Page 31 of Sugarplum Dreams
“I’m sorry, but I think that’s me.”
They grinned at each other and then walked into the fellowship hall, where food was set out on tables.
“Excuse me while I elbow my way to your pie before it’s gone,” Wilson said. Then he grinned. “Can I get you anything?”
“I’ll settle the kids at a table, and whatever you bring back, we’ll be happy for.”
“Can I go with him?” Gifford asked, and Charity’s heart skipped a beat. Gifford had been a little standoffish with Wilson, and she hoped this meant he was warming up to him.
So this new development of Gifford wanting to go with Wilson encouraged Charity. But she didn’t want Wilson to have to take him if he didn’t want to.
“Sure. You can tell me what everyone likes. All I know is I want a piece of your mom’s pie.”
“Mom makes the best pie,” Gifford said as they walked away.
Charity watched them go, her heart feeling warm and happy. When had that become a normal feeling for her? She wasn’t sure, but the idea of being happy wasn’t as foreign as it had seemed even a few weeks ago. Maybe she wasn’t quite looking forward to the rest of her life, but it didn’t seem so bleak and empty and hard and full of struggle. And it was all because of one man. One man who had decided to follow the Lord.
That thought made her lips turn down. Not because she wasn’t happy that Wilson wanted to do what God wanted him to, but it was more because she remembered that Wilson wasn’t with her because of her. She knew that shouldn’t bother her, she should just be happy with what she’d been given, but she wanted him to…like her, be attracted to her, she supposed, although that was so far out she almost laughed aloud. She, a mother of five and definitely not in Wilson’s league, was not the kind of person who Wilson would ever be attracted to.
“Hey, Charity.”
Charity turned to see Amy, Wilson’s sister who had just gotten married, standing behind her holding a cup of hot chocolate.
“Hey,” she said, feeling a little tongue-tied. She wanted to make a good impression on Wilson’s family, and while they were all very nice people, and she probably didn’t need to worry, there was just something inside of her that didn’t want them to pity her.
“Judd is going to be driving the horses on a short ride as soon as he gets them hitched up. I just wanted to make sure that you knew that your kids are invited,” Amy said, smiling and looking friendly and happy with her rosy cheeks and her sparkling eyes. Marriage agreed with her.
“And I’ll be there to supervise the situation, just in case you’re concerned that there will be an adult in the group.” Jones walked over, putting an arm around Amy and pulling her toward him. She leaned easily on his chest while still smiling at Charity.
Amy laughed and swatted him. “I’m an adult.”
“Charity knows what I mean,” Jones said with a wink.
“I’m sure my children would love to do that.”
“We’re not going to have as many as we usually do Sunday mornings, and if you’d like me to take Evans, I can keep an eye on him,” Amy offered.
“Sure. I’m sure he will love it. Actually, speaking of, I haven’t made it to the nursery yet, but I need to go pick them up.”
“Serafina is welcome too. I didn’t mean to exclude her. She’s old enough and has gone before, so I figured you knew we were expecting you to send her.”
“Of course. Thank you so much. They just love riding behind the horses.”
Amy grinned and glanced at Jones who was looking down at her with such a sweet expression of love and admiration it made Charity’s heart clench as they walked off together.
She hurried to the nursery, thanking the workers and getting both of her children, along with their diaper bag.
“I totally forgot about picking the kids up.” Wilson’s voice came in her ear as she lifted the baby bag onto her shoulder and turned, holding Evans in one arm and holding Serafina’s hand in the other.
Without saying anything more, he took Evans out of her arms. It surprised Charity that Evans went willingly. Normally after he’d been in the nursery for a while, he was clingy until he had been assured that his mother wasn’t going to leave him again anytime soon.
“It’s not your job to pick them up,” she said easily.
“There are two kids, and it’s easier if you have help. That’s my job. As the dad.”
His words hung in the air between them. The hall was deserted and was just the two of them, so the words rang extra loud.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. If you’re going to be a dad, you do need to learn to do these things.”
