Quotes About Family

I know," said Beth, hugging her tightly. "I know." She looked back fearfully at the black hole in the ice. Then she turned her back on it. Clutching her sister, she started up the bank on wobbly legs toward the car and the road home.

protect my daughter from this

Papa sat down at the table. Grandfather poured him coffee. "You must have been up all night," he said to Papa. Papa looked at Sarah. "I didn't want her to go back to sleep," he said. Grandfather smiled. "No, you didn't.

When I walk the path between the gardens everyone is there, Mama and Papa, the aunts, Caleb and Jack. Aunt Harriet plays the flute-- But the best thing of all is that Grandfather is there waiting for me, smiling. He gives my dog husband a bone. "Be good to Cassie," he says. "Oui," says Nick. I am astonished. I have never heard Nick speak French words. "You speak French!" I cry. "I retrieve, too," says my dog husband.

I almost got married once," said Aunt Harriet wistfully. "Me, too," said Aunt Mattie. "Not me," said Aunt Lou. " I got a dog.

I want to be remembered in my overalls," said Aunt Lou. "You will," said Grandfather. "Believe me, you will." Mama and William laughed. "That's how we think of you," said William. "You see me every day," Aunt Lou said to William. "You don't have to remember me.

Old women in the house. That's all we need," grumped Grandfather. "That from an old man, of course," said Papa.

Two weeks of aunts," said Papa. "That's a lot of aunts." "They'll help," said Mama. "Oh, I know that," said Papa, laughing. "They may take over.

The aunts will love this, Jacob," said Mama. "You can pick them up at the train in style." "Better than three old women on a dapple-gray horse," said Grandfather. Papa looked back over his shoulder at Jack, who sat quietly, looking at the prairie pass by. "Zeke could handle it," he said softly to Grandfather. "Not sure the aunts could," whispered Grandfather.

Cassie. I know some things," said Mama. "What things?" "I know you watch me all the time," said Mama. I started to shake my head, but Mama stopped me. "I saw you in the night, watching. I saw you watching me with the goslings. I know you're afraid." "Grandfather told you," I whispered. "He didn't have to tell me," Mama said. "I'm smart, you know.

The ship of aunts has arrived," said Grandfather softly. "Aren't you going down?" I nodded. "You'll be nice, won't you?" I said to him. "I will be as charming as a prince," said Grandfather. "We'll see," I said. I left Grandfather laughing behind me.

Wait. I'll take you in to the doctor," she called to Grandfather. Grandfather waved his hand and climbed up the steps. "I'll do this myself," he said. Anna smiled. "I was about to ask what he was like," she said. "That's easy," I said. "He's like…" "Papa," we said at the same time, laughing.

William stopped in front of me. "Cassie," he said softly. "How do you know?" I asked. "You must be Cassie. You look just like your mama did when she was your age." "Really?" "Really. She even had braids like you." William reached out and touched my hair. "Did you tease her?" I asked. "Of course," said William. "It was my job.

What's your horse's name?" I asked Grandfather. "Jack," said Grandfather. "Papa had a horse named Jack, too," I told him. Grandfather didn't answer. "Sarah's right. You and Papa are alike," I said. I knew Grandfather wouldn't answer. And he didn't.

I'm going to town tomorrow," said Papa, carrying plates to the house. "Who needs something wonderful?" Papa looked at me. "Want to come, Cassie? Buy something perfect?" Mama smiled. "I'll have a new horse, if you don't mind," said Matthew. "You could get me a buggy," said Maggie. "With a leather top." "I'll have another piece of cake," said Grandfather, making everyone laugh.

The next day Aunt Lou was the very first up in the morning again. "I've driven a car," she said to Papa. "Now it is time to ride a horse. Only five more days before we have to go back East. It's time." "'Old lady on a dapple…'" began Jack before Mama put her hand over his mouth. Grandfather and Papa smiled.

I remember years ago when you first came here. I took a picture of you and Jacob and Caleb--he was little then. And Anna. And the dogs." He looked at Lottie and Nick. "They're a little older now." "We all are," said Mama. "Anna married Justin this past week." "So I heard," said Joshua. Joshua shook Grandfather's hand. "Hello, John," he said. "I'm older, too," said Grandfather with a smile.

Patricia MacLachlan

Do you like children?" asked Cassie, staring at Grandfather. Grandfather took a spoonful of soup. "Do you? Like children?" asked Cassie again. Sarah reached out her hand and put it on Cassie's arm to stop her talk. "Don't know many," said Grandfather. "Do you like the ones you know?" "No," said Grandfather. Cassie was surprised at Grandfather's answer. Her mouth fell open.

Not a good time for him to be sick, is it? The wedding and all," said Papa. "There's never a good time," said Mama. I poured orange juice and handed it to Jack. He shook his head. "Come on, Jack," said Grandfather, picking him up. "We'll rock in the chair. We could, in fact, rock all through the wedding. They don't need us." "Sing," said Jack. "I was waiting for that," said Papa, grinning. Grandfather sighed.

I had to come," said Dr. Sam. "To have a look at the aunts." Grandfather laughed. "Well, this is Harriet, and Mattie, and Lou," said Caleb, touching each one on the shoulder. "How do you do? Didn't you have sheep by those names?" Dr. Sam asked Mama. Mama smiled. "Yes, I saw Mattie the sheep just yesterday," said Aunt Lou. "She's a bit fat.

Benny was just five and he made everyone smile. "That's Benny's job," Mama had said, "to brighten our days.

That night Aunt Mattie gave me a box wrapped in bright paper. "What is it?" I asked. "Open it," she said. "I made it for you. There's so much fuss for Anna that I was afraid you'd get lost." Caleb put his arm around me. "Cassie? Cassie's never lost. Except maybe in her head," he said.

Where's Cassie, Caleb? Is she asleep?" asked Sarah. Grandfather smiled. He leaned over and took Cassie's foot, sticking out from under the daybed. "I found you, Cassie," he whispered. "I found you.