Elizabeth came down with an awful case of chicken pox. She was confined to her bed, and wasn't allowed to get up. She didn't want to anyway. Erin and Emma took turns at reading books to her from a safe distance. But Elizabeth got bored of the kind of books they liked, about handsome men.
Olivia and John hadn't been happy at how Mary Ellen and Curt had gotten engaged before asking. But John just had to remind Olivia that when they had been in love, they could hardly wait to get married. At least Curt and Mary Ellen didn't plan to elope.
Mary Ellen scampered into the room, her dress half hanging off her shoulder. "Ugh, stupid dress." She muttered, heading to the vanity, fixing her dress and twisting her hair into a bun. "Curt is driving me to church."
"No more love stories." Elizabeth groaned, rolling under the endless amount of blankets.
After church was done, Emma wrapped her arms around her front, walking slowly down the path. She didn't want to wait for everyone, but to walk by herself for a bit, to get away from everyone. But of course, someone followed her. Ben.
"Where are you going?" He asked, catching up to her. Emma shrugged, saying she didn't know. Ben nodded. "All right." He headed toward the truck and climbed inside. Aimee ran towards him, laughing. "Aimee, Corabeth and Ike are coming for food!" Ben groaned in dismay.
Aimee rolled her eyes and jumped up beside Jim Bob. "Move up, James Robert." She ordered, fluttering her eyelashes.
"Who's downstairs?" Elizabeth muttered to her sisters as they got dressed.
"Ike, Corabeth and the lovely daughter Aimee." Mary Ellen ran out the door, Erin following.
Emma tucked Elizabeth in. "I'll bring you a sandwich later. If I haven't caught chicken pox by then." She teased, heading downstairs.
After the food, Emma headed outside with Erin and Mary Ellen. They were going to plan a party for Mary Ellen before her wedding. "So, who do you wanna invite?" Erin asked, chewing on a pen.
"Myself, you, Emma, Mama, Grandma, Joy, Elizabeth, Corabeth if I have to," She glanced at the door to make sure Corabeth hadn't heard. "Aimee, the Baldwin sisters, Martha Rose and baby Grace. I don't want to start inviting cousins."
Erin nodded. "Makes sense." She copied the names down. "Now just be careful you don't get chicken pox, like me." Erin groaned as she scratched her leg.
Now that Erin had chicken pox, it seemed like everyone was just hoping for Mary Ellen to not get them. She tried to avoid Elizabeth and Erin as much as she could, although that was extremely hard. Elizabeth thankfully got over it within the week, and Erin was alone in her time of suffering. But it was just a vicious circle, as Emma came down with it after a day.
Emma now knew what Erin had meant when she said she was bored. Staring up at the ceiling all day was tiring, and very repetitive. She had the option to read a book, but she couldn't concentrate on any. Mary Ellen, the adults and the boys were the only ones who escaped the chicken pox. And thankfully Emma, who was the last one to get over it, recovered just in time for Mary Ellen's party.