Push To Happiness

Chapter 60

An hour passed before Abe's breathing steadied and she had relaxed against him.

Bob's voice startled Marc from the doorway. "I didn't figure I would find you here. I figured you would be out working someplace, but I didn't want to interrupt while you were reading. Studying the scriptures is a good way to spend your time while you are grounded." He winked at his son. "Is she asleep?"

Marc looked down and nodded.

"Good, she needs it. Katey and I are running into town for a bit. Your mom isn't feeling too good. Can you keep an eye on her too?"

Marc nodded.

"We should be back before evening chores." Bob turned to go but stopped. "Thanks for reminding me what marriage is about. I feel the same way about your mom as you do about that girl. Sorry if I was hard on you last night." With that, Bob retreated down the stairs and out the door.

Marc was dumbstruck. His father had apologized to him. He couldn't remember a time when that had ever happened. He looked at the Book of Mormon and marked the place he and Abe were reading. Then he turned to his favorite chapter in 3 Nephi and began to read. After about an hour, he got up to check on his mother and put another log on the fire. After everything was in order, he returned to Abe's room and once again got comfortable on the bed. Abe shifted in her sleep. Marc could see the baby moving in her stomach. He wondered about the tiny person that was growing there. Abe stirred again and opened her eyes.

Marc smiled down at her. "Hello, Sleeping Beauty. Did you rest well?"

She nodded and glanced at the clock. "Wow! I have slept the entire day away! I need to get up and get to work."

Marc grabbed her arm. "Hold up there. You don't feel well. You're not going to work on anything. Katey has everything under control."

"You hired me to take care of the house and the chores that come with it. I need to earn my keep," Abe argued.

Marc shook his head. "The terms of our agreement changed when you said, 'I Do'. You are part of the family now. That means that we all work together to make the household and ranch run smoothly. Katey has everything under control. Why don't you go take a shower and get ready for dinner?"

He got up from the bed and left the room, closing the door behind him. Marc shook his head in exasperation. She still thought of herself as an employee, not part of the family. He had no clue how to fix this problem.

Marc descended the stairs on his way to dinner. His brother Matthew sat in the dining room with Katey. "So, Bro, I hear you're grounded," Matt chortled. "You have got to be the oldest child I have ever heard of to be grounded."

"It was totally worth it!"

"I'll bet. Glad you had a good time. You haven't dated at all since you were eighteen. Here I thought you were a terminally single bachelor."

"Nah. I just hadn't found anyone worth dating and wasn't interested in wasting my time."

Jon walked into the room in his uniform. Katey lunged at him nearly tackling him with a hug. "Jon! You said you weren't going to make it tonight."

"I only have time for dinner, but I'll be here for Thanksgiving dinner. I wouldn't miss your cooking for the world. But, I will say that Abe does a bang up job, too." Jon turned to survey the dining room. "Looks like you've been working your fanny off today. Smells delicious!" Catching Marc's eye he added, "I saw you got in fairly late last night."

Marc glared. "How did you get that tidbit of information? You weren't here."

Jon laughed. "I was out on patrol and saw Dad's truck rumble through town after two a.m. Looked to me like you had your arm around that pretty girl. Not real safe. You should keep both hands on the wheel," he teased.