The field was a sea of gray, the first sign of the approach of warmer seasons as slush covered the dirt instead of the fluff of fresh powder. Jack was restless to begin work again, winters leaving him far too idle with so much time on his hands.
Everything was dull without the sun. Even the animals were sluggish and seemed as bored as he felt. His sisters seemed the liveliest pair for days, tumbling about their room at all hours and leaving their home with the faint sound of laughter near-constantly.
It was certainly pleasant to have them around when he was there, but he'd spent most of his time out at the old farmhouse with his father. The old man seemed determined to get the place fixed up, and quickly. Of course, Jack was more than willing to help. It was nearly as old as their family, after all.
The Wests had only started living in their current home during his own generation at the behest of Jack's mother for their growing family. The young man could hardly fault his father for wanting to honor his childhood home with his own father recently passed. More than the home, though, his father seemed intensely focused on all things family. It was a little strange seeing his father act like a man on borrowed time, but he was certain he would tell him what was going on in his own time. Jack only hoped everyone was alive and well, it'd been too long since he'd seen any of their more distant relatives.
The sound of laughter rolled down the hallway and he didn't even have to turn to know that his youngest sister Abigail, only eleven years-old, was making a running start to pounce on him. At the last moment he turned away from the window enough to crouch and scoop her up in a fit of giggling.
"Have you heard?!" she cried once she'd settled down.
"Heard what, munchkin?" he asked, humoring his sister with a smile.
She only giggled, though, looking to her elder sister Hannah as if she'd just won whatever bet had been placed between them.
"Mama said not to tell you," she whispered at his ear, earning her a concerned frown and distracted ruffle of her blonde hair as Jack hitched her higher on his hip. What was she talking about? Mother keeping secrets? That was odd.
"Well why not? Is something wrong?"
She shook her head, cracking a huge grin as she wrapped her arms around his neck to hug him. "She said we'll have more family soon! A girl, I think. But don't tell! I promised I wouldn't tell you!"
More family? Was she pregnant? She was too old for that. She'd been too old when their younger brother was born in his opinion. He frowned but then flashed a smile for her, remembering himself and trying to keep things light until he could confirm his suspicions with his mother. If he was right he had good reason to know and plenty reason to worry about why it was a secret.
"Well don't tell her you told me," he scolded playfully, setting her back on her feet and shooing them back down the hall. He certainly had other plans for that information, his eyes immediately finding the cracked door to their parents' room.
Jack moved slowly, careful to be quiet as he peeked in at his mother. She seemed calm, just sorting and folding the girls' clothes.
"They told me," he said calmly, leaning his shoulder against the doorway and watching curiously as his mother tensed at those words. So there was some secret.
"Jack, dear," she sighed, looking gutted as she turned to face him properly after setting aside her washing. "I'm so sorry you had to find out like that. I was- We were going to tell you. Tonight actually." She sighed and clicked her tongue, looking so deflated.
A quick look to her belly left him a little confused. Last time she'd waited to share the news until she was obviously starting to show. But she was flat, not a bit of roundness to her. Had she lost the baby?
"Get your best clothes ready for tomorrow," she warned after a moment's pause, eyeing him sternly like she didn't trust him to actually follow through on his own.
Was it a funeral? That made no sense. "I'm sorry, Ma. For your loss and all. I...didn't know before," he offered, hanging his head slightly. That got her attention, though for a moment she looked like she was going to cry.
"Oh don't be silly. You're not dying! Don't be so dramatic."
What?
"Eh?"
"Don't you want to look nice? Or at least presentable?"
"Ma... I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing," he admitted, scratching at the back of his neck anxiously. What in the world could he possibly need to be dressed for?
"The wedding?" she prompted, eyeing him expectantly.
"Whose wedding?"
She rolled her eyes at that, giving his shoulder a light swat. "I don't appreciate the sarcasm, Jack."
"Well it can't be Hannah's," he laughed, shaking his head. She was still a few years young for that.
Suddenly his mother looked panicked, eyes blown wide as she gasped and just stared at him. Her eyes darted to search past him in the doorway, obviously searching for any loitering family members but the girls had scurried back to their room already.
"Jack, you- What did she tell you?" she whispered harshly.
"That...there would be more family," he answered slowly. Wedding. A wedding meant family. A husband. Or a wife. If it wasn't Hannah, then-
"Ma?" He asked numbly, not meeting her eyes as he stared out the window at the slush and snow. "Who's getting married?"
"Well... You, Jack. But she's a very nice girl, I'm sure you know her."
Oh. His wedding.