Best Family Ever Read online

  Kari had an idea. “Hey, Brooke. You can have the valentine that Jason gave me! It’s a big teddy bear. He said he wanted to be my friend, but he spent all lunch talking to these other girls.” She hesitated. “So you can have it if you want.”

  “Are you kidding?” Brooke frowned. “You got a Valentine’s gift from a boy? You’re only in fifth grade!” Brooke slumped in her chair. “It’s okay. Thanks. You can keep your bear.”

  Did she say something wrong? Kari had the feeling she did.

  Ashley leaned over. “Nice going. Now you hurt Brooke’s feelings.”

  “Kari didn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.” Their mother stepped in. With so many kids she always knew how to be a good peacemaker.

  Kari slumped in her chair. “I was only trying to help.”

  Their mom exhaled. “Well . . . seems like we had an eventful Valentine’s Day. And sounds like all your stories have something in common. Hurt feelings.” Her voice was as gentle as a breeze. “Girls, listen. People will always hurt you. They’ll let you down. They may be unkind or annoy you or frustrate you. Worst of all they might not appreciate you.”

  Kari thought about Jessica, and how she didn’t think anyone’s valentine cards were as good as hers. “You’re right.” Kari’s voice was soft.

  “Definitely.” Brooke nodded.

  “Some of the boys in my class are like that.” Ashley folded her arms.

  Mom sat back in her chair and took a slow breath. “That’s why you have to be confident in who you are, in the girls God made you to be.”

  Kari liked how that sounded. The idea that no matter who was around her or who was annoying her, or not appreciating her, she could be confident in who she was.

  “It’s still difficult.” Brooke seemed to be really listening to their mother. “How do you get to be that confident?”

  “Well”—their mom took another sip of her tea—“you focus on being the best Brooke Baxter you can be. That means loving God and yourself and loving those around you. Being kind even when others aren’t. And, at the end of the day, knowing that you did all you could to make this world a better place.” She paused to let that sink in. “That’s where you put your time and effort.”

  Kari had never thought of things like this before. Her mother’s wisdom was exactly what she needed. She looked at Mom. “You mean like, we can’t worry about other people? So we should just focus on what good we can do?”

  “Exactly.” Mom smiled. “Most of us could be busy full-time trying to be the best versions of ourselves.” She looked at each of the girls. “Of course, you won’t be perfect. No one ever is. But that’s where faith comes in. Faith that God’s not finished with us yet.”

  “I like that.” Brooke looked like she had a lot on her mind. “Then you won’t feel the sadness as much when people aren’t nice to you.”

  “Now you’re getting it.” Their mom set her teacup down.

  Kari had a question. “What if someone is fake? They act nice but they really aren’t?”

  Mom’s eyes were soft. “Like what happened with Jason?”

  Kari felt her cheeks get hot. “He acted like I was his favorite person. Then at lunch he didn’t even talk to me. It wasn’t nice.”

  “No, it wasn’t.” Mom took hold of Kari’s hand again. “I’m sorry he hurt your feelings. But maybe he didn’t see you there. We have to give people the benefit of the doubt.”

  “Like grace?” Kari understood what her mom meant. They’d talked about grace at church a few weeks ago. It meant to do something nice for someone else, even if they didn’t deserve it. You give them a second chance.

  And that is called grace.

  “Exactly, Kari.” Their mom poured each of them a bit more tea. “Here’s what I want you to hold on to.” She looked at each of them, one at a time. “The right kinds of friends will be careful with your heart. Because you girls are the most beautiful treasures. True princesses.” She paused. “Remember that always.”

  Wow. Kari had never felt so magnificent in all her life.

  “I feel more beautiful now.” Brooke sat a little straighter. “Thanks, Mom. Today was perfect.”

  Ashley took another scone. “Even better than my Valentine’s party.” She raised her eyebrows at their mom. “And that’s saying a lot cause my party was pretty amazing.”

  “We’ll do this again soon.” Mom held up her teacup. “More tea parties. Sound good?”

  The girls all agreed. Kari could hardly wait for whatever they might talk about at the next one. Then their mom asked God out loud to protect the Baxter girls. Also that the girls would feel the love of Jesus today and every day. And that they would know how truly special they were.

  After that, their mother let them open their gift bags.

  While her sisters went through theirs, Kari opened the letter first. A beautiful flower covered the front and on the inside her mom had written a scripture. Proverbs 3:5–6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.

  Beneath that she had written:

  Kari, You are brave, beautiful, intelligent and oh so wonderful. Trust God with everything. He will lead you to your future, to your dreams. I love you. Happy Valentine’s Day! Love, Mom.

  Kari looked up at her mom. “Thanks, Mom.” She jumped up and hugged her mother’s shoulders. “That’s the sweetest note.”

  Her mother kissed her cheek. “You’re welcome. I love you. Open your gift!”

  While her sisters did the same thing, Kari pulled the tissue paper out of the bag and lifted out two gifts. A small book full of daily Bible verses and encouragement. And a brand-new pink journal. She ran her fingers over the leather cover and flipped through the crisp, lined pages. “These are perfect.”

  “They are!” Brooke and Ashley added their enthusiasm. Each of them had gotten the same book and a similar journal.

  Kari finished going through the bag. Lip gloss, candy, fuzzy pink pens, and three beaded bracelets. She exchanged excited looks with her sisters, who’d each gotten various versions of the same thing.

  As beautiful as it all was, Kari loved her new book best. She would read it tonight, before writing in her journal.

  When they stood to clear the teacups, Kari hugged her mom. “What you said, it was the best advice ever.”

  Her mom patted her face. “I’m the most blessed mom to have girls like you.”

  They were cleaning up when Dad came home with Luke and Erin. The movie must’ve been great, because they were still laughing about it. That’s when their mom pulled out two more gift bags from the kitchen cupboard. One for Erin and another for Luke.

  As her youngest siblings opened their bags, Kari smiled to herself. She would never forget tonight. They had the sweetest, most thoughtful, most understanding mother in all the world. And because of her, they had something else.

  The best Valentine’s Day ever.

  • • •

  Once they were in bed that night, Kari read her new book by flashlight. Ashley did the same thing. So far Kari had read three days’ worth of encouragement. The book was even better than she had hoped.

  “Listen to this.” Ashley flipped her covers off and sat straight up in bed. She shone the light at Kari.

  “Not in my eyes!” Kari squinted. “And don’t yell. You’ll wake up Erin and Luke.”

  “Sorry.” Ashley did a quiet nervous-sounding laugh. She lowered her voice. “You gotta hear this. It’s like it was written just for me.”

  “Mine’s that way, too.” Kari sat up. “What does yours say?”

  Ashley used her flashlight to see the words. “It says we are the clay and God is the potter!” Again she seemed to work to keep her voice quieter. “That means God is an artist! Just like me!”

  Enthusiasm was something Kari loved about her younger sister. “Or maybe you’re an artist like He is.” She shifted so she could see Ashley better.

  “So we really
are princesses!” Ashley smiled and pulled her knees to her chest, excited.

  Kari smiled at her sister. “Royalty, dahhhling!”

  They giggled and then Ashley shushed Kari. “Do you hear that? It’s music.” Ashley jumped out of bed and tiptoed to the door. “Come on.” She looked back.

  “Okay.” Kari could barely hear the sound, but Ashley was right. Someone was playing a song. She followed Ashley into the hallway.

  Brooke’s door opened at the same time and she poked her head out. Her eyes were barely half open. “What’s happening?”

  “Shhh.” Ashley put her finger to her mouth. “Come with us. We’re gonna find out!”

  The three girls snuck down the stairs just far enough so they could see the kitchen. Their parents were dressed up, like they were going on a date. Kari watched as her dad took a tray of chocolate- covered strawberries from the fridge and turned the music up.

  “John.” Their mom grinned. “The kids are sleeping!”

  “They’re fine.” He put his hands on her waist and pulled her close. Then he kissed her lips. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Elizabeth Baxter.”

  Their mother giggled. “Happy Valentine’s Day, John Baxter. You’re my favorite forever.”

  Her favorite forever? Kari looked at her sisters. All of them had sparkly eyes. This was the best, seeing their parents dance and love each other like this.

  Dad held Mom’s hand out and the two of them began to dance. They twirled around the kitchen to the music, and their father spun her under his arm and pulled her back in.

  They were good at it.

  “Remember”—their dad spoke soft, straight into their mother’s eyes—“that long-ago dance?”

  “When we first met?” Their mom’s cheeks were a deeper pink now. “How could I ever forget?”

  Kari tried to figure out the look on her dad’s face. It was like he was seeing their mom for the first time. The two of them clearly had a beautiful love. Something all the Baxter kids had seen.

  But they’d never seen it quite like this.

  As she sat there with her sisters at the top of the stairs, Kari couldn’t take her eyes off her parents. Because love like this was the most beautiful thing Kari had ever seen. And one day, when she was older, she wanted the kind of love her parents shared.

  Maybe tomorrow she would ask her parents to dance in the kitchen again. So she could take a picture of them. Kari smiled. She knew just where she would put it.

  Right in the middle of her dream collage board.

  6

  Saturday Morning

  ASHLEY

  Ashley climbed out of her covers and ran to her bedroom window. Her heart sank to her ankles. More snow. It was the first Saturday in March and still spring wasn’t here.

  She walked back to her bed very soft on her feet, so she wouldn’t wake Kari.

  Miss Wilson had said spring would be here soon because of March coming up. But it was March and the snow wasn’t melting. Not even a little.

  “What are you doing?” Kari whispered. She turned on her side and gave Ashley a funny look. “We’re supposed to sleep in on Saturdays.”

  “I’m not tired.” Ashley let her legs dangle over the edge of her bed. “I want to take a bike ride.”

  “Now? In the snow?” Kari giggled. “You’re the funniest person I know.”

  “Not now.” Ashley stood and went to the window again. She sat on the sill and looked at her sister. “I mean, yes now. But not now because it’s too snowy. And honestly I’m just a little tired of the snow.”

  Kari sat up. “What time is it?”

  “Seven-thirty.” Ashley glanced over her shoulder at the bedside clock, and then back at Kari. “I guess I thought the snow would melt. Because it’s March.” She paced a few steps away from the window and back again. “Honestly. Snow should have a limit.”

  “I thought you loved snow.” Kari shook her head like she was puzzled. “Remember? Twirling like a snowflake? Wishing your teacher would hold class outside?”

  Ashley stared out the window. Her shoulders sank some. “That’s different.” She walked with slow steps back to her bed and sat on the edge again. “I love fresh snow.” She pointed outside. “That stuff is old and crusty. Dirty and icy. The worst snow of all.”

  Pans rattled downstairs in the kitchen. Ashley jumped up. “That’s Mom! I’ll go help her make breakfast.”

  “You do that.” Kari slid back under the covers. “See you in an hour.”

  “Maybe the snow will be melted by then.” Ashley laughed as she ran out of the room.

  “You should have your own TV show,” Kari called after her.

  A TV show. Ashley tossed the idea around in her head while she ran down the stairs. Sure. She could add that to the list. She could do as many things as she wanted.

  When she reached the kitchen she found Brooke instead of their mother. “Oh.” Ashley slumped a bit. “It’s you.”

  Brooke looked at her for a few seconds before her smile arrived. “Good morning to you, too.”

  Ashley laughed. “Sorry.” She walked to Brooke and gave her a side hug. “Good morning.”

  Brooke was stirring something. Eggs, maybe.

  “What are you making?” Ashley put her elbows on the counter and rested her chin in her hands.

  Brooke looked determined. “An omelet. But we’re out of cheese.”

  “Mom said she’s making pancakes.” Ashley looked toward the stairs. “Whenever she wakes up.”

  “Eggs are healthier.” Brooke stirred while she looked at Ashley. “I’m going to be a food scientist one day. I’ll make a whole book of the best recipes so everyone can be healthy. A scientist makes life better for people.”

  Ashley couldn’t help but ask herself, Who wakes up on a Saturday dreaming of being a scientist? Pancakes were as far as Ashley’s goals for the day went. That and maybe having her own TV show. “I will say, Brooke, pancakes taste better.” Ashley leaned back. “But you’ll definitely be a good scientist. That’s for sure.”

  After a few minutes, Ashley couldn’t take any more waiting. Where was her mother, and where were her pancakes? She walked back upstairs and heard noises from her youngest siblings’ room. Louder and louder. Good. Ashley smiled. The more noise they made, the greater the chance their mother would wake up.

  Luke and Erin’s bedroom door was open. Theirs was the biggest room, but they slept in a bunk bed. That’s because it was also the playroom.

  “What’s happening in here?” Ashley stepped into the room.

  Luke beamed at her, his arms full of toys. “We’re playing who-can-build-the-highest-tower-from-all-the-toys-in-the-room.” His words ran together. “I’m going to win!”

  “I never heard of that game.” Ashley laughed. She loved Luke’s happy spirit.

  “Yes. Whoever makes the tallest tower before it falls is the winner.” Erin giggled. “Luke keeps beating me.”

  No wonder the game was so loud. They weren’t even being careful. Luke threw a dump truck on a toy piano, and a doll on top of that. Whatever they could grab. Every few seconds someone’s tower would fall to the floor.

  At that instant both Erin’s and Luke’s towers fell. “This is the funnest time!” Luke jumped in place before starting another tower.

  Something caught Ashley’s eye and she looked through the bedroom door just as their mother walked in. Her worried look lightened when she saw toys all over the floor. “What in the world . . .” She laughed. “I thought the house was falling apart.”

  “It’s the best game, Mom.” Luke started his description all over again.

  Their mom really seemed interested, which was one of Ashley’s favorite things about her. Because actually, stacking toys on top of each other wasn’t fascinating.

  Pretty soon Dad joined them and he got to hear about Luke’s game, too. Then he and Mom told them the best news. They were going to Hilton Head, South Carolina, for spring break, which was in just a few weeks. Dad had it all planned. He
and Mom had rented a house right on the beach! So they could walk outside and play in the sand and enjoy sunny days and splash around in the waves.

  Depending on how warm it was.

  “Yes! Sun. Bye- bye, snow!” Ashley did a victory dance. “Do you think we’ll see any sea animals?”

  “Possibly!” Her dad’s face lit up. “Fish for sure! Probably some crabs and starfish.”

  “I want to see a dolphin!” Erin jumped up and down, like she was already there on the shore.

  “Maybe we could snorkel.” Luke sounded hopeful.

  “That would be the best.” Ashley watched her dad pretend to snorkel with Luke, and they all laughed. Excitement for the trip was building.

  Brooke walked up. “This is going to be the best spring break ever.” She cheered.

  Ashley knew she was right. Because the beach meant no snow. She looked out the window and closed her eyes. A few weeks was at least twenty days. Ashley could hardly wait to count down the exact number till spring break. The most epic, snowless, perfect, warm spring break ever!

  They continued celebrating, and a little while later, everyone wound up in the kitchen, where Ashley finally helped Mom make pancakes. The part she thought would be the highlight of the morning. And it was fun. Ashley loved cooking with her mom.

  But the best part of that morning was the time with her family. Because snowy Saturdays might not be good for bike rides. But they were great for something even better.

  Being with family.

  7

  A Family Meeting

  KARI

  Spring break was finally here! They were leaving for South Carolina in the morning and Kari couldn’t wait.

  Her parents had called a family meeting for six o’clock that night. Probably to go over details of the trip. The meeting was in fifteen minutes and Kari still had a lot to do. She pulled out her journal and looked at what was left on her packing list.