411Please respect copyright.PENANAVQNpTAtfJz
It was a cold and dark day.411Please respect copyright.PENANA7SAWaLIHiA
Wet. Dreary. Certainly, not a day one would wish to be married on. But for411Please respect copyright.PENANACvn6o7fvWl
them, there wasn’t a more perfect day. And they were being married in the411Please respect copyright.PENANA9jCduVj0Yk
church, after all; it wasn’t like they had to worry about being rained on, or411Please respect copyright.PENANALtfV64HW6U
their entire wedding being ruined, altogether. Nothing could ruin this day for411Please respect copyright.PENANAunaUKchvOc
them. Not the weather, not a kink in plans, nothing.411Please respect copyright.PENANAT8flqNN0Wq
411Please respect copyright.PENANAiAy5nlObEu
“Do you, Justin Daniels, take411Please respect copyright.PENANAmve2fnsorX
this woman, Mary Smith, to be your wife? To have and to hold, to love and to411Please respect copyright.PENANAgIC7MV9qyr
cherish, and to honor and respect her, until death do you part?” The priest, who411Please respect copyright.PENANAUjN0UrnFp9
was their good friend, Jacoby, asked with a smile.411Please respect copyright.PENANAIyentWdho5
411Please respect copyright.PENANAMc9VkBux8S
Justin beamed, tears in his eyes,411Please respect copyright.PENANAfNZrOmWlzS
as he stared down at Mary, right into her eyes. He didn’t even have to think411Please respect copyright.PENANAuVlGtkGkhv
about it. He gulped down the lump in his throat and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do.”411Please respect copyright.PENANAUGM9aoi4Ab
411Please respect copyright.PENANAGBtjcDKzTh
Then turning to Mary, Jacoby411Please respect copyright.PENANABwTxzPkYxq
directed the words to her. “Do you, Mary Smith, take this man, Justin Daniels,411Please respect copyright.PENANA6vQXZUTABl
to be your husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, and to honor411Please respect copyright.PENANAhjYEHslneZ
and respect him, until death do you part?”411Please respect copyright.PENANA2VH8wireJ8
411Please respect copyright.PENANAS2MH9tqlM1
She couldn’t help it; her411Please respect copyright.PENANAcVSdsgwrby
tears fell freely down her unblemished face, as she nodded without a second411Please respect copyright.PENANAf0HRS5Qs2E
thought. “I do.” She said with a strangled voice. Justin smiled at her411Please respect copyright.PENANABbYbkGmMCQ
confirmation, as if previously afraid that she would change her mind.411Please respect copyright.PENANAaKrjc01JV5
411Please respect copyright.PENANA4zgWzAsEq7
“Then, without further wait,411Please respect copyright.PENANA2HH09PTFCJ
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Jocoby announced411Please respect copyright.PENANAUpE6kYGS8Y
with his thick accent weighing heavily throughout the small room.411Please respect copyright.PENANAg6ptQNM2q1
411Please respect copyright.PENANAwcwHwZDY01
Not waiting a second longer,411Please respect copyright.PENANAU5bySo6sWQ
Justin slid his hands over Mary’s slender hips and pulled her near to him.411Please respect copyright.PENANA3IRGO8LHrn
Smiles lit their faces as they kissed passionately, but still innocently enough411Please respect copyright.PENANAvK04S3lmwj
while in front of a crowd. Cheers rang through the whole room, as they sealed411Please respect copyright.PENANAZNGXu4N1xP
their marriage officially, finalizing their union as one.411Please respect copyright.PENANAd5B06wcBXg
411Please respect copyright.PENANALEfIXaXblb
After the marriage ceremony,411Please respect copyright.PENANAu86wB3Vt9C
the crowd hauled over to the bar just across town. For hours, they drank, sang,411Please respect copyright.PENANApReopaUq66
and danced the day away. When it came time for supper, they all gathered411Please respect copyright.PENANAl5FLE6FoSA
around, the finest mugs, filled to the brim with the best whisky, in their411Please respect copyright.PENANAjg71KLldwG
hands. It was time for the bride and groom toasts. Justin’s best man, Mark411Please respect copyright.PENANAVi9H95VVE7
Avery, went first.411Please respect copyright.PENANApMKMrq3WOy
411Please respect copyright.PENANAp4Q8ne0RwQ
“I have known Justin and Mary411Please respect copyright.PENANAxCBdeZpMxc
for most of my life. Separately, of course. But I know that there isn’t a411Please respect copyright.PENANAsyFDZEje6l
couple better suited for each other, than the one right here. Justin, you’re my411Please respect copyright.PENANA8lyVYT9Uzg
best friend, though I know that, to you, I come in second place of Mary. My411Please respect copyright.PENANAMAgyctRBKc
friend, you chose well. If only there were more women like Mary out there. And411Please respect copyright.PENANApWsKgJVglj
let me say, you deserve the finest. After Catharine broke your heart, I thought411Please respect copyright.PENANAP1ENDxIg0o
you’d never move on. I’m glad you proved me wrong. To Justin and Mary Daniels!411Please respect copyright.PENANAgbR7wzihex
May you two live long, and happy together!” He cheered before raising his mug411Please respect copyright.PENANAK3AJW2y3co
to his lips and taking a long swing, just as everyone else did.411Please respect copyright.PENANASGivmo0wD0
411Please respect copyright.PENANAF10w6uDPVM
Mary’s maid of honor, Leah411Please respect copyright.PENANAz26esNnSwW
Cassidy, went next. “Mary, I have seen you struggle through everything in your411Please respect copyright.PENANAzZUM4W0InV
life, since the day your mother passed. All the things you went through with411Please respect copyright.PENANAh6cvmCXk5b
your father, they were tough. But, they also made you strong. And I couldn’t be411Please respect copyright.PENANAhjvt1v1W4Z
happier to see you as the strong woman you are now. I know that you will work411Please respect copyright.PENANAOcH1pzivyD
hard in your marriage. Justin loves you, I think everyone here can see that.411Please respect copyright.PENANADp0RDtTxou
What can I say? He has a great taste. To Justin and Mary Daniels! May you know411Please respect copyright.PENANA7tWtFUNnuF
bright and happy days, and always know how lucky you are!” Once again, everyone411Please respect copyright.PENANAiFViGosgS0
took a swig of their whisky.411Please respect copyright.PENANABlolmA2tLM
411Please respect copyright.PENANAZNXZQjwywl
After the bride and groom411Please respect copyright.PENANAqyuArGcVBa
were toasted, the people went back to dancing, and before to long it was time411Please respect copyright.PENANAEEBf8xGTWB
for the first dance of the newly wedded. Against the wishes of his parents,411Please respect copyright.PENANAShFh96LXI7
Justin and Mary had decided they wanted a lively reception; so their first song411Please respect copyright.PENANAcuRSgP3plq
was The Old Zip Coon. It was a spry dance, one that kept people moving411Please respect copyright.PENANALnQqiDuU6m
constantly.411Please respect copyright.PENANAtETlWxlG7z
411Please respect copyright.PENANAvsMCFAoj08
Hoots of fun-filled laughter411Please respect copyright.PENANAq5gBnFZ4fJ
filled the air, as the couple swung around with the biggest smiles. Soon, the411Please respect copyright.PENANAIcaTWB311K
whole community joined in, and the room was full of women and men bounding411Please respect copyright.PENANAaywUjEZeUo
around the spacious bar. Without a doubt, it would be a time for the small town411Please respect copyright.PENANA3Oks3D6iyR
of Berk to always remember. But, for Justin and Mary, the most memorable part411Please respect copyright.PENANAlots4rWKFF
came that night.411Please respect copyright.PENANAR8EtOGNGPw
411Please respect copyright.PENANA2aUD60avcd
That was seven years ago,411Please respect copyright.PENANAxzxWlBxXTi
though. All but a faded memory, left in the past.411Please respect copyright.PENANAjPyyyrqQqO
411Please respect copyright.PENANAWnVhdKSYpd
411Please respect copyright.PENANAlxDnEHNRTf
411Please respect copyright.PENANAXOQimaQ1is
Present day411Please respect copyright.PENANAwk3cyonV6V
411Please respect copyright.PENANAQgZq758vOE
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411Please respect copyright.PENANAjtXDtAGi2z
She was bleak, weary, and411Please respect copyright.PENANAoNlJ2NoSS7
couldn’t find it in her heart to smile. She longed for it, yearned for it. all411Please respect copyright.PENANAGXpKdkxegE
she wanted was to look out at them, running around in the sunlit yard. They411Please respect copyright.PENANA0v1JEwVp10
were so graceful and beautiful, her two oldest daughters. They had finally411Please respect copyright.PENANAilFPpwtFcs
cheered up, she just wished she could join in their happiness.411Please respect copyright.PENANArSTkTALn15
411Please respect copyright.PENANAUicb1AQFb9
Mary looked behind her, where411Please respect copyright.PENANAn82H9rivsj
her youngest was sitting up on the floor with a big smile. So much like her411Please respect copyright.PENANA1WmTzvhVma
father, she thought. Sallie was, indeed, the spitting image of her war-bound411Please respect copyright.PENANAvYngX0umof
father, all but those green s. She had his face, his nose, his hair and411Please respect copyright.PENANAOPBRp70ui1
freckles, everything. The Violet eyes had passed over her though, instead being411Please respect copyright.PENANAwOqrT2GiwF
given to little Ethel.411Please respect copyright.PENANAcUpihCW7Ma
411Please respect copyright.PENANABhcQNmXaBL
Turning completely to keep a411Please respect copyright.PENANAtprlQzGGSM
full eye on her daughter, and make sure she didn’t wander off, she leaned411Please respect copyright.PENANA0NSrXW5p5v
against her chair and sighed. Resting a hand on the swell of her belly, she411Please respect copyright.PENANAVUZBniFrTW
rubbed it gently, lovingly. For the hundredth time since Justin left for war, she411Please respect copyright.PENANAku6yuTSRWK
felt her heart break again. She didn’t understand how it was possible to411Please respect copyright.PENANAVbg0ewrymq
experience heartbreak so many times, in such a short amount of time; all she411Please respect copyright.PENANAfu5A0Zcr8S
knew was that she hated it.411Please respect copyright.PENANAn9Cs28j9Pz
411Please respect copyright.PENANATv9dGBujmz
Not even a month after Justin411Please respect copyright.PENANACCPYrZVSC9
left, she discovered that she was once again with child. She was pregnant, with411Please respect copyright.PENANANgl8zOuk5j
a baby Justin didn’t even know about; a baby she wouldn’t get to tell him about411Please respect copyright.PENANASRFQzjWvZX
until he returned. Now, not only would Sallie be estranged from her father, but411Please respect copyright.PENANABLHInnuZSU
another baby of theirs wouldn’t know him. He would be a total stranger, in the411Please respect copyright.PENANAGaDj2sTIXV
eyes of his own two children.411Please respect copyright.PENANAl0L06sqfLZ
411Please respect copyright.PENANA0b8MEyiBxX
She was currently seven411Please respect copyright.PENANAGxAHXFRgtu
months along, and her belly was already round and swollen. Women of the town411Please respect copyright.PENANA4MoL0feMBO
had talked, first thinking she’d had an affair. But when she vehemently told411Please respect copyright.PENANAe8YTOpkvSM
them that that was certainly not the case, that she would never do that to411Please respect copyright.PENANAfemGNXsiEU
Justin and their girls, the women began to take pity on her. She hated it, but411Please respect copyright.PENANA8fip8vKsMh
had to admit that their bugging petty was a step up from their thinking she was411Please respect copyright.PENANAeoyezSrmLI
having an affair.411Please respect copyright.PENANAabSmN9VZgO
411Please respect copyright.PENANAvjhBF8YIUk
A hiss brushed past her lips,411Please respect copyright.PENANArwrY5HuGa0
as she felt a sharp jab to the side of her stomach. “Easy, little one.” She411Please respect copyright.PENANAyCAwuBHVoU
whispered, directing it toward the baby inside her. Lately, she hadn’t been411Please respect copyright.PENANA1jilfBThBe
feeling right. She was throwing up more, and the baby had been much more active411Please respect copyright.PENANAiQhDK3o5eg
than he/she had in the beginning stages of movement. Almost constantly, she411Please respect copyright.PENANAkOg2LVJs95
felt the baby turning completely around, which just wasn’t normal. It worried411Please respect copyright.PENANAeefghpoaQI
her, yet she decided not to go to the town doctor.411Please respect copyright.PENANAEKZ08tSieA
411Please respect copyright.PENANAcEf0F6xCda
Just then, a whinny could be411Please respect copyright.PENANA9I4aoUn0Uw
heard from down the trail. Mary frowned, as no one ever came this far out of411Please respect copyright.PENANAnwmpSFcxJJ
town. Maybe it was a passerby? Someone looking for direction? She didn’t know;411Please respect copyright.PENANA0LfVsATIWa
but taking extra precaution, she grabbed the rifle that had always been kept by411Please respect copyright.PENANA5GiJbmSkgX
the door, and readied it, in case it was a robber, or someone who would harm411Please respect copyright.PENANAsHmvHE5LJp
her or her girls.411Please respect copyright.PENANAlJjIvvGsbI
411Please respect copyright.PENANAjqxUAIxVgD
Waiting by the porch, rifle411Please respect copyright.PENANArnGKnrGP8U
readied, she watched as the mounted horse glided toward them. “Girls, come up411Please respect copyright.PENANAzyvqrmUFwf
here, please!” She called to her daughters, and they obeyed without argument.411Please respect copyright.PENANAGQc83v5P0T
Watching the horse and rider come closer, she could finally see what the person411Please respect copyright.PENANA40IzzIQNSk
was wearing: blue army jacket, with a blue cap. Gold lined the jacket and cap,411Please respect copyright.PENANAEIyXiLExGZ
and the clothes could be seen as clean. The horse was also well groomed, and411Please respect copyright.PENANAdOhYqTyxN7
it’s saddle appeared to be fancy.411Please respect copyright.PENANAEHpIwJJDHV
411Please respect copyright.PENANAeT1UDgU273
She didn’t dare to hope, but411Please respect copyright.PENANAe84TWBvNvf
the closer the rider neared, the more she felt her heart begin to lift. “Justin?”411Please respect copyright.PENANAt8a5V0uYkQ
She choked. Closer and closer. Faster and faster, her heart beat. But it411Please respect copyright.PENANAs9ZgfxVPyE
suddenly dropped, when the man came to a stop and unmounted. It fell, hitting411Please respect copyright.PENANArVyzvvEjpc
the dirt ground hard and painfully.411Please respect copyright.PENANAn6jWzpUWXX
411Please respect copyright.PENANAebXNs51M1r
It wasn’t Justin.411Please respect copyright.PENANAsXMOvU8Eck
411Please respect copyright.PENANACS4XwCjPZq
The man walked up briskly,411Please respect copyright.PENANAglAYpolOBW
taking off his cap as he came up the steps. His gaze drifted down to the two411Please respect copyright.PENANAfdCDEj41Fa
girls behind her, clinging to her dress. A tone of sympathy edged his eyes as411Please respect copyright.PENANAkeC1fmN2jw
he slowly lifted them back up to meet Mary’s. “Ma’am, I’m sergeant Michael,411Please respect copyright.PENANABOaWqWhZlY
are you Mary Daniels?” He asked softly.411Please respect copyright.PENANAaVNfDm4Xld
411Please respect copyright.PENANA099grezY5X
She forced the lump down her411Please respect copyright.PENANApdczOYyr2L
throat and nodded. “That I am. Is-is my husband alright?”411Please respect copyright.PENANAzZ1DaopCOH
411Please respect copyright.PENANAsW0EhgWTd8
He ran a shaky hand through411Please respect copyright.PENANA521nl45jXF
his hair and closed his eyes briefly. “Mrs. Daniels, I’m…I’m sorry to inform411Please respect copyright.PENANAHIdcxJLYIP
you that yesterday, July 2, 1863, at 5 in the afternoon, your husband was411Please respect copyright.PENANACbY9iqVRGx
killed on the field of battle at Gettysburg. I’m so sorry for your loss.” One411Please respect copyright.PENANAwBbgopsp7d
last look at her and her daughters, then he turned and left.411Please respect copyright.PENANALeLnLHknj8
411Please respect copyright.PENANA56NXmczwPk
Shock filled her at first.411Please respect copyright.PENANA23GTYdCxR8
Against her will, a sob ripped through her lips, and she slapped a hand over411Please respect copyright.PENANA2lodb4W4B5
her mouth to stifle her cry. Slowly dropping her eyes downward, she looked to411Please respect copyright.PENANA7Wp4RckWg7
her daughters. They looked scared, confused, and worried.411Please respect copyright.PENANA5Gn5T2OMNb
411Please respect copyright.PENANA42gf6RS37d
“Daddy coming home?” Ethel411Please respect copyright.PENANAtGqTBr3r3f
asked her softly.411Please respect copyright.PENANA0dAvkLmYXD
411Please respect copyright.PENANAYAhN6RyFmU
The tears raged down her face411Please respect copyright.PENANA7LjIT6jF7I
and she shut her eyes tight for a moment. As best as she could, she knelt down411Please respect copyright.PENANAjSLrObqAYS
and pulled the girls close to her. “No, Ethel.” She whispered. “Daddy’s not411Please respect copyright.PENANA5mLWIlPoWz
coming home. He’s…he’s with the angels, baby.” She choked, the lump in her throat411Please respect copyright.PENANA6pE7V4Ltio
growing by the second. Her daughters were too young for this. The pain of411Please respect copyright.PENANAZnwEj4QZZA
losing a parent was difficult no matter what, but none of her children were411Please respect copyright.PENANAKL7kByHCit
even through their first decade of life. Her oldest was barely seven.411Please respect copyright.PENANAKMX7bD8H2o
411Please respect copyright.PENANAUPuGFuczdq
The small girl had tears in her411Please respect copyright.PENANAQkyKfvCdYN
eyes, and her lip quivered. “Daddy left us forever?” She whimpered.411Please respect copyright.PENANASkH9qXaKeo
411Please respect copyright.PENANATMElGgEaos
Mary hated to think of it411Please respect copyright.PENANANvWs6p8ZjO
that way, but what other way was there to explain to her daughters? Unable to411Please respect copyright.PENANAm3JOdK2WLi
say anything, she nodded and pulled her daughters into the safety of her arms.411Please respect copyright.PENANAmJytoVysil
“He loved you girls. So very much. You and your sister were everything to him.411Please respect copyright.PENANAhSwr8K0aYb
And if he were here, right now, he would tell you how much he loves you.”411Please respect copyright.PENANA4WsVLODIqk
411Please respect copyright.PENANAqFrgizSJzO
Her heart ached so much411Please respect copyright.PENANA8PSmgiacCh
though. Sallie wasn’t even a year old, and the father she would never remember411Please respect copyright.PENANAWlqe7NvJ7U
was gone. The baby growing inside her would never even meet his/her father. He411Please respect copyright.PENANAOv2nxQ1IPF
hadn’t even known about her pregnancy. Now he would never know. He would never411Please respect copyright.PENANAG3nPGslgSR
know his youngest daughter. He would never know his unborn child. He would411Please respect copyright.PENANAI1B6OBCM1Y
never walk his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days. He’d miss out on411Please respect copyright.PENANAerzaC7mv2Y
his grandchildren being born and growing up. All of that, he would never have a411Please respect copyright.PENANAubAMGKaByJ
chance to do or see.411Please respect copyright.PENANAv4JJFx0xOZ
411Please respect copyright.PENANAKIlXC82KKr
411Please respect copyright.PENANAxE2g939qFF
411Please respect copyright.PENANAFzk7Oz3uYo
……411Please respect copyright.PENANA9pTyEUSdxT
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For several days, the Daniels411Please respect copyright.PENANAlsWOqLIYZl
girls were all in a state of melancholy. Townspeople had stopped by a few411Please respect copyright.PENANAMLrLFMU6W3
times, both to give their condolences, and to offer Mary anything she needed:411Please respect copyright.PENANAMqoixmjRmw
help with the girls, food for the next few days, someone to talk to, anything.411Please respect copyright.PENANANmw516j6oD
The young widow refused though. She didn’t wish for charity, and she thought it411Please respect copyright.PENANAh3S55CMyU5
best that she be the one to care for the girls, especially through such a time411Please respect copyright.PENANAbS4Nki3Rdn
as the news of their father’s death.411Please respect copyright.PENANA3NH9Z2r5PZ
411Please respect copyright.PENANAe7jQpCvrwf
Ida and Ethel, while still411Please respect copyright.PENANAW87XcvjNOG
not fully comprehending that their father was gone forever, seemed to411Please respect copyright.PENANAjwaEanUo5g
understand that something really bad had happened to him. Mary hated seeing it411Please respect copyright.PENANA67CqxD81bY
on her daughters; she’d gone through the same thing when she was not much older411Please respect copyright.PENANABYRRsNDUsB
than Ida. She knew it wasn’t fair, on anybody.411Please respect copyright.PENANA4GVoXpwMoh
411Please respect copyright.PENANAdvMkAQ8BZK
It was barely a week after411Please respect copyright.PENANAf41ECwKraN
receiving the news, when Mary felt a hard kick to her lower abdomen. At first,411Please respect copyright.PENANA2Gr3Kz7oBo
she didn’t take it to mean anything, just the baby putting up a fuss; but when411Please respect copyright.PENANAuI8cCcsDM3
the kicks increased in severity, she became slightly worried.411Please respect copyright.PENANAXa0E7GkG0c
411Please respect copyright.PENANAcqDflN07kY
Just as she was getting up to411Please respect copyright.PENANAgKprE9U1Du
make something for the girls to eat, she felt something wet between her legs.411Please respect copyright.PENANADcwvMMS1ll
Shutting her eyes, not wanting to admit to herself what she already knew was411Please respect copyright.PENANAE5yRe9mvgt
happening, she looked to the ground under her feet. There it was; that small411Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5in861MEH
puddle that could only mean one thing: she was in labor.411Please respect copyright.PENANATsqpu8ZpNu
411Please respect copyright.PENANAsTJciCwnm0
It’s to early, she said in411Please respect copyright.PENANArkXtzyZ4jb
her mind. The same thing had happened with her baby boy a few years ago. She’d411Please respect copyright.PENANANZeem7AYFP
gone into early labor, and he only lasted a few minutes after birth. The first411Please respect copyright.PENANArBkpT61GGx
thing since her father’s death, and it broke her. Losing her child, the child411Please respect copyright.PENANAwjDsxqp51Y
she had carried for six months, the child she felt moving inside her, was the411Please respect copyright.PENANANwLgNtv4kL
hardest thing. She couldn’t go through it again, especially after the411Please respect copyright.PENANAIIbi2gkMsw
heartbreak of losing her beloved husband.411Please respect copyright.PENANAE1YuFXMMgM
411Please respect copyright.PENANA8ao5jrASXN
Braving through her fear for411Please respect copyright.PENANAwXNFgthJHG
the moment, she looked to Ida, holding her stomach tightly. “Idie, I need to to411Please respect copyright.PENANAMkeGbC8bzM
ride Bobbie into town and tell auntie Leah that your baby brother or sister is411Please respect copyright.PENANAESJRPYnUO9
coming.” She said in a steady, but still fearful voice.411Please respect copyright.PENANA30pjZKoHvb
411Please respect copyright.PENANAe90mRFzEjR
The seven year old wasted no411Please respect copyright.PENANAgBSuSZPREq
time in jumping up from the floor, racing to pull on her coat, and running out411Please respect copyright.PENANAhAd7tMQZoc
the door. She was thankful to know that her father’s horse was already saddled411Please respect copyright.PENANAcGj4itDFoa
up and ready to go. Climbing up, she gripped the reins in shaking hands and411Please respect copyright.PENANAxLI7PuyreT
gave them a snap.411Please respect copyright.PENANAfBiK2mKRea
411Please respect copyright.PENANANf9yPRE51E
Only half an hour later, she411Please respect copyright.PENANA7AV9Y8HgaM
returned with Leah riding behind her. They slid off their horses, and Leah immediately411Please respect copyright.PENANA5k8zjNkroN
made a beeline for the house. “Mary!” She called in a panic.411Please respect copyright.PENANABSQdFQVOhm
411Please respect copyright.PENANAvqmZzilZVn
“Back here, Lee!” Mary called411Please respect copyright.PENANAKRWmgwrkmI
back to her best friend. When Leah stood beside her, she took a deep breath and411Please respect copyright.PENANAlW5o3kYtcl
leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you have to take care of the boys-“411Please respect copyright.PENANAFsszsPB9BG
411Please respect copyright.PENANA3oz243LhtM
“Mary, Ivan and Timothy are411Please respect copyright.PENANA2B4M1d0rm6
fine. Mark is watching them. What matters is that you’re in labor. Now, listen,411Please respect copyright.PENANA36PkbxaLda
since you’ve gone into early labor, you know what we have to do.” Leah stroked411Please respect copyright.PENANAnvH2ImbHYm
her friend’s hair sympathetically and dabbed her already sweaty forehead.411Please respect copyright.PENANAui9PQcNi18
“Let’s get you in bed, and I’ll do what I can to bring your little one into the411Please respect copyright.PENANA2v4g9W0ByE
world.” She guided her over to the bed and helped her lay down.411Please respect copyright.PENANAefPUjBzC04
411Please respect copyright.PENANAqrGBm3cYYJ
Hours passed by, and the only411Please respect copyright.PENANAnLbhqEMnay
thing that seemed to change was the pitch in Mary’s screams. They varied from411Please respect copyright.PENANAokrkDyTjoC
loud, to quiet, to high pitched, and real low. The three girls, Ida, Ethel, and411Please respect copyright.PENANAXGD61mU6lX
Sallie, all sat in the corner. They worried for their dear mother, as they411Please respect copyright.PENANAEShPeGu0wV
didn’t understand what was going on, but they stayed silent and kept patient.411Please respect copyright.PENANAfDVjo5ezt1
411Please respect copyright.PENANASXl3e22w0P
It was well into the night,411Please respect copyright.PENANAHALougcjXP
and there was still nothing to be gained from the long hours of labor that Mary411Please respect copyright.PENANAbb1J4K16Go
had endured. She’d been in labor for twelve hours already, and while Leah411Please respect copyright.PENANAD1P44kPw0u
wasn’t expecting her to have delivered by then, she was at least expecting her411Please respect copyright.PENANALFsW6MsOaX
to be dilating; Mary wasn’t even so much as dilating. There was no doubt in the411Please respect copyright.PENANApQWZlE0JhT
fellow mother’s mind, this was going to be a long birthing process.411Please respect copyright.PENANAJvYhbAxgFx
411Please respect copyright.PENANACMyzeFaVrc
And so it was. Two days of411Please respect copyright.PENANACcIb8wik4P
labor, and still nothing to show for it. Mark eventually had to bring his and411Please respect copyright.PENANA9FeCmz1A04
Leah’s two sons out so that she could help them bathe, as he had no idea how to411Please respect copyright.PENANA4fBFpXK0LR
do it. Throughout the whole two days though, Mary still showed no signs of411Please respect copyright.PENANAolquuACfCm
actually giving birth.411Please respect copyright.PENANADe3PTwv5l4
411Please respect copyright.PENANAEDU3nLPync
And then the third day came.411Please respect copyright.PENANAq2ob3YXFbv
411Please respect copyright.PENANALwX6rd3mgO
It hit them all, like a411Please respect copyright.PENANAZ21Hy3j9cL
tornado. It came with piercing screams, and obvious signs that Mary had finally411Please respect copyright.PENANAotuItCVzR9
started crowning. For when Leah looked under the blanket that was sprawled over411Please respect copyright.PENANA9Q040tv1zR
Mary, she could clearly see a head full of black hair. And at that sight, she411Please respect copyright.PENANAwNtuZl4eYT
gave a joyous cry and told Mary that it was time. She shoved everyone else out411Please respect copyright.PENANAuAIIkbnW6y
in the meantime, asking Fabian to watch the children.411Please respect copyright.PENANAyj5yDw8z65
411Please respect copyright.PENANAlGxgpAvjIB
That night was long and hard.411Please respect copyright.PENANACgDntGavsJ
And in the end, silence filled the small Daniels’ residence. It was so quiet,411Please respect copyright.PENANAkJzwP3vB3T
you could have heard a pin drop. But suddenly, tiny wails came from the room411Please respect copyright.PENANAvd5lde0veg
Mary was in. Newborn wails. Leah came in to the family room with a bright smile411Please respect copyright.PENANAVXzzivOLDC
upon her face. “The baby is good and healthy, though a bit small.” Taking411Please respect copyright.PENANA3OqVaLIPlw
Sallie from her husband, she looked to Ida and Ethel. “Your mother is waiting411Please respect copyright.PENANAzGYjHlzWxn
for you. Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” She told them softly. She watched411Please respect copyright.PENANAquCkyzCahu
them leave before turning back to Mark, who looked worried.411Please respect copyright.PENANA1f3YyJuTcb
411Please respect copyright.PENANArmIi5EORFP
“So?” He said nervously.411Please respect copyright.PENANAMx50IngXGY
411Please respect copyright.PENANAE218NvKXlz
Her smile, still, didn’t411Please respect copyright.PENANAyhGiodbsOk
fade. “Healthy baby girl.” Her gaze fell then, though, and she looked morose.411Please respect copyright.PENANAT4UGUZSdFQ
“Mary…didn’t want to hold her at first. She-she looks like…like him.” She411Please respect copyright.PENANAUFV2PxddPk
whispered.411Please respect copyright.PENANAbiIRWRytPh
411Please respect copyright.PENANANr79vxDIw7
Mark sighed and shook his411Please respect copyright.PENANACdQ8sH6gXE
head. “Those poor girls. And poor Mary, having to deal with four daughters, all411Please respect copyright.PENANArTifxnGIs7
on her own. This shouldn’t be happening.” He hesitated briefly before stating,411Please respect copyright.PENANAe6qhxSP6iZ
“What is she going to do?” A careful edge to his voice.411Please respect copyright.PENANAf4q3y1F8mp
411Please respect copyright.PENANAg6Pb7u5I2k
She chewed on her lip. “I411Please respect copyright.PENANAN21cT6sQTx
think she’s going to go to work. How else is she going to care for the girls?411Please respect copyright.PENANAGCsVUSTd4H
Still, you’re right; this shouldn’t be happening.”411Please respect copyright.PENANAP3Gc2uwPAq
411Please respect copyright.PENANAuVqnYhiLWx
“What’s her name?”411Please respect copyright.PENANATpqdmH5Etu
411Please respect copyright.PENANAUbUSxzbmiM
Leah smiled again, having411Please respect copyright.PENANAf9om87TdM4
known the name Mary had picked. There was no doubt in her mind, it was a lovely411Please respect copyright.PENANA8qCFT5KaHP
name. “Margaret. Margaret Hope Daniels. Justin loved the name, and Mary thought411Please respect copyright.PENANAVdtkkI3r39
that it was perfectly suited.411Please respect copyright.PENANAgyNufBhhW2
411Please respect copyright.PENANAqr5VrM4hNX
Mark knew, all to well, how411Please respect copyright.PENANANMx1zK65wK
his friend had loved the name. They had discussed the topic a few months before411Please respect copyright.PENANAaRfBRXBeNg
he left; he said that if he ever had another daughter, he wanted her name to be411Please respect copyright.PENANAvJLCtmI5t3
Margaret Hope Daniels.411Please respect copyright.PENANAEw6cnjo02a
411Please respect copyright.PENANAaFNNiyDvu8
He wrapped and arm around his411Please respect copyright.PENANAuOwNimtuWg
wife as they started for Mary’s room, Sallie in Leah’s free arm. When they411Please respect copyright.PENANA4pTi32EmGa
arrived at the entrance, Mark couldn’t help but smile at the sweet scene. The411Please respect copyright.PENANAuqpgr9h6Dh
girls were on either side of Mary, on the bed, and were completely mesmerized411Please respect copyright.PENANAEJBzGXVRz1
by their new baby sister. Even from such a distance, Mark could definitely see411Please respect copyright.PENANAqoKvt9bSIS
how baby Margaret resembled her late father. Her tiny face was a mold of his,411Please respect copyright.PENANA0eWueOFogU
and the small tufts of black hair were as dark and soft-looking as her411Please respect copyright.PENANAuIyWIandXj
father’s. He could only imagine how much more she would grow to look like her411Please respect copyright.PENANAj35z9saRIo
father; it was a painful thought.411Please respect copyright.PENANAWJkZ6OoOXG
411Please respect copyright.PENANAXkfs1C6nov
Mary’s head snapped up to her411Please respect copyright.PENANA5abRunOzID
friends, and she smiled wide. “Come and meet the new Daniels.” She beckoned to411Please respect copyright.PENANAPejjinE2sp
them gently, yet eagerly.411Please respect copyright.PENANAzcdDioPp6S
411Please respect copyright.PENANABjG5ZvdFLP
They came in and stood beside411Please respect copyright.PENANApCf7lmKnov
her, admiring the beautiful baby that was nestled within her arms. They smiled411Please respect copyright.PENANASxySDgFuvj
at each other, and then back at her. “She’s beautiful, Mary.” Mark said softly.411Please respect copyright.PENANAEgyA37aXyf
411Please respect copyright.PENANAxY3j0UdYNF
The exhausted mother managed411Please respect copyright.PENANA2z4v6bbCVg
a laugh as she nodded. “She gets it from her father.” Looking back down at her411Please respect copyright.PENANAI8WRirswWD
newborn, she brought the girl up slightly and kissed her small, pink forehead.411Please respect copyright.PENANAn3JLToMn2u
“I love you, my sweet girl. Daddy would have loved you too. But remember, little411Please respect copyright.PENANAHKg1qCtaOX
one, he’s always with you.” Looking around at all of them, tears embraced her411Please respect copyright.PENANAWWxD3KP655
eyes and caressed her cheeks. She tried licking them away, but to no use. “He’s411Please respect copyright.PENANAk4SzDm99Ym
with all of us.” She whimpered.411Please respect copyright.PENANAUNylOLNmJ2
411Please respect copyright.PENANAgP29nMfHDS
The Avery’s embraced her and411Please respect copyright.PENANAl62cQcFSX2
the girls, and the Avery boys were quick to join in, always loving hugs. They411Please respect copyright.PENANAR9wvND43hA
knew this was not a typical hug, but they could feel the love than ran through,411Please respect copyright.PENANAxypOyhiQqS
just as much as the heartache. The one thing they could all feel though, was411Please respect copyright.PENANAXQ0X6CWCkf
how it uplifted them. They were stronger together. The past months had been411Please respect copyright.PENANAke7kI9s2cQ
hard, but they were sure now that they could get through this hard time. Mary411Please respect copyright.PENANAwlZ8qXidRv
and her daughters would make it. They would all make it; together.