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n rubbed her fingers over Grey’s head.

Grey pouted a little, but then smiled at her. “Hurt,” he said clearly, followed by a sentence even Bullet couldn’t follow.

“He said it’s okay,” Pearl told them.

Tristan smiled. “He did? I’m so glad.”

“Yeah, it’s okay,” Pearl said again.

Tristan motioned to two empty seats at the table. “Can we sit here?” she asked Bullet.

He nodded and smiled, his heart too full to speak.

1968

There was something important Bill wanted to take care of before he and Dottie were married. He talked to his mama about it, but he hadn’t talked to Clancy yet, or Dottie.

His mother assured him that Clancy would be honored by his request, after she also assured him his daddy would understand. “He’s been watchin’ from the heavens, and he would approve,” she told him.

Dottie’s eyes filled with tears when he told her his idea. “Oh, Bill, you are just the finest man alive,” she’d said.

He had a meeting the next day with a lawyer, and then tomorrow night, he’d asked Clancy to have dinner with him. Bill hoped he was doing the right thing and Clancy would go along with his proposition.

“Fancy,” Clancy said when Bill pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant.

“Don’t worry, they serve beer,” Bill laughed. He knew Clancy really didn’t care whether they did or not.

Bill gave his name to the hostess and thought about the irony of it.

“I have something I want to ask you,” Bill said after they’d ordered their dinner. “There are two things actually.”

“Well, get on with it, son,” Clancy smiled at him.

“About that. You call me son a lot, and I want you to know how much it means to me when you do.” At first Clancy’s grin faded, but his smile returned as Bill finished his sentence.

“Here’s the thing. My mama told me a story the other day. She confessed that she sent you out lookin’ for me that night that I was walkin’ on the side of the road.”

“Yes, she did.”

“She also told me that you didn’t have to partner up with your brother, or take me in, but you did it because you cared about our family.”

Clancy was quiet, and his eyes clouded over. Bill knew the man well enough to ascertain he was doing his best to tap down his emotions.

“Before Dottie and I get married, I want to ask your permission to change my name.”

Clancy looked up, startled. Bill held up his hand.

“Let me explain. About the same time Dottie and I get married, you’ll be marryin’ my mama. After you’re married, her legal name will be Jane Patterson.” Bill’s eyes filled with tears, and it took him a minute to continue. “When Dottie and I marry, I’d like to be Mister and Missus William Flynn Patterson. And I hope you understand why.”

Clancy put his hand over his eyes, but Bill caught a glimpse of the tears that filled them before he did.

“You told me once that the thing you regretted most about never marryin’ was that you didn’t have any youngens. Well, you raised a son, Clancy. The man you see before you today had two men raise him. My daddy took care of the first half of my upbringing, and you’ve been responsible for the second half.”

It took Clancy a minute to answer, but Bill understood why. He was feeling just as emotional.

“I’d be honored,” he said solemnly. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me, son.”

“I have somethin’ else to ask you.”

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