Eric and Lucy arrived at the house, and hung up their jackets. They walked into the kitchen, where Annie had hamburger meat sitting in a plastic bowl, baked potatoes in the oven, and bags of salad on the counter. Eric put his Bible on the table and kissed his wife.

"Need help honey?"

"Yeah…actually you could go put these burgers on the grill real quick…and Luce, can you please go get Sam and David for me?"
"Sure mom." Lucy went upstairs to find her brothers and Eric picked up the hamburger meat, and started to make them into patties.

"How did the meeting with Jack's parents go?" Annie asked her husband
"Pretty good…it's still a total shock…"

"I know. Does Ruthie know?"

"From what Lucy told me, no. she was gone before she woke up this morning and I don't think Martin will tell her…"

"No…I don't think he should…I don't think its necessarily his place to tell her…although he is her boyfriend…and they were both friends with him…"

"Yeah but still, it's gonna be really hard on her just the same." Eric said, taking the burgers outside. He put them on the grill, just as Martin, Ruthie, and Kevin walked through the gate.

"Hey dad." Ruthie said, giving him a hug. "Hey guys…have fun last night?"

"Yes…tons. I'm gonna take my stuff upstairs…come with me Martin."

"Ok." He said, following her to her bedroom, while Kevin went to find his wife and daughter.

Ruthie put her dirty clothes in the hamper and put her bag in a drawer and sat down on her bed besides Martin. She stared at the wall, with a blank look on her face.

"Ruthie? What's wrong?"

"I don't know. I just have a feeling…"

"A feeling?"

"Like you're keeping something from me…"

"Oh."

"Are you?"

"No."

"You know you can tell me anything right?"

"Yeah I know…"

"What aren't you telling me?"

"It's nothing…" Just then, Annie called upstairs, saying that Matt, Simon, and Sandy were there.

"Let's eat…but we're talking later."

"Fine with me." He said, kissing her lightly.
They went downstairs, hands linked together. They walked into the kitchen, where they saw Simon and a very pregnant Sandy.
"Whoa.." Martin said, seeing her. She laughed a little bit and hugged him.

"How are you?"

"Pregnant."

Martin laughed slightly. "Other than pregnant?"

"I'm great…excited to get married…"

"Well I'm happy for you guys."

"Thanks. So…I hear you and Ruthie are an item now?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes we are."

"Well good for you."

Ruthie walked up to Sandy and gave her a hug. "How's the baby?"

"Good actually…"

"Boy or girl?"

"It's a girl."

"Aw! A new niece!" She said, hugging Sandy again, then hugging her brother. "Where's Matt?"

"Dining room. You guys ready to eat?"

"Yeah.."

"Martin, could you go help Eric with the burgers? And Simon, could you grab the potatoes?"

"Sure." They both said. They soon came into the dining room, carrying a lot of food. They all sat down. Most of the family was there; Eric, Annie, Matt, Lucy, Kevin, Savannah, Simon, Sandy, Ruthie, Martin, Sam, and David.

They all held hands while Eric said grace.

"Dear God, thank You for bringing this family together for this meal and all of the blessings You've given us that we take for granted, like the simple one of being together. I pray that we would cherish this time together. Help us realize how important it is that we can actually be together, unlike other families. Be with us this evening. Amen."
"Amen." They all said in unison.