BLOGWORDS – Saturday 29 October 2022 –BOOK LAUNCH EVENT – EXCERPTS
“Bethy?” Aunt Liz called her namesake. It was a month before their first birthday.
Liz mistakenly scooped up the toddling Mere.
“Liz,” Beverly made the switch for her sister. “This is Bethy.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” Bev lifted Bethy’s wrist. “We tied a pink ribbon on Beth—where’s the ribbon?” Beverly lifted her small child’s sweater, even peeped in the knitted tights, scanned the room. “There it is.”
On the floor. Next to Barky’s water dish. In the puddle of water that was supposed to be in the dish.
“Todd!” Beverly called down the hall to her husband’s home office. “Todd!”
“How did she get it off?” Todd reached for the shredded ribbon as he came in the den. “Muffin.”
“We’ve got to find some way to tell them apart.”
“Doesn’t one of them have a birthmark?” Liz played peek-a-boo with the twin she was holding.
Bev and Todd exchanged amused glances.
“Butt mark.” Two-year-old Moe announced, tumbling into the room and dragging a yellow ribbon that the kitten, Muffin, was chasing. “Butt mark,” he repeated. “Butt mark. Butt mark.”
“That’s right.” Liz laughed. “A heart. Like a Care Bear. Right on her tiny hiney.”
EXCERPT – BABY DUANE“Mere, you’re a natural!” Sophi marveled. “I haven’t been able to get him to calm down all day.”
Just three months old, Duane was my newest nephew. And my newest heartbreak. Part of me couldn’t stand to be close to the babies. But part of me had to. Had to hold him and cuddle him… and pretend he was mine.
“I don’t think he’s colicky, just gassy.” I patted his back and rubbed in circles. “Did you change formula?”
“No but I think we need to.” Sophi had nursed Jack till his first birthday, but Duane hadn’t thrived on breast milk, and their pediatrician had prescribed formula. “I already left a message with Dr. Shapiro to call me on Monday.”
“You’ll probably have to take him in.” The baby now slept peacefully in my arms. Both torture and bliss. “B says Dr. Shapiro is pretty particular.”
“He sure is!” Sophi reached for her son. “When are you and Jeremy going to have a baby? You’re so good with kids, Mere. I mean, Cora’s a different child.” She nodded at Madi and Cora playing tag with their cousin, Faith, and a girl who looked familiar. “A year ago she would barely speak.”
“Yeah, she’s a pretty special kid.” I watched as Cora climbed the ladder to the treehouse Dad and the guys had built. In a moment of boldness, or perhaps a total lapse of mental capacity, I turned to Sophi and drew a steadying breath. “Me and Jere are trying. Guess it’ll happen when God decides it’s time?” I hope it happens…
“You’re right about that.” Sophi laughed. “Both our boys were a surprise. I mean, we wanted kids but we never really talked about it, and we sure didn’t make plans. We weren’t really trying, ya know?”
I didn’t know but I just nodded.
“I really want a girl next time—next time!” Sophi laughed. “Listen to me. This little guy isn’t even four months yet and I’m talking about next time.” She nudged me. “By then you’ll have one of your own, though, right?”
“Sure.” I mumbled. “I hope so.” I lifted my plastic tumbler and rattled the ice. “Need a refill.”
Leaning on the counter, looking out the window, I watched. And contemplated. And questioned God.
Why, God? Why give me this deep desire only to deny it? Why allow me this longing if You’re just going to make me barren? Is this how Sarah felt? WAIT! Do I have to wait till I’m ninety to have a baby? It doesn’t work that way, not now, not like it did then…
Robin's Book Shelf
- Robin E. Mason's profile
- 81 followers
