Emma breathed a sigh of relief. It looked as though Mandy had gotten over whatever she’d been upset about earlier and Beverly had decided to put aside her worries for the time being.
Just as she was about to follow and make sure everyone had what they needed, Jay clasped her elbow. “Wait a minute, Emma. They’ll be fine. You, on the other hand, look like you could use a moment’s rest.”
Emma knew he was right. She did need a moment’s peace. Besides, the only person there who would need help was now perched on Jay’s lap. She pulled over one of her metal folding chairs and sat down next to him and Annie. “Thanks,” she said, feeling a little sheepish. “I guess I am looking a little frazzled.”
“You don’t look frazzled at all. I simply hate the idea of you running yourself ragged for all of us.”
“I’m not ragged.” When his eyebrows rose, she giggled. “Okay, maybe I am a little ragged, but it’s not your fault.”
“What happened? Life?”
She nodded. “I like how you said that. I think God was simply reminding me this afternoon that even best-laid plans can come tumbling down.”
“In spite of our best intentions.”
She nodded. “I should have known that, too.” Shaking off her mood, she said, “By the way, those berries look delicious. Danke for bringing them.”
He grinned as William and Mark popped back outside, their hands filled with heaping plates. “It’s the least we can do. My boys don’t get lunches like this too often. Obviously, they’re happy about it. Thank you for inviting us.”
“I’m glad you could come.”
Tilting his head down to peer at Annie, he spoke gently. “What do you think, Miss Annie? Are you ready to get some lunch?”
“Uh-huh.”
Jay stood up and set her on the ground. “We’d better get our plates before everything’s gone.”
Annie nodded, then to Emma’s surprise, slipped her hand into Jay’s. He gave her a little smile before leading the way inside.
Watching them, Emma silently gave praise. Here she’d been so nervous and worried about the number of people, the amount of food, and how everything would look. But God had shown her time and again that it was the special people in her life who she needed to concentrate on the most. And today was no different.
Everything else would be just fine.
Chapter 14
Soon after Emma had placed another pitcher of lemonade on the counter, helped Annie get her plate of food, and bent her head to silently say grace, everything that could possibly have gone wrong, did.
And it all started with Frankie.
As everyone sat down to eat, their usually lazy beagle became increasingly energetic. He barked. He whined for food. He propped his front paws up on the picnic table bench and the children’s knees. He patrolled under the table for scraps. Continually. Like a shark.
He didn’t listen to any of Emma’s warnings, either.
She couldn’t put him inside her bedroom because she didn’t trust him not to scratch the door or suddenly start shredding her quilt. He had never done such things but she was worried that with all the company he was in an anything-goes mood.
Everyone, even the kinner, was becoming rather annoyed, and with good reason.
Then, just moments after Emma had chastised him yet again, she saw Frankie nudge William’s knee with his nose and gaze soulfully up at him with his big brown eyes. For that award-worthy performance, William gave him a pickle.
Mandy, who was sitting beside William, did not like this happening one bit. “William, nee!” she snapped. “Frankie can’t have pickles. You’re gonna make him sick.”
“Oh, come on. It was just one.” He held up the other half of his pickle spear. “See,” he said with a know-it-all grin, “only half of one.”
“You shouldn’t have done it!” Mandy’s voice turned shrill and trembly. It was obvious to Emma that she was on the verge of tears.
Lena rolled her eyes. “Oh, stop, Mandy. It ain’t like you’ve never given Frankie food before.”
“Not pickles. Never pickles.”
Lena shared a look with William. Even from where Emma was sitting, she recognized it as a superior smirk. The kind of smirk that said little sisters are nuisances. And while that might be true, Emma knew this was neither the time nor the place for it.
“Lena, be nice!” Emma called out, hoping to keep the little tiff from getting out of control. But she was too late.
Lena rolled her eyes.
Mandy pointed at her from across the table. “You canna do that, Lena. Mamm is gonna get mad.”
Lena lifted up her chin. “Mamm’s only gonna get mad if you mess up our lunch. Which you are doing, Mandy.”