Albert was elated. He reached for a smoke but, mindful of their hard-won happiness, set it aside. Rising to help, he murmured, “Take a load off, Mom! I got this."

Lettie's hand shook a little.

She recalled the last time she had chewed Albert out, but soon after, he was going to marry her daughter and he even addressed her respectfully as ‘Mom’ now. For Jessie's sake, Lettie bit her tongue.

She didn't want Jessie fretting.

Lettie was lost for words.