A Harmony With You: Book Four

Grace

"What about Mom?"

My brother gives me his gentle smile as I let out my worries to him. He takes my hand and says, "She will be okay. I'll look after her. My wife visits her often, too. You know she considers Mom like her mother, too."

"I know, but my kids will miss her. I know she feels better whenever we visit."

"Is this about the kids and Mom or about you?"

He always knows how to hit the spot. He always knew how to look through me. We were separated for many years because he studied for almost half of his life. Now that we are settled down and closer than ever, I have to leave this time.

My heart falls because he's right. I will miss my home. This is the place I was born and grew up in. I wanted my children to grow up here, too. I wanted them to cherish this small town and its little people. I wanted to be close to my mother...

Micah does a warm chuckle as he sits back. "Going to the city will suit you well. You already lived in a city for four years for college. It should be easy to settle in."

"That was for college and you know I hated the idea of living there any longer."

"But you can adapt."

"I don't want to!"

Micah's brows rise with a playful shine in his light brown eyes. "I didn't know you would miss me that much!"

I click my tongue at his joke and roll my eyes. "Just so you know, I miss Mom more than I miss you. I heard you were complaining that you don't see me often."

"And I'm glad I got to see you now. Don't worry, little sis. You won't be too far away."

"I'll be almost three hours away," I say with a frown.

"That's nothing."

I can't say anything back. I've been so exhausted lately with so much thinking and worrying. How will I tell my mother?

As if my brother can hear me, he gently says, "Go talk to Mom. It will help. It always does."

If there's something I've learned in life is that my brother is almost always right. So I do as he says after giving him a tight hug and taking my kids to visit their grandmother. This time, it is just us as my mother offers the soup she made this morning. My insides grow warm at the familiar taste of my favorite soup she would make growing up. Even my little ballerina does a sweet jump that makes me sit back and smile.

What will I do when I need her? I've lost my father already. This will be like imagining a life without her...

My heart falls again, but I'm interrupted by my mother's excited yelp. My daughter and I quickly run to where she is at and see her with my son in the bathroom. They both look up at me with wide smiles and my mother says, "He did it, Grace! He has learned to use the toilet on his own! He even asked me to take him to the bathroom! Yay!"

My daughter leaves with a laugh and I celebrate with my mother so my son can see. He happily claps and I help him clean himself. My mother waits for us outside the bathroom and gives my son a little cookie. He happily takes it and runs off to probably bother his sister as she finishes her online homework. I join my mother back in the kitchen with pride in my heart.

"They're both growing up so quickly," my mother softly says.

I do a small nod and realize that this is the moment to hear her thoughts. So I take a deep breath and say, "Mom...I have something to tell you."

Worry runs through her eyes but she hides it quickly as she patiently waits for me to explain to her the dilemma I'm having. I have no idea what she is thinking as I hold back tears, but she then gives me the same warm smile my brother gave me. She takes my hands and says, "Do you not want to leave, my dear?"

"I...I don't want to leave you, Mom..."

She does a warm chuckle. "I will be okay. You don't have to worry about me. You have a family to worry about now. Your husband is right. This will help you and the kids. You have a baby on the way. You mustn't forget."

"I know," I say as I sniffle back tears. "But...having you near makes everything a little less scary. It'll be like when I left for college..."

"And look what happened when you did. You made lifelong friends. You grew up. You got to find a part of yourself you did not see before. You survived. You were alone then. This time, you have a family. You have your husband. That should be enough."

Her words stab my heart, but it makes it warm as it melts. She sits back and her eyes grow distant as she says, "I realized that family is the most important thing when your father died. Hang onto your family, Grace. Your children will grow up quickly and you will miss them. It is time to enjoy their company before it is too late. Go. What matters the most now is your family. Don't stay because of me and if you miss me, I am always a call away!"

I let her words sink in as I go back home. Today is the day I have to give my decision to my husband. I have prayed all week and talked to my closest people. I pray one last time as I kneel by my side of the bed. The kids are already sleeping and he is coming back late from a school meeting. So I have my silence with God.

It's His peace the answer I need. It's His comfort for me to push aside my fear.

I hear someone walk into my room and I look up from bowing my head. It's my husband. He gives me a warm smile and I start to get up. He quickly helps me sit back on the bed and I chuckle as he playfully starts to accommodate pillows around my legs. He then crouches in front of me and kisses my quiet belly. She immediately wakes up and gives his warm hands strong kicks.

My mother is right. I always wanted to be like her. Now it's the time to follow in her footsteps and give up everything I know to see them smile.

"Tell them tomorrow you will take the job opportunity."

He looks up from warmly caressing my belly with surprise. "Are you sure?"

I nod. "I will go wherever you go. I may miss my home and my mother, but you and the kids are more important to me now. If this is the right choice in your eyes, then I think we should give it a try."

His eyes reflect his beautiful heart melting at my words. There's a hint of guilt as he softly says, "I'm sorry that I cannot do better here. I really was looking for a way to stay but--"

"We can do it," I say. "It'll be hard for all of us. But as long as we're together, that's what matters more. Money will come and go, but I want you to stay."

He is enamored and I can see it. I feel my heart fall in love with him as if it were the first time as determination sets in his eyes and I feel safe under his hold. I let him come closer and give me a long kiss. I put my arms around his shoulders as his lips tell me thank you. I bring him closer and let him wrap strong arms around me. The hands that create art with that engineering head of his gently rub my belly which holds another part of the melody our love created.

I let my heart turn the page for a new melody we will start in our new home. No matter how fearful it may seem, if he is there, the harmonies will be just right.