Vegetable Order and Decisions!

(Part 14 of Abby's Story--You can start at the beginning here.) Breathing heavily, Abby opened the gate of the vegetable garden and sat down on the bench just inside the fence for a rest. Pulling weeds from the flower border had been a little more bend-over exercise than she needed. "You done?" asked Suz, as she placed an arm load of lettuce and squash on the garden table. "No, I just need a breather. I need to pace myself." "Well, don't over exert. The flower bed can wait." Suzanne kept busy loosening and aerating the soil around the tomato plants. "But we do have this vegetable order to deliver to Clark's Corner." "Yes, I know. I just wanted to give a bit of time for the flowers, too. Anyway, I can use this rest time to talk to you about something. Since little Patricia stayed with me, I've been thinking. I really need an outlet for my love for children, but I don't know how. I've made list of pros and cons of reasons to adopt, but I am still undecided." "Adopt? Oh, mom, I know that you have a big heart for kids, but at your age? Can't you do something else that will pacify your passion?" "Patricia's family is giving her up and she needs a home!" Abby retorted with vigor! "I understand that, mom, but I worry about your health. You just said that you need to pace yourself. You already volunteer at Thomas House. They love you there. And you can still have the kids stay in the summer for a week at a time." Abby put her gloves away on the garden shelf and replied, "You are probably right, but my heart just bleeds for that little girl. I wish she could have a good home." Putting her gloves away too, Suzanne walked toward the gate and said, "I understand mom. I would like to see your pro and con list and talk to you about it later; right now I've got a gal coming to interview for the shop sales position. Why don't you go make some lemonade and I'll be over later to talk." "O.K., I'll spend a few minutes washing the veggies and packaging the order, then I'll go in and make the lemonade. See you later."