do to help you?” Grandma Smucker asked.
“No, thanks, Grandma. I told Mom a few minutes ago to relax in the living room with
the kinner and that I had everything under control, so you ought to do the same.”
Grandma slipped her arm around Meredith’s waist. “You look well rested and happier
than I’ve seen you in a long time. Is there something going on we should know about?”
Meredith’s face heated with embarrassment. Was her excitement really that obvious?
“I’m just happy to be able to serve my family a nice meal this evening,” she said,
avoiding her grandmother’s question.
Grandma studied Meredith. “I notice you’re not wearing black today. It’s nice to see
you in that blue dress.”
Meredith glanced down at her dress and matching apron. “Luke has been gone a year
now, Grandma, so it was time for me to put my mourning clothes aside.”
Grandma smiled with a knowing expression. “And it’s good to see that you’re moving
on with your life.” Did she suspect that Meredith was planning to marry Jonah? The
whole family probably suspected what was going on. After all, Jonah visited her a
lot these days, and everyone knew they were courting. In any event, Meredith was confident
that everyone would be happy for them and offer their blessings.
As Jonah sat beside Meredith on one side of the Kings’ dining-room table that evening,
his palms grew sweaty.
When should I make the announcement?
he wondered.
Should I tell them during dinner while we’re eating? Or would it be better to wait
till we’re eating dessert?
Jonah felt like a silly schoolboy. How would he say it? He hadn’t even prepared a
speech. Should he tell everyone, kids included, or should he and Meredith take their
parents aside and only announce it to them for now?
No
, he decided.
We should tell everyone at once
.
Maybe now would be a good time
.
Jonah cleared his throat and wiped his sweaty brow. A shiver ran through him. Why
was he so nervous, for goodness’ sake?
“Are you okay, Son?” Dad asked. “You look like you’re not feeling so well.”
“I–I’m fine,” Jonah stammered.
Meredith, as if sensing his predicament, tapped her water glass with her fork and
said, “Jonah and I have an announcement to make.”
All heads turned in their direction.
She looked over at Jonah and gave him a reassuring smile, then she said in a clear
tone, “Jonah asked me to marry him, and I said yes. We plan to get married in March.”
Jonah held his breath, waiting for the response.
“Congratulations!” the Kings and his parents said. “That’s great news,” Meredith’s
father added. And the smiles around the table showed Jonah that everyone agreed.
Darby
“What a beautiful night for stargazing,” Susan said as she and Luke took seats on
the Baileys’ back porch.
“You’re right,” Luke murmured, staring up at the sky. “The sky’s so clear I can see
most of the constellations.”
They sat in quiet camaraderie for several minutes, and then Luke reached over and
took Susan’s hand. She looked at him and smiled. He didn’t know why, but he felt like
he’d done this before—maybe in his previous life with someone else. It was very disconcerting
and seemed all too familiar. Maybe he was just remembering a few months back, when
one evening he and Susan had watched for falling stars. They stayed that way awhile
longer, then Luke shivered and said, “Sure is cold out tonight. It felt really cold
like this before I got on the bus, too.”
“What bus?” Susan questioned, tipping her head and staring at him.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Just remember being cold and riding on a bus.” He groaned
as he leaned forward and cradled his head in his hands. “This not being able to remember
things about my past is nearly driving me crazy. It’s kind of like trying to put together
a difficult jigsaw puzzle and nothing seems to fit.”
“I know it has
“No, thanks, Grandma. I told Mom a few minutes ago to relax in the living room with
the kinner and that I had everything under control, so you ought to do the same.”
Grandma slipped her arm around Meredith’s waist. “You look well rested and happier
than I’ve seen you in a long time. Is there something going on we should know about?”
Meredith’s face heated with embarrassment. Was her excitement really that obvious?
“I’m just happy to be able to serve my family a nice meal this evening,” she said,
avoiding her grandmother’s question.
Grandma studied Meredith. “I notice you’re not wearing black today. It’s nice to see
you in that blue dress.”
Meredith glanced down at her dress and matching apron. “Luke has been gone a year
now, Grandma, so it was time for me to put my mourning clothes aside.”
Grandma smiled with a knowing expression. “And it’s good to see that you’re moving
on with your life.” Did she suspect that Meredith was planning to marry Jonah? The
whole family probably suspected what was going on. After all, Jonah visited her a
lot these days, and everyone knew they were courting. In any event, Meredith was confident
that everyone would be happy for them and offer their blessings.
As Jonah sat beside Meredith on one side of the Kings’ dining-room table that evening,
his palms grew sweaty.
When should I make the announcement?
he wondered.
Should I tell them during dinner while we’re eating? Or would it be better to wait
till we’re eating dessert?
Jonah felt like a silly schoolboy. How would he say it? He hadn’t even prepared a
speech. Should he tell everyone, kids included, or should he and Meredith take their
parents aside and only announce it to them for now?
No
, he decided.
We should tell everyone at once
.
Maybe now would be a good time
.
Jonah cleared his throat and wiped his sweaty brow. A shiver ran through him. Why
was he so nervous, for goodness’ sake?
“Are you okay, Son?” Dad asked. “You look like you’re not feeling so well.”
“I–I’m fine,” Jonah stammered.
Meredith, as if sensing his predicament, tapped her water glass with her fork and
said, “Jonah and I have an announcement to make.”
All heads turned in their direction.
She looked over at Jonah and gave him a reassuring smile, then she said in a clear
tone, “Jonah asked me to marry him, and I said yes. We plan to get married in March.”
Jonah held his breath, waiting for the response.
“Congratulations!” the Kings and his parents said. “That’s great news,” Meredith’s
father added. And the smiles around the table showed Jonah that everyone agreed.
Darby
“What a beautiful night for stargazing,” Susan said as she and Luke took seats on
the Baileys’ back porch.
“You’re right,” Luke murmured, staring up at the sky. “The sky’s so clear I can see
most of the constellations.”
They sat in quiet camaraderie for several minutes, and then Luke reached over and
took Susan’s hand. She looked at him and smiled. He didn’t know why, but he felt like
he’d done this before—maybe in his previous life with someone else. It was very disconcerting
and seemed all too familiar. Maybe he was just remembering a few months back, when
one evening he and Susan had watched for falling stars. They stayed that way awhile
longer, then Luke shivered and said, “Sure is cold out tonight. It felt really cold
like this before I got on the bus, too.”
“What bus?” Susan questioned, tipping her head and staring at him.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Just remember being cold and riding on a bus.” He groaned
as he leaned forward and cradled his head in his hands. “This not being able to remember
things about my past is nearly driving me crazy. It’s kind of like trying to put together
a difficult jigsaw puzzle and nothing seems to fit.”
“I know it has
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