A week later Elizabeth was babysitting Serena, Jeffrey, John Curtis Ginny and Charlie. Emma and Ben were at the hospital, and she feared that it was bad news. Olivia and John had gone along for moral support, and everyone else was at work or couldn't be home.

"Ssh, Charlie." She rocked the little boy in her arms. Ginny had been playing blocks while the older three were upstairs, but now the little girl was bouncing up and down impatiently.

"I wanna go outside." Ginny smiled sweetly at her aunt. "Please?"

"No." Elizabeth shook her head. "No, not right now." Serena flounced down the stairs in a huff.

"The boys read my diary." She pouted, crossing over to the couch and flopping onto it dramatically. She was about to complain more when they heard a car pull up. Elizabeth kept Ginny close as the family piled in. Emma had obviously been crying, and Ben was white as he helped her inside.


Her first miscarriage. Emma sobbed uncontrollablely in bed, her body racked with tears. Why? Why couldn't she just have another healthy little baby? Ben stayed with her, rubbing her back and swallowing his own sobs.

Mary Ellen found him in the barn, milking Chance. She knew that her little brother hadn't expected this, and that he was taking it hard. She had been there when Emma was in pain, she had held her brother and sister in tight hugs. It had taken all of Mary Ellen's willpower not to break down herself.

"Ben?" She called out, crossing her arms.

Ben rubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand. "Yeah?" He stood up as he had finished the work.

"Want a hug?" Mary Ellen said tenderly. When he nodded, breaking down, she held him close and let him cry.


It was hard for Emma to do things now. The only time she felt truly happy was when the whole family were together, so her sisters put together a plan for a get together up on the Mountain, just beside where Grandpa and Grandma were buried.