popping sound like a dry stick when he sat down,” Mason said without looking up.
I set the plastic rose box on the porch railing and knelt on the cold bottom step in front of my son.
I pulled the loose black shoelace through the top eyelet and drew the cotton tight.
“Grandpa is doing fine,” I said.
“Will Grandpa Duane need help walking across the gym floor tonight?” Mason asked.
He looked directly into my eyes while I pulled the bow tight on his right shoe.
“He walks just fine on his own two feet,” I told him.
Mason shifted his glance past my shoulder toward the seed shed down by the driveway.
“Travis came out of the shed five minutes ago,” Mason said softly.
I kept my fingers on the shoelace. “Did he come up to the house?”
“He came clear up to the bottom step and stood
