“Don’t eat that. I was about to throw them away when Pa yelled for us to come outside. You and Leah want to help me make some more?”
“You’re the best, Silas. I’ll get the chocolate chips!” Leah screeched, jumping down from the table to go to the room off to the side.
“Fix her something to eat before you make them cookies,” her new papa said, reaching for one of the cookies on the plate.
“What do you like to eat, Ginny?”
Feeling all their eyes on her, waiting for her answer, Ginny suddenly wanted to burst into tears. She wanted to go back to Will’s. She was never going to remember all their names, and as much as she wanted to hold the baby, she didn’t want to change his stinky diaper.
“Nothing. I’m not hungry,” she mumbled, crossing her arms on the table and laying her head down. She didn’t want to cry in front of all her new brothers.
Silas sit down next to her on the bench. “I’m a pretty good cook. Do you like grilled cheese?”
“No,” she mumbled, beginning to cry.
“SpaghettiOs?”
“What’s that?” she mumbled, crying harder, bringing her fingers to her bib pocket under the table.
“There has to be something you like.”
Evangeline could think of only one thing she wanted. “I like jelly sauce.”
“Jelly sauce?”
“Make her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” her new papa said. “All kids like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
“Is that what you want?” Silas asked softly.
“No.”
“What does it look like?”
“It’s red and in a can.”
“She’s talking about cranberry sauce!”
Evangeline looked up to see that it was Jody who had figured it out. Sniffing, she nodded.
“You want some cranberry sauce?”
She nodded again.
“Will that make you happy?”
Evangeline nodded.
“Then I’ll get you some. I think we have a can left over from Christmas.”
Straightening, she watched as Silas left the room, then came back with a familiar can in one hand and a can opener in the other hand. Sitting back down next to her, he started opening the can.
“She’ll get sick if that’s all she’s going to eat,” Isaac said doubtfully.
Silas gave his brother a stern look before yelling out, “Leah, bring me a spoon!”
The little girl came running back into the room, carrying a spoon and a bag of chocolate chips, then climbed onto the bench.
“Can I have some?” Leah asked as Silas slid the open can in front of Evangeline.
“Yes.” Taking the spoon that Leah handed to her, she waited until Leah came back with another spoon before dipping her spoon into the red jelly. Opening her mouth, she ate the jelly with everyone watching her.
“I like cranberry sauce,” Silas told her. “Except, I like to eat mine on a turkey sandwich.”
Her spoon paused halfway to her mouth. “I do, too.”
“We don’t have any turkey, but I can make you a ham sandwich. You want me to make you one?”
“Yes, please.”
“Can I have one?” Leah asked.
“I’ll make you one,” Silas agreed.
“Me, too,” Jody said, sitting down on the bench.
“And me!” Moses yelled out, settling down next to Jody.
Her new papa sat down on the lone chair at the end of the table. “Might as well bring the whole pack of ham and the loaf of bread. Jacob, heat up that leftover potato casserole we had for dinner last night. Let’s do Ginny’s first dinner with us up right. Then we’ll all make cookies. I’ll make a few peanut butter ones just for us. How does that sound, Ginny?”
“Can Leah have one?”
“Daughter, there’s one thing you better know about me.” His face turned serious as he leaned forward. “What I give one youngin’, I give them all.” Smiling, he slid the cranberry sauce toward him to dump into a bowl that Silas had set down in front of him. “Well, except for Ezra, but as soon as he has some teeth, we’ll share with him. The ham is a bit too chewy for him yet.” Her new papa switched Ezra to his other thigh when the baby would have grabbed the bowl.
Looking around the table, Evangeline wished Trudy was there. She thought her sister would like her new family. Trudy had promised her that she would, and she always kept her promises. If she kept this one, she would keep the most important one. She would find Trudy, and they would be together again. She just had to be brave until that day came. Today wasn’t that day, but getting seven brothers, another sister, and being able to eat cherry jelly was okay.
Taking a bite of her sandwich, she had to admit the ham wasn’t bad. It wasn’t turkey, but it was good.
6
8 years later
Ginny 12 / Gavin 25
Gavin raised up on his elbow to stare down at the woman he had just made love to, unable to resist licking the drop of sweat that clung to her lower lip.