Beyond Today by Janelle Jamison

Author:Janelle Jamison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-09-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Amy felt a giddy anticipation in the days that followed Tyler’s departure. She missed him terribly, yet she felt as though she shared a private secret with him. Over and over, she remembered his words to her when they said good-bye, and she was certain that when he returned, he would ask her to marry him.

The snow kept them homebound for five days, but then a warm southerly breeze blew in and melted most of the drifts. Soon, soggy brown puddles were all that remained. During the thaw, the twins’ older brother Randy arrived to announce the birth of his new son.

“He’s a big one, for sure,” Randy boasted. “I measured him myself and he’s pert near twenty-three inches long.”

“My,” Dora remarked in amazement, “he is good-sized.”

“Congratulations, Son.” Charles gave Randy a hearty slap on his back. “How’s Betsey doing?”

“She’s fine. Tired, but fine. Doc was there this morning and said she needs to get plenty of rest. Other than that, he thinks both of them are good and strong.”

“I’d be happy to come keep house and tend the children,” Amy offered her brother.

“I was kind of hoping you might say that,” Randy said with a smile. “I know it’d be a real peace of mind to Betsey. She doesn’t trust me in her kitchen.”

At this the family laughed. Even Angie teased him good-naturedly, “You must take after me.”

“Naw,” Randy teased right back. “Nobody is as bad as you are in the kitchen. At least I can make coffee.”

Amy smiled, remembering the day Angie had filled the house with smoke when she had tried to impress Tyler with her culinary skills.

“He’s got you on that one, Angie,” Charles laughed. Then turning to Amy, he said, “You’d best get your things together.”

Amy nodded and hurried upstairs. She was grateful for the job that awaited her, knowing that it would keep her mind occupied until Tyler returned.

She calculated the days left until his return, then she smiled again. Maybe she’d even be married before the year was out! The idea warmed her like a toasty quilt. She hugged her arms around herself, imagining what Tyler would say when he saw her again, then she laughed out loud at herself when she realized what she was doing.

“I’m always telling folks to take one day at a time—but ever since Tyler’s come into my life, it’s all I can do to keep from dreaming away my days,” she said aloud. “Maybe Tyler was right. Maybe I found it easy to keep from planning beyond today, because I had no one to plan for or with.”

She threw the things she would need at Randy’s house into a a worn carpet bag. Then she headed downstairs to join her brother. She determined in her mind to take life one day at a time, just as she always had before she met Tyler, but her heart was already rebelling at the idea.

❧

In the weeks that followed, Amy found that caring for Betsey and the baby was the easy part of her responsibilities.

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