Emma couldn't utter any words when she saw the preparations her family had made. She just burst into tears and pulled them into a group hug. Never before had she felt so loved and wanted, even in this time of grief and depression.

"Alright alright..." Jim Bob grumbled, pulling away with a grin.

"We all know you love hugs, James Robert," Ben cackled, putting his arms around his brother while the rest of the family burst into laughter.

"Daddy, can I go with John Curtis to climb a tree?" Ginny pulled on Ben's leg. "Please?"

When Ben said yes, Ginny giggled and skipped off with her older cousin. He then walked over to Emma who was keeping Charlie close to her. His confidence faltered a little knowing she was still in so much pain. Yet, he was also under pressure to be the same old Ben, the one who teases everyone. The brother who can turn sympathetic in the blink of an eye when any of his family felt down. Only his brothers understood the difficulty of being the same person after you had taken another man's life.


When Jonsey and Mary Ellen announced that they were engaged that Sunday, no one was surprised. In fact, it had been kind of expected by how close they had become. John Curtis was ecstatic at having a proper father. The only downside to this marriage was that Mary Ellen would be leaving the house again, and so would John Curtis.

But that wouldn't be for many months to come.