411Please respect copyright.PENANAgzrC00Njqb
It was a cold and dark day.411Please respect copyright.PENANA4OgQLIxoQ7
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for411Please respect copyright.PENANAWKMMWvPFGG
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the411Please respect copyright.PENANAXSZaBJnOeE
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or411Please respect copyright.PENANA6EI2EceNNm
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for411Please respect copyright.PENANAVsimPHUgG2
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.411Please respect copyright.PENANAYHwzmwx4x6
411Please respect copyright.PENANAY6BR7uJ47C
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take411Please respect copyright.PENANAvwOQ1RPb6N
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to411Please respect copyright.PENANAgGHeYVsBJ2
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who411Please respect copyright.PENANANgnjLqmGCu
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.411Please respect copyright.PENANAUKDKDxSosz
411Please respect copyright.PENANAGH9HL4BDXw
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,411Please respect copyright.PENANAulvaZ2mMv9
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think411Please respect copyright.PENANAKhgwYpRBnd
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”411Please respect copyright.PENANAK7gadJjCPO
411Please respect copyright.PENANAhaxNJbNK49
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby411Please respect copyright.PENANAeYXu7hYP72
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,411Please respect copyright.PENANA0kOog4jcRJ
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor411Please respect copyright.PENANAle6c3JFajT
and respect him, until death do you part?”411Please respect copyright.PENANAuIxBb89aVC
411Please respect copyright.PENANAImlILRMjMR
She couldn’t help it; her411Please respect copyright.PENANAVzzwC5ep6n
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second411Please respect copyright.PENANAYbkng0fSSn
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her411Please respect copyright.PENANAMhbizPh2vP
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.411Please respect copyright.PENANAhfWpyWmp6U
411Please respect copyright.PENANAYPAvivMduP
“Then, without further wait,411Please respect copyright.PENANAQahJgNs63q
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced411Please respect copyright.PENANAhoJ10vsFkL
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.411Please respect copyright.PENANA6hF5ly404t
411Please respect copyright.PENANANfGDxNXmlu
Not waiting a second longer,411Please respect copyright.PENANAhisOj9vDbm
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.411Please respect copyright.PENANAkw2Egx3WiW
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough411Please respect copyright.PENANAr8cEF5tBzP
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed411Please respect copyright.PENANAw0Xojs12uZ
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.411Please respect copyright.PENANA73KcnxPrSq
411Please respect copyright.PENANAejIwHKjqt4
After the marriage ceremony,411Please respect copyright.PENANA9bjZ4Lw5Vu
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,411Please respect copyright.PENANAXZCdvtgl6r
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered411Please respect copyright.PENANAdWhkuSm4Lq
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their411Please respect copyright.PENANAVrdd08GlPO
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark411Please respect copyright.PENANAqT7q5yRNGj
Avery, went first.411Please respect copyright.PENANAFQ1UdM4bja
411Please respect copyright.PENANAD9Qwk7YR5C
“I have known Justin and Mary411Please respect copyright.PENANANJiTKfaOTC
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a411Please respect copyright.PENANAylYZs8jtoh
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my411Please respect copyright.PENANAnvpHjmkvS9
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My411Please respect copyright.PENANAHqaJjMHlxI
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And411Please respect copyright.PENANAmlKw51xqxH
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought411Please respect copyright.PENANAm8153LDw8G
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!411Please respect copyright.PENANASfs7rKcBm8
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug411Please respect copyright.PENANAId2eX6QABv
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.411Please respect copyright.PENANAFn3FcSgLDu
411Please respect copyright.PENANAvFr4dq6I8F
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah411Please respect copyright.PENANANUSetLlfce
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your411Please respect copyright.PENANAiJVrS3GHlS
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with411Please respect copyright.PENANAQZQOluvbfl
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be411Please respect copyright.PENANAndSXpiVyMu
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work411Please respect copyright.PENANADSuaeilpWN
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.411Please respect copyright.PENANA4HuTXJ8Kn1
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know411Please respect copyright.PENANAUmLSKa7lbE
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone411Please respect copyright.PENANAIK0AmCrpqT
took a swig of their whisky.411Please respect copyright.PENANAoCv39XT7ph
411Please respect copyright.PENANA9nXimZM6jU
After the bride and groom411Please respect copyright.PENANA2orTIoD1tC
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time411Please respect copyright.PENANAXWmh7NYCrN
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,411Please respect copyright.PENANAKZ5EPFgyeG
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song411Please respect copyright.PENANAyVeX7Faylk
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving411Please respect copyright.PENANAEfqY6qDUGT
constantly.411Please respect copyright.PENANAy0PclQLGoJ
411Please respect copyright.PENANAdO7ZqMqMti
Hoots of fun-filled laughter411Please respect copyright.PENANALLARHrhoYz
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the411Please respect copyright.PENANAg7GGoOp6M8
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding411Please respect copyright.PENANA1KIttljMqD
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town411Please respect copyright.PENANAINwfT6RhZu
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part411Please respect copyright.PENANAKCD3VETujs
came that night.411Please respect copyright.PENANAXvnwpbhNRu
411Please respect copyright.PENANAg1QNRcmhvu
That was seven years ago,411Please respect copyright.PENANA00fVf3wTFD
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.411Please respect copyright.PENANAaaZNh2GKfX
411Please respect copyright.PENANACX0rpEHPbZ
411Please respect copyright.PENANABbIhpLJTks
411Please respect copyright.PENANAWrhgAhcBJp
Present day411Please respect copyright.PENANAliSyYfVOlE
411Please respect copyright.PENANAsD1wvhRvbw
411Please respect copyright.PENANAFYjMMDBb8c
411Please respect copyright.PENANAuuUAVN8nAk
She was bleak, weary, and411Please respect copyright.PENANAd0tfsVvXTj
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all411Please respect copyright.PENANAn63daol8P0
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They411Please respect copyright.PENANAhJxd4czQ4B
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally411Please respect copyright.PENANAS0ZxAZzxKD
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.411Please respect copyright.PENANAH57y885HwX
411Please respect copyright.PENANAL1qTPV0KZH
Mary looked behind her, where411Please respect copyright.PENANAyalby8BuYc
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her411Please respect copyright.PENANAm33YpzFcUv
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound411Please respect copyright.PENANAtIBPURteyz
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and411Please respect copyright.PENANAV6pHHhmTBL
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being411Please respect copyright.PENANAOmrdy0hYog
given to little Ethel.411Please respect copyright.PENANAzXnEKjl6Oc
411Please respect copyright.PENANAA99vdXhjCD
Turning completely to keep a411Please respect copyright.PENANA3z9iidKnq7
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned411Please respect copyright.PENANAlIqCk3Q70Z
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she411Please respect copyright.PENANA6ngP5E4fzJ
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she411Please respect copyright.PENANAFzmes0ILRV
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to411Please respect copyright.PENANAlZnUlAhjBd
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she411Please respect copyright.PENANAzPKL4Vex06
knew was that she hated it.411Please respect copyright.PENANAgb0fH7DyJK
411Please respect copyright.PENANAZaDERCLU3a
Not even a month after Justin411Please respect copyright.PENANAP2ushODEDt
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with411Please respect copyright.PENANAa3uPEvLqrW
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about411Please respect copyright.PENANAw9p9Md8rjA
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but411Please respect copyright.PENANApFPfz0RTMG
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the411Please respect copyright.PENANA5uUTC3I1gi
eyes of his own two children.411Please respect copyright.PENANA2S0zQ6AFzl
411Please respect copyright.PENANAXmlyqNmsUS
She was currently seven411Please respect copyright.PENANA5DLNQq2yAs
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town411Please respect copyright.PENANAEz6ZBryrnE
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told411Please respect copyright.PENANAZd60gFOFwa
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to411Please respect copyright.PENANA7TodAuLgMw
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but411Please respect copyright.PENANAkOLKv5Yyad
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was411Please respect copyright.PENANAgcHn6joYK9
having an affair.411Please respect copyright.PENANA3XCmbt5Gh8
411Please respect copyright.PENANAKJjANslQDw
A hiss brushed past her lips,411Please respect copyright.PENANA3TnvZdzkTa
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She411Please respect copyright.PENANAJlurmh22ab
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been411Please respect copyright.PENANA2eL8FXkVvo
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active411Please respect copyright.PENANA6MpnyPDpxN
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she411Please respect copyright.PENANAsAaLS2iD3g
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried411Please respect copyright.PENANApvwlabrpDY
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.411Please respect copyright.PENANA9XaLAL2OzC
411Please respect copyright.PENANAfCD0MTUWxj
Just then, a whinny could be411Please respect copyright.PENANAnSRVxUvmIj
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of411Please respect copyright.PENANAMpFFVapyTQ
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;411Please respect copyright.PENANAk6j8jMUwC8
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by411Please respect copyright.PENANAZAHxEla8yS
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm411Please respect copyright.PENANAmDAdaRT2tv
her or her girls.411Please respect copyright.PENANA1DHwRXbLa7
411Please respect copyright.PENANAcvBZVl6Ahn
Waiting by the porch, rifle411Please respect copyright.PENANAHeVGBIzJJE
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up411Please respect copyright.PENANAN1F2BrbNLU
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.411Please respect copyright.PENANAPerjQ3WBom
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person411Please respect copyright.PENANAc2Rysu0oIW
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,411Please respect copyright.PENANARPOUZlPpwG
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and411Please respect copyright.PENANA3uNHTwT4eF
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.411Please respect copyright.PENANA3GAHM7gaO3
411Please respect copyright.PENANA6imAcFJh53
She didn’t dare to hope, but411Please respect copyright.PENANAhqZ0bXXJvC
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”411Please respect copyright.PENANARS0YTgw3nt
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it411Please respect copyright.PENANAePcRTCeLxC
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting411Please respect copyright.PENANA0KDIQUS0vG
the dirt ground hard and painfully.411Please respect copyright.PENANAlARVkCOcaF
411Please respect copyright.PENANAnT6V8ltWFC
It wasn’t Justin.411Please respect copyright.PENANANkfjLsgUVT
411Please respect copyright.PENANAMHuKGjw1TE
The man walked up briskly,411Please respect copyright.PENANAPgY2pfZF2k
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two411Please respect copyright.PENANA8zJJVh85r2
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as411Please respect copyright.PENANAosNRUtAcG5
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,411Please respect copyright.PENANAuxZSHwCT6X
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.411Please respect copyright.PENANALyzgNhmCzK
411Please respect copyright.PENANAPVrt6AsGNc
She forced the lump down her411Please respect copyright.PENANA8yAM88pWru
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”411Please respect copyright.PENANAGXIjnEmWIA
411Please respect copyright.PENANAPl7pL6FFJq
He ran a shaky hand through411Please respect copyright.PENANAJo4FfTHNHJ
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform411Please respect copyright.PENANAS4YwmuxSGf
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was411Please respect copyright.PENANANPEyaWuAj4
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One411Please respect copyright.PENANAStv8AS0q85
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.411Please respect copyright.PENANAPPgmsusoyo
411Please respect copyright.PENANAIlREaWEI7U
Shock filled her at first.411Please respect copyright.PENANAbQisWpQp94
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over411Please respect copyright.PENANAsBfviweTwM
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to411Please respect copyright.PENANALC2zIQfQg0
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.411Please respect copyright.PENANAgg8dboZSJQ
411Please respect copyright.PENANAf7K34NSDXa
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel411Please respect copyright.PENANAr6oN2FXa73
asked her softly.411Please respect copyright.PENANAJAKQXTY5MS
411Please respect copyright.PENANAY6epP1EXHr
The tears raged down her face411Please respect copyright.PENANAxQo0VRSRQF
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down411Please respect copyright.PENANA3oLHlMUcoT
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not411Please respect copyright.PENANAYz0mxK7m4c
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat411Please respect copyright.PENANAkMWq0aZFyQ
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of411Please respect copyright.PENANAEBgqg4TlC1
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were411Please respect copyright.PENANAJRaYfXPETi
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.411Please respect copyright.PENANAfC8wbDWrAg
411Please respect copyright.PENANAED6nukINJH
The small girl had tears in her411Please respect copyright.PENANAWKEzUq8JBR
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.411Please respect copyright.PENANA23RWsQII57
411Please respect copyright.PENANAstONdV26uv
Mary hated to think of it411Please respect copyright.PENANAZXYDwS11rH
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to411Please respect copyright.PENANAdYxUbuhrgv
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.411Please respect copyright.PENANAqE0hNjwFwo
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.411Please respect copyright.PENANAh98jIAJvIh
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”411Please respect copyright.PENANAiNNLHngEj9
411Please respect copyright.PENANAOXNOtU8HSj
Her heart ached so much411Please respect copyright.PENANAnPBeej3B4d
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember411Please respect copyright.PENANAnunsNX31Zu
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He411Please respect copyright.PENANAGDr4xwjpd2
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never411Please respect copyright.PENANAc16P8ffpj6
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would411Please respect copyright.PENANAIRiaBlDgKc
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on411Please respect copyright.PENANAvk40dSJ1pX
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a411Please respect copyright.PENANAeCyTirWTOg
chance to do or see.411Please respect copyright.PENANA8zYg85pNFB
411Please respect copyright.PENANAs2gULzc7wO
411Please respect copyright.PENANAq8djTorkNF
411Please respect copyright.PENANAqZWl2Ht178
……411Please respect copyright.PENANA22PlFjySdn
411Please respect copyright.PENANAabOxqqFOqD
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For several days, the Daniels411Please respect copyright.PENANAs87DITO8g8
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few411Please respect copyright.PENANAWlJNJI1wgT
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:411Please respect copyright.PENANAhKHtF7SoO2
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.411Please respect copyright.PENANAt0DeO9ihPb
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it411Please respect copyright.PENANAvdTFQNRxR3
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time411Please respect copyright.PENANAmGNrfmbDgd
as the news of their father’s death.411Please respect copyright.PENANANkFVcmflLG
411Please respect copyright.PENANALg0yRLXorM
Ida and Ethel, while still411Please respect copyright.PENANAQkfD0Yn7O1
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to411Please respect copyright.PENANAb4Leq1HPvT
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it411Please respect copyright.PENANAlDAWpotWrV
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older411Please respect copyright.PENANAZrf4A8NZ4M
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.411Please respect copyright.PENANAqdMIVBWl83
411Please respect copyright.PENANANgu37kjv7S
It was barely a week after411Please respect copyright.PENANAU2wGv1w8fB
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,411Please respect copyright.PENANABSb08mmBxI
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when411Please respect copyright.PENANAwqeop2MyP3
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.411Please respect copyright.PENANA5yz8UCE9IN
411Please respect copyright.PENANAbPuwxRPY2a
Just as she was getting up to411Please respect copyright.PENANAJV42QI963h
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.411Please respect copyright.PENANAWxii58ZJnL
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was411Please respect copyright.PENANAKmbxvq9nON
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small411Please respect copyright.PENANAzFL0FumrPx
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.411Please respect copyright.PENANAJxCqhB1BW2
411Please respect copyright.PENANA4dtJaavSNg
It’s to early, she said in411Please respect copyright.PENANAzTAYd2q5ds
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d411Please respect copyright.PENANAMLQFOYfyg2
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first411Please respect copyright.PENANAhLR0bkTN5F
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child411Please respect copyright.PENANAZK93ZWmX7c
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the411Please respect copyright.PENANAx80qY0srfF
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the411Please respect copyright.PENANAzLZLS8eyGw
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.411Please respect copyright.PENANAGs57JNsE9H
411Please respect copyright.PENANA0nMlNo4ZrJ
Braving through her fear for411Please respect copyright.PENANAy08rL7TfwO
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to411Please respect copyright.PENANAJocf7d4XtX
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is411Please respect copyright.PENANAxYE2FpkQho
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.411Please respect copyright.PENANAL5CnaF4aNQ
411Please respect copyright.PENANAg9DssKMTgY
The seven year old wasted no411Please respect copyright.PENANAVXC1cVM4xQ
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out411Please respect copyright.PENANAZlE5fpM1Qa
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled411Please respect copyright.PENANAXvnLQW64Yy
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and411Please respect copyright.PENANADAdbwbFLO6
gave them a snap.411Please respect copyright.PENANAfdu4NSSlca
411Please respect copyright.PENANAshjb6cxcmZ
Only half an hour later, she411Please respect copyright.PENANAuJT3xfMGtA
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately411Please respect copyright.PENANA7XCoaWujUJ
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.411Please respect copyright.PENANAUevl7R6Gy9
411Please respect copyright.PENANAB7suC12ZTw
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called411Please respect copyright.PENANAItxBHMwucR
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and411Please respect copyright.PENANAO4tD0mnSQn
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“411Please respect copyright.PENANAlZwWtNOnsi
411Please respect copyright.PENANAhhCjkMGnPF
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are411Please respect copyright.PENANAcKc2nqOtaE
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,411Please respect copyright.PENANACoF7YyE7uu
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked411Please respect copyright.PENANAipwlpNlnE7
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.411Please respect copyright.PENANAmPdMxHkODB
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the411Please respect copyright.PENANA4UgQRnErtP
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.411Please respect copyright.PENANAqnHzcsYSed
411Please respect copyright.PENANA6f0hJxQGJh
Hours passed by, and the only411Please respect copyright.PENANAwMH0dni5fE
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from411Please respect copyright.PENANATj07fSjACZ
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and411Please respect copyright.PENANA4HLqipk1Aq
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they411Please respect copyright.PENANAeFDQl97bzI
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.411Please respect copyright.PENANAItbQAeGBPK
411Please respect copyright.PENANAoBKA8FBdbO
It was well into the night,411Please respect copyright.PENANAOH7LyaYefE
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary411Please respect copyright.PENANAU36MKYQ261
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah411Please respect copyright.PENANAkYPwvUEkcT
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her411Please respect copyright.PENANAQLurY1ufDH
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the411Please respect copyright.PENANAOHpXbx9dLR
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.411Please respect copyright.PENANAP4E6fVZ2TZ
411Please respect copyright.PENANAMPK6ajMYIL
And so it was. Two days of411Please respect copyright.PENANAw1vsm8sh0B
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and411Please respect copyright.PENANAmJY7Br77F3
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to411Please respect copyright.PENANAqnNtu321jd
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of411Please respect copyright.PENANAGdOMAdDrJy
actually giving birth.411Please respect copyright.PENANAgWU1r4DHw8
411Please respect copyright.PENANAxW62ojzw5h
And then the third day came.411Please respect copyright.PENANAhY5xNXwmZy
411Please respect copyright.PENANAuWZBoRk0aS
It hit them all, like a411Please respect copyright.PENANAcOQIz5WoKl
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally411Please respect copyright.PENANAcUkk6RG1Sg
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over411Please respect copyright.PENANAPy7gEPlTLQ
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she411Please respect copyright.PENANAbvUbL4xdTW
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out411Please respect copyright.PENANAaNQd1TXwVH
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.411Please respect copyright.PENANAq3KxfElhkS
411Please respect copyright.PENANAdsIQsgX5Xe
That night was long and hard.411Please respect copyright.PENANAd29wYzNogv
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,411Please respect copyright.PENANAEntvEOWeph
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room411Please respect copyright.PENANApJZ0TyS1hF
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile411Please respect copyright.PENANAK3Rz1Fle2M
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking411Please respect copyright.PENANA9XQYY30l6u
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting411Please respect copyright.PENANAtcO0tAtGad
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched411Please respect copyright.PENANAJXq9WLIrsg
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.411Please respect copyright.PENANAjhqDoxIhUB
411Please respect copyright.PENANA5oeZLwczcS
“So?” He said nervously.411Please respect copyright.PENANA5WVR9YE06l
411Please respect copyright.PENANAw4cgVKBEvM
Her smile, still, didn’t411Please respect copyright.PENANAul4qA6U630
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.411Please respect copyright.PENANAX9xIgZbgri
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She411Please respect copyright.PENANAZDDTX0Wx4c
whispered.411Please respect copyright.PENANA6e9JgMNFye
411Please respect copyright.PENANAMqz8fhmAMu
Mark sighed and shook his411Please respect copyright.PENANAdQqZAMdmYB
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all411Please respect copyright.PENANAqDiWtcjvvh
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,411Please respect copyright.PENANArDMprkrKHs
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.411Please respect copyright.PENANA8FeOILvn83
411Please respect copyright.PENANA05IsKeWkUX
She chewed on her lip. “I411Please respect copyright.PENANADZmCy7mHt3
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?411Please respect copyright.PENANAP1IkM9EGwW
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”411Please respect copyright.PENANAT1cr2Uh7LU
411Please respect copyright.PENANAg3v0U0qhSl
“What’s her name?”411Please respect copyright.PENANAUpF90AR0tU
411Please respect copyright.PENANAWknwjs1lqe
Leah smiled again, having411Please respect copyright.PENANAOdIklsPf15
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely411Please respect copyright.PENANArbZtHbYE90
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought411Please respect copyright.PENANAE6rRdOIM4E
that it was perfectly suited.411Please respect copyright.PENANAkO3LT1vcbO
411Please respect copyright.PENANA2mQ6qeWjf7
Mark knew, all to well, how411Please respect copyright.PENANA0Hs7PV01qk
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before411Please respect copyright.PENANA5ODR29Qk2v
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be411Please respect copyright.PENANA0vjricmeN3
Margaret Hope Daniels.411Please respect copyright.PENANAxZLcSxd7ww
411Please respect copyright.PENANAb7Q8rEYA8q
He wrapped and arm around his411Please respect copyright.PENANAcx4QEtlQtO
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they411Please respect copyright.PENANAIRMJ6xsdtH
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The411Please respect copyright.PENANAH2fKOOlTbK
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized411Please respect copyright.PENANAeiBapwdob6
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see411Please respect copyright.PENANA9Idqa5CDGx
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,411Please respect copyright.PENANA3YlJnUV33O
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her411Please respect copyright.PENANASC7HSGlQ7b
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her411Please respect copyright.PENANAFuEt3jHuYr
father; it was a painful thought.411Please respect copyright.PENANABanKbNlfux
411Please respect copyright.PENANADQ1t87z65L
Mary’s head snapped up to her411Please respect copyright.PENANAU1gz2NtbOd
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to411Please respect copyright.PENANAqUWzU1OaRF
them gently, yet eagerly.411Please respect copyright.PENANABYFQDkHNC6
411Please respect copyright.PENANApFLy0RZu3O
They came in and stood beside411Please respect copyright.PENANAQeHh0CibQQ
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled411Please respect copyright.PENANAII3NmIqsnO
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.411Please respect copyright.PENANAN4QTucrYb0
411Please respect copyright.PENANAGOgcg1N8ZE
The exhausted mother managed411Please respect copyright.PENANAttDYlAf3TF
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her411Please respect copyright.PENANAvLTIAmBhAJ
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.411Please respect copyright.PENANATv9nfwirEZ
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little411Please respect copyright.PENANA9StUFlLKeB
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her411Please respect copyright.PENANAuWCP3OkiXS
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s411Please respect copyright.PENANAv3H7tgVjbm
with all of us.” She whimpered.411Please respect copyright.PENANAqRHjIoupX8
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The Avery’s embraced her and411Please respect copyright.PENANAIWM76lLoPG
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They411Please respect copyright.PENANAs70hYXQhyO
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,411Please respect copyright.PENANAU3NOaelcue
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was411Please respect copyright.PENANAy0xBvV5C9X
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been411Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZsjfWvvDU
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary411Please respect copyright.PENANAib99jXAIKI
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.