Hope Springs Read Online Free

got us and you’ve got Jesus. He’s been with you every single second.”
    Janelle sighed. “I know, Grandma.” Dwelling on it only made her sad.
    The house phone rang, and she was glad for the distraction. Estelle found the cordless phone on the counter.
    â€œStephanie? You’re on the ground?”
    Janelle looked at Libby. “Really? Stephanie’s coming?”
    Libby looked at her aunt Estelle, presumably hearing it the first time herself.
    â€œRight, head east from the airport,” Estelle was saying. “Won’t take more than forty minutes.” She was smiling. “Can’t wait to see you. All right, bye now.”
    â€œThat’s pretty cool,” Libby said. “I can’t remember the last time Stephanie was here. What made her decide to come?”
    â€œGladys got everybody thinking I’m at death’s door, that’s what,” Grandma Geri said.
    â€œMomma, I said nothing of the kind.” Aunt Gladys was mixing another kind of cake. “But I’m the only one of your children who lives nearby and sees you regularly. So if you want to sue me for telling everybody I’m concerned, then go ahead.”
    â€œIf it got Stephanie down here, I ain’t complaining,” Grandma Geri said. “Talk about long-lost granddaughters.”
    â€œAre Uncle Bruce and the rest coming?” Janelle asked.
    â€œBruce and Claudia are spending the holiday with Cyd’s family,” Aunt Gladys said. She smiled. “They were all here for the family reunion this summer.”
    Aunt Denise was shaping her famous homemade rolls and placing them on a pan. “You should’ve seen that little baby boy. Cute as a button.” She glanced toward the family room, then looked at her daughter. “At the rate Libby’s going, Wood and I will probably have to wait as long as Bruce and Claudia did for a grandchild.”
    â€œOr longer.” Libby leaned against the counter. “I’m only thirty-four. Lots of life ahead.”
    â€œSeeing Cyd with a baby for the first time in her forties . . .” Grandma Geri waved her hand with a little chuckle. “If that didn’t tickle me pink, I don’t know what would. She’s my oldest grandchild, you know.”
    â€œWe know.”
    Janelle and Libby laughed at their simultaneous response. Cyd, with all of her professional accomplishments, had always been held up as a model for the younger cousins. Janelle wondered what that must’ve been like for Stephanie growing up.
    Estelle pulled a jumbo pan of baked beans out of the oven.
    â€œSo looks like everyone’s coming here after the funeral,” Janelle said.
    â€œWe told Todd we’d take care of everything.” Her mother placed the pan on two trivets. “He’s got enough on his mind.”
    Todd was Jim Dillon’s son. About the same age as Janelle and Libby, he was part of the cohort of kids that had played in the summers when the Sanders grandchildren visited.
    â€œHow’s he holding up?” Janelle asked.
    â€œHolding up okay, far as I can see,” Estelle said. “You know Todd. He was more concerned about how Momma was doing, now that Jim’s not around to see about her.”
    â€œSounds like Todd,” Janelle said. “I was hoping to see him before the funeral, but looked like nobody was home.”
    â€œHe’s pulling up right now.” Libby was looking out the kitchen window. “He and the kids went over to the church.”
    â€œWhere’s Becca?”
    â€œWhat did Todd say? Nashton or something?” Grandma Geri said.
    â€œNash ville ,” Aunt Gladys called over her shoulder.
    Janelle chuckled. Her grandmother was known for confusing the endings to place names.
    â€œAnyway,” Grandma Geri said, “Becca will be here. She’s doing some kind of presentation and had a meeting this morning to get ready for