Looking For You All My Life Part 26

grandparents back to where Daniel was still being treated

and examined.

Once again Maggie prayed for Daniel to be okay, then

went out to find Jed sitting patiently in the waiting room.

"You must think our family spends a whole lot of time in

hospitals." She shook her head.

He stood and took both her hands in his. "How's

Spencer?"

"A big lump on the head, maybe a concussion, and what

looks like a broken foot. Not much compared to what it

could have been." She sighed in deep relief.

Looking for You All My Life45

"And Daniel?"

"Worse. Hopefully no internal injuries. They're still

exa mining him."

"Let's pray for him."

Right there, standing in the center of the waiting room

floor, they prayed together for Daniel's complete recovery.

Then they sat down on the hard vinyl chairs to wait. Maggie

leaned forward with her elbows on her knees, resting her

head in her hands. She felt exhausted and emotionally

drained.

"And how are you doing?"

She looked over at him. "Of course I'm hugely relieved,

but at the same time I feel almost as if I've been run over by

a truck myself. No one ever warns you that when you

become a parent your heart is no longer your own."

"Hmm." Jed rubbed her shoulders in a gentle and

soothing ma.s.sage. "Does that count for those of us who get

our kids late in life-after they're mostly grown up? Or is it

only for those who've raised them from babyhood?"

She sat up and looked at him curiously. "I don't really

know how it works in that situation. What do you think,

Jed?"

He shook his head slowly. "I'm not totally sure yet, but

it amazes me how protective I suddenly began to feel toward

Leah when I first learned that she's my own daughter. I

mean, do you remember how I was so down on her when she

Iwore that little rock star getup at the bonfire? But that was

before I realized she was my very own flesh and blood."

Maggie laughed. "Actually, that was probably a very typ-

ical fatherly reaction you had back then, even if it was unwit-

ting."

He smiled. "I suppose you're right, now that I think

about it. But you know what worries me most, Maggie?" He

looked into her eyes, but she just shook her head. "What

worries me most is how much Leah seems to expect from

me-it's as if she thinks I'm some sort of 'superfather.' And 46Melody Carlson

I find myself trying to be perfect just so I don't disappoint

her. I know it must sound silly to you."

"Not at all. It's wonderful to have your child look up to