Page 115 of Josephine and Clay

“Try Hank Lawson first,” Nash says. “Town’ll thank you.”

That gets a rough laugh out of me.

We enter the barn, and heads turn.

Mom spots us from near Clara Jenkins and straightens. Boone lifts a hand from near the dance floor. Rose smiles, Faith waves, Lila pretends not to get excited, and Wyatt yells my name loud enough to stop three conversations. “Uncle Clay!”

He comes barreling toward me.

Boone catches him by the back of his shirt before he can slam into my bad leg. “Careful.”

Wyatt looks personally offended by the caution.

I lean down as much as I can. “You attacking injured men now?”

He grins. “Yep.”

“Good. Start young.”

Rose gives me a look. “Don’t encourage him.”

“I’m his uncle. That’s my job.”

For a few minutes, I let the family noise close around me. Ellie tells me about some dance she knows. Wyatt demonstrates it badly. Faith complains about chili. Dallas fixes Lila’s ribbon with the patience of a saint. Nash keeps glancing at Tessa and Hailey as if they might vanish if he blinks too long.

I shift my weight, pain biting up my leg. Sweat gathers under my shirt from the effort of standing this way doesn’t bother me.

“You alright?” Mom asks quietly.

I look down. She’s beside me now, sharp eyes missing nothing. “Fine.”

Her mouth tightens.

“I am,” I add.

“Clay.”

That’s all she says. She knows something is sitting between us and she’s waiting for me to hand it over.

I don’t.

Can’t.

So I glance toward the refreshment table. “Think Clara will force pie on me?”

“She’s already saved you a slice.”

“Of course she has.”

I start that way before Mom can say more.

Crutch. Step. Crutch. Step. I hate the rhythm. I hate needing rhythm at all.

Then I see her.

And the whole damn barn tilts.

Josie stands near one of the posts wrapped in lights, Penny Tucker beside her, both of them half turned toward the dance floor. But I don’t see Penny. I barely see anyone else.