Dinner was tense that night. Her father
couldn’t make eye contact with anyone at the table. Ryan and
Grace ate quietly, staring into their plates. Their mother tried
making forced conversation but it wasn’t working. Through it
all, Annie was smiling and glowing like a soon-to-be mother. Grace
dropped her fork the same time her father began to speak.
Realization hit her while her father discussed the future with
Ryan. They were discussing the field plans because Ryan and Annie
had bought the Jacobs’ farm.
“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” whispered
Grace to Annie. Annie smiled and touched her knee.
“Shhh later, lovely, he wants to break the news.”
The news did come later, while the family was watching TV after
dinner. Ryan broke the silence and announced it causing
Grace’s mother to shriek with joy and start crying.
Grace and Annie watched in amazement as her father’s
customary handshake turned into a bear hug enclosing his runaway
son. Grace went to bed with a smile on her face, the first one in a
long time. She was going to be an aunt!
The next few days saw the family thriving on good news and Grace
spent most of her days thinking or talking about the baby with the
girls of the house. The family spent the weekend redoing the
Jacobs’ old house, moving in the furniture and painting the
rooms. The nursery was painted a bright sunny yellow because Ryan
and Annie wanted the gender to be a surprise. The due date was in
July, only five months away. Grace couldn’t believe how
happy her mother had become since Annie and Ryan returned,
especially since they were going to be parents. That meant
Grace’s parents were going to be grandparents.
“Momma, how do you feel becoming a grandma?” asked
Grace while preparing dinner with her mother one night.
“Gracie, I have never been happier well except for when I had
you and your brother. Now we have a whole family together
again!” she replied.
“Momma, will you miss me when I go to college?” Grace
asked. She was in her junior year, almost done with the
standardized tests and essays. She was hoping to go to the
University of Alabama, her parents and brothers alma mater.
Unfortunately, Luke was also applying. Grace knew he would make
life miserable for her if she ever ran into him on campus.
“Gracie, the university is only an hour and a half away from
home; I’ll see you when you miss home. But I know you
won’t miss home when you’re off studying – uhm
what is your major again, darling?” her mother asked.
“I’m not sure yet,” said Grace. She wanted to be
a writer but knew it wouldn’t take her far. She also knew she
would never be able to leave the farming life. As much as she
denied it to Luke, Grace did want to get married and raise
kids. But she knew she wanted to be able to support a family
by herself if necessary.
