Page 37 - The Last Gift

room. Emily wouldn’t let anyone help her except
Jacob, giving specific instruction on buttering,
applying jam, and quartering her slice. She said
he did it just right. She kept up a constant chatter
about everything from her favorite dolly to why
she liked raspberry jam, even if the seeds got
stuck in her teeth.

Rachel had never seen Emily so animated
and friendly to someone she had just met. She
obviously liked Jacob. He seemed fond of her,
too. John and David seemed to like him as well,
though it was hard to tell with Emily’s incessant
chatter. Rachel had hoped Jacob might talk
about his own life, but he wasn’t getting a
chance, and finally, in exasperation, Rachel
spoke in a slightly scolding tone. “Emily, you
need to eat your food and quit talking his ear

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