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 massage. "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