"Oh Laura…"
Charles rushed to Laura's side and put his arms around her, but as soon as he touched her, Laura began to sob.
"Hey, hey come on now…" He said soothingly. "You don't think your mother and I would do that, do you?"
Laura nodded. "I can't help it!"
"Look, you and your sisters have disagreements, right?"And sometimes you get your way, don't you?"
"Yeah?"
"Sure you do. And sometimes you get your way, right?"
"Yeah?"
"But sometimes you have to compromise, even if it means going against what you originally intended."
"Well it's the same with grown-ups. In fact, I'm going to give in to your ma, right now. Caroline, go ahead and make that shirt!"
Caroline's heart filled with love for her husband who was more wonderful than she thought possible and it was all she could do not to rise from her chair and throw her arms around him.
"Oh Charles…"
"But I'm not going to wear it." He said with a wink.
Again they all laughed, but she didn't understand.
"Then why would you want me to make it if-."
"Because it will make you happy, Caroline." He replied. "And that's all I've ever wanted, for my family to be happy."
She blushed once more. "Well... if you insist."
"I insist. Now, I've got to do some work on the barn, so you'd best get started on that shirt."
"All right."
He picked up his work boots and headed for the door, stopping to kiss Caroline on the forehead. And that's when she noticed Laura grinning brightly.
"Young lady, I believe that you have homework to do!"
"Yes ma'am." Laura said, her smile disappearing as she reluctantly returned her attention to her schoolwork.
But as Caroline began to smooth the blue fabric in her hands, she could just picture how smart her husband would look in his new shirt.