SKGfun iWrite Edition (November/December)

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clothes for a couple days and tell
Daddy we aren’t coming back until
he decides he won’t marry Miss Kate.
We can grab a snack from the fridge
before we leave.”
The kids sat around making plans.
None of them noticed when their
dad walked in. They talked excitedly,
and wrote out the note they would
leave for him. When they got up to
leave, they turned around—and
stopped. Daddy was crying. Not even
Maddie could remember Daddy
crying except for when Mommy had
died two years ago. “Madeleine
Grace, would you like to explain
what is going on?” he asked sadly.
“It wasn’t my idea, it was Meg’s,”
Maddie retorted.
“But you’re 16—the oldest. She
listened to you. She and Mark would
never have done it without your
planning.”
Maddie started to feel tears prick the
back of her eyes. She blinked them
away rapidly. “We don’t want a
stepmother—any stepmother. We
like Miss Kate, but only as a
babysitter-housekeeper. We
remember our own mother and we
don’t want anyone to take her place.
So we were planning on running
away until you decide you won’t
marry her.”
Daddy sat down and motioned the
kids over. He pulled Meg down on
his lap while Mark and Meg perched
on the arms of the chair. “First of all,
I still love your mother,” he began.
“Her death devastated me. But there
are many different types of love. I
love Miss Kate differently than I love
your mom. I love both of them
differently than I love you. Your
mom wanted me to marry again. She
told me so before she died.”
“She did WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!”
Maddie exclaimed in horror.
“She wanted me to marry again. Not
right away, but after a few years. She
knew that all kids need a mommy
and daddy, and she knew that I can’t
do it all. Do you understand?”
The kids nodded reluctantly. Plans
and adventure were hard to give up
even when there was no reason for
them. Miss Kate walked in at that
moment. Maddie went to her and
gave her a hug. Mark and Meg
followed suit. They left quietly.
“Is everything okay?” Kate asked.
“Yeah,” Dad replied. “We had a
minor misunderstanding, but it’s all
cleared up now. They know, and
we’ve discussed it.”
“Do you think Maddie will agree to
be my bridesmaid? And maybe Meg
and Mark could be flower girl and
ring bearer?” Kate asked.
“I think so,” Dad said, smiling to
himself. “They really like you. But
you know what?”
“What?” said Kate.
“You can’t be their mommy. But I
bet you can be their mother.”
“Perfect,” said Kate.
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