A Gathering of Memories (37 page)

“Oh, Paul! The girls just ran by and Timmy was chasing them. He’s a mess.”

“I’ll get him and keep Matt. You get the girls.
And
you look beautiful,” he added, when her hands moved anxiously to her hair.

“Hiding out?”

“Oh, Preston,” Emily laughed up at her husband of almost two years as he entered the kitchen. He kissed her and asked what she was writing.

“I want to be sure I write down everyone who’s here. I think I’ve got them all.”

“Let’s see the list.” He took the paper and read out loud.

Preston and Emily Culver

Luke and Christine Cameron—

  Joshua, Kathrine, Rachael, and Grace

Mark and Susanne Cameron—

  Emily, Elizabeth, Ellen, Erika, and Esther

Silas and Amy Cameron—

  Carrie, Levi, Clovis, and Rebecca

John and Julia MacDonald—

  Calvin, Charles, and Robyn

Paul and Abigail Cameron—

  Jessica, Julie, Timothy, and Matthew

Ross and Amanda Beckett—

  Kimberly

Peter Culver

Grant Nolan

Chad and April Nolan

Maggie Pearson

“Looks complete to me. I heard Julia say that supper is served as soon as the group picture is taken.

“We had better make ourselves available.”

Pete and Carrie came in just as Preston opened the door. “We’re rounding everyone up for the picture.”

“We were on our way.”

“Okay,” Pete said with a smile, and the older couple watched them go off hand in hand.

“He’s loved her since she was 14,” Preston mentioned as they went outside.

“It’s been the same for her,” Grandma Em added. “She told me there wasn’t anything she could do about it. She’s loved Pete from the moment she laid eyes on him and she’s never even looked at anyone else.”

“We Culver men love for life.” He put his arm around her as they walked, and many of the family watched them smile at each other, causing their own faces to crease with delight.

It had not been a complete surprise that Preston wanted to marry Grandma Em. None of her grandchildren would have denied her the joy of his companionship, and in truth, they found him delightful. What
did
surprise most everyone was to see that they married for
love
not companionship, something that was very evident whenever they were in the same room together.

“Okay, folks,” the small man behind the camera called to them. “You’ll have to come in close—that’s right. Everyone look this way.”

He gave instructions, which the adults tried to follow. The children, hungry and never wanting to stand still, squirmed and tried the patience of the ones who wanted the photo to be perfect.

When the photographer was satisfied, supper was served on long tables outside. Food and good fellowship was plentiful. Everyone sang to Mark’s Emily, whose birthday was only
a few days away. Paul was elected to say a few words, and when he stood, even the children were quiet.

“I know I speak for Abby and myself when I say it’s wonderful to be here. And thank you for giving me this chance to speak. Being the only one to live away from Baxter, well, let’s just say we feel the miles very keenly at times. Please know that we love you, miss you, and pray for you.

“The words seem insignificant when I say them, but say them I will—God has been good, hasn’t He? I love standing here and seeing our family together again, gathered not only as a family but gathered with our memories too. I love having my wife by my side with our four wonderful children.

“I love looking over at Silas holding his
granddaughter
.” Paul’s eyes twinkled and everyone laughed as the very young grandfather snuggled Mandy’s little Kimberly close and kissed her.

Paul’s eyes went to Ross and became moist. “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we, Ross?” The younger man nodded, choked up as well, his arm around Mandy.

“It’s good to have Grant here. I hear his summer with the boys was very blessed. And my congratulations go to my niece Carrie; I hope we can make it back for the wedding.” Pete and Carrie smiled at him from their place and then at one another.

Paul looked for a long minute at his grandmother and Preston. He then spoke with emotion. “It’s good to have you with us, Preston. There isn’t any way to describe to you how precious it is to us that you love our grandmother as we do. And her beautiful countenance tells us she loves you in return. We thank God for you.

“I’ll close now with these words out of Second Thessalonians, the last verses. ‘Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle; so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.’ ”

Books by Lori Wick

A Place Called Home Series

A Place Called Home

A Song for Silas

The Long Road Home

A Gathering of Memories

The Californians

Whatever Tomorrow Brings

As Time Goes By

Sean Donovan

Donovan’s Daughter

English Garden Series

The Proposal

The Rescue

The Visitor

The Pursuit

Kensington Chronicles

The Hawk and the Jewel

Wings of the Morning

Who Brings Forth the Wind

The Knight and the Dove

Rocky Mountain Memories

Where the Wild Rose Blooms

Whispers of Moonlight

To Know Her by Name

Promise Me Tomorrow

The Yellow Rose Trilogy

Every Little Thing About You

A Texas Sky

City Girl

Other Fiction

Bamboo & Lace

Beyond the Picket Fence
(Short Stories)

Every Storm

Pretense

The Princess

Sophie’s Heart