activity as parents dropped off their children for the day. Emma helped them with their coats and then took them to play stations or the breakfast corner. Every chance she got, she played with Sammy and Steffie. Sometimes when she held them…she felt on the verge of remembering. But then afterwards she told herself she was being silly. She must just love babies.
The morning sped by and soon it was time to serve lunch. Emma worked beside Hannah and two other volunteers. “Gwen called this morning to let me know that she wouldn’t be in,” Hannah told her as she poured juice.
“How’s she feeling?” Gwen had come to Storkville, trying to escape the effects of a difficult divorce. She’d been pregnant and just wanted some peace and quiet. Instead she’d fallen in love with Ben Crowe and married him.
“Her doctor told her she could deliver anytime, so she’s sticking close to Ben and he’s sticking close to her. He probably won’t let her out of his sight for very long.”
Emma laughed. “Is he the protective type?”
“Very. Even more so than Jackson, and Jackson and I have go-rounds about it now and then.”
Hannah herself had just married in September to Jackson Caldwell. He was a pediatrician and the son of Jackson Caldwell Sr., who had been one of the wealthiest men in Storkville. Jackson had returned to the town when his father died six months ago. He and Hannah had the type of marriage that Emma admired. Anyone a mile away could see how much in love they were.
As soon as Hannah finished pouring juice, she and Emma served the children lunch. As usual there were spills and giggles, faces to be wiped, and energy to direct. It was almost three when Emma glanced at her watch and checked in with Hannah again.
“I’m going to spend a few minutes with Sammy and Steffie and then I’ll have to leave.”
“That’s fine. Penny Sue will be coming in. You know, it’s okay if you take a day off now and then. You don’t have to come in every day.”
“Nothing else seems quite as worthwhile as coming here and helping you.”
Fifteen minutes later, Emma was sitting on the floor, holding Steffie and watching Sammy awkwardly push a walking toy in the shape of a train engine. He wasn’t taking steps on his own yet, but it wouldn’t be long. He’d just fallen and was deciding whether to cry or laugh when Tucker suddenly towered above them.
“I came to take you to your doctor’s appointment.”
“I can walk, Tucker. It’s only a few blocks. You didn’t have to interrupt your work.”
“You’re part of my work,” he said briskly.
She wished that weren’t so. She wished he’d come to drive her simply because he wanted to. “We have a few minutes before my appointment. There’s coffee in the kitchen if you want some. I’ll get the twins busy with something in the playpen and then we can go.”
Tucker looked down at the floor at Sammy and then at Steffie in Emma’s arms. “Right. A cup of coffee would be good. Come get me when you’re ready to leave.”
As Emma watched him walk away, she again wondered what made him so uncomfortable being in the midst of children. She vowed to herself she’d find out what it was.
Soon.
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