Thankful by Shelley Shepard Gray Page B

offer a helping hand while blending into the background. She’d only offered suggestions to Judith and Ben when they needed it—like when they had looked at her with wide, scared eyes when James had started crying loudly and they had been sure they’d done something terribly wrong.
    â€œBabies cry because they can’t talk,” she said in her calm, easy way. “All you have to do is figure out what they want.”
    â€œBut I don’t know what he wants,” Judith had whined.
    â€œIf he’s just had a bottle, there’s a good chance he needs to burp,” Bernie said, then proceeded to show her what to do. And sure enough, after a few good pats, the baby had burped and then had promptly fallen asleep. As Bernie demonstrated, Judith chided herself—of course she knew that babies needed to be burped! She was just so nervous she had forgotten!
    Ben had been mighty impressed, though. “Bernie, that’s amazing.”
    â€œNo, that’s what babies do,” she teased.
    Then, just as Judith was starting to think that she and Ben and James needed a little time alone, Bernie stood up.
    â€œI need to be on my way now, but I’ll be sure to stop over again tomorrow.”
    â€œYou don’t mind?” Judith asked.
    â€œOf course not! Seeing James happy here is going to be the best part of my day. Don’t forget, you can call me tonight if you need something. But I have a feeling you three are going to do just fine.”
    â€œThank you, Bernie. Thank you for trusting us with James,” Judith said.
    Bernie hugged her tight. “I never had any doubt you two would be just what this little guy needed,” she said before walking out the door.
    Ben peeked out the front window and chuckled. “She’s already on her cell phone again. She’s sure a busy lady.”
    â€œShe’s a wonderful-gut lady,” Judith said as she gazed at James. “Ben, at last we’re alone with our little baby.”
    â€œOur foster baby,” Ben gently corrected.
    â€œ Jah . Of course I meant that.”
    For the next few hours, she and Ben hadn’t done a single thing other than stare at James while he slept. The sight of the sweet baby in the crib in the corner of their bedroom had been a dream of hers for so long that enjoying the reality was a time too sweet to pass up.
    Now, though, it was a different story. Judith’s mother had just arrived, along with Gretta, Clara and Tim, and even Caleb and Rebecca. Only her father and Joshua were missing, since they were needed at the store.
    And to Judith’s dismay they were all staring at little James like he was a curiosity.
    â€œI do wish all of you would stop looking at James like he’s any different from us. Why don’t all of you go sit down and have a cup of kaffi while I hold him?” It was amazing how her motherly instincts had come out full force. In just a few hours, no less!
    â€œJust because I was surprised that his skin was dark doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s adorable, Judith,” her mother chided. “You can’t fault me for being surprised.”
    Though they were reacting just as she had, Judith felt more than a bit defensive. “Bernie said the only thing foster babies need is love and to be cared for. Ben and I can do that as well as anyone.”
    Her mother frowned. “We didn’t say you couldn’t, Judith.”
    Her brother Caleb had the audacity to roll his eyes. “Once again, you are making something out of nothing, Judith. Don’t be so sensitive.” And then he had the nerve to hold out his hands and say, “Now, pass me that baby. Rebecca and I want to hold him.”
    To her shame, she hugged James a little bit tighter. “He might not want you holding him. He’s nervous around strangers.”
    â€œHow do you know that?” Caleb asked. “You just met him yourself.”
    â€œWe’ve