Free Jessie by Lori Wick

using the name they had decided the children would call Trace’s aunt.
    â€œNetty,” the little boy said.
    Jeanette put her arms around Cassidy and simply held her. Cassidy hugged her back, giving her time to collect herself.
    â€œShe crying?” Joey suddenly asked.
    â€œYes,” Trace said, taking this question, “but she’s not sad. She’s just happy and excited about the baby.”
    Trace knew that Joey had no idea what that meant, but in time he would learn. He didn’t question his father again, but Trace could see he was growing a bit restless. Jeanette was just containing herself when Trace tucked the baby into the crook of one arm.
    â€œSit here, Jeanette.” Trace invited her to take the spot Joey had just vacated. “Someone is waiting to meet you.”
    Jeanette could not stop smiling as she held the newest family member in her arms. Tiny and adorable, with dark hair and brows, Netty Holden had a rosebud mouth and a round face. Her face was a little red in places, but everyone knew that would fade.
    â€œNetty,” her mother spoke softly, “are you going to wake up and meet Grandma Jeanette?”
    Everyone smiled when she made absolutely no move of any kind. Jeanette watched her for a moment more and then began to talk to Trace and Cassidy.
    â€œSo how was it?”
    â€œLong,” Trace said, his voice dry. “I thought the second time around went faster.”
    â€œI tried to tell him that wasn’t always the case,” Cassidy put in.
    â€œIt has been with Meg,” Trace said, “and she didn’t spend much time with Savanna or Cathryn. Brad will be afraid to leave her alone for the next one,” Trace said.
    â€œHave they been here?” Jeanette asked.
    â€œJust before you came.”
    Joey climbed back onto the sofa then, standing in stocking feet next to Jeanette. He had a toy to show to Jeanette, and she was careful to give him her full attention.
    Netty never did wake up, but Jeanette stayed for a long time, enjoying each child. She still missed her sister, the real grandmother to these children. But not a day went by that if Theta Holden had to be gone, Jeanette didn’t thank God that He’d left her in her place.

    â€œIs Grandma coming?” three-and-a-half-year-old Savanna asked her mother when Jeanette’s carriage could still be seen at the other house.
    â€œI’m sure she’ll stop in,” Meg said, cleaning two-year-old Cathryn’s hands and face. She had just given them a late breakfast and was working on the dishes. Brad had already headed to the barn and quite possibly out to the range.
    â€œWhen will we see Netty more?”
    â€œMaybe this afternoon. I think Joey might come here for his nap again, and then we can see Netty when we take him home.”
    Savanna went back to the wooden horses she was playing with, and Meg kept an eye on Cathryn to see where she would end up. The toddler’s attention was suddenly taken with the butter churn in the corner, and Meg knew that would keep Cathryn busy for a time.
    Meg took full advantage, even going so far as to work on dinner and make plans for supper. If Jeanette was coming this morning and Joey this afternoon, she had plenty to get done in the meantime.

    â€œTell me everything,” Heather, who lived with Jeanette, invited as soon as Jeanette arrived home.
    â€œA girl! And wait until you hear the name: Jeanette Theta. They’ll call her Netty.”
    Heather looked as pleased as she felt. She was the woman Jeanette had hired more than ten years ago to see to Brad and Trace’s mother. She had even written a book about Theta Holden after she died. So far no one had wanted to publish it, but since it was also a book about the things she learned from caring for Theta and the way she’d grown in her trust of God, it didn’t bother her. Just writing it had made for a time of healing, and that was all that mattered to