Chapter 32: A Rose and a Lily

October 30, 1913

Jack left early for work, and he decided not to wake Rose up. She always gets up early and cooks breakfast for him, even when she is up late with Jewel. Jewel has gotten better about sleeping through the night, much to her parent's relief. Last night was not one of those nights that she slept peacefully. Rose was the one that got up to tend to her that night. Her and Jack usually took turns getting up with Jewel.

However, Rose did not get to sleep in much that morning. She was awakened by a knock on the door. She got up put on a robe and made her way to the door to see who it was. To her surprise it was her father. Usually it was her mother, sister-in-laws, or mother-in-law that stopped by early in the morning.

"Good morning, Daddy." Rose said with a yawn. She stretched as she motioned for him to enter the house. She then closed the door behind him. "What brings you here so early?" She asked. He just looked at her with the biggest smile across his face.

"There is someone I want you to meet." She just looked up at him in shock.

"When?" She asked knowing exactly who he was referring to.

"Late last night when everyone was asleep. It happened so quickly. We didn't have time to get everyone and let them know. I though you should be the first to know." He said.

"Boy or Girl?" She asked. The man shook his head.

"You will have to come see and find out for yourself." She couldn't help but laugh at this. With that said he made his way out of her house to go join his wife in their house next door. Rose took that a hint to get dressed and walk next door to go meet her little brother or sister. She made her way back upstairs. She put on some decent clothes. She picked up her daughter and made her way downstairs towards the front door.

"Jewel you are going to meet your new aunt or uncle." Rose said to her daughter as she closed her front door and locked it. She then enters her parent's house without even knocking on the door. She then proceeds to their bedroom. "May I come in she asks before walking up to the doorway.

"Please do." Ruth said happily. So Rose walked in. The sight before her was beautiful, her mother and her new baby brother or sister. "Rose, I would like for you to meet your new sister. Her name is Lily." Ruth said proudly. "Would you like to hold her?" Rose just nodded. Her father offered to hold Jewel. So Rose sat on the end of the bed and took her baby sister in her arms.

"Hello, Lily. It's nice to finally meet you. I'm your big sister Rose." Rose said as tears started forming in her eyes. "I promise I will be the best older sister." She said cheerfully as she gently rubbed her finger over the baby's hair. "You also have a niece, named Jewel, that is a little bit older than you. I'm sure the two of you will be partners in crime." Rose said laughing at the thought of Jewel and Lily being trouble makers when they got a little bit older. Her father brought Jewel closer so she could see the baby. Her blue eyes got wide as her grandfather brought her closer to the baby. She was curious. Just then Lily started getting fussy. "I think someone is hungry." Rose said with a chuckle.

"She's definitely related to the two of you." Ruth said pointing to Rose and her husband.

"What is that supposed to me!" Both replied in unison. Ruth couldn't help but laugh at this.

"Both of you have a rather large appetite." She said with a laugh. Both Rose and her father made faces and pretended like they were offended by that comment. Lily eventually got full. William took her so Ruth could get some well deserved rest.

"Do you need any help with anything?" Rose asked. "I can help with the baby whenever, and I can also cook if you need me too." She said trying to offer as much help as she could.

"That's very kind of you, but to overdo it. You have a child to take care of as well. Your mother and I have done this before with you. It may have been almost eighteen years ago, but we can do it." William said to his oldest daughter. He didn't want her getting stressed with helping them with Lily, and taking care of Jewel. Not to mention cooking for her own husband.

"I just thought I would offer." Rose said. Jewel made cooing noise. "I think someone else is hungry as well." Rose said as she looked down at her own daughter that she was holding. "You are getting so big." William laughed at this.

"Before you know it, she will be a year old." This made Rose said. It seemed as if time was flying by too fast.

"Daddy, that goes two ways." Rose said as she motioned towards the baby in her father's arms. He nodded.

"Yes, it does. It seems like just yesterday that I was holding you like this and rocking you." He said.

"I'm so glad that we are a happy family again." Rose said remembering how she thought she had lost her father for good not that long ago. She also almost lost her mother to materialistic things, which made her sad. William knew exactly what Rose meant by that.

"Me too, sweetheart. I wouldn't give this up for all of the money or riches in the world. I have all I will ever need here. I have you, Jewel, Lily, and your mother. That's all I will ever need to be happy. I cannot live without the three of you." He said as he sat on the couch next to his daughter and granddaughter. He passed Lily to Rose again. Rose had Lily on one side and Jewel on the other.

"I love you. I will always be there for you, no matter what." She whispered as she gently placed kisses on the top of both of their heads.