Never rush the process.”

One crisp morning in early spring, Christopher helped his mother scatter feed for the chickens in the yard.

The old pecan tree was beginning to show fresh green buds, a neighbor’s tractor hummed in the distance, and a calm breeze rustled through the trees.

Christopher scattered corn across the ground.

“Do you know what went through my mind the exact moment I heard your voice on Valerie’s phone that morning?”

“What were you thinking?” Martha asked.