he said, leaving Chloe and Gabe to fill their plates.
“After you,” Noah said, offering plates to Laney and his parents.
“As usual, Laney,” Maddie said with a smile. “Everything looks wonderful. You’ve been busy.”
Laney laughed. “Busy is a relative term around here, Mom!”
“I hear you guys are hosting the wedding,” Asa said.
“We are?” a chorus of surprised voices called from the far end of the table.
Laney nodded.
“Are you sure you’re up to it?” Maddie asked.
Laney looked at Noah and smiled. “It’ll be fun. I’m really happy Micah found someone—not just for him, but for Charlotte.”
They filled their plates and sat down, and as Noah poured iced tea, E reappeared, carrying his giggling brother over his shoulder.
Noah looked down the table. “Now that we’re all here. . . .” he said, and they reluctantly put down their forks and bowed their heads.
14
L aney was so caught up in the end-of-the-school-year activities she barely had time to sit down—never mind worry. Her in-laws had headed back to New Hampshire on Monday, and her father-in-law had promised to go to the eye doctor. E had driven Chloe home on Sunday night and been late getting back. She was trying very hard to give him space—after all, he was in college. But it didn’t make her worry less. Noah had tried calling Jillian Laughlin, but her phone didn’t seem to be working. And Mennie seemed to be ignoring them—was he going deaf or was he still put out by the new puppy? The week had flown by, and before she knew it, it was Friday again, and her six-year-old charges were lining up with their backpacks over their shoulders, ready to head home for the weekend.
She stood by the door. “Don’t forget to do your reading. Reading logs are due Monday!”
“Have a good weekend, Mrs. Coleman!” they sang as they filed out of the room. “Don’t forget to do your reading,” Charlie Lathrop teased with a grin that revealed his newly missing tooth.
“I will, Mr. Lathrop,” she said, ruffling his hair. “You too. And make sure you leave that tooth under your pillow tonight.”
“I will. And I’m going to read about dinosaurs.”
Laney loved teaching first grade. It made her feel as if she was actually making a difference. Six-year-olds were still sweet and innocent, and first grade was such a critical year—especially for reading. She watched them weave down the busy hallway and remembered how young they’d seemed in September—a lifetime ago! She smiled and whispered a prayer that their lives would always be full of blessings.
She went back in her classroom, picked up the pencils and crayons that had fallen on the floor, erased the blackboard, looked up at the clock, shuffled through the papers on her desk, and slid a manila envelope of report cards into her canvas bag—she hoped to get started on them over the weekend. She turned off the lights, remembered she needed to send a text, pulled her phone out of her bag, and typed a quick note to Noah, reminding him she had a doctor’s appointment.
As she reached her car, her phone vibrated, and she stopped to read his response.
THANKS FOR THE REMINDER. WANT ME TO PICK UP PIZZA?
She smiled in wonder—after nearly thirty years of marriage, he was finally getting the hang of reading her mind.
SOUNDS GOOD!
WHAT SHOULD I GET?
1 BACON, 1 HAWAIIAN, AND 1 PLAIN—ALL LARGE! AND MAYBE A SALAD?!
YOU GOT IT. CULTR. <3
She slipped her phone back in her bag, thankful to have one less thing to think about.
Ten minutes later, she was signing the clipboard at the window in her doctor’s office. “Hi, Etty,” she said, waving through the glass. Etty was an old friend—she’d been working for Dr. Jamison forever—and Laney, the prolific reproducer of five, was one of their best customers.
Etty rolled her chair over and slid the window open. “Hi, Laney! How’re the boys?”
Laney smiled. “They’re fine.”
“Are E and Gabe home for the
“After you,” Noah said, offering plates to Laney and his parents.
“As usual, Laney,” Maddie said with a smile. “Everything looks wonderful. You’ve been busy.”
Laney laughed. “Busy is a relative term around here, Mom!”
“I hear you guys are hosting the wedding,” Asa said.
“We are?” a chorus of surprised voices called from the far end of the table.
Laney nodded.
“Are you sure you’re up to it?” Maddie asked.
Laney looked at Noah and smiled. “It’ll be fun. I’m really happy Micah found someone—not just for him, but for Charlotte.”
They filled their plates and sat down, and as Noah poured iced tea, E reappeared, carrying his giggling brother over his shoulder.
Noah looked down the table. “Now that we’re all here. . . .” he said, and they reluctantly put down their forks and bowed their heads.
14
L aney was so caught up in the end-of-the-school-year activities she barely had time to sit down—never mind worry. Her in-laws had headed back to New Hampshire on Monday, and her father-in-law had promised to go to the eye doctor. E had driven Chloe home on Sunday night and been late getting back. She was trying very hard to give him space—after all, he was in college. But it didn’t make her worry less. Noah had tried calling Jillian Laughlin, but her phone didn’t seem to be working. And Mennie seemed to be ignoring them—was he going deaf or was he still put out by the new puppy? The week had flown by, and before she knew it, it was Friday again, and her six-year-old charges were lining up with their backpacks over their shoulders, ready to head home for the weekend.
She stood by the door. “Don’t forget to do your reading. Reading logs are due Monday!”
“Have a good weekend, Mrs. Coleman!” they sang as they filed out of the room. “Don’t forget to do your reading,” Charlie Lathrop teased with a grin that revealed his newly missing tooth.
“I will, Mr. Lathrop,” she said, ruffling his hair. “You too. And make sure you leave that tooth under your pillow tonight.”
“I will. And I’m going to read about dinosaurs.”
Laney loved teaching first grade. It made her feel as if she was actually making a difference. Six-year-olds were still sweet and innocent, and first grade was such a critical year—especially for reading. She watched them weave down the busy hallway and remembered how young they’d seemed in September—a lifetime ago! She smiled and whispered a prayer that their lives would always be full of blessings.
She went back in her classroom, picked up the pencils and crayons that had fallen on the floor, erased the blackboard, looked up at the clock, shuffled through the papers on her desk, and slid a manila envelope of report cards into her canvas bag—she hoped to get started on them over the weekend. She turned off the lights, remembered she needed to send a text, pulled her phone out of her bag, and typed a quick note to Noah, reminding him she had a doctor’s appointment.
As she reached her car, her phone vibrated, and she stopped to read his response.
THANKS FOR THE REMINDER. WANT ME TO PICK UP PIZZA?
She smiled in wonder—after nearly thirty years of marriage, he was finally getting the hang of reading her mind.
SOUNDS GOOD!
WHAT SHOULD I GET?
1 BACON, 1 HAWAIIAN, AND 1 PLAIN—ALL LARGE! AND MAYBE A SALAD?!
YOU GOT IT. CULTR. <3
She slipped her phone back in her bag, thankful to have one less thing to think about.
Ten minutes later, she was signing the clipboard at the window in her doctor’s office. “Hi, Etty,” she said, waving through the glass. Etty was an old friend—she’d been working for Dr. Jamison forever—and Laney, the prolific reproducer of five, was one of their best customers.
Etty rolled her chair over and slid the window open. “Hi, Laney! How’re the boys?”
Laney smiled. “They’re fine.”
“Are E and Gabe home for the
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