Emma propped herself up on her elbows as she stared at the sun that was rising that early morning. Here she was, sixteen years old, and she was still fascinated by it.
So much had happened in the last four years. Olivia had had a miscarriage, Ben had been blamed for a car accident, the whole house had nearly burned down, Erin had fell in love for the first time, John Boy had started a newspaper and Mary Ellen had joined nursing school after she graduated. Oh, and Emma couldn't believe Mary Ellen was actually dating the new town doctor, Curtis Willard.
Ten year old Elizabeth tiptoed over and tapped her on the shoulder. "Hurry up! We gotta help with breakfast." Emma nodded and as she turned around, and realized she was the last one in the room. Sighing as she got dressed and tied her dark hair back, she hummed a tune she couldn't place. It was probably something Jason had played.
Hurrying to her sisters, she started to put the food on the table. John Boy, Mary Ellen and Jason grabbed a piece of bread each and ran out the door so they would get to college/ nursing school in time. It was scary for Emma to think that she and Ben would be graduating very soon. She had a little time though, it was only November.
As the rest of the family sat down, Emma set the bread on the table and placed herself in her normal seat between Jim Bob and Ben. After John gave thanks, he and Grandpa ate very little before heading out to the mill.
"What's got them in a hurry?" Grandma frowned.
"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, Grandma." Olivia said soothingly.
After school was done, Emma and Erin walked home together. "I've been thinking of getting a job." Emma said.
"Me too!" the fifteen year old smiled. "What kind of job?"
"I don't know. I don't even know what I'm gonna do when I graduate." Emma sighed. "It's just so much pressure."
"Hey, you've got a bit of time yet. Anyway, who have you been thinking of going with to the church dance? I wanted to go with Peter, but Nancy is going with him."
"I didn't know you still liked Peter. And, uh, I'm not sure." Emma tried as hard as she could not to blush.
A smile tugged at Erin's lips. "How about Ben?"
"No Erin!" Emma protested, folding her arms.
"Fine! I just think you'd be really nice together." Erin teased, laughing as Emma rolled her eyes.
Aimee, Ike and Corabeth's adopted daughter, and Elizabeth, trailed behind. "Hey Aimee, you know Patsy Brimmer, the new girl?"
"Yeah. Jim Bob told me about her." Aimee answered.
"Well, she told me she has a crush on Jim Bob."
Aimee's eyes darted to Elizabeth's face. "What?! Are you sure." She tried to sound like she didn't care. But really, she had a very big crush on thirteen year old Jim Bob.
"Yeah! We were talking the other day." Elizabeth shrugged. Aimee nodded and made a mental note to check out this Patsy girl.