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them that they were always welcome in our home, and we would be there for any of them who
needed us, but that I was his responsibility from then forward. He wouldn t tolerate interference
in our marriage. I never loved him more than I did in that minute.
The six month driving restriction finally ended. So many changes occurred during that time, all
of them for the good. I lost the job I thought I loved so much, and with David s support and
encouragement I opened my own business& right from home. I finally decided I was ready to
have David s child, and surprised him on our first wedding anniversary with the special news
wrapped up in a tiny box of baby bootees, bootees that I knitted myself. Working at home gave
me more time to do the other things in life that I enjoyed so much, like knitting. The only
problem I had as the end of my restriction approached was the lack of a vehicle. I was really
looking forward to being allowed to drive again, but if I didn t have a car to drive, I would still
be stuck at home most of the time. My business was operating in the black, but there was no
way I could afford car payments at this time& Not even for a used car. I also didn t want to ask
David for help to buy one. He d invested heavily in my business, and I was slowly paying the
money back, even though he insisted I didn t have to. I felt that if I wanted the business to be
mine, I had to pay him every last penny, just as I would have had to do with a bank. So, that left
me with very little for spending& and certainly not enough for a car. It wasn t as though I
could take David to work and then borrow his car, picking him up at the end of the day. He had
to be able to get back and forth from his office to the courthouse. And, there were times he had
to go to the jail to meet with clients he was representing. I also wasn t going to ask my Daddy
for help. It still smarted that he allowed the brothers to sell my little car.
David didn t mention that my restriction was over when we got up that morning, but he did tell
me that I needed to dress nice that evening and he would pick me up for a dinner with clients. I
was suffering from morning sickness at the time, and at that moment didn t care if I ate again or
not. The little baby growing inside me usually started my day off making me ask myself why I d
agreed to having a child. By mid-morning I was myself again, and by evening I was looking
forward to going out, even if it was with clients.
David picked me up, told me I looked pretty, and then he drove straight to my parents home.
The brothers and their families were all there, too, and everyone was dressed nice, and when we
walked inside, there was clapping and a banner that said, Well done, Bet! I looked at David
and whispered, What is all of this?
Elizabeth, dear, we are all proud of you, my sweet Mama said.
We certainly are, Daddy added, smiling.
Don t stand there with your mouth open, brat, Norman scolded. We re celebrating the end of
your driving restriction. Not one of us, except Ma, thought you could go an entire six months
without driving, but you did it, and we are proud. His eyes misted over then and Zachary was
there to nudge him and call him girlyfied .
I d finally told my parents that I was on a six month driving restriction& and so it was no
surprise that the brothers all knew, too. What was surprising was that they seemed truly proud of
me. David was smiling, and while the other adults were having real champagne, I was given a
glass of sparkling grape juice& because of the baby. I enjoyed the little party. I wasn t allowed
to help with anything, and I served myself first from the huge buffet of food that Mama and the
sisters-in-law prepared. It was all very good, and it was fun to be the center of attention in a
good way for a change.
David finally said he was getting a bit tired and he asked me if I minded if we left. I agreed,
knowing that he had to be in court early in the morning. I thanked everyone for the good time,
and yes, I even promised I would drive safely from that point forward. We went outside, and my
parents and brothers came outside to wave us off. To my shocked surprise there was a brand
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