As Darcy filled her plate with the many dishes available she studied Blake’s family, listening to snippets of the scattered conversations. There was talk of cattle, wheat, wood, and putting in the summer garden. Children chatted about school, cutting furtive glances at their aunt, who seemed to all but ignore them.
Darcy peered at the twins, looking back and forth as she tried to find something that would distinguish them from each other. Both women were so similar it was hard to decide but the way the children kept glancing at the tall red-headed man, she was sure the woman was Alexis the primary teacher at the local school.
“When will Lilly, be back?” Mae’s daughter, Madison, asked the woman called Fiona. “We miss her helping out at the school.”
“We may see Lilly this summer,” Fiona said, pushing a hair pins back in place. “She only took the teaching job at Christmas.”
As she ate, Darcy could see the complications of a family this size, People coming and going, different personalities jostling each other, while the typical family frictions must surely exist. Did the family ever have trouble? Did they know the touch of sorrow, anger, or pain? Even so she could sense the love that filled the eating area as the meal finished on a high note when both Katie and Fiona returned from the house with cakes and pies for dessert.
A hush fell over the children that made Darcy grin at the wonder, delight, and awe on their faces.
The twins, Isabella and Alexis, rose as if on command, returning moments later with more coffee to refill now empty cups.
“I get the biggest piece a’ cake!” the elderly cowboy barked as he glared at the children who giggled in reply.
“Uncle Steve you know we cut a special one just for you,” Fiona smiled, kindness radiating from her smoky eyes.
“As the oldest remaining member of the family, I call dibs,” the old man grinned. “That’s how it should be.” Again he glared around the table at the children grinning when they squealed with laughter once more.
In a matter of moments everyone had a lush serving of dessert before them and a fresh cup of coffee. The women of the house moved as if they had been choreographed long ago and knew every step of a large family gathering, finally slipping back into their seats to join in the delight.
Darcy picked at the piece of moist chocolate cake on her plate, jumping when Blake touched her arm. She had never been anywhere like this, or seen so many people getting along. It was overwhelming, hopeful, and depressing all at once, as thoughts of the real world crashed into her once more.
“Are you tired?” Blake asked, his voice was pitched low for her ears alone. “I can walk you home if you want.”
Darcy shook her head, straightening slumped shoulders and waving him off. “No, no. I’m fine.” She turned smiling at him then looked down the long tables. “This looks entirely too good to leave behind anyway. Besides I think I’m finally getting a handle on who everyone is.”
Blake smiled, knowing just how overwhelming his family could be. He was proud of Darcy for braving a family dinner, and he was pleased to have her seated at his side. They had been through so much together already, it seemed right that she should be there to enjoy the meal and family feast.
As Darcy took her first real bite of cake Blake’s Uncle Will spoke again.
“This weeks reading has fallen to me,” Will spoke bending low and lifting an old Bible into his hands. “While the rest of you finish dessert, let me begin. I think after all of this delicious food we might all need a nap, so I’ll get started and then we can have a rest.”
A light ripple of chuckles rolled down the length of the table even as children quieted and parents shot significant looks at their offspring.
Darcy lifted her coffee mug, sipping the bitter brew and wishing it had a good splash of whisky in it instead of fresh cream. The man across the table was reading steadily from the scriptures and the longer he droned on the more uncomfortable she became.
The words seemed to vibrate in her middle, sending waves of pain and discomfort from somewhere deep inside.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
As the words continued and the ache grew Darcy dropped her fork, pushed away from the table and fled down the stairs before anyone could respond.
Blake stood
