They’re for Sadie.”

He pulled out the fourth tire and dropped it next to the pile.

“I had a spare set sitting out behind the shop in town.”

He straightened up and wiped his gray-smudged palms on the thighs of his canvas pants.

He wasn’t reaching into his pockets to jingle his keys, and he hadn’t started in on an argument about money.

“Is Sadie in the house?” he asked, stepping toward the porch stairs.