Remember by Karen Kingsbury Page A

it.”
    “See what?” The conversation had taken place at Kari’s house. Ashley had been sitting on the floor, her knees hugged close to her body.
    “You gave Landon the impression you’re in love with him because you are.”
    Ashley had denied every bit of it. But Kari was convinced otherwise.
    The timing was wrong-that much was certain. Ashley was still trying to figure out who she was. But Kari had no doubts that when Ashley was finished fighting her feelings, the truth would be obvious. And that one day Landon Blake would occupy another chair around the Baxter dinner table.
    But now, with the others watching Ashley’s reaction, waiting for her to share something about Landon, Kari felt sorry for her. She slipped an arm around her sister’s shoulders and grinned. “Ashley has a new job. Does everyone know that?”
    The conversation hopscotched from the old folks at Sunset Hills Adult Care Home to the escapades of Maddie, Hailey, and Cole to the frustrations shared by the doctors in the family that the blood bank was at an all-time low.
    When dinner was nearly finished, Erin looked at Sam and flashed him a brief smile. As if on cue, he cleared his throat and pushed back from the table.
    Taking Erin’s hand in his, he scanned the eyes of those around him. “Erin and I have an announcement to make.”
    Immediately Kari felt the excitement build within her. An announcement from Erin and Sam could mean only one. thing: They were going to have a baby! That would explain the recent changes in Erin’s personality. She was probably suffering morn
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a I I e
    ing sickness. Yes, that had to be it. Kari studied her youngest sister. Another baby in the family! How wonderful would that be?
    Sam was practically glowing, but… Kari shifted her attention to Erin. If she knew her sister at all, that wasn’t gladness in Erin’s eyes. It was pain and sorrow, the kind that could not possibly be associated with pregnancy. Kari held her breath.
    With everyone waiting, Sam continued. “I’ve been offered a job in Texas.” He could barely contain his enthusiasm. “It’s in Round Rock, just outside of Austin. I’ll be managing a division twice the size of the one where I work now.
    The money’s amazing, and we’ll be able to buy the house we’ve always wanted.” He grinned briefly at Erin. His smile faded some when she didn’t return his enthusiasm. “We … we wanted you to be the first to know.”
    For a moment no one said anything.
    Sam must wonder what’s wrong with us, Kari thought. A normal family would be bursting forth with congratulations. But Erin’s husband didn’t know the Baxter family very well if he thought moving Erin across the country would excite them.
    Tears filled Erin’s eyes and she shrugged. “Well?” A sound that was more laugh than cry slipped from between her lips. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
    Elizabeth was the first to recover. The corners of her mouth lifted halfway, and she set her napkin on her plate. “That’s wonderful, Sam. Texas is a fine place to live.”
    “Yes.” Their father rose to his feet and reached across the table to shake Sam’s hand. “You have a very bright future ahead of you, Sam. We’ve always known that.”
    “Wow.” Ashley slipped her hand into little Cole’s. “When do you leave?”
    “Not for a while.” Sam was quick to answer. “Sometime this fall, probably.” He grinned, something Erin hadn’t done since the announcement. “We’ll visit the area over the summer to check out housing, but the move won’t happen until the end of October at least.”
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    Kari glanced around discreetly at her siblings. Brooke was staring at her plate, pushing her fork at a piece of chicken. Luke leaned forward, his forearms anchored on the table as he studied Erin.
    But Ashley’s reaction was most telling.
    For years, Ashley had pretended to be a fringe member of their family. She joked about being the black sheep, the Baxter child whose place