He really had come to know her. “Yeah.”
“I’ve been thinking about them too. Especially Willow.”
“I know I should be trusting God. I know worry is a sin. I just don’t know how to turn it off right now.”
“Wouldn’t it be great if we could just turn it off like a light switch and flip on another one for trusting God? Or turn off our doubts?”
“Yeah,” she said, staring into the now blazing fire.
“Is it time?” Karlie asked. “Can I have a mellow?”
“We should wait for Nana and Papa to get back,” Jenna said.
“I don’t want to wait.” She stared at the fire.
“A big girl would wait,” Brendan said.
Karlie pouted.
“Anyone know where they went?” Clay asked.
The others shook their heads.
“Must be pretty important if Mom skipped out on even a minute of Sunday family time,” Aiden said.
“Maybe it has something to do with Asher,” Harper suggested.
“I think Mom would have that all covered,” Clay said.
“Not if it’s a personalized item that she couldn’t get until she knew the name,” Jenna said.
“Right. Good thought.”
“Mommy, you’re waiting,” Karlie said. “Means you’re a big girl too.”
Laughter rang around the fire pit, and little Karlie looked confused again.
“I wish I had other kids to play with,” she said. “'Cause I don’t know why you keep laughing.”
“Your wish is fulfilled,” Peggy said from the patio doors.
Natalie swiveled to look at her. She held Sadie Gentry, and Logan held onto Russ’s hand. Willow stood next to them.
“Let’s go meet everyone you don’t know.” Peggy led the children out to the fire pit.
“We’re going to make s’mores,” Karlie announced. “I can share my fork with you.”
Logan went straight toward her, but Pong caught his attention, and he stopped to smother the dog in a hug. “We get to be in your family. I’m going to love you.”
Natalie gaped at them. “I don’t understand.”
“We’re going to live with Nana and Papa,” Willow announced.
“You’re what?” Natalie looked between Russ and Peggy.
“It was all Drake’s idea. We often talked about fostering kids. Even got approved, but we didn’t step out and do it. Then Drake said that these little sweeties might be split up, and we knew it was time to quit talking and take action.”
Natalie jumped up. “I’m not dreaming, am I?”
