Free When Tomorrow Comes by Janette Oke

on the map. It’s a long, long way away. Even over the ocean. But Rebecca says she’ll have bad dreams anyway. She always has bad dreams about something. Snakes and mean cats and even spiders. She always has bad dreams.”
    Christine and Amber exchanged bemused glances over Danny’s head. At least it was a relief to know it wasn’t the schoolteacher who was filling little heads with scary stories.
    “What do you think we should have for supper?” Amber asked. Christine recognized the diversion. “We’re having guests, you remember.”
    “Pancakes,” cried Danny, clapping his hands.
    “I’m not sure our guests would appreciate pancakes for supper. They’re better for breakfast.”
    Danny looked surprised.
    “I think they would rather have something more . . . more meat and potatoes.”
    “Would you?” Danny turned a quizzical face to Christine. She hated to be the one to deny him his pancakes.
    “I think pancakes are just fine. But I agree with your mother. Sometimes working men do like their meat and potatoes.”
    He looked up at his mother. “Then if we need meat, let’s have fried fish.”
    “I’m afraid I don’t have any fish right now.”
    “What do you have?”
    “Chicken.”
    “Okay. We’ll have fried chicken,” he agreed, but less than enthusiastically.
    The three entered Amber’s neat kitchen and deposited bags of groceries they had picked up on the way. Danny began to unload the contents. “Hey,” he called. “This is good.” He waved a package of marshmallows.
    “Now, don’t you get into that. I need it for the dessert I’m making,” cautioned his mother.
    “Not even one?”
    “Not even one.”
    Danny started to the cupboard with the package.
    “No need to put it away. I’m going to use it as soon as I change my dress and wash my hands. Why don’t you get yourself a cookie and some milk, then you can go play with your truck.”
    “Do I need to change my clothes too?”
    “Please.”
    “I’ll change first—then get the cookies.”
    “Cookie,” corrected Amber.
    Danny ran off to change.
    Chatting as they worked, the two cooks in the kitchen did not take long to have the meal well under way. Christine felt she finally would have the sister she had always longed for. She wished their lives were not to be lived so many miles apart.
    “You did meet Laray?” Amber wondered.
    “I did. Henry invited me to the cafefor lunch, but he stood me up. Guess Laray drew the short straw.”
    “He’s a great guy. Henry really likes him.”
    “He seems nice enough.”
    “It was such a shame—that accident with the bear. But he’s coming along really well. Henry says he has almost all the movement back in his arm again. Not quite the strength, but that’ll come.”
    Amber tasted the gravy, nodding her approval. “Not even lumps,” she said with satisfaction.
    The doorbell rang, and Danny rushed through the house.
    “It’s your friend, Mom,” he called.
    Amber smiled. “It has been a bit of a problem deciding what Danny should call Henry until after the big day. We didn’t think ‘Dad’ was appropriate yet. And we didn’t want Henry—but anything else sounds so formal.”
    “Well, it won’t be long now until ‘Dad’ will be just right.” Christine smiled at the thought of her brother as a father.
    “Eight days. Can you believe it? Only eight days.”
    Danny led Henry in by the hand. “He brought the other guy too, Mom,” he announced with a wave toward Laray.
    “Come right in, ‘other guy,’ ” invited Amber with a laugh. “We are just dishing up.”
    “I can’t wait,” said Henry taking a deep breath.
    “Go ahead and be seated. It’s going to be a little tight around our small table—but we’ll manage. Laray, you can just take one of those back chairs.”
    Laray thanked his hostess and slid in as directed.
    All gathered around the table, and Laray was asked to say the grace. The food and the laughter and banter passed easily around the table. Even