LUKE
Lori and the kids are dressed in their Sunday best.
I stay back by the car as she leads the little ones into the cemetery behind the little white church. It’s been one year since Lori’s grandmother passed, and she wants to put some flowers on her grave.
The kids don’t really understand why they’re here, but it makes my girl feel better to bring them and I can’t argue with her on that. I’d still move mountains for her if they were blocking her view.
Nana was laid to rest in the churchyard of her family church, and the pastor included her in his sermon today. Lori was so strong and kept a brave face for the kids, but I could see the sorrow behind her eyes and I wished there was something I could do to fix it for her.
They return to the car, and I help her get the kids situated inside. We have three now. Lucas is five, Lorraine is three, and Liam just turned two. If you ask me, it’s time for another and I’ve been trying every night to make that happen.
I close Lori’s door for her and start the car.
“I can’t believe it’s been a year already,” she says.
“She lived a long, full life. Remember when you first got here? You didn’t think she had a year left, but she bounced back and got to meet all of these children before she left this world.”
“You’re right. Remember how excited she was every time we brought a baby home?”
“I do, baby girl. She was very proud of you. You put a smile on her face every day.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” She lays her head on my arm for the long drive home. “You always know the right things to say.”
As we pull up the long, gravel driveway, the kids begin to stir.
“We’re home!” Lucas shouts and the others strain to look out the windows as the white picket fence comes into view.
“You’re going inside to change before you start playing in the dirt, son.”
“Yes, Dad,” he grumbles.
Our border collie, Max, runs beside the car as we park under the carport of our three-story farmhouse. You can’t have kids and land without having a dog, right?
Between my desire for a big family and Lori’s dream when Lucas was born, buying this place was a no-brainer once Nana left us. We have seven acres for the kids to roam and a fishing pond stocked with plenty of frogs and turtles to keep Lucas happy. The best part is that we’re still within county limits so I can keep my job as sheriff.
We enter the house through the kitchen, and Lucas and Lorraine rush off to their rooms. They’re outdoorsy kids and don’t want to waste a second of their playtime in the house.
Lori brings Liam inside, and I take him from her arms. He has missed his nap and fallen asleep in the car, so I take him to the nursery to put him in his crib. I’ve left a surprise on the counter for Lori and listen for her to find it.
It takes just a few seconds for her to call out to me. It’s been a while since we had any alone time together, and I can’t wait to see how she reacts to my surprise.
“What’s up, baby girl?” I ask her as I return to the kitchen.
“When did you do this?” she asks, pointing at the bouquet of flowers and gold-trimmed invitation that I placed on the counter before we left for the church.
“Remember when I told you I had to run back into the house for something? Well, this was it. Did you read the card yet?”
She opens the invitation and reads it aloud, “Sheriff Luke Lawson requests your company for a night of dinner and dancing… This is a very formal invitation and I’m honored you went to so much trouble, but how are we going to pull that off?”
“Well, you see, I know this sweet lady who has been around these kids for most of their lives. She missed them terribly and jumped at the chance to babysit.”
“Mrs. Spencer? Have you already set up a babysitter? How long have you been planning this?”
“We haven’t had a night without the kids since we moved here. I had a feeling that today would be hard for you. You deserve a little time away from everything. Let me spoil you a little, baby girl. That’s part of my job, you know.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” She leaps into my arms and kisses my cheek. Still light as a feather and with all the energy of a little girl.
“You should go get ready. I’ve got the kids,” I tell her.
