"Morning" Kathryn Thatcher sang walking through the kitchen door to the cafe as the sun was coming up.
"Morning sweetheart, I was expecting you earlier." Abigail Stanton looked up from where she was kneading dough for bread.
"Sorry, Jack had to leave before dawn today and the baby was just not giving Elizabeth a break. I wanted to make the kids breakfast before I left." Kate said taking off her shawl quickly hanging it by the door and moving to the stove starting to crack eggs into a pan.
"This little one is giving them a run for their money isn't she?" Abigail chuckled.
"One week old and already ruling the house." Kate nodded setting another pan on the stove and putting ham into it.
"I will help you get breakfast started then head over, see the kids off to school and maybe take Tommy for a few hours so she can get a break." Abigail said putting the dough in a pan and handing it to Kate to go into the oven.
"That would be wonderful." Kate nodded adding some slices of toast to the grill as the bell over the front door to the cafe rang as it opened.
"Good Morning Rosemary." Kate smiled as Rosemary walked into the dining room her six year old son trailing behind her. Kate smiled to herself every time she saw little Aaron Coulter remembering the chat she had with Rosemary years ago. Elizabeth had been hours away from having her first baby Abby and Rosemary had let slip that maybe she was open to having a child after all, depending on how Elizabeth made out being a mother. Kate wondered if little Aaron would ever know he only existed because Abby had been such a happy, easy baby.
"Good Morning darling, are we early?" Rosemary asked as Kate walked over to their table.
"Nope I am running late, what can I get you?" Kate asked
"Eggs and toast for me and Lee please, coffee too." Rosemary said.
"Pancakes please" Aaron said.
"Coming right up" Kate said giving them a smile going back into the kitchen and starting their order.
"Morning!" Emily Montgomery hurried into the kitchen hanging up her coat.
"Just in time, can you start the coffee for the Coulters, and I think Molly and Florence just walked in." Kate said glancing back into the dining room as the bell rang again.
"I'll go take their order." Emily said.
"If your all set here I'm going to head over to see your sister." Abigail said reaching for her coat.
"Thank you!" Kate smiled as Abigail headed out of the cafe and the bell rang again as the breakfast rush was starting.
"Florence and Molly both want pancakes and tea." Emily said coming back in.
"Can you bring these to Rosemary and Lee and pancakes will be up in a minute for Aaron." Kate smiled handing her two plates turning back to the stove.
Kate had been running the cafe for six years, though she had been helping out in the same cafe since she was twelve. Abigail had opened the cafe soon after Kate and her older sister Elizabeth had moved to Hope Valley and moved into her house. So after Abigail had bought the cafe and they helped her out, as Kate got older she started working for Abigail after school and Abigail insisted on paying her. Abigail taught Kate all her secrets for cooking and baking and by the time she was fifteen most of the town would agree that Kate was just as good a cook as Abigail. When Kate graduated school she decided not to follow in her sister's footsteps and go to college. She didn't have the heart to leave Hope Valley and her family behind, and she already knew what she wanted to do. She loved cooking and baking and spending her days with Abigail in the kitchen. So Kate started working at the cafe everyday and a few years later when Cody graduated Abigail signed the cafe over to Kate that summer. She was now the owner of Abigail's cafe. Of course Kate would never dare to change the name and Abigail was always there helping her out, but Kate was definitely more responsible. Abigail had been giving the chance to step back and 'enjoy her old age' as she would say, which always made Elizabeth give her a dirty look, and Kate was able to move forward and be in charge. Some of the girls in town now helped out too. Emily Montgomery who was going to finish school this year and little Opal now almost all grown up helped out after school a few hours a week. Kate loved running the cafe, she loved that she saw nearly everyone who was important to her every day when they came in for coffee or a cookie. It made her thankful every day that she and her sister had stayed in Hope Valley and she was able to lead such a life.
A mile from town Elizabeth Thornton rocked an infant in her arms as she placed an apple into each lunch tin in front of her.
"Mama, mama will you read to me." A little boy said tugging on her skirts and holding up a picture book.
"In one minute Tommy, as soon as your brother and sister are on their way to school." Elizabeth said bouncing the baby again as she started to fuss.
"Chickens are fed." Eight year old Abby said coming in the back door.
"Thank you, Will!" Elizabeth called up the stairs.
"Hello!" They all turned as the front door opened.
"Aunt Abigail!" Abby cried greeting her with a warm hug.
"Aunt Abigail will you read to me?" Tommy asked holding up the book again.
"Good morning everyone! Kate mentioned this little girl was giving you a rough morning." Abigail cooed to the newborn as Elizabeth greeted her with a tired smile.
"She just won't settle down." Elizabeth sighed.
"Here give her to me, come here little man let's read that book." Abigail took the baby into her arms and sat with Tommy on the couch calming the baby and reading to the four year old.
"William you are going to be late!" Elizabeth called again.
"Ma I can't wear these pants they are to short." Will called hurrying down the stairs standing in front of his mother sticking out his legs that clearly showed his ankles.
"What did you grow two inches in your sleep?" Elizabeth chuckled.
"Willy we're going to be late." Abby said picking up the lunch pail Elizabeth handed her.
"I can't go to school like this." Will sighed.
"Well your going to have to, we will drop them off to Aunt Rosemary this afternoon and she can take down the hem." Elizabeth said handing him the school books.
"Alright" Will sighed as Elizabeth kissed the top of his head fixing his hair then kissed Abby's cheek.
"Now get to school, don't dawdle or you will be late, have a good day!" Elizabeth called as the oldest children hurried out the front door. Elizabeth collapsed into the sitting chair as Abigail looked up giving her a smile.
"You do have your hands full." Abigail smiled.
"It would be easier if I had more then one hand to work with, as soon as I try to put her down she gets so worked up, and she was up every hour last night, Jack tries to help but she just wants to eat." Elizabeth sighed looking at the baby who was starting to fuss in Abigail's arms despite the rocking and shushing.
"Well she's only seven days old, not to mention that you are doing far to much for someone who just gave birth." Abigail said raising her eyebrows getting up and placing the infant in Elizabeth's arms before sitting down next to Tommy again.
"I am not really, Katie got them up and made them breakfast, and Jack is usually here to help. It was just one of those morning I suppose." Elizabeth sighed starting to feed the baby who settled immediately.
"Why don't I take Tommy to the cafe for the day. He can stay with Kate and I and you two can get some rest, Why don't you feed that little girl and when she falls asleep you sleep with her." Abigail offered.
"What do you think Tommy?" Elizabeth asked turning to the quiet little boy beside Abigail looking at the picture book.
"I want to go to the cafe." Tommy smiled.
"It's settled then, I will send dinner home with the big kids, you are going to rest." Abigail insisted standing up.
"Thank you" Elizabeth gave her a grateful smile.
"Come on little man let's head over to the cafe. What do you say we pull out Cody's old books and trains?" Abigail asked.
"Yes!" Tommy cried He hurried to Elizabeth giving her a half hug before taking Abigail's hand letting her lead him out of the house skipping beside her.
"Hey Beautiful" Jack smiled coming into the house around noontime. Elizabeth glanced up from where she was again feeding the baby giving him a half hearted smile.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Jack asked instantly reading her face as he went to sit beside her.
"I did not get a single thing done today." Elizabeth sighed.
"What are you talking about?" Jack asked softly.
"I have not done a single thing, the house is a mess, there's a pile of laundry and I have not even started lunch yet…"
"Elizabeth, it's ok."
"I feel asleep, I spelt almost the whole morning.."
"Good."
"Good? That's not good Jack, we don't have a thing to eat in this house and the children are going to go to school tomorrow in dirty clothing." Elizabeth sighed her voice catching in her throat.
"Hey, it's ok." Jack said soothingly.
"I don't have any excuse, Abigail came and took Tommy first thing this morning and Kate got Will and Abby up and made them breakfast…"
"Elizabeth, it's ok just relax." Jack said again.
"I am failing at this Jack. I don't know how to do it." Elizabeth sighed a single tear rolling down her cheek.
"Come here, you are not failing. It's always like this with a new baby remember? It just takes a little while to settle in and a newborn is so demanding, and you were up all night last night. Just give yourself a break." Jack said putting his arm around her and pulling her into his chest to rest.
"Why does four feel so much harder then three?"
"Because Tommy was born in the evening, he ate and fell asleep and has been sleeping through the night since remember? From day one we used to get a good 6 hours of sleep at night before he woke up" Jack said.
"Oh yes, I remember I used to wake him up to feed him he worried me so."
"Until Abigail told you that was silly and to get your sleep and be thankful God gave us an easy baby." Jack nodded.
"Bless that boy." Elizabeth whispered making Jack chuckle.
"Somedays I think it would be easier to be at the school house all day." Elizabeth sighed.
"Do you want to go back to teaching now?" Jack asked pulling away a little to look at her.
"I can't go back to teaching now Lily is to little."
"Not right now, but soon, we could make it work, maybe I could work half days and Abigail can watch her in the mornings, Megan could take over every other lesson so you could feed her in-between. If your not happy Elizabeth we can figure something out." Jack said firmly.
"No, I'm sorry, I am happy. I love taking care of them all day. We said I would go back in a year and that is what I want. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like I wasn't happy here, I'm just overwhelmed." Elizabeth sighed.
"Well of course you are, and your still not feeling strong yourself. I'm sorry I had to leave early this morning. I'll be here tomorrow to help get the kids ready and off to school." Jack whispered kissing the top of her head.
"It was not to bad, Kate made breakfast that helped a lot, I like it better when your here, but I know you had to work."
"Good, now the adults in this house are officially out numbered by the children how did that happen?" Jack chuckled as the baby finished eating he took her in his arms patting her back gently.
"I believe it started with the words, 'what's one more.'" Elizabeth gave Jack a look making him laugh harder.
"If I remember correctly you were agreeing with my quite sincerely." Jack teased following her into the kitchen still holding the baby close.
"Yes well, I think that was the weekend Lee and Rosemary took Kate and all the kids on that fishing trip, yes that was the beginning of summer. I forgot how busy the house was with them all." Elizabeth laughed lighting the stove.
"Speaking of which, I saw Lee in town today he said Rosemary is dying to come over and see the baby again. Why don't I take this little girl on a walk and see if Aunt Rosie can spare an hour or two after lunch to come by for a visit. She's more then willing to hold a baby while you get some washing done." Jack said.
"That would be helpful" Elizabeth nodded.
"We will be right back." Jack smiled kissing her cheek and wrapping a blanket around the baby before heading out the door.
Jack was cleaning up lunch as Kate came in with Tommy draped over her shoulder.
"He ran around all morning, he barely made it through lunch." Kate smiled as Jack took Tommy from her gently, carrying him upstairs to his bed.
"Thank you for watching him this morning." Elizabeth smiled putting the last dish away.
"Of course, he helped Abigail hang the laundry, and he made rolls with me and and we ran to the mercantile for a few things. He had a busy morning. Wow she's sleeping in her cradle?" Kate asked glancing at the baby sleeping by the open window with the warm spring breeze blowing through.
"Jack got her down. I don't even dare breath to close to her or she will wake up and want to eat again." Elizabeth sighed making Kate laugh softly.
"Did you eat lunch?"
"Yes I did. We're in the midday slow down I thought I would bring Tom back and see if you needed anything." Kate nodded.
"Rosemary is coming over soon so I can do the laundry. You and Abigail taking Tommy this morning was plenty thank you." Elizabeth smiled as Jack came back down the stairs.
"Are you all set if I go back to work?" He asked.
"Yes thank you." Elizabeth smiled as he gave her a kiss on the cheek putting his hat back on.
"I'll be home before dinner." Jack said.
"I will get Will and Abby from school and walk home with them, Abigail and Emily are serving dinner tonight so I will be home too." Kate said.
"Want a ride into town?" Jack asked.
"Yes thanks, see you later." Kate smiled. Elizabeth waved them off watching in the window as Jack swung onto Sergeant and pulled Kate up behind him. She chuckled shaking her head as they trotted off. Her sister was not the same little girl who used to ride on the back of Jack's old horse, but somehow when she was holding onto him laughing as he raced the horse through the field she still looked like she could be. Elizabeth was grateful that over the years despite Kate growing up, her relationship with Jack had only grown with her. Jack was the closest thing to a father Kate ever remembered having, and Jack was quick to step into that roll whenever he needed to, but more often then not Jack was just a friend and a big brother to her. Sometimes they got along to well for Elizabeth's taste, racing horses, playing and daring each other who would go our farther into the thin ice on the pond, teasing her. But mostly Elizabeth just loved the relationship they had. Until she had had children Kate and Jack had been the most important people in her life, it had always been important to her that they got along, that didn't change just because Kate was no longer a child.
"The water is on for tea and it biscuits are in the oven." Abigail said as Kate walked back into the cafe.
"Thanks I'll get the coffee started." Kate said moving around the kitchen.
"Tommy still asleep?"
"Oh yes, he was really tired, and the baby was sleeping in the cradle. Elizabeth might get a minute to herself before they wake up." Kate smiled as Abigail chuckled.
"This too shall pass, one day there won't be anymore babies in that house and she will find herself missing these days, trust me." Abigail said knowingly.
"Oh I know, she knows it too, if there ever stops being babies in that house that is, I can't hardly remember a time before there was a little cradle by the fireplace." Kate joked making Abigail laugh.
Kate knocked on the front door entering the little house she knew almost as well as her own. The Coulter house was smaller then the one Jack had built for their family. A sitting room, kitchen and one bedroom downstairs with a second bedroom upstairs, but it was cozy and homey. Lee had always said they could add on as needed but they had never really found the need.
"Hello" Kate called letting herself in finding Rosemary standing over the stove making dinner.
"Hello darling, what brings you here?" Rosemary asked giving her a warm smile.
"I was just on my way from the cafe, I can't bring myself to go home quite yet, is that awful?" Kate asked sinking into a chair by the table and Rosemary put a cup of tea in front of her.
"Oh goodness no! I know how hard it is with the new baby and you deserve a break." Rosemary said soothingly.
"Jack came home early so I don't feel to guilty about not going home to help straight away. I saw the kids out of school I will follow them home soon." Kate sighed sipping her tea slowly.
"You wouldn't have happened to see my little man wondering home with those Thatcher children did you?" Rosemary asked.
"He and Will were playing baseball in the field behind the cafe, I told them to wrap it up, they should be five minutes behind me." Kate smiled.
"Ahh good, at least someone is keeping track of him." Rosemary chuckled moving back to the stove.
"I heard Lee was talking about hiring new men for the mill?" Kate asked.
"Well business is booming! And I can't say I won't complain about him having more people so he can be home with me more often." Rosemary smiled.
"Is he hiring people from town?"
"He will put out the notice here of course, though I think he will have to look further too. If someone in town was looking for a job we would know about it. And he want's men not the boys still in school, though he is willing to give them a sweeping job if you hear someone looking."
"So he might bring in more families to Hope Valley?" Kate asked glancing up at her.
"He is looking for respectable family men, but if you like I can ask him to hire some single young men as well. What would you like? Tall? Blond? Or dark hair is rather fetching isn't it.. you know I think you would look rather dashing with a tall man, dark hair, and nice green eyes, or blue I suppose…" Rosemary went on as she tended to do. Sometimes Kate thought she might even forget she was actually talking.
"Rosemary, I don't want Lee to hire me a husband." Kate chuckled rolling her eyes.
"Well Darling you are not getting any younger, you don't want to turn into a spinster living with your sister and all her children do you?" Rosemary asked.
"Of course not, but I am only the same age Elizabeth was when she got married no one called her a spinster."
"Well, not that you two could hear of course." Rosemary said as Kate blinked back her horrified look. As long as she had known Rosemary there were somethings she could never get used to.
"Well thanks for the tea, I should be getting home." Kate said standing up and straightening her skirts.
"Well you know you are always welcome here, I love your visits." Rosemary said giving Kate a warm smile.
"Thank you Rosemary." Kate smiled as Rosemary gave her a warm hug.
Kate followed the well traveled path through the grove and down the hill entering her own home.
"Hi" Kate said quietly entering the house taking a deep breath. They had only been in the house about 8 years, but something about it always made if feel more like home then anywhere else Kate had lived.
"Hey sweetie." Elizabeth gave her a smile from where she was cooking in the kitchen.
"How was your afternoon?" Jack asked looking up from where he was sitting at the table with Abby.
"It went by fast, there's chocolate chip muffins on the menu for tomorrow."
"Save me one for lunch" Jack smiled.
"Hi there little girl! Look at you not crying" Kate smiled looking at the baby laying in her cradle at Jack's feet.
"We actually had a really good afternoon with her today." Elizabeth smiled as Abby closed her book.
"I'm done with my math, can I go play outside before dinner?" She asked.
"Alright, but it will be ready soon. Tommy went to play by the apple trees why don't you go see him." Elizabeth said glancing out the back window where Tommy was playing with sticks in the shade.
"Will you come Auntie?" Abby asked.
"I need to talk to your Ma for a minute, but after dinner I'll do your reading with you." Kate promised. Abby nodded hurrying out of the house.
"Why don't I go with them, unless you need help with dinner?"
"No I'm just about done, you go spend some time with them." Elizabeth said. Jack smiled giving Kate a wink as he followed her out the door. Lily started to fuss now that Jack had stopped rocking the cradle with his foot and Kate scooped her up going to stand by Elizabeth in the kitchen.
"I stopped by to see Rosemary on my way home from work." Kate said rocking slowly as Lily cuddled into her neck.
"Oh? She was here this afternoon to keep Lily and I company while I did the laundry.
"Lee is hiring men to work at the mill. You should have heard the way Rosemary was talking about him hiring a man for me like some mail order bride, but the opposite." Kate huffed feeling herself get worked up about it again.
"You should know better then to let Rosemary bother you with that." Elizabeth gave her a kind smile turning from the stove, sensing that Kate really needed to talk.
"She said I was in danger of becoming a spinster women living out my life with my sister and her kids." Kate grumbled.
"Oh Katie I'm sorry, as much as we love Rosemary she does still occasionally have her moments." Elizabeth sighed sympathetically.
"This one hit where it hurt." Kate muttered.
"I know, bare in mind that is does come from a place of love, even when it doesn't feel like it, she does love you very much. To her she was just wanting to help you find someone to share your life with, not make you feel like you were turning into an old maid." Elizabeth gave her a little smile running her fingers through Kate's long curls, something that still after so many years seemed to bring them both comfort. Lily seemed to sense to Elizabeth was near and let out a squawk of displeasure that her mother wasn't holding her.
"Besides, we still need you here as long as you will stay." Elizabeth said taking the fussing baby from Kate cuddling her, soothingly calming her down as Jack and the three older kids came running through the back door.
"Is it time for dinner?" William asked.
"It is, go wash up" Elizabeth smiled.
"Look at this worm I found in the hay stack!" Tommy cried holding up the wiggling creature.
"Oh! Tommy not in the house!" Elizabeth gasped.
"Go put in the garden for the vegetables." Kate laughed.
"Just don't tell me where or I'm never going to be able to weed there again." Elizabeth shivered as Tommy ran back outside.
"But Ma I thought you said worms were good for our food?" Abby asked drying her hands.
"That doesn't mean I want to find them with my fingers in the garden."
"Aaron ate a worm at recess yesterday." Will said.
"He did?" Jack asked surprised washing his face in the water-basin as Elizabeth and Kate looked horrified
"Mmmhhmm swallowed it whole." Will nodded.
"Why would he do that?" Kate asked as she and Abby sat down at the table.
"Because Henry said he would pay him a whole nickel. He dared him, you have to do it if it's a dare." Abby said seriously taking her place at the table as Tommy came running back in going to wash his hands. Jack took Lily from Elizabeth so she could bring the chicken to the table.
"I would eat a worm for a whole nickel too." William said.
"You would not." Elizabeth said firmly making the smile wipe off Will's face.
"Yes Ma'am" He said.
"What did Rosie say?" Jack asked.
"He made us promise not to tell Aunt Rosemary."
"She's going to wonder where that nickel came from." Elizabeth chuckled.
"She will never know, he already spent it all on candy sticks in the mercantile!" Abby cried making them all laugh.
"Who's turn is it to say Grace?" Jack asked.
"Mine" Will said as they joined hands around the table. Elizabeth smiled glancing around the table as they started to eat. When she had once considered her family to be just her and Kate, now filled a whole table. Elizabeth herself felt like she hadn't changed very much, a little older, a better cook, a calmer mother, but mostly just herself. Jack had not hanged much either, his hair had little specks of grey in it that Elizabeth actually thought made him look even better. He was a wonderful father, dropping everything when one of the children needed him and making sure to alway be home for dinner and bedtime. Kate, her little sister, was for sure not little anymore. She ran the cafe, and helped Elizabeth around the house and with the kids. Sometimes Elizabeth didn't think she could make it through her day without Kate even if she was just there to chat with her while she made dinner.
Abigail, their oldest child, was just like Kate. Elizabeth sometimes felt like she was raising her sister all over again. Abigail was sweet, with a big heart and a wild soul. Her favorite thing was riding Sergeant with Jack and catching frogs in the stream by the house with her brother. She was always barefoot with her hair in a long braid down her back. She tended to be Kate's shadow and Kate loved it. William was the spitting image of Jack wild dark hair and bright teasing green eyes, and exactly what Elizabeth imagined Jack was like as a little boy. He had a big heart and was always gentle with his little brother and sister. But he loved to run around with Jack and climb trees and get dirty. But at the end of the day he was the first one to crawl into one of his parent's laps as the sat by the fire and still be their little boy. Tomas their youngest boy has Elizabeth's bright blue eyes with blond hair, which no one was quite sure where it came from. Tommy was their quiet boy. He was shy and tended to view the world from behind Elizabeth's skirts. Jack often worried about him but Elizabeth knew he would be ok. He was smart and and so sweet and loving. As he grew he became more comfortable with the world outside their home, and she was in no rush to make him grow up. And then there was Lillian, named after the flowers that grew outside the house every spring, she was born in the morning just as the first Lily's of the season opened up to the rising sun. She had dark almost black soft hair all over her head, and eyes that were starting to turn green like Jack's. It was tough to say what she would be like yet at only a week old. So far she seemed content as long as she was being held and she loved when Elizabeth sang to her softly.
Their family had for sure grown the past few years but they were so thankful for each other. When they had been building the house 9 years ago Elizabeth couldn't have imagined they would get so lucky to have the house so full of love as they do now.
"This new baby cries to much." Abby sighed sinking into Kate's bed next to her later that night. Upstairs Jack was reading to the boys putting them to bed, and the tiny wails of the new baby could be heard as Elizabeth gave her a bath.
"All babies cry, she's little, give her a few weeks." Kate chuckled putting her book down as Elizabeth's soft humming floated into the room trying to sooth the baby.
"That feels like forever." Abby sighed dramatically again.
"You prayed for years and years for a sister, now you have one and you are complaining about her." Kate shook her head.
"She's to little to do anything with."
"Well of course she is, give her a few years. But in the meantime you can be loving her and teaching her and helping out with her and starting your relationship with her already." Kate said raising an eyebrow at her.
"She's always going to be to little." Abby frowned.
"That is not true you know that, she will grow and one day she will be your friend."
"Even though she's so much younger then me?"
"Sure, you know, your mama was your age when I was born, and we were always each other's best friend, especially when I got older." Kate nodded.
"That's different, you and Mama always say all you had was each other."
"You mark my words, one day soon you will be so glad you have a sister." Kate said. Any sighed opening her reader settling back on Kate's pillows next to her.
"I believe you, even if it does feel like it will take a million years." Abby muttered as she started to read to Kate. Eventually the baby got quiet again and the boys were still upstairs for a while before Jack poked his head into Kate's room.
"Bedtime little girl." He smile.
"Good job, we can read more tomorrow, good night." Kate said as Abby closed the book giving her a hug.
"Why don't you go get ready for bed Mama or I will be up soon to tuck you in." Jack said gently tugging on Abby's braid as she passed him in the doorway. Kate got up pulling her hair from it's clip and running her brush through it.
"Thanks for helping out this morning." Jack said leaning against the doorway.
"Of course, that's what I'm here for." Kate gave him a smile.
"Between you and me, your sister is kind of down, she said today she doesn't feel like she does enough." Jack said softly.
"Like when William was born?" Kate asked. The weeks after William was born Elizabeth had struggled with feeling upset and was worse that Kate had seen her in a long time. Abigail had said it was normal sometimes and they all pulled together and after a few weeks she was back to normal.
"I don't think it's that bad yet, but maybe keep an eye on her for me?"
"Of course." Kate nodded.
"You and me still make a great team don't we?" Jack chuckled to himself. Kate gave him a little smile in return thinking of what Rosemary had said earlier.
"You ok?" Jack asked.
"Yeah I'm just tired." Kate shrugged.
"Alright, get some sleep I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night" Kate smiled as Jack left her room. She heard him checking the doors and closing the windows before climbing the stairs to go to bed. Kate pulled on her nightgown crawling back into her bed and pulling out her Journal settling in for the night.