December 2

Rosemary blinked her eyes twice, flipped onto her side, and reached for Lee, her arms coming up empty. She stifled a groan, he was gone again. She was hoping that the night after she shared the news of Baby Coulter, she'd wake up to his arms. Well a girl could hope, couldn't she—

"Looks like we're staying put for the day." His deep voice came from across the room, thrilling her. He had his hands in his pockets as he looked out the window at the snow falling down. "It's already covering the porch a good foot or so. If the clouds could talk I imagine they'd say there's a lot more coming."

Rosemary unwrapped herself from the sheets and padded over to the window, her eyes surveying the winter wonderland ahead of them. A snow day? Why, it couldn't have been any better timing! They'd be stuck together all day.

"Lee, this is wonderful!" She couldn't contain her enthusiasm and kissed him full on the lips. Lee returned her kiss and pulled her into an embrace.

"We can spend the whole day together. We can do all the Christmas decorating I haven't had the time or energy to do. We will start by putting up the upstairs tree, then followed by the downstairs tree—"

"Okay, okay, but can a guy start with a cup of coffee first?"

"I think this son of yours might need more than a cup of coffee this morning."

"Or daughter."

"Or daughter. I owe you a full order of my famous biscuits and gravy. Come on." She tried to move from his arms, but his arms held her fast. She peered into his clear blue eyes.

"Not so fast. First, I want to tell you, that last night, was the stuff dreams are made of. I wasn't dreaming, right? No, don't tell me if I was dreaming. I want it to be true so badly."

"You were not dreaming, Lee Coulter. In fact, your son"

"Or daughter"

"Or daughter can't wait a minute more. He's begging for breakfast right now." Rosemary prodded Lee's hand to her belly. It was still too early for either of them to feel the baby move, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was their baby was snuggled tight between the two of them on the snowiest of winter days.

At Breakfast

Rosemary wiggled out of the apron and hung it on the rack beside the stove. Holding two steaming plates of biscuits and gravy, she made her way to the table.

"Lee, breakfast is ready." She glanced over at the settee, where minutes before he had been reading the newspaper.

"Lee?"

A bump sounded at the back porch. Rosemary opened the door and watched as Lee shook the snow off a small tree, not even 3 feet tall, and held to his chest as he walked inside.

"What a itty bitty tree! What's it for?"

"Hickam brought a tree into the office yesterday knowing you would insist on having a tree to make the place feel festive."

"I'd never ask him for such a puny tree." Really! She could find something bigger in her front yard.

Lee held up a hand. "Hear me out. I told him we wouldn't be having time for a tree in the office, with all the extra work I've had. Last minute I decided to bring it home. It's about the best we can manage on such a snowy day. What do you say? We can have a baby tree for Baby Coulter."

"I'm not sure. You know how I like to decorate. It must be big, grand, and wondrous!"

"Let's just start with this one. If you still want the others up, I'll put them up too."

"Okay." Rosemary wasn't quite convinced. How could they celebrate Christmas with such a teeny tree? Would she ever have a grand big tree again? Or would the baby change everything?

Lee set the tree against the doorframe. He grunted as he moved the table with the victrola on it, carefully, directly in front of the window.

Rosemary miserably walked over to dust the table off and rearrange the items on it. Lee, oblivious to her mood, took a few steps into the kitchen and began to rattle pots and pans around, as he must have been searching for a pot to place the tree in. Returning a few minutes later, a pot in hand, it was then he noticed tears in Rosemary's eyes.

"Oh does the tree bother you that much? I was just trying to help. But if you want a bigger one—"

"It's not the tree. Well it sort of is, but not really."

"Okay…"

"Something seems wrong."

Lee put down the pot quickly and went to her side, his hands feeling across her belly gently, urgently.

"What is it?"

Realizing she caused him alarm, she smiled warily. "Oh not something with the baby. Something with me. I have these moments that I'm so elated that I am having a baby. Then the next moment comes crashing in and all I can see is what I am loosing or letting go of for a baby."

"Like Christmas trees?"

"I know you think it is silly…"

"No. I don't think it is silly or abnormal, either. It's just a part of navigating this new road as parents. I think there will be moments of adjusting. Changing. We won't be able to do everything the way we used to, or even want to at times. But it will all be worth it. And the good news, you aren't in this alone. You've got me."

Rosemary dipped her head down into his chest and let his reassuring pats comfort her. He was right after all. At least in most cases. What about her case? What about a girl who wasn't fit to be born? Let alone be a mother?

Two hours later, Rosemary sunk into the settee and wished she could lift up her legs. Just as soon as she thought it, Lee came with a kitchen chair and lifted her legs onto it.

"Better?"

She nodded and lifted a glass of water up for a drink.

"We sure decked out every inch of that mini tree. Just look at all those ornaments." Rosemary surveyed the tree from where she sat. It had at least one strand of modern electric lights on it and numerous glass ornaments from her collection.

"I hope there is room for one more."

"Hmmm?"

Lee went to the closet and pulled out a small wrapped parcel. He brought it with him as he sat on the couch next to her.

"What is this? How did you—"

"It's just something I picked up on my last trip to Buxton. I saw it in the window display and just knew I had to get it for you."

Lee pushed the package into her hands. Rosemary looked deep into his eyes.

"You're so good to me."

"Open it on up."

Rosemary gingerly unwrapped the delicate package to reveal a delicate crystal heart adorned in the middle with a red metal cursive L+R.

Rosemary held it up by its' golden string and watched the light reflect through it.

"Oh Lee. It's absolutely perfect. How did you get our initials on it?"

"Oh, they personalized it right there for me. I wanted to get you something special. I know I have been missing in action a lot here lately. There are reasons for that. I just can't explain them now. I just want you to know I am one hundred percent undoubtedly yours. I fell in love with you the first moment I laid eyes on you and I haven't stopped ever since. In fact, this news, it just makes me love you even more, if that's even possible. You've given me something…" Lee's voice caught. "Something I have not had for a long time. A family."

Rosemary reached up and stroked his whiskered cheek.

"You are my family, too, Lee. More than any I ever experienced. I feel your unconditional love every hour of every day. I couldn't be happier to be your Mrs. Coulter, and now the mother of your baby."

Lee leaned over her, pinning her between the couch and himself as he lowered his lips onto hers. Never had she felt their hearts so connected as in this moment. And perhaps, one day, she'd even trust him with her secret.