Hope Springs by Kim Cash Tate

their bedroom closet. For this trip the only reminder she packed was a single family photo from the nightstand and the journal in which she recorded her thoughts about him.
    She had no idea that the emotion of leaving it all behind could be worse than the emotion of living with it. However symbolic, she felt she was making a break—and she didn’t know if she was ready.
    She cut the engine and glanced back. The kids were wide awake. Tiffany clutched one of her dolls still. Her big brown eyes stared at her mother, and she didn’t make a move to get out. Daniel looked down, wearing the same pout he’d worn when she pulled out of their Maryland driveway.
    She opened her car door just as her dad and Uncle Wood appeared at Grandma Geri’s front door.
    â€œWe stayed to help you unload,” Dad said, hugging her. “Everyone but your mom and Libby already left for church. Service started at eleven.” He opened the back door by Tiffany. “Aww, look at those long faces. You two are usually so excited to be here.”
    Janelle exchanged a glance with him. She’d called her parents from the car and told them how the kids had protested.
    â€œNothing to be excited about, Granddaddy.” Daniel sounded like an old soul, resigned to his misfortune. “You and Grandma Estelle and everybody else are leaving tomorrow. I have to start a new school. Left all my friends. It’ll be the most boring time of my life.”
    â€œYeah.” Tiffany liked her role of joint-protestor. “Claire’s gone, so I don’t have anyone to play with either.” She folded her arms. “It’s gonna be boring.”
    â€œOh, come on out of the car and give your granddaddy a big hug.” Her dad unbuckled Tiffany’s seat belt and lifted her out.
    Uncle Wood opened the door on Daniel’s side. “I can’t believe you haven’t figured out what a great adventure this’ll be.”
    Daniel got out and looked suspiciously at him. “Mom told you to say that.”
    â€œYour mom didn’t have to tell me to say that. I already know it’s an adventure—I grew up here.” Uncle Wood gestured around them. “This is the country, where normal rules don’t apply. Do you get to ride your bike to the convenience store to buy candy in Maryland?”
    Daniel made a face. “No way. Too far and the streets are too busy.”
    â€œDo you get to roam the woods and bring home snakes and play outside after dark?”
    His eyes got big. “Never.”
    Janelle’s eyes got big too. She appreciated the pep talk, but Daniel had better not pick up a snake, much less bring it home.
    Tiffany tugged the bottom of Uncle Wood’s shirt. “What about me? I’m scared of the woods. What kind of adventure can I have?”
    Uncle Wood let out a big laugh. “Lots and lots.” He picked her up and swung her around, breaking Tiffany’s mood. “You ask my twin sister,” he said once they’d stopped. “Your Grandma Estelle had lots of girlie adventures growing up.”
    Tiffany latched onto her sour mood again. “But Grandma had sisters to play with. I don’t have anybody.”
    â€œNice try, Uncle Wood,” Janelle said.
    Uncle Wood gave a hearty laugh. “You look just like your cousin Libby when she was your age and couldn’t get her way.”
    Janelle’s dad and uncle grabbed luggage and duffel bags from the trunk, and the group of them moved toward the door.
    â€œHow’s Grandma?” Janelle asked. “Was she up to going to church?”
    Much of the family had stayed in town longer than planned so they could attend Watch Night Service at New Jerusalem. Travis said they’d have special prayer over Grandma Geri and ring in the New Year with praise for what God would do in her life.
    â€œSaid she wouldn’t miss it,” her dad said. “She took a nap so she’d have energy to