Page 59 of Sugarplum Dreams
After he prayed, and they’d gotten the kids all served, he said, “Mom can’t make it tonight. She’ll do it later in the week, or… How would you feel about having hot dogs around the fire tonight?”
The kids all cheered, and Charity smiled.
“I think that’s perfect,” she said, and he could tell from her happy smile she was serious. She loved doing things with the whole family just as much as he did, and they tried to include their children in whatever they did. Every time she fed the chicks, she took Lavinia and Serafina with her. Sometimes even Evans went along. He tagged along behind; it was pretty amazing how much he had grown since Christmas.
They’d really grown on Wilson. All the kids had. Although, that was almost overshadowed by the way he felt about Charity. Unfortunately, he had to be careful, because they weren’t even halfway through the year that the pastor had said he needed to wait. He couldn’t risk ruining everything he was building by moving too soon.
It was probably for the best that they were going to be doing a campfire as a family. Having Charity all to himself was way too dangerous.
Chapter Twenty-Five
June 25
“Do you mind if my mom comes over with Gilbert’s kids tonight?”
Charity looked up from where she was working at the counter, cleaning up from lunch.
The kids had gone to play. That was one really nice thing about the farm versus living in town. The kids could go outside, and they knew they had to stay in sight of the house at all times. She could look out from any window and keep an eye on them. The only one who wasn’t allowed out with everyone else was Evans, and she had already taken him up for his afternoon nap.
“Of course. That would be wonderful.” She loved it when all the cousins got together, and her children loved having extra people over.
“I know that’s a lot of extra work for you, and I also know that we’re supposed to go out tonight, but Mom got the kids unexpectedly.”
“I don’t mind at all. I know sometimes she has gotten our kids unexpectedly, and she’s always been fine with it. We’ll just stay home and enjoy having family time with them. Because eight kids is way more than anyone should have to deal with alone.”
“I know my mom can handle it, but I hate asking her.”
“You don’t have to. I know things aren’t going very well for Gilbert.” She had heard that from the sisters-in-law when they got together for Sunday dinner after church. Gilbert was often absent, and who could blame him, after he lost his wife so tragically around Christmastime. But his children were suffering, and Charity felt terrible for them. Of course, Gilbert couldn’t really help his kids if he needed help himself.
“I appreciate you being willing to roll with it. This is two months in a row, though, that we’ve missed our anniversary.”
“There will be other months that we can celebrate. Family is more important.”
“I guess I don’t disagree, but I feel like it’s not really fair to you.”
“Just plan something for sure for next month.”
“All right. July, here we come,” he said, and she grinned and nodded.
Chapter Twenty-Six
July 25
“We’re still on for tonight?” Wilson asked as they finished up breakfast. He enjoyed having the kids home and was dreading the fact that they were going back to school in less than a month. Although he would enjoy having more time alone with his wife, the idea of losing three of the kids was…depressing.
“We sure are. We planned it last month, remember?”
“I do,” he said, putting the dishes in the sink and grabbing the rag to wipe the table.
Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out, setting the milk down on the counter while she read the message.
“Wilson?” she said tentatively as she looked up, and he could tell from the tone of her voice that something happened.
“What is it?” he said immediately, straightening, the rag in his hand. He could watch the kids if she needed to go help somebody. Or… Maybe someone needed him. He could take oneor two of the kids with him. Gifford was always good to go. And Banks and Lavinia ought to be able to go with him as well. He figured pretty soon Serafina and even little Evans would all want to go any time he left the farm. Even if he was just feeding cattle or doing mundane chores, the kids loved to follow him around. And he enjoyed the teaching time with them.
“The grocery store in town just said that someone came and asked if they could order ten dozen of my gobs. They want them for this evening.”
She looked down at her phone and read it aloud. “‘I know that that is really short notice, but I have a customer standing here in front of me, and I wanted to know whether it would be possible for you to do it or not? She’d like to pick them up by nine o’clock this evening.’”
