“Oh, if only I could have been a fly on the wall to see their faces!” Edna Petunia howled with laughter as Iris told her about Hope and Stephen’s faces when she had opened the door to her office and caught them inside together.

Iris gripped her mug of hot tea at Edna Petunia’s kitchen table. “It was rather amusing. But what are we going to do?”

“I say let the kids have fun—for a bit. We won’t tell them we know what they’ve been up to. But we should also prepare for a wedding sooner rather than later.” Edna Petunia arched an eyebrow.

Iris sighed. She knew exactly what Edna Petunia was thinking. The woman loved to go all out planning elaborate festivities for special events, and she pulled out all the stops any time one of her so-called bastards was getting married. Iris didn’t know if the town of Nowhere could handle another Sanders family wedding—it had been less than two years since Penny’s and Tom’s huge celebration. In that time, three other orphans had also married, but much to Edna Petunia’s chagrin, they had married quickly and without her help preparing. “Maybe we should give them a little time, Edna.”

“Nonsense! We need all the time we can get to plan a wedding. I won’t be tricked like the last few times. This wedding is going to happen the way I want it to,” Edna Petunia declared.

Iris shook her head. She knew Edna Petunia’s heart was in the right place. But she had a sneaking suspicion that it might be a bumpy ride. She tried to change the subject. “But what should I do at work? I don’t want my patients to think anything inappropriate is going on.”

“Yes. You can’t let anyone know that they have feelings for one another.” Edna Petunia thought for a moment. “I have an idea.”

* * *

When Hope arrived at work the following day, she saw a new schedule posted next to her desk. She frowned as she read through it.

Dr. Harvey came out into the front office. “Good morning, Hope!”

Hope pointed to the new schedule. “What’s this about?”

Dr. Harvey smiled brightly. “You know it was getting so crowded here in such a small space. I thought I’d even out the schedule so we wouldn’t get in each other’s way. No more than two of us will be working at the same time.”

Hope looked at the schedule a little more closely. “It seems like all you did was make sure that Dr. Bennett and I are never working together.”

“Oh, really? I hadn’t noticed!” Dr. Harvey tried to keep an innocent expression on her face. “Is that a problem?”

“Yes!” Hope cried. Her first instinct was always to tell the truth, no matter what. When she saw how Dr. Harvey was staring at her, though, she thought about how her words would sound to the doctor. “Actually, no. It’s no problem at all. I just wanted to make sure that Ste—I mean, Dr. Bennett—has what he needs. Maybe he can leave his notes for me and I can type them up.”

Dr. Harvey smiled. “Great idea, Hope. I’ll have him do that. Thank you.” She walked back to her office. She couldn’t believe Hope had almost called her nephew by his first name. It sounded like things were getting serious between the two of them. If things kept going at this rate, there would be another wedding before Christmas!

Dr. Harvey was thrilled at the possibility of her nephew marrying Hope. Though the girl certainly had a few rough edges, she was wholesome and hard-working, exactly the type of person who would keep her nephew on track in his life. She also loved Edna Petunia as if the woman were one of her own sisters, so the chance to be related to a dear friend by marriage was remarkable.

Still, she also knew that if she or Edna Petunia pushed too hard, Stephen and Hope might rebel and drift apart. She knew they needed to be subtle and stay out of the young people’s way. She didn’t have any concerns about her own ability to do that, but she thought it might be a struggle for Edna Petunia. The woman didn’t have a subtle bone in her body.

At her desk, Hope fought back tears. The medical office was the only time she actually was able to talk with Stephen. Although they also saw each other Sunday in church, their families and the rest of the congregation were always around and could hear everything they had to say.

Hope couldn’t believe she was almost crying. She prided herself on her ability to keep calm and collected in almost any situation. She knew it was a skill that Dr. Harvey prized in an assistant. There were many challenging and stressful events that occurred in their little office, and it was important that Hope could act rationally and confidently. But now, faced with never being able to talk to Stephen privately, she was getting emotional.

Hope tried to focus on her work for the day. It was going to be a busy schedule of patients, and Hope knew that Dr. Harvey relied on her to keep everything in order so no one had to wait too long to see the doctor. Before long, the first patients of the day had arrived, a pair of six-year-old twin boys brought in by their mother, Mrs. Pierce. She wore a dress and makeup as if she were going to church.

“Hey, that’s my train! Mother, he took my train!” one boy shouted.

“Mother, it’s my train! It has my name on it!” the other one cried.

“No, that’s my name!” the first boy yelled, grabbing a small toy train out of the other one’s hands. Hope was thankful for the distraction.

“Boys, I’ll give you a piece of candy after your visit if you wait quietly for the doctor and behave yourselves,” Hope told them. The boys quieted almost immediately.

Mrs. Pierce looked at Hope gratefully. “Thank you.”

Hope gave Mrs. Pierce a clipboard full of forms to fill out while the boys waited, playing quietly with the train and taking turns.

When Mrs. Pierce was finished, she handed the clipboard back to Hope. “Do you mind if I ask a question? It might sound strange.”

“No, go right ahead.” Hope said, taking the forms from the clipboard and making a few notes in the boys’ medical charts so Dr. Harvey would see.

“I heard that there’s a new doctor, a man? Doctor…something with a B?” Mrs. Pierce began, smoothing her hair.

“Yes, Dr. Bennett. He’s Dr. Harvey’s nephew and he’s training with her.” Hope explained.

“Oh, that’s nice. Well, I thought it might be nice for the boys to see him, if he’s available. It’s just…ever since their father died…” Mrs. Pierce smiled at Hope, and with a flash, Hope understood what the woman was asking.

Hope tried to end the conversation. “He’s not here today.”

“Oh.” Mrs. Pierce’s face fell. “I was hoping we could meet him. I just think it would be so good for—for the boys!”

“No,” Hope said bluntly.

“So there’s no way that…” Mrs. Pierce tried again.

Just then, Dr. Harvey came out. “Maxwell and Martin, so lovely to see you! Come on in. Your mom can join us in the exam room, too.”

Mrs. Pierce looked back at Hope with a pleading glance, but Hope simply shook her head. She couldn’t believe the boldness of this woman! She did feel sympathy, as she knew Mrs. Pierce’s husband had died several years ago in a fire. She knew it couldn’t have been easy, raising twin boys all on her own. At the same time, she felt an infuriating sting of jealousy at the thought of Mrs. Pierce and Stephen getting together.

Hope knew she had no claim to Stephen Bennett, but that didn’t stop her from growing red with envy every time that line of thinking crossed her mind for the rest of the morning. She wondered what Mrs. Pierce was talking to Dr. Harvey about while her boys were in the exam room. She also was curious what the doctor would think about her nephew and Mrs. Pierce. Maybe she wanted him to find a woman who already had a family.

Hope thought about asking Dr. Harvey, but she decided that nothing good could come of it. Instead, she scrubbed the entire office top to bottom, including Dr. Harvey and Stephen’s office. She lingered in the spot where Stephen’s arms and lips had caressed her and imagined what would happen the next time they had a private moment. She knew it was inappropriate for her to have those types of thoughts about Stephen, but she couldn’t help herself. He was all she could think about, day or night. She wondered if he thought about her or missed her nearly as much as she missed him.

Hope tried to snap herself to attention. It hadn’t even been one day since Dr. Harvey had put her new schedule into action. Hope needed to adjust to the new routine, or she’d be in danger of losing her job. Dr. Harvey appreciated that Hope kept everything in order and knew exactly what was going on in the office at all times. She couldn’t afford to be distracted, regardless of how handsome or breathtaking the doctor’s nephew was.

After work, Hope went straight home and helped Edna Petunia prepare dinner. She and Martha were both assigned to assist with dinner preparation and cleanup for that evening’s meal.

Martha, one of Hope’s sweeter sisters, immediately noticed that something was wrong. “You seem quiet tonight, Hope. Is everything okay with you?”

Hope glanced at Edna Petunia through the window. Her adoptive mother was shaking out a tablecloth in the backyard. “I’m fine, I guess.”

“What is it?” Martha was perceptive. She knew Hope wasn’t being completely truthful.

“Dr. Harvey set a new schedule at her office. And it means…” Hope trailed off.

Martha looked at her gently. “It means what?”

“It means I don’t get to work with Stephen Bennett—at all.” Hope sighed loudly.

Martha nodded in understanding. “You two seemed to hit it off at Cletus’s birthday party. And I’ve seen you talking to him after services at church.”

“I really care for him.” Hope couldn’t believe she was admitting it out loud, but Martha only smiled. Hope knew that kind, open-hearted Martha wouldn’t judge her for having inappropriate thoughts.

Edna Petunia came back into the kitchen with the tablecloth. “What are you bastards gossiping about?”

Hope froze. She couldn’t admit her feelings to Edna Petunia. She was far too embarrassed. She also didn’t know how Edna Petunia would react, and she didn’t want to find out.

“I was just thinking how delicious your roasted yams will taste, Edna Petunia.” Martha quickly covered for her sister. Hope shot her a grateful look.

“Don’t just stand there, girls—help me with this crazy thing!” Edna Petunia struggled with the tablecloth. Hope and Martha rushed over to her and each grabbed a corner. Together, the women placed the tablecloth onto the long table where the family ate their meals.

Katie and Theresa skipped into the kitchen. “Hope, I’m so glad you’re home!” Katie shouted.

Hope smiled. “That’s silly. I’m always home.”

“Yeah, but Abner’s been telling everyone in town that you were going on a date with him!” Theresa told her.

Hope’s jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious!”

“Yes, I saw him at the mercantile when I was visiting Ruby,” Katie explained. “He’s telling everyone that he’s been courting you.”

“Who’s been courting Hope?” Cletus boomed as he entered the room. He set down the thick law book he’d been reading at his place at the head of the table and walked over to Edna Petunia. “There she is, the best part of my day!” Cletus dipped Edna Petunia backwards and kissed her passionately.

Hope shook her head. She hoped Cletus would forget his question, but he just stared expectantly at his adopted daughters.

“Well?” Cletus asked.

“Abner’s been telling tales!” Katie squealed.

Cletus seemed amused. “Hope, do you have any sort of interest in this Abner fellow?”

“Absolutely not!” Hope was horrified.

“Even though we haven’t raised them since birth, we’ve raised our bastards better than to go for someone like that, Cletus,” Edna Petunia chided as she set a bowl of yams down carefully on the table.

“Hm. Seems to me I need to have a talk with this character, then.” Cletus folded his arms.

Katie and Theresa looked at each other and giggled.

“Yes, I think you should,” Hope said hotly. “He shouldn’t be going around spreading falsehoods about me. You know I’m not one to get too involved in gossip or what people say about me. But I do not want to be associated with him. For starters, he’s always finding a new girl around town to convince to go out with him. He has no moral fiber whatsoever!”

Cletus was surprised. Hope spoke her feelings, of course, but it wasn’t often that she made impassioned speeches—and especially not as the family was sitting down to dinner. He wondered if there was a special reason she was getting so angry over this Abner fellow. He knew the young man was simply running his mouth. He didn’t care for Abner, either, but there must be something else going on to make Hope so upset. “Okay, honey. I’ll speak with him.”

“I should give him a piece of my mind, too.” Edna Petunia sniffed. “Now, that’s enough talk of Abner for one evening. Dinner’s ready.”

The family bowed their hands and Katie led the evening’s prayer. “Thank you, God, for this wonderful food, and for our family. We thank you.”

Soon, everyone was talking and laughing as they passed the food around and enjoyed Edna Petunia’s cooking. Hope found herself cheering up and enjoying the conversation with her sisters and adoptive parents. She forgot about all about Abner’s lies, Dr. Harvey’s new schedule, and the strong, broad shoulders of Dr. Stephen Bennett.

That evening, Hope went to bed a little early so she could read before she fell asleep. She kept a Bible on the small table next to her bed and tried to read a few passages each evening. She tried to clear her head so she could fully absorb the stories.

Downstairs, Edna Petunia and Cletus were sitting in the formal parlor, enjoying a game of checkers, when they heard the doorbell ring.

Edna Petunia looked at the clock. “Who could that be? It’s practically nine o’clock.”

Cletus shook his head and stood up. “This had better be important.” He made his way to the front door, and Edna Petunia followed. “Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”

Standing before them, fidgeting and pacing the length of the porch, was Stephen Bennett. He paused mid-step and turned to face the elderly couple. “Hi, Judge Sanders, Mrs. Sanders. I really apologize for disturbing you so late in the evening. I felt like I couldn’t wait another day.”

Cletus sighed and stepped aside to let Stephen in. “I’m assuming this is about one of my daughters. It usually is. Come on in.”

Cletus and Edna Petunia led Stephen back into the formal parlor. Stephen sat down on the sofa and peered nervously at Cletus.

“I expect you’ll get to the point, given the time,” Cletus said simply.

“Yes, sir.” Stephen replied. He wrung his hands, took a deep breath, then began his speech, which he’d practiced earlier in the day. “Judge Sanders, I’m here to ask you for your permission to marry your daughter.”

“Which one?” Edna Petunia cried.

Stephen blushed. “Oh, yes. Hope.”

Edna Petunia tried not to rejoice too openly. She couldn’t wait to tell Iris about this!

Stephen continued. “Working with her at the medical office has made me see what a caring and hard-working person she is. She’s exactly the woman I’d like to spend the rest of my life with. I didn’t realize it before, but my aunt recently changed the schedule at work. Now, we don’t work together at all. Today was one of the longest days of my life because I didn’t see Hope. So I don’t want to delay. I’d like your permission, and then I’d like to ask her properly to marry me.”

Edna Petunia and Cletus looked at one another.

“What do you think, sweet pea?” Cletus asked.

Stephen saw a gleam in Edna Petunia’s eye. “I think it’s acceptable, but on one specific condition.”

Stephen gulped. “What condition would that be?”

“My bastards have a habit of getting married without letting me plan out the details. You can marry Hope as long as I can plan the wedding.” Edna Petunia bared her bright white smile.

Stephen couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “So you think I’m worthy of Hope? I thought…I thought she and Abner were courting!”

Edna Petunia cackled. “That boy wouldn’t know the truth if it smacked him in the face.”

Cletus smiled. “Don’t let him get to you, son. He’s telling tall tales, that’s all.”

Stephen breathed a sigh of relief. “So all you’re asking is that I allow you to plan our wedding? That’s fine with me!”

Edna Petunia shrieked with glee as she stood up and rushed over to Stephen, wrapping her arms around him. Stephen sat there, dazed, as Cletus stood up and offered him a hand of congratulations.

Stephen couldn’t believe that Hope’s parents had agreed to his marriage proposal so easily. Letting Edna Petunia plan a wedding seemed incredibly easy. What could go wrong?