Molly looked up at Chris, tears in her eyes. "You tell her," she said,
jumping up and running back toward the big house.
"Molly!" he called after her. She kept running.
Kendra tugged on Chris' pants leg. He looked down at her. "What?"
"Why didn't she tell me?"
"She's just nervous... Come on, let's go find her."
"Is she mad at me?"
"No, she's not mad at you."
"Will you tell me?"
"It's something she needs to tell you."
"Why?"
"Because it's something very important."
"I'm gonna go ask Daddy!" she said, running toward the house.
Chasing after her, Chris grabbed her by the waist and picked her up.
"He's not going to tell you either. Everyone knows it's up to Molly."
She squirmed in his arms, kicking her legs and swinging her arms. "Let me down!"
"Kendra, you stop this right now!"
"NO!"
"Yes!"
"LET ME GO!"
He simply carried her off in search of Molly. She screamed as loud as she could and continued squirming. "Kendra, stop making a scene!" She bit his arm. He yelped and nearly dropped her but managed to catch the back of her dress. He carried her that way- like a little bag. Spot, Blank and Sippi stood at the back door watching him carry her across the yard.
"LET ME GO!" she continued to yell.
"Has Molly come through?" he asked, ignoring Kendra.
Spot shook his head. "I haven't seen her."
Chris sighed in utter frustration. 'Sippi was trying not to laugh at the way he was carrying Kendra.
"Somebody help me with her," Chris muttered.
Sippi took her. "We'll keep her in line."
"Be careful." Chris warned. "She bit me."
He grinned. "I have nine brothers and sisters... a bite is nothing."
"I'm going to find Molly," Chris said, walking around the side of the house.
"Let me go!" Kendra yelled, wiggling in Sippi's arms.
"Not until you tell me what's gotten into you little lady."
"NO!" she yelled.
Sippi sighed and glanced at Blank. "She's your niece."
Blank threw his hands up. "I didn't volunteer to help."
"Being her uncle implies help."
"Not this time," Blank said, leaving the room.
"Blank? BLANK! Get back here!"
Kendra screamed louder. Sippi clamped his hand over her mouth, making sure his palm was arched well enough so that she couldn't bite him, and carried her inside.
She wiggled and kicked and squirmed in an attempt to get free.
"Spot! Rae! Someone!" he yelled, trying not to drop her. When no one answered, he growled in frustration. Where were they, he wondered. He turned the wiggling girl around, careful to keep her mouth covered and looked her in the eye. "Stop it! Now!"
She wrinkled her nose and thrashed around a bit more.
"Kendra...Be still..."
Finally, the fight seemed to have left her and with a "hmph" she stopped fighting him.
"That's better. Now tell me what's wrong," he said, moving his hand.
"Chris said Molly had ta tell me somefin.... and she won't!"
"Maybe she doesn't want to tell you."
"But no one will tell me!"
"Then you'll just have to wait until they will."
"I don't wanna wait," she pouted.
"Did you ask your daddy to tell you?"
"Chris said I can't. That Molly's gotta do it..."
Sippi sighed. "Then you have to wait for Molly to tell you."
She pouted. "It's not fair."
"I'm sorry, short stuff."
"When will she tell me?"
"When she's ready."
"Does that mean never?"
"No. She'll tell you. I have to go out to the barn. Do you want to go with me?"
With a little sigh of defeat, she nodded and followed him out. He reached down and swung her up on his shoulder. She giggled, wrapping her arms around the top of his head. "Look at me Andy!" she called out when they entered the barn.
He looked up and squinted. "Hi Kendra."
"Wha'cha doin'?"
"Cleanin' the stable..."
"Why? Don't Chris do that?"
"Not today..."
"Why?"
"Cause we're in trouble," Jackson, who was helping, mumbled.
Kendra giggled. Andy wrinkled his nose a bit.
Sippi dropped Kendra from his shoulder into his arms. "It's not nice to make fun of them, Kendra."
"I'm not makin' fun..."
"Yes you were...you were laughing at them."
"But..."
He shook his head. She frowned. "Where is your kitty?" he asked, changing the subject.
"I... I don't know... Last time I saw her she was asleep."
"Why don't you go find her," he said, carrying her to the house.
"Okay!"
Once in the house he set her down and she scampered off.
Sippi smiled faintly and shook his head. He headed further into the house, wondering where everyone else was.
* * *
Spot stuck his head in the new bedroom. "How are you feeling?"
Rae looked up at him sleepily. "I'm feeling like I want these babies out now..."
He walked over and sat next to her. "Just give it time."
"I wish it were over with," she murmured.
"I know," he said, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Do you think we'll be able to handle two more children?"
"With the bunch that we've already got? We can handle anything," he said, grinning at her.
She laughed a little. "I suppose that's true." Just then Kendra screamed. Rae sat up quickly. "What was that?" she demanded, wincing a bit.
"You stay here. I'll go find out."
He trotted up the stairs. "Kendra? Kendra? Where are you?"
"DADDY!" she yelled from the playroom.
He dashed into the room. "What? What is it?"
"They took my kitty!" she yelled, pointing to two boys who stood across the room.
Spot gave the boys a steely look. "Lonny... Forrest.... give Kendra her kitten now."
"Why should we?"
"Because one, she isn't your kitten; two, what would Sippi say to see that you've resorted to petty theft? I don't think he'd be pleased;, three, I'm not pleased; and four, because I said so. Unless you want to be mucking barns with your brother."
Grumbling they gave her the kitten back.
"What do you say, Kendra?"
"Thank you," she said, clutching the kitten tightly.
Spot gave the boys another look. "You'd do well not to do that again," he warned.
"Whatever," they mumbled, climbing out the window onto the balcony.
He growled a bit. He was going to have to talk to Sippi. If they didn't get their act together, they'd be packing their bangs.
"Why don't you go check on Momma?" Spot asked Kendra. She nodded, hiking her kitten up, and she left the room. Sighing, Spot followed her.
"Hi Momma," Kendra said when she finally toddled into Rae's room. "I brought Pape t' visit you."
Rae smiled. "Thank you, sweetheart."
She set Pape on the bed. "You're welcome."
"Climb on up and talk to me, Miss Kendra." Up she clambered. "I heard you screaming a lot earlier..."
"Those mean new boys took Pape from me an' wouldn't give her back."
"I was talking about before that...this morning..."
"Oh..." Kendra nodded. "Nobody's tellin' me things."
"Who isn't telling you things?"
"Molly."
"Oh..."
"Do you know, Momma?"
"Yes...Kendra...I do..."
"Can you tell me?" she asked hopefully.
Rae sighed. "I wish I could, sweetheart...but Daddy said that Molly had to tell you..."
Her bottom lip puffed out in a pout. "But whyyy?" she whined.
"Because I said so, Kendra..." Spot said from the doorway. She did not look too pleased with that answer.
"Did Molly tell you anything?" Rae asked.
"No..."
Rae sighed.
Kendra looked from Rae to Spot to Rae again.
"Can't we tell her?" Rae asked Spot.
He shook his head. "It's up to Molly to tell her. Not us." Rae sighed deeply. "You know it's the right choice, Rae..."
"I know," Rae said as Kendra cuddled up close to her.
He went over to the both of them and hugged them. "We'll be okay."
Rae gave him a half smile. "One day."
"One day soon," he assured her.
She yawned. He smiled. "Why don't you get some sleep, all right? I'll take Kendra." She nodded and rolled to her side.
"C'mon Miss Kendra, let's leave her alone now."
"Ok," she said, scooping up her kitten.
Ushering her out of the room, he then scooped her and Pape up. "How about some play time?"
She nodded. "As long as those mean boys don't play."
He smiled. "I'll make sure they don't." She grinned.
He led her up to the playroom again and gave a warning glance to the boys who looked up when she toddled in. Ann and Ginny were sitting in the corner of the room and Ann's face was suspiciously red.
"What's the matter, Ann?" Spot asked, noticing this.
She shook her head as a tear rolled down her cheek.
He walked over to her and sat next to her. "Come on, you can tell me."
She burst into tears and hid her face in her hands.
"What is it?" He cradled her in his arms.
"My head hurts," she sniffled. "And my tummy..." She wailed loudly. "I don't want to die..."
"Oh honey... that doesn't mean you're going to die..."
"But that's what happened to Julie..."
He rocked her back and forth. "Not every ache and pain means you're going to die, sweet heart."
She sniffled and clung to him.
Gently, he stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. "It's all right sweetheart."
"I miss Julie," she whispered.
"I know you do.... We all do..."
"Why does everyone have to go away?"
"I don't know Annie..."
"I don't want anyone else to go away."
"Neither do I."
She looked up at him. "Can Ginny stay with us?"
"Well... that is all up to Sippi to decide."
"Really?"
"Mostly.... Momma might not approve because we are having another set of twins."
"More twins?" she asked, her eyes growing large.
He smiled and nodded. "Yep. Looks like it."
She frowned and hung her head.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"Maybe....maybe...."
"Maybe?" He prompted.
"Maybe you and Momma won't want me and Andy no more...since you're gonna have your own twins..."
"Why do you think that? We'd never not want you."
"But you and Momma are gonna have twins...and their really yours....me and Andy are just 'dopted."
"We'll love you just the same."
She sighed and nodded.
He kissed the side of her head. "Nothing could change how your momma and I feel about you."
"Can I go ask Mr. Sippi if Ginny can stay?"
He nodded. "I suppose you can."
She jumped off his lap and ran from the room. "Mr. Sippi!" she called. "Mr. Sippi!?"
He met her at the bottom of the stairs. "Yes ma'am?"
"Can Ginny stay with us?"
He squatted down to her level. "Well, Miss Annie...What did your Momma and Daddy say?"
"Well... Daddy said I had to ask you first... And then that Momma might say know because she's having two babies."
"I see," he said, scratching his chin thoughtfully.
She looked at him expectantly.
"Why do you want Ginny to stay with you?"
"Because.... because I don't have any friends that are girls.... everyone here is a boy except Molly and Kendra... but Molly is too big and Kendra is too little."
"Don't you have any friends from school?"
"No..." she said quietly. "Everyone thinks Daddy is a monster..."
He nodded. "Can I think about it, Miss Annie, and give you my answer in a few days?"
She nodded seriously. "Yessir."
"Do you think there are any cookies in that cookie jar in the kitchen?" he asked seriously.
"Maybe..." she said rather hopefully.
"Well...I know your Momma likes cookies...so why don't you and I go make some and talk about me letting Ginny stay."
"Okay!" she said with a gleeful grin. "Can Ginny help too?"
He smiled. "Yes ma'am."
"Okay! I'll go get her!" Ann tore upstairs and a few minutes later she came back with Ginny in tow. "Let's go!"
* * *
Chris found Molly on the porch of the small cabin by the lake, where she had taken to hiding every day since she had first tried to tell Kendra.
"Hello you," he said quietly, sitting next to her.
She sighed, but didn't answer.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked.
"Thinking," she whispered.
Gently he took her hands and squeezed them. "Bout what?"
"Leaving."
"Are you going to leave?"
"Spot said I had to tell Kendra before she goes to bed tonight....I can't tell her Chris....I'll be leaving after breakfast."
"You can't leave," he said quietly.
"It's not my decision."
"Then make it yours... tell her. Do you know how much it would hurt everyone if you left? How... how it would hurt me?" Chris asked.
"It's gonna hurt me too, Chris! But I can't tell her."
"How come?"
"I just can't!"
"Can't... or won't?"
She buried her face in her hands and began sobbing. Gently, he put his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "I can't find the right words..." she sobbed.
"Perhaps you're thinking too hard?"
"Maybe it would be best if I did leave...."
"No...what could be best about running away from things you are scared of. I was always taught you were supposed to face your fears."
"I tried to Chris...and I just couldn't do it..."
He pulled her closer and stroked her hair gently. He sighed, knowing that he couldn't convince her to stay. "Where will you go?"
She shook her head and sniffled. "I don't know..."
"Spot said you could stay here in the little cabin." She rested her head on his shoulder. Chris sighed. "He said I couldn't come down here, though."
"Why not?"
"He said you would most likely come to your senses if we cut off all contact."
She buried her face in his shoulder. Just then Annie and Ginny came running into the clearing.
"Hey you two," Chris called out.
"Hey Chris! Hey Molly!"
"What is it?"
"Daddy says it's time for dinner."
Together, Chris and Molly nodded and stood up.
"Why are you crying Molly?" Ginny asked.
Hastily, she dried her face. "Just something in my eye."
"Ok," Ginny said, skipping back up to the house.
Chris cast her a sidelong glance and laced his fingers with hers. "It will be all right," he whispered. She nodded. And together, they went into the house.
"Molly!" he called after her. She kept running.
Kendra tugged on Chris' pants leg. He looked down at her. "What?"
"Why didn't she tell me?"
"She's just nervous... Come on, let's go find her."
"Is she mad at me?"
"No, she's not mad at you."
"Will you tell me?"
"It's something she needs to tell you."
"Why?"
"Because it's something very important."
"I'm gonna go ask Daddy!" she said, running toward the house.
Chasing after her, Chris grabbed her by the waist and picked her up.
"He's not going to tell you either. Everyone knows it's up to Molly."
She squirmed in his arms, kicking her legs and swinging her arms. "Let me down!"
"Kendra, you stop this right now!"
"NO!"
"Yes!"
"LET ME GO!"
He simply carried her off in search of Molly. She screamed as loud as she could and continued squirming. "Kendra, stop making a scene!" She bit his arm. He yelped and nearly dropped her but managed to catch the back of her dress. He carried her that way- like a little bag. Spot, Blank and Sippi stood at the back door watching him carry her across the yard.
"LET ME GO!" she continued to yell.
"Has Molly come through?" he asked, ignoring Kendra.
Spot shook his head. "I haven't seen her."
Chris sighed in utter frustration. 'Sippi was trying not to laugh at the way he was carrying Kendra.
"Somebody help me with her," Chris muttered.
Sippi took her. "We'll keep her in line."
"Be careful." Chris warned. "She bit me."
He grinned. "I have nine brothers and sisters... a bite is nothing."
"I'm going to find Molly," Chris said, walking around the side of the house.
"Let me go!" Kendra yelled, wiggling in Sippi's arms.
"Not until you tell me what's gotten into you little lady."
"NO!" she yelled.
Sippi sighed and glanced at Blank. "She's your niece."
Blank threw his hands up. "I didn't volunteer to help."
"Being her uncle implies help."
"Not this time," Blank said, leaving the room.
"Blank? BLANK! Get back here!"
Kendra screamed louder. Sippi clamped his hand over her mouth, making sure his palm was arched well enough so that she couldn't bite him, and carried her inside.
She wiggled and kicked and squirmed in an attempt to get free.
"Spot! Rae! Someone!" he yelled, trying not to drop her. When no one answered, he growled in frustration. Where were they, he wondered. He turned the wiggling girl around, careful to keep her mouth covered and looked her in the eye. "Stop it! Now!"
She wrinkled her nose and thrashed around a bit more.
"Kendra...Be still..."
Finally, the fight seemed to have left her and with a "hmph" she stopped fighting him.
"That's better. Now tell me what's wrong," he said, moving his hand.
"Chris said Molly had ta tell me somefin.... and she won't!"
"Maybe she doesn't want to tell you."
"But no one will tell me!"
"Then you'll just have to wait until they will."
"I don't wanna wait," she pouted.
"Did you ask your daddy to tell you?"
"Chris said I can't. That Molly's gotta do it..."
Sippi sighed. "Then you have to wait for Molly to tell you."
She pouted. "It's not fair."
"I'm sorry, short stuff."
"When will she tell me?"
"When she's ready."
"Does that mean never?"
"No. She'll tell you. I have to go out to the barn. Do you want to go with me?"
With a little sigh of defeat, she nodded and followed him out. He reached down and swung her up on his shoulder. She giggled, wrapping her arms around the top of his head. "Look at me Andy!" she called out when they entered the barn.
He looked up and squinted. "Hi Kendra."
"Wha'cha doin'?"
"Cleanin' the stable..."
"Why? Don't Chris do that?"
"Not today..."
"Why?"
"Cause we're in trouble," Jackson, who was helping, mumbled.
Kendra giggled. Andy wrinkled his nose a bit.
Sippi dropped Kendra from his shoulder into his arms. "It's not nice to make fun of them, Kendra."
"I'm not makin' fun..."
"Yes you were...you were laughing at them."
"But..."
He shook his head. She frowned. "Where is your kitty?" he asked, changing the subject.
"I... I don't know... Last time I saw her she was asleep."
"Why don't you go find her," he said, carrying her to the house.
"Okay!"
Once in the house he set her down and she scampered off.
Sippi smiled faintly and shook his head. He headed further into the house, wondering where everyone else was.
* * *
Spot stuck his head in the new bedroom. "How are you feeling?"
Rae looked up at him sleepily. "I'm feeling like I want these babies out now..."
He walked over and sat next to her. "Just give it time."
"I wish it were over with," she murmured.
"I know," he said, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Do you think we'll be able to handle two more children?"
"With the bunch that we've already got? We can handle anything," he said, grinning at her.
She laughed a little. "I suppose that's true." Just then Kendra screamed. Rae sat up quickly. "What was that?" she demanded, wincing a bit.
"You stay here. I'll go find out."
He trotted up the stairs. "Kendra? Kendra? Where are you?"
"DADDY!" she yelled from the playroom.
He dashed into the room. "What? What is it?"
"They took my kitty!" she yelled, pointing to two boys who stood across the room.
Spot gave the boys a steely look. "Lonny... Forrest.... give Kendra her kitten now."
"Why should we?"
"Because one, she isn't your kitten; two, what would Sippi say to see that you've resorted to petty theft? I don't think he'd be pleased;, three, I'm not pleased; and four, because I said so. Unless you want to be mucking barns with your brother."
Grumbling they gave her the kitten back.
"What do you say, Kendra?"
"Thank you," she said, clutching the kitten tightly.
Spot gave the boys another look. "You'd do well not to do that again," he warned.
"Whatever," they mumbled, climbing out the window onto the balcony.
He growled a bit. He was going to have to talk to Sippi. If they didn't get their act together, they'd be packing their bangs.
"Why don't you go check on Momma?" Spot asked Kendra. She nodded, hiking her kitten up, and she left the room. Sighing, Spot followed her.
"Hi Momma," Kendra said when she finally toddled into Rae's room. "I brought Pape t' visit you."
Rae smiled. "Thank you, sweetheart."
She set Pape on the bed. "You're welcome."
"Climb on up and talk to me, Miss Kendra." Up she clambered. "I heard you screaming a lot earlier..."
"Those mean new boys took Pape from me an' wouldn't give her back."
"I was talking about before that...this morning..."
"Oh..." Kendra nodded. "Nobody's tellin' me things."
"Who isn't telling you things?"
"Molly."
"Oh..."
"Do you know, Momma?"
"Yes...Kendra...I do..."
"Can you tell me?" she asked hopefully.
Rae sighed. "I wish I could, sweetheart...but Daddy said that Molly had to tell you..."
Her bottom lip puffed out in a pout. "But whyyy?" she whined.
"Because I said so, Kendra..." Spot said from the doorway. She did not look too pleased with that answer.
"Did Molly tell you anything?" Rae asked.
"No..."
Rae sighed.
Kendra looked from Rae to Spot to Rae again.
"Can't we tell her?" Rae asked Spot.
He shook his head. "It's up to Molly to tell her. Not us." Rae sighed deeply. "You know it's the right choice, Rae..."
"I know," Rae said as Kendra cuddled up close to her.
He went over to the both of them and hugged them. "We'll be okay."
Rae gave him a half smile. "One day."
"One day soon," he assured her.
She yawned. He smiled. "Why don't you get some sleep, all right? I'll take Kendra." She nodded and rolled to her side.
"C'mon Miss Kendra, let's leave her alone now."
"Ok," she said, scooping up her kitten.
Ushering her out of the room, he then scooped her and Pape up. "How about some play time?"
She nodded. "As long as those mean boys don't play."
He smiled. "I'll make sure they don't." She grinned.
He led her up to the playroom again and gave a warning glance to the boys who looked up when she toddled in. Ann and Ginny were sitting in the corner of the room and Ann's face was suspiciously red.
"What's the matter, Ann?" Spot asked, noticing this.
She shook her head as a tear rolled down her cheek.
He walked over to her and sat next to her. "Come on, you can tell me."
She burst into tears and hid her face in her hands.
"What is it?" He cradled her in his arms.
"My head hurts," she sniffled. "And my tummy..." She wailed loudly. "I don't want to die..."
"Oh honey... that doesn't mean you're going to die..."
"But that's what happened to Julie..."
He rocked her back and forth. "Not every ache and pain means you're going to die, sweet heart."
She sniffled and clung to him.
Gently, he stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. "It's all right sweetheart."
"I miss Julie," she whispered.
"I know you do.... We all do..."
"Why does everyone have to go away?"
"I don't know Annie..."
"I don't want anyone else to go away."
"Neither do I."
She looked up at him. "Can Ginny stay with us?"
"Well... that is all up to Sippi to decide."
"Really?"
"Mostly.... Momma might not approve because we are having another set of twins."
"More twins?" she asked, her eyes growing large.
He smiled and nodded. "Yep. Looks like it."
She frowned and hung her head.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"Maybe....maybe...."
"Maybe?" He prompted.
"Maybe you and Momma won't want me and Andy no more...since you're gonna have your own twins..."
"Why do you think that? We'd never not want you."
"But you and Momma are gonna have twins...and their really yours....me and Andy are just 'dopted."
"We'll love you just the same."
She sighed and nodded.
He kissed the side of her head. "Nothing could change how your momma and I feel about you."
"Can I go ask Mr. Sippi if Ginny can stay?"
He nodded. "I suppose you can."
She jumped off his lap and ran from the room. "Mr. Sippi!" she called. "Mr. Sippi!?"
He met her at the bottom of the stairs. "Yes ma'am?"
"Can Ginny stay with us?"
He squatted down to her level. "Well, Miss Annie...What did your Momma and Daddy say?"
"Well... Daddy said I had to ask you first... And then that Momma might say know because she's having two babies."
"I see," he said, scratching his chin thoughtfully.
She looked at him expectantly.
"Why do you want Ginny to stay with you?"
"Because.... because I don't have any friends that are girls.... everyone here is a boy except Molly and Kendra... but Molly is too big and Kendra is too little."
"Don't you have any friends from school?"
"No..." she said quietly. "Everyone thinks Daddy is a monster..."
He nodded. "Can I think about it, Miss Annie, and give you my answer in a few days?"
She nodded seriously. "Yessir."
"Do you think there are any cookies in that cookie jar in the kitchen?" he asked seriously.
"Maybe..." she said rather hopefully.
"Well...I know your Momma likes cookies...so why don't you and I go make some and talk about me letting Ginny stay."
"Okay!" she said with a gleeful grin. "Can Ginny help too?"
He smiled. "Yes ma'am."
"Okay! I'll go get her!" Ann tore upstairs and a few minutes later she came back with Ginny in tow. "Let's go!"
* * *
Chris found Molly on the porch of the small cabin by the lake, where she had taken to hiding every day since she had first tried to tell Kendra.
"Hello you," he said quietly, sitting next to her.
She sighed, but didn't answer.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked.
"Thinking," she whispered.
Gently he took her hands and squeezed them. "Bout what?"
"Leaving."
"Are you going to leave?"
"Spot said I had to tell Kendra before she goes to bed tonight....I can't tell her Chris....I'll be leaving after breakfast."
"You can't leave," he said quietly.
"It's not my decision."
"Then make it yours... tell her. Do you know how much it would hurt everyone if you left? How... how it would hurt me?" Chris asked.
"It's gonna hurt me too, Chris! But I can't tell her."
"How come?"
"I just can't!"
"Can't... or won't?"
She buried her face in her hands and began sobbing. Gently, he put his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "I can't find the right words..." she sobbed.
"Perhaps you're thinking too hard?"
"Maybe it would be best if I did leave...."
"No...what could be best about running away from things you are scared of. I was always taught you were supposed to face your fears."
"I tried to Chris...and I just couldn't do it..."
He pulled her closer and stroked her hair gently. He sighed, knowing that he couldn't convince her to stay. "Where will you go?"
She shook her head and sniffled. "I don't know..."
"Spot said you could stay here in the little cabin." She rested her head on his shoulder. Chris sighed. "He said I couldn't come down here, though."
"Why not?"
"He said you would most likely come to your senses if we cut off all contact."
She buried her face in his shoulder. Just then Annie and Ginny came running into the clearing.
"Hey you two," Chris called out.
"Hey Chris! Hey Molly!"
"What is it?"
"Daddy says it's time for dinner."
Together, Chris and Molly nodded and stood up.
"Why are you crying Molly?" Ginny asked.
Hastily, she dried her face. "Just something in my eye."
"Ok," Ginny said, skipping back up to the house.
Chris cast her a sidelong glance and laced his fingers with hers. "It will be all right," he whispered. She nodded. And together, they went into the house.