Second Chance Mom. Mary Holder Kate
gently. “Hello, Toby.”
For all intents and purposes this child was a stranger to her. Yet she had carried him inside her. She had given him life. But it was Sara and James who had shaped him into the little boy he was. Toby eventually giggled and in shyness pulled his hand back.
Eve put him on the floor and on wobbly legs he ran to his grandfather. Mick picked him up and set him on his knee.
“I swear, this boy gets bigger every day. He’ll keep you on your toes this weekend, Annie.”
She returned to helping Eve clear dishes, unable to stop from stealing glances at Toby now and then. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Grandma, may I be excused?”
Eve kissed the top of Caroline’s head, ignoring the cool tone of her voice. “Of course, dear. You and Luke can go watch television if you like.”
The girl slid off the chair, pushing it in. “Are you coming, Toby?”
Instantly the boy wriggled down off his grandpa’s knee and chased after his siblings as they disappeared into the living room.
In less than a minute, Annie heard the distinctive introduction for one of the more popular cartoon channels.
“I’m sorry about Caroline.”
“Jared, it’s okay. We both knew she was going to have a tough time with this.”
Mick sat back in his chair and sipped his coffee. “We really appreciate what you’re offering to do, Annie.”
“I appreciate the chance Jared is giving me to have a family to care for and a place to belong.”
“It must have been very lonely for you in the city,” said Eve, coming to sit beside her husband, her eyes as soft as her smile. “I often wondered about you.”
Annie couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t been lonely. Even with Chris in her life she had felt alone—deep inside where nobody ever saw. “I learned a lot about inner strength and I learned to rely on my faith.”
“Would you like to come to church on Sunday? Jared always brings the children.”
Annie nodded. “I’d like that very much.”
The older woman smiled back. “I think it’s time for some homemade peach pie.”
The rest of the evening was enjoyable for Jared. He talked with his dad about crops while Annie helped his mother. In the back of his mind, worries persisted about Caroline but he hoped her fears could be worked through with time and love.
Annie fit in well here. His parents liked her, that was plain to see. Jared could imagine her back at the homestead, working in the kitchen, helping the children with their baths and homework.
He could imagine coming home every evening to the aroma of a home-cooked meal, without having to come in from the fields and throw something together.
His mother often came over and surprised him with something in the oven, and it usually lasted a few days but he had tried to be self-sufficient to a point.
When family services had started reviewing Caroline and Luke’s placement, Jared had prayed for help. God had worked through Lewis and had found him Annie. He knew a lot of women these days wanted careers outside the home and if that made them happy he had no problem with it.
But it made him smile to think there were still some women out there who wanted to take care of a family. He knew some men dismissed it as an easy job. Jared had never made that mistake. Watching his mother raise two children, keep the house running smoothly and pay the bills while making ends meet had taught him about love and family.
On top of all that Eve had even gotten out in the fields and shearing shed at different times to help out where she could.
That was what life on the land was all about, he thought, watching Annie now. It was a partnership, a mutual goal and a willingness to work for that goal. He couldn’t promise her the trappings of a real marriage but he could promise her the most important things.
Jared made the move to head off home a little before nine that evening. The kids, all still wide-awake, took their time saying goodbye.
“Caroline, you can sit in the back with the boys tonight.”
The little girl paused on the way out the front door and turned to look at him.
“But Uncle Jared, I always sit up front with you.”
Annie came up behind him. “Jared, I don’t mind sitting in the back. This is just the first day. We’ll take it slowly.”
Jared didn’t see the look of triumph Caroline gave Annie as she climbed into the front seat. The girl was letting her know that the first round had been played and won.
Annie wanted to pull her close and hug her, to let Caroline know it wasn’t a contest—that no matter what happened after this weekend she would always come first with her uncle. But Annie knew her hugs would not be welcomed, not yet. It would be a slow process. Perhaps even a painful one for Caroline, if Jared agreed to the marriage.
Annie remembered what one of the nurses had told her the morning Toby was born. You do what you are able with hope in your heart and leave the rest in the Lord’s hands.
Her heart squeezed tight the moment Toby came up to her and held out his arms. He was ready to go in the car and he wanted her to put him there.
Annie reached down and caught him securely in her arms, hugging him close to her, inhaling that sweet baby smell that all little ones seemed to have. He was so soft in her arms, warm and yet quite heavy though he was an average size for his age. At one point he looked straight into her eyes and smiled.
Annie smoothed a hand over his forehead and gathered herself. “Let’s get you in the truck, little man.”
“Tuck!”
She smiled at him and tickled his belly as she settled him in the car seat. “Very good.”
His giggle melted her heart. Soon they were headed home. Luke was talkative. Annie asked one question about his pets and the little boy had come alive, telling her all kinds of details.
Toby was content to play with the teddy bear he clutched in his hands and Caroline tuned the radio to a music station and stayed silent all the way home.
Back at the farm, Caroline and Luke were waiting on the porch for the adults by the time Annie managed to get Toby out. She set him on the ground and he made his way up the steps in what had to be record time. Jared unlocked the front door and they raced inside, heading straight for the laundry.
Moments later Annie heard the slamming of the back door.
“They always check the animals before bed. I think it would be okay if we skipped baths tonight.”
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