’ll enjoy the steak you said we were having just that much more if I’m really hungry.” He sat down and stretched his legs out full-length as his grandmother handed him a drink.
Mattie Lou feasted her eyes on her handsome grandson. “I asked Brad if he and Casey and Vera would join us, but he said Casey wasn’t ready for anything social. I told him I’d send the food to them by one of the maids so they could have a dinner party with just the three of them.”
Tres thought of Casey’s cool hand on his neck and wished he could have his dinner party with her. “I saw Casey in the pool this afternoon. Brad is right. Social events would overwhelm her. She still struggles, both physically and emotionally, to cope with her world.”
Mattie Lou frowned. “Can we do something more that might help her?”
Tres shook his head. “No, the doctors say time and therapy are all that can be done for now. Dr. Newton made it clear that nobody can be sure how much or how little a brain that badly injured will recover.” He shook his head and smiled. “She acts like a three- or four-year-old little girl who would win the heart of everyone, but she is in a grown-up woman’s body.”
“What if she never gets back to normal?” Mattie Lou asked, with a catch in her voice.
“Then we’ll take care of her and love her for the person she is at whatever stage she’s in,” Tres stated, as he patted her hand. “Don’t worry. I think she is doing okay. Did you know Raider got out of Dan’s yard when he went to the barn before dawn this morning and showed up at Casey’s door?”
Mattie Lou frowned. “Did she scare Casey?”
Tres grinned. “No, Casey went to the door and let the dog in. Brad could hear her on the monitor. He recognized the dog’s whine, so he left them to do as they pleased. He said she seemed to start remembering lots of things as she talked and evidently petted the dog.”
Mattie Lou brightened. “You know pets are supposed to be good therapy.”
The chimes from the front of the house announced the arrival of their guests. Mattie Lou would have rather made plans for Casey than entertain, but by the time Rosalinda ushered the guests in, Mattie Lou had her best manners intact.
Tres watched five people instead of the invited six came in. The introductions weren’t yet made when Valerie, a slim blonde, a high-maintenance cougar on the prowl if he ever saw one, began talking. “That old bachelor Ralph stood me up to go to some estate sale that had some first edition books. He sends his apologizes.”
“We’ll miss him,” Mattie Lou said. “But we all know he finds some rare books from time-to-time at those sales. Come meet Tres.”
Tres moved to meet the guests.
“Tres, you may remember Bob and Janelle Rayburn whose folks settled here long before any of the rest of us.”
“I do. Bob and I got reacquainted at the horse sale before Casey was injured.” Tres shook hand with the slightly stooped, gray-haired Bob and Janelle, his plump, pretty, petite wife.
Bob said, “Good to see you again. I was telling Janelle about you on the way out here.”
“And these two”—Mattie Lou interrupted—“are new to West Texas. Doris and James Peters. They’re from Austin.”
The tall, angular couple that seemed quite comfortable in their own skins looked like a matched set. They both shook Tres’ hand with a firm grip.
Giving them only time for a handshake and ‘hello,’ Mattie Lou continued. “This is
When he entered through the door, a lump lodged in Mattie Lou’s throat. Tres was a polished image of J.D. at that age—tall, lean, muscled from hard work, and so handsome it made her ache for times long gone. “Rosalinda wanted to know why you didn’t come eat when you got in this afternoon.” Mattie Lou smiled. “She worries about you.”
“I got busy and forgot. I’ll enjoy the steak you said we were having just that much more if I’m really hungry.” He sat down and stretched his legs out full-length as his grandmother handed him a drink.
Mattie Lou feasted her eyes on her handsome grandson. “I asked Brad if he and Casey and Vera would join us, but he said Casey wasn’t ready for anything social. I told him I’d send the food to them by one of the maids so they could have a dinner party with just the three of them.”
Tres thought of Casey’s cool hand on his neck and wished he could have his dinner party with her. “I saw Casey in the pool this afternoon. Brad is right. Social events would overwhelm her. She still struggles, both physically and emotionally, to cope with her world.”
Mattie Lou frowned. “Can we do something more that might help her?”
Tres shook his head. “No, the doctors say time and therapy are all that can be done for now. Dr. Newton made it clear that nobody can be sure how much or how little a brain that badly injured will recover.” He shook his head and smiled. “She acts like a three- or four-year-old little girl who would win the heart of everyone, but she is in a grown-up woman’s body.”
“What if she never gets back to normal?” Mattie Lou asked, with a catch in her voice.
“Then we’ll take care of her and love her for the person she is at whatever stage she’s in,” Tres stated, as he patted her hand. “Don’t worry. I think she is doing okay. Did you know Raider got out of Dan’s yard when he went to the barn before dawn this morning and showed up at Casey’s door?”
Mattie Lou frowned. “Did she scare Casey?”
Tres grinned. “No, Casey went to the door and let the dog in. Brad could hear her on the monitor. He recognized the dog’s whine, so he left them to do as they pleased. He said she seemed to start remembering lots of things as she talked and evidently petted the dog.”
Mattie Lou brightened. “You know pets are supposed to be good therapy.”
The chimes from the front of the house announced the arrival of their guests. Mattie Lou would have rather made plans for Casey than entertain, but by the time Rosalinda ushered the guests in, Mattie Lou had her best manners intact.
Tres watched five people instead of the invited six came in. The introductions weren’t yet made when Valerie, a slim blonde, a high-maintenance cougar on the prowl if he ever saw one, began talking. “That old bachelor Ralph stood me up to go to some estate sale that had some first edition books. He sends his apologizes.”
“We’ll miss him,” Mattie Lou said. “But we all know he finds some rare books from time-to-time at those sales. Come meet Tres.”
Tres moved to meet the guests.
“Tres, you may remember Bob and Janelle Rayburn whose folks settled here long before any of the rest of us.”
“I do. Bob and I got reacquainted at the horse sale before Casey was injured.” Tres shook hand with the slightly stooped, gray-haired Bob and Janelle, his plump, pretty, petite wife.
Bob said, “Good to see you again. I was telling Janelle about you on the way out here.”
“And these two”—Mattie Lou interrupted—“are new to West Texas. Doris and James Peters. They’re from Austin.”
The tall, angular couple that seemed quite comfortable in their own skins looked like a matched set. They both shook Tres’ hand with a firm grip.
Giving them only time for a handshake and ‘hello,’ Mattie Lou continued. “This is
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