Page 17 (1/2)

The last five years have been unbelievable in , difficult road, no doubt about it There’s fightingandup, h, and we ether We are, however, about to experience three of the biggest changes in our lives thus far

Margie is retiring and a new er will take her place I’m pretty sure I know a candidate who is a shoe-in Ethan has taken his duties as assistant ie confided to me that it would be a proud moment to see Ethan take her place The salary increase was nothing to joke about either, and this pro us to finally buy our own home It wouldn’t be fancy or lavish, but it would be ours

Margie has been an enormous support system for both Ethan and ure we both needed as we transitioned to new parts of our lives One could say that I should have been bitter about a "stand-in" mother, but I never saw it that way She has been ie, I wasn’t sure what to think

"Can I help you?"

"Well, I was looking for Ethan" The woman was small, but spoke with assurance "Does he still live here?" I hadn’t knohat to tell her It flashed through my mind when I answered the door that perhaps this was the landlord and someone had reported us Ethan wasn’t supposed to have anyone living with hiot in trouble after the way he up and left uts to hiry with hiie, Ethan’s boss"

I stalled in answering her, debating whether I should invite her in

"Dear?"

"Oh, sorry - I’ut told me that this woman was harmless

"It’s Eive more information than necessary

"Well, Eie invited herself into the duplex and into my life She was there to comfortup to Ethan leaving She hugged ement; above all else, she assured me Ethan would return and that I just had to be patient

She spoke about Ethan that afternoon as if he were her own son There was never a disapproving word, only compliments and work anecdotes from the years she’d known hih school She insisted, along with Ethan, that I take full advantage of the scholarship I was given She also wantedso I could get a job She toldI was passionate about

"I think I knohat I want to ie, the excitereat, sweetie Tell me"

"This lady came in today with a little boy with autis to watch her interact with him I think I want to learn more about children and disabilities" I was nervous about Margie’s answer Maybe she thought I was a little too aards to my career path "What do you think?"

"I think we are lucky to have you, one of God’s angels here on earth You warm an old woman’s heart, Emily I can’t think of a better career choice"

I finished school three years later with a degree in Early Childhood Special Education Margie was there with Ethan on graduation day, and I think she was the loudest cheerleader in the auditorium

"So, you really want to do this?"

I used to be the one that was so unsure of everything and looked to Ethan to be the decision maker Now, it see to me for reassurance

"I do I know there will be a lot of work to be done on it, but I have the su that ti all the painting, but I think - all things considered - he’ll be just fine with the tradeoff "This house is in a better neighborhood and is a bit bigger There is room for us to have a home office and a couple spare bedrooms"

The realtor was anxious to make a deal The house had been on the market for several , not wanting this potential sale to slip away "Do you have any questions, Mr and Mrs Parker?"