Chapter 20

"I guess you had better save those pies for later on," Frank said to Sarah Jean, "I am so full now I don't think I can get up from the table," patting his belly as he rose from Maisy's table. Maisy smiled at her father and stood up, "Wait daddy, before you go, I have something to say." Frank sat back down and looked at his wife questionably. "I wanted to tell Bobby first, but everything was moving so fast after ya'll got back I didn't have a chance. We're gonna have a baby!" she said with a smile and looked around the table at everyone gathered there. Nobody moved, then Bobby jumped up from the table to grab her, knocking over his plate, he picked her up in his arms and hugged her tightly. Her sisters squealed with delight and her mother and father hugged each other. Granny just grinned, "Guess we will be learning to knit baby booties now," she said.

After the kitchen had been cleaned, her family gathered up their stuff and decided to head home while the snow had slowed to a few flurries. Bobby and I hugged everybody and Bobby helped granny to the wagon, gingerly picking her up and placing her on the seat. She leaned over and whispered something in his ear and then patted him on the cheek. He smiled and stood at the gate to watch them until they were out of sight. I had stepped back into the house and was looking out the window when Bobby stepped up on the porch. I opened the door for him and when I turned from closing it, he picked me up in his arms and danced around with me, both of us laughing. He carried me over and placed me in my rocker, covered my legs with a blanket and pulled his chair over close to me, in front of the fireplace.

"Let's pick out a name," he said. I laughed, "We don't know if it's a boy or a girl" I replied. "Then let's pick out two names," he said, taking my hand in his. We talked on for about an hour with me explaining about the events the night before and apologizing for not telling him first. After awhile we decided we were ready for some sweet potato pie and coffee. After fixing a plate each they went back to set before the fire and watch the day come to an end. I stood up, picked up our plates and headed towards the kitchen, "I believe I am ready for bed, that rocking chair don't sleep real good," I said. Bobby followed behind me, "I'm just going to step out to the barn and check on everybody. Your daddy helped me get caught up, out there when we went to get his horse and stable ours, so I shouldn't be long." I reached for his hat by the back door and stood up on my toes to place it on his head, kissing him on the lips, "Why don't we just leave that rope lead up for awhile, at least 'til the snow clears." Bobby agreed with me, "You are just about the smartest person I know," he replied. I watched him out the kitchen window, make his way to the barn, pull the door open and disappear inside. Smiling and humming to myself as I finished the dishes we had used. I thought back on the day's events, saying a silent prayer of thanks for all of my blessings. The turkeys had cooked up tender, the sweet potatoes were just right and the fresh cream from the cow's milk made them extra sweet. Granny had made a pumpkin pie and a sweet potato pie along with some wheat bread. Momma opened up some green beans and made gravy and mashed potatoes. The girls had contributed by baking some small tea cookies, although more dough had been eaten raw then cooked. All in all it had turned into a wonderful first Thanksgiving for her and Bobby. I saw him come out of the barn as I was hanging up the dish towel and turned to go and get ready for bed.

That night as they snuggled close together, her back curved into his body, they watched the snow falling through the bedroom window and drifted off to sleep discussing the day's events and talking about future plans for the baby and themselves.