I nod, staring at my plate. “I know. I just…I had this whole picture in my head. Finding out this week, telling everyone, having the timing work out perfect with school. It all felt like it lined up.”
Maureen’s quiet for a moment, then she smiles softly, leaning back in her chair. “Just imagine how much more perfect it will be when it happens, because God’s plan is always perfect. Whether you think it is or not. It’s always better than you could’ve ever thought.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“I want you to believe it. Not just know it.”
I just nod, quickly wiping away the tear on the corner of my eye. Maureen gets up and walks around the table to hug me, squeezing me against her like I’m one of her own. “Whatever happens, however it goes, you and Mason have to stay strong and go through it together. Talk about it, pray about it. The enemy hates unity, so he’ll go after your peace, your patience, your hope. Especially now that you’re married. He’ll try to make you feel small or silly for caring. Don’t let him win that way.”
She pulls away and I nod, wiping the edges of my eyes as she sits back down. “Thank you.”
“Course,” she adds. “Now eat before it gets cold. Crying burns calories.”
I laugh, really laugh, and pick up my fork. And as I take my first bite, the weight I’ve been carrying all day starts to lift.
Chapter 16
Mason
My parents really need to invest in a longer table. We’re packed in here like sardines now that everyone’s married and there are four grandkids between Jesse and Cody. I can’t even imagine what it’ll look like in a few more years. Addison will have four, easy—she was made for it—and who knows? Megan and I may not be too far behind.
Hallie’s pointing to the basket of rolls and jabbering in her own little language, and Ella’s trying to reason with her. “Just wait, baby. We’re gonna pray first.” Hallie doesn’t care about that. She just wants a roll.
Cody’s standing behind his chair, burping Gage—who’s just over two months old now—and Karissa’s trying to strap Emma into her high chair while she yanks at her bib like she’s in a wrestling match.
And don’t even get me started on Addison and Cora. They’ve got some high-five game going, and every time Cora misses, she throws her head back and laughs like it’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened. Wesley just watches from beside them, shaking his head with that soft smile that says he’s pretending not to melt.
The table’s a full spread—roast, mashed potatoes, rolls, three different casseroles, salad, pie cooling by the window. Momnever runs out of food. She never has. Feeding three boys and Dad, she cooks like she’s feeding an army, and now that army’s more than doubled.
Once Dad prays and the food starts being passed around, the kids’ volume drops and the adults take over.
“Are you ready for the school year, Meg?” Ella asks, looking down the table.
I glance at Megan. She’s sitting beside me, her plate already filled, her eyes bright. She swallows a bite before answering. “I’m so excited! I probably won’t sleep much tonight.”
Everyone laughs.
“Because of nerves or excitement?” Addison leans forward, looking past Wesley.
“Both,” Megan says, her cheeks flushed.
I smile, watching her talk—watching her hands move, the way her eyes light up when she talks about her classroom. It’s one of my favorite things about her.
I stopped by her school Friday. I didn’t tell her I was coming—just showed up. She was standing on a little stool, hanging up a banner that saidWelcome to Our Farmyard!
I cleared my throat, and when she turned and saw me standing in the doorway, she smiled so big my heart tripped over itself.
She gave me the full tour, proud as could be. Showed me every corner, every new idea she had for her students. The reading nook she made with little hay bale seat covers, the wall with hand-painted animals, the rows of shiny new desks already labeled with names.
And then there was the new teacher.Trevor.
I hadn’t expected him to be what he was. I don’t know what I had really expected…someone older maybe? Grayer. Definitely not someone our age. Definitely not someone who fit in so easily.Tall. Easy smile. The kind of guy who looks like he belongs wherever he’s standing.
He was the one holding the ladder while Megan stapled borders. The one hauling boxes from the supply room. The one sliding desks into place like it was nothing.
Last year, that had been me.
I’d been the one she called when something was too heavy, when the banner wouldn’t stay up, when she needed an extra set of hands. I’d offered again this year too—told her to just text me and I’d swing by whenever I could.
