Free Hopeful by Shelley Shepard Gray Page B

know.”
    “Perhaps the Lord wants you to help raise your siblings’ kinner . Or maybe He feels that you and Ben are a perfect family on your own.”
    “I love my husband, but I don’t know about that.”
    “Maybe one day you’ll want to adopt then.”
    “I can’t think about adoption. Not yet.”
    “If we can’t plan your future, let’s plan your day. What do you want to do?”
    All she knew was that she didn’t want to leave. This was her house, her home. Plus, this was Ben’s home, the one place where he had roots. Their life together here was finally giving him happy memories. There was no way she was going to do anything to cause him more pain, and she knew in her heart that moving out of their house—even for a very short amount of time—would do that.
    “Mamm, I need to stay here. Ben needs to come home to me here. But . . .”
    “Yes?”
    “Maybe I could clean things up? Could you help me make supper and set things to rights?”
    “Of course I will, dear. I want to help you in any way I can.”
    “ Danke , Mamm.”
    “There’s no reason to thank me. I simply want to see your smile again.” Before Judith could reply to that, her mother eyed the messy kitchen with a critical eye. “My advice is that we start at the top and work our way down to the floor.”
    “In that case, I think I’ll watch where I step.” All of a sudden, a burst of laughter caught in her throat, surprising her. She looked at her mother in shock. “I didn’t think that could happen. I didn’t think I would be able to laugh about anything ever again.”
    “Never is a long time, dear. It’s been often said, but it is always true.” And with that, she handed Judith a washrag. “Wipe.”

chapter ten
    For the first time in, well, forever, Miriam wished the church service would never end. Here inside the Yoders’ metal barn, sitting in the middle of all her friends, she felt secure.
    It was just warm enough inside to relax her muscles and encourage her mind to drift a bit. She’d listen to the preacher, think about the story or Bible verse he mentioned . . . then would give in to temptation and let her mind drift. She’d apply the verse to her life, or to something that happened in the past, and little by little, she’d feel even more filled with the Lord’s will and happiness.
    But all too soon, it did end and she was standing up and preparing to sit with Mary Kate and Junior during a lunch that was sure to be exciting for Junior, uncomfortable for Mary Kate, and excruciating for her.
    After they filed out of the barn, Miriam spied Junior standing with three of his siblings. She noticed he kept glancing at the long line of people. She knew the exact moment when he recognized her and Mary Kate because his features tensed.
    Beside her, Mary Kate tensed, too. “Are you sure we have to do this? I really don’t want to sit with him.”
    “I thought you’d want to get to know Junior.”
    “He’s Kaylene’s brother. I’ve met him.”
    “Yes, but he wants to get to know you.”
    “Miriam—“ Mary Kate looked like she’d just drunk sour milk. “I really would rather not. . . .”
    “I mean he really wants to get to know you,” Miriam said, hating every second of the conversation. But a promise was a promise. No matter how hard it was, she needed to convince Mary Kate to at least sit with them at lunch.
    Brightening her voice, she continued. “I’m sorry, Mary Kate, but he asked me to set this up and I promised him I would.”
    “You could have told me about this yesterday.”
    “I should have. I don’t know why it slipped my mind.” She didn’t want to admit that she’d been half-afraid Mary Kate wouldn’t show up.
    Oh, what a pickle. It was all Miriam could do to keep her expression easy and friendly. In truth, she felt more ill at ease than Mary Kate looked.
    When Mary Kate looked Junior’s way again, he smiled. She groaned under her breath.
    Miriam grabbed her hand and gave it a little tug.