Free A Family of Their Own by Gail Gaymer Martin

were needed. Lexie knew and supported her decision to change her vote from the last one she’d made. She’d been opposed. Not anymore.
    The two new women were back and that lifted her spirit although she had no idea if they were for or against her proposal. When the hands of the clock struck the hour, she stepped to the center and opened the meeting. Today she paid attention to what the members said about their children’s prognosis and the families’ situations. They applauded with good news and offered hope with the bad.
    While the last person spoke, Kelsey calmed herself while being amazed that she cared that much. Before she knewRoss, she hadn’t flinched, voting no to the proposal. Her stomach constricted as she faced the truth. Too often, people didn’t care about those they didn’t know. Even churches willingly made casseroles for funeral dinners or donated to a church cause, but when it came to giving to the oppressed in other parts of the world or feeding the children of Haiti or India—other countries not predominantly Christian—they closed their eyes.
    She tugged her thoughts away from the depressing topic and listened to the final report. “Thanks for sharing all the good news and sad news in your lives. Lucy’s doing fine right now, but we’ve all faced the sorrows that come from the plight of our sick children, and we are in support of each other. If you need a friendly voice, remember—call one of us. Let us help in whatever way we can, and don’t forget, prayer is one of those ways.”
    Hearing her comment startled her. She avoided prayer comments for those who weren’t believers, but today she felt the need, and maybe the Lord wanted her to open someone’s heart who needed to know that prayer helps. God listens.
    How often she forgot that herself.
    She pulled up her shoulders and faced them. “Last week I made a proposal. Not a new one, since I’d initiated the idea before, but last week I offered a new way to look at the idea of allowing men to be part of our group.” She chuckled. “I suppose that would mean a name change as well.”
    A few giggles hit her ear.
    “Last week I asked you to think about the idea and suggested we vote on it this week.” She gazed around the room, trying to get a sense of which way the vote would go. She failed and that made her nervous. “Does anyone want to offer any thoughts on the subject?”
    One of the new women, Diane, if Kelsey remembered correctly, raised her hand. She gave the woman a nod.
    “I told my husband about this, and he curled up his nose, but later that night after he’d thought about it, he said he might like to attend when he could. He works days, but he has flextime, so he could attend occasionally.”
    “Wonderful, Diane.” She watched the woman’s expression and was relieved when she didn’t correct her. Diane, she said the name over in her mind. “Anyone else?”
    Shirley Jack Meyer, one of the regulars, gave a wave. “My husband said he wouldn’t come to a meeting like this if you paid him a million dollars.”
    A couple women chuckled.
    Kelsey’s heart sank. “I’m sure some husbands wouldn’t want to attend…or couldn’t because of work, but I’m pleased you told him about it.”
    “I’m dating a guy who really loves Timmy, and he sounded like he would come.”
    The voice came from the back, but Kelsey didn’t see whose it was. “Thanks. Naturally, it doesn’t have to be husbands. Anyone who wants to share in supporting each other.” She drew in a breath. “I think that’s what we were missing on the first vote. We weren’t looking at the needs of others but only our own. That’s a bit selfish, I’m afraid.”
    She saw a couple of frowns, but they faded. “Anyone else?”
    Ava’s hand shot up. “I’m still on the fence here.”
    Kelsey stepped closer and opened her mouth, but closed it. She knew Ava well enough to know she had more to say or ask.
    “I’m sympathetic to the situation, but what