disappointed, Jonah smiled and said, “Whatever you think is best.”
Darby
“You three women certainly outdid yourselves preparing this meal,” Henry said, giving
his stomach a thump. “I think every year Christmas dinner tastes better.”
“Thank you, Grandpa,” Susan spoke up, “but Grandma did most of the cooking.”
“That’s not true,” Grandma said, handing Susan the platter of juicy ham. “You mashed
the potatoes, and Anne made the fruit salad.”
“That’s right, Grandma,” Anne said in a teasing tone. “Susan likes to lick the beaters
when she’s done mashing the potatoes. But you prepared everything else.”
Grandpa smiled. “That’s ’cause my wife likes to cook.”
“That’s right, I do, and you like to eat my cooking.” Grandma chuckled and poked Grandpa’s
arm playfully. “I’ve had lots of practice over the years to perfect my cooking skills.”
Grandpa forked a piece of ham into his mouth. “Mmm…this is so good. Don’t you think
so, son?” he asked, looking at Luke as he took a bite of the bright red cherry and
pineapple ring that had been on top of the glaze, adding flavor to the ham.
Luke nodded.
Susan pursed her lips. It wasn’t like Luke to be so quiet. Normally he was quite talkative
during a meal. At least that’s how he’d been the last couple of months. He’d joined
in the conversation early today, too, when everyone had opened their presents.
Susan had been pleased to see how well Grandpa liked the chair she and Luke had picked
out for him, and Grandma said she appreciated the Crock-Pot, sweater, and perfume
the girls had given her, too. Luke had even made gifts for everyone—a “W ELCOME TO O UR H OME ” plaque for Grandma, a feeder for George the squirrel for Grandpa, and jewelry boxes
for Anne and Susan, all of which he’d managed to make when no one was around. They’d
given something to Luke as well: a nicely framed photograph of the four of them. Grandpa
said it was so Luke could always remember them.
Could Luke be thinking about his past—maybe wondering what he’d been doing last Christmas,
and who he was with?
If that’s what he was thinking, Susan couldn’t blame him. She’d be doing the same
thing if she were in his situation. In fact, such questions would probably be constantly
on her mind.
Maybe Luke’s hoping for a Christmas miracle
, Susan thought.
Oh, I wish I could give him the gift of getting his memory back
. If there were any extra miracles to be given, she hoped with all her heart that
Luke would regain his past life.
CHAPTER 7
Ronks
B y the end of January, Meredith felt ready to announce her engagement but wanted Jonah
to be with her. So they’d decided to have a joint family dinner where they could share
their good news.
Too bad Laurie and Kevin won’t be here
, Meredith thought as she set the table. They’d left the first week of January for
Missouri, where they were ministering to a Native American community. In Laurie’s
last letter, she’d described how much she and Kevin were enjoying their life together
and said that working with kids during several church events had made them eager to
have children of their own. She’d also mentioned how good it felt to help the elderly
with transportation to and from their doctors’ appointments.
Meredith smiled. Laurie sounded happy and would be a wonderful mother someday. It
would be nice for Levi to have a little cousin to play with, but they might not get
to see each other much, with Laurie and Kevin going on missionary trips. Well, at
least her son would have his uncles and aunts to shower him with attention, not to
mention the love he would continue to get from his doting grandparents. Meredith’s
siblings, especially the younger ones, loved spending time with Levi. In fact, Katie,
Arlene, and Owen were keeping him entertained in the living room while she prepared
dinner.
“Is there anything I can
Darby
“You three women certainly outdid yourselves preparing this meal,” Henry said, giving
his stomach a thump. “I think every year Christmas dinner tastes better.”
“Thank you, Grandpa,” Susan spoke up, “but Grandma did most of the cooking.”
“That’s not true,” Grandma said, handing Susan the platter of juicy ham. “You mashed
the potatoes, and Anne made the fruit salad.”
“That’s right, Grandma,” Anne said in a teasing tone. “Susan likes to lick the beaters
when she’s done mashing the potatoes. But you prepared everything else.”
Grandpa smiled. “That’s ’cause my wife likes to cook.”
“That’s right, I do, and you like to eat my cooking.” Grandma chuckled and poked Grandpa’s
arm playfully. “I’ve had lots of practice over the years to perfect my cooking skills.”
Grandpa forked a piece of ham into his mouth. “Mmm…this is so good. Don’t you think
so, son?” he asked, looking at Luke as he took a bite of the bright red cherry and
pineapple ring that had been on top of the glaze, adding flavor to the ham.
Luke nodded.
Susan pursed her lips. It wasn’t like Luke to be so quiet. Normally he was quite talkative
during a meal. At least that’s how he’d been the last couple of months. He’d joined
in the conversation early today, too, when everyone had opened their presents.
Susan had been pleased to see how well Grandpa liked the chair she and Luke had picked
out for him, and Grandma said she appreciated the Crock-Pot, sweater, and perfume
the girls had given her, too. Luke had even made gifts for everyone—a “W ELCOME TO O UR H OME ” plaque for Grandma, a feeder for George the squirrel for Grandpa, and jewelry boxes
for Anne and Susan, all of which he’d managed to make when no one was around. They’d
given something to Luke as well: a nicely framed photograph of the four of them. Grandpa
said it was so Luke could always remember them.
Could Luke be thinking about his past—maybe wondering what he’d been doing last Christmas,
and who he was with?
If that’s what he was thinking, Susan couldn’t blame him. She’d be doing the same
thing if she were in his situation. In fact, such questions would probably be constantly
on her mind.
Maybe Luke’s hoping for a Christmas miracle
, Susan thought.
Oh, I wish I could give him the gift of getting his memory back
. If there were any extra miracles to be given, she hoped with all her heart that
Luke would regain his past life.
CHAPTER 7
Ronks
B y the end of January, Meredith felt ready to announce her engagement but wanted Jonah
to be with her. So they’d decided to have a joint family dinner where they could share
their good news.
Too bad Laurie and Kevin won’t be here
, Meredith thought as she set the table. They’d left the first week of January for
Missouri, where they were ministering to a Native American community. In Laurie’s
last letter, she’d described how much she and Kevin were enjoying their life together
and said that working with kids during several church events had made them eager to
have children of their own. She’d also mentioned how good it felt to help the elderly
with transportation to and from their doctors’ appointments.
Meredith smiled. Laurie sounded happy and would be a wonderful mother someday. It
would be nice for Levi to have a little cousin to play with, but they might not get
to see each other much, with Laurie and Kevin going on missionary trips. Well, at
least her son would have his uncles and aunts to shower him with attention, not to
mention the love he would continue to get from his doting grandparents. Meredith’s
siblings, especially the younger ones, loved spending time with Levi. In fact, Katie,
Arlene, and Owen were keeping him entertained in the living room while she prepared
dinner.
“Is there anything I can
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