“I’m glad. Pretty soon we’ll need to head to bed. I’m sorry you haven’t had any time for playing.”

“That’s all right.” He plopped down on the sofa.

“You want to tell me why you’ve been so late getting home from school? Did you stop off to play first? Is that why you don’t seem too put out about missing out on playing?”

“I’m not being bad, if that’s got you worried.”

She looked at him, surprised by his sass. “That was rather disrespectful, JT. I just like to know where you are. You have chores to do here, and I need to keep on top of your schoolwork. If you don’t show up until supper, it makes you late like you are tonight. You had to wolf down your dinner and then hurry off to finish your work. Now you’ll be heading to bed, and we’ve had no time to enjoy each other’s company.”

“We did at supper. You cooked real good, Gloriana.” He turned on the charm. “Papa said you could make bread even better than Mama.” He frowned. “But I don’t remember.”

“I’m sorry you don’t. Her bread was amazing, and I’m sure if Papa said that, he was just teasing. Mama taught me, after all.”

“I miss her. Aaron and Tabby too. And Papa.” Tears came to his eyes. “I don’t know why they all had to go away.”

Gloriana put aside her sewing and patted her lap. JT crawled up and rested his head on her shoulder. “I don’t either.”

“Pastor said sometimes these things happen, and we never get to know why, but that in heaven we’ll understand.”

A lot of good that did an eight-year-old boy now. Gloriana said nothing despite her thoughts. Instead she hugged him close and hummed a little tune.

“That’s pretty. I like it.”

“Mama used to sing it all the time when we were babies. I found myself singing it to Sally.”

“Baby Sally is lucky she has us, isn’t she?”

“She is. Because we love her and want to take care of her. Not everyone has someone to love them.”

He leaned up to meet her eyes. “Will you always love me, Glory? Even when I’m naughty?”

“Have you been naughty lately?” she asked, still wondering at his late arrivals home.

“No, but I’m bound to mess up. I keep trying to do what I know is right, but sometimes I might not know whether it’s right or wrong. I can’t know everything, Glory.”

She smiled and ran her fingers through his curls. “You’re a very smart boy, and I think if you pay attention to your heart, you’ll know.”

“Because God will tell me?” He looked at her with his huge blue eyes.