Chapter 34 – A Gracious Gift
Patrick moans, "I'm sorry, Mama," and lays back down.
"It's okay, bud. Let me get a bucket or something for you to use if you need to throw up again," responds Rosemary. She steps out to find something for him to use and promptly comes back with a pail. Rosemary sets it next to him, suggesting, "If you get sick again, throw up in here."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'm sorry you are not feeling well. How long has your tummy been hurting?"
"Since I woke up this morning."
"Let me clean up the floor, and then I can bring you some water. Are you thirsty?"
"No, Mama. I want to go back to sleep." Patrick suddenly sits up and vomits in the pail, and lays back down. Patrick whines, "Gross."
Rosemary tenderly pushes his curls back and tells him, "I'll be right back." She walks across to their room, mentioning to Lee with a pout, "Patrick is throwing up. He already did it twice while I was in there. I am going to change, clean up his mess, and get him some water to sip. I don't want him getting dehydrated."
Lee finally sits up, "Why don't you get him some water, and I'll mop up the floor?"
"Thanks, sweetie." Rosemary changes into some clothes she doesn't care to get vomit on and goes downstairs.
Lee steps into Patrick's room and sees the mess on the floor and in the pail. Patrick appears to be sleeping, so Lee feels his forehead.
Patrick opens his eyes, quietly saying, "Morning, Papa. My tummy hurts, and I threw up twice. It almost landed on Mama."
"I'm sorry, buddy. I know this is not fun. I've had this before."
"How long will I be sick?"
"I don't think long. Maybe a day or two. Do you need to go to the outhouse?"
"No, sir."
"Okay, why don't you try to go back to sleep?" Patrick nods and closes his eyes. Lee finds a bucket in the attic and brings it for Patrick to use while cleaning out the pail. He finishes right when Rosemary comes back in with a water pitcher and a couple of glasses. She's wearing one of her old aprons that she lets hang open in the back because it's too challenging to try and tie around her growing waistline. Rosemary pours the water into the cup and sets it on Patrick's bedside table. Lee announces, "I'll be right back, you two. I need to wash my hands."
Rosemary nods and sits down next to Patrick, stroking his hair. She feels a kick in the ribs, causing her to sit up straight and rub circles around her tummy. Rosemary speaks, "Hey, pumpkin. Your big brother is sick today. We need him to get better fast, so Papa or us won't get sick too." The baby kicks again, but this time lighter and right where Rosemary's fingers were rubbing. She whispers, "I know. You love your big brother. So do I."
Lee walks into Patrick's room with a clean pail and sits on the settee. He sees Rosemary massaging her belly, so he questions, "Is everything okay, sweetheart?"
"He kicked me a couple of times. I think he is worried about his big brother."
Lee smiles, asking, "You think we are having a boy?"
Rosemary looks down at her bump, answering, "I don't know. You seem to think so."
"It would be fun for Patrick to have a younger brother to teach things to as they grow up together along with Jack. But a little girl would be fun too. You would have fun dressing her up, and Patrick would be a protective big brother and dote on her."
Rosemary giggles, revealing, "A little girl will melt your heart. You will let her get away with everything because she is Papa's perfect angel."
Lee giggles, responding, "You are right, especially if she is as beautiful as her Mama."
Rosemary rolls her eyes, stating, "Lee. She'll be stunning because she'll be an equal mix of you and me." Patrick groans and turns over to his other side.
"Why don't I give Carson a ring?" Rosemary agrees, and Lee goes downstairs, calling town looking for Carson or Faith. Faith offers to check on Patrick, and fifteen minutes later, she knocks on the door. Lee escorts her to Patrick's room, where Rosemary is sitting next to her son, watching him sleep soundly.
Faith says, "Hi, Rosemary. I heard Patrick is sick and throwing up."
"Yes, he has vomited twice this morning. Neither Lee nor I feel sick, so I don't think it can be something we ate. Can it?"
"It's still possible it's something you all ate, and it only affected Patrick. More than likely, though, he caught some kind of bug. It is only affecting his stomach and only out of his mouth, right? Has he needed to go to the outhouse frequently?"
Rosemary answers, "No, just vomiting." She makes a mental note of what Patrick has eaten the last day or so. However, none of it seems worth mentioning. Faith examines Patrick, feeling his forehead and stomach and taking his temperature. She explains, "He has a low-grade fever, so I think he has the stomach flu. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do. The most important thing Patrick can do is rest and stay hydrated. If you can help it, please don't give him any solid food until he's not throwing up anymore. If he cooperates, see if he'll sip some water every hour or two. In fact, I would like you both to stay hydrated as well, especially you, Rosemary. Drink lots of liquids. Green tea and orange juice are good ones to help keep you well."
Lee responds, "Thanks, Faith. We will. I will make sure." Rosemary rolls her eyes.
"Whether it's the flu or not, this will probably be over in a few days. Do you have any questions?"
Lee replies, "No. We appreciate you stopping by, though."
Faith remarks, "If he doesn't get better within a couple of days, I'll be back and check on him again.
Lee walks Faith out and returns to Patrick and Rosemary. Rosemary inquires, "Didn't you need to go into town this morning?"
"I don't want to leave you two. My errands can wait."
"No, Lee. You should go. I'll stay here and make sure he is okay. I'm hoping he'll sleep until he starts to feel better."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. We will be fine."
"Okay, I'll only be gone for a few hours. I'll try to call and check-in if I can." Lee kisses her bye, and he goes across the hall to change. He brings Rosemary a tray with a simple meal, strongly suggesting she eat and drink.
Rosemary smiles, saying, "I don't think I can eat, honey," as her stomach growls. Rosemary laughs and mentions, "Maybe I will eat some. Thank you." Lee hands her a bowl of her favorite oatmeal and a glass of orange juice. She sits on the settee, taking a couple of bites and sipping the juice. Then, she tells him, "We are fine here. Now, go." Lee stalls for a moment and then finally peels himself away from his family.
Lee drives into town to finalize the plans for the stage. He doesn't want to be gone long even though he knows they will be fine. Lee spends about an hour double and triple-checking his dimensions before writing up the lumber order. Michael and Hannah knock on the office door and come inside. Michael mentions, "Bill, Fiona, and I are hoping to meet with you to talk about the campaign. Would you have some spare time? We happen to all be in the café this morning."
Lee looks at his pocket watch and replies, "Sure, I have some time. Are you talking about right now?"
"Yes, if now is a good time," answers Michael.
Lee inquires, "Can I meet you there in five minutes?"
"Of course," responds Michael.
Hannah offers, "We'll have some coffee waiting for you." Lee smiles, and Michael and Hannah leave. Lee fills out the order and checks his numbers for the fourth time. He places the form in the new order pile and then hides his design in his desk drawer. Lee promptly locks the drawer from prying eyes, mainly his snooping wife, and then decides to call and check on Rosemary and Patrick before he leaves.
Rosemary answers the phone, "Coulter Residence," sounding out of breath.
"Are you okay, Rosie? Why are you out of breath?"
"I was upstairs with Patrick and heard the phone ringing, so I came down as fast as I could. I guess I got a tiny bit winded. I don't want to leave Patrick long. Did you need something?"
"No, I thought I would call to see how you three were doing. Has Patrick gotten sick again? Do you need anything from the mercantile?"
Rosemary assures, "Everything is fine here. Patrick woke up and vomited again and then went back to sleep. At least he's sipping the water I give him. I feel so bad for him. I have never seen him look so miserable. Is it normal I would gladly take this sickness from him?"
"Yes, it's completely understandable. That is just you being an excellent mother and another reason I love you. Bill, Michael, and Fiona want to talk about the election, so I am going over to the café for a bit. Unless you want me home."
"Don't worry. We are okay here. I'll call if I get desperate," remarks Rosemary.
"I will hopefully be home in an hour or so. Love you."
"Love you, too. Bye," replies Rosemary. It starts to rain as he locks up his office, so he runs over to the café. Bill, Michael, Hannah, Fiona, and Lucas are all waiting for him with fresh, piping hot coffee.
Lee apologizes, "Sorry, I needed to check on Rosemary and Patrick. Unfortunately, Patrick woke up sick this morning."
Fiona and Hannah both say, "Oh, no. I am sorry."
Bill adds, "I hope he feels better soon and Rosemary doesn't catch whatever he has."
"I know, Bill. I don't want her getting sick either. What did you all want to discuss?"
Bill starts, "As a judge, I thought I should set some rules for us to abide by during the campaign and election. So, I figure we should pick out an election day we can all agree to and set up any formal forums or debates or anything we would like to have in the coming weeks. Tell Rosemary thanks, by the way, for the campaign flyers for all of us. They turned out so well." They all nod their heads in agreement. "I propose May 7th for our election day. That gives us about six weeks to campaign. Any objections?"
Elizabeth knocks on the Coulter's door and comes into an empty room with Jack by her side. She notices the messy kitchen, including a washtub on the table. Elizabeth calls out, "Rosemary. Is everything okay?" She hears a door shut, and then someone pad down the stairs quietly. Elizabeth picks Jack up and tries not to laugh when she sees Rosemary in ink-stained clothes, an old apron flapping in the back, and her usually flawless hair disheveled. Elizabeth empathetically inquires, "Are you okay? What's going on?"
Jack shouts, "Wosie!"
Rosemary fakes a smile and answers, "How's my little man?" Jack asks to get down so he can see Patrick. "I'm sorry, Jack. You can't see him right now. Patrick woke up sick this morning. He has thrown up about four times now. And each time he throws up, he immediately goes right back to sleep. I hate seeing him so miserable. No one ever warned me about how horrible it is to watch your beloved child go through a sickness."
Elizabeth half-smiles, stating, "Welcome to motherhood. All mothers have felt the same way about their child or children. So why don't I stay and help? We need you to stay healthy."
"You sound like Lee. I promise you. I will be extra careful, but nothing will keep me from my son," responds Rosemary.
"I know. Just remember, you don't have to do this alone."
"Elizabeth, I am perfectly capable of caring for my precious little boy. I am well aware I have people to help me, but I want to do this for my son. I love him more than anything, and he needs me right now," snarkily remarks Rosemary as she walks back up the stairs.
Elizabeth replies, "Rosemary, I didn't mean for it to sound like you can't take care of your family. I only want what is best for you, Patrick, Lee, and the wee one growing inside of you."
Rosemary stops and then turns back around, "I'm sorry, too. I know you do. I must sound like a broken record to you, but I really can't control my emotions. Will you please forgive me?"
"Always," replies Elizabeth.
Bill announces, "May 7th it is. Now, do we want to hold any debates or forums for all of us to attend?"
Fiona responds, "I don't like debates, but I think it would be good to have some kind of forum where we can all talk about our aspirations for the town."
"I think that is a great idea, Fiona. I wouldn't be opposed to a debate if needed," adds Michael.
Lee chimes in, "Hope Valley is a place where we are all family and care for each other. I don't think it would be very Hope Valley if we hold debates and argue about the issues. But I do like Fiona's idea. We can all come together and tell the citizens of Hope Valley what we see for the town going forward."
"I agree with Lee. Should we pick a date for this forum as well?" questions Bill.
Fiona suggests, "How about three weeks before the election? On April 16th?"
"I'm sorry, Fiona. I will be in Chicago until the twenty-third. How about April 26th?" inquires Lee. They all agree to the twenty-sixth.
Bill mentions, "Well, I don't have anything else. Are we all on the same page?" Fiona and Michael agree and get up along with Lucas and Hannah and step out the door. Lee stands up, trying to leave, when Bill stops him. "Before you go, I have been looking at your bid to buy the land outside of Hope Valley. I am not sure how to tell you this, but the town does not own the land you want to buy."
"Oh, it doesn't? Can you figure out who does?"
"I should be able to find out for you. Do you mind telling me what you are planning to do with the land?"
Lee chuckles, "Can we go over to my office to talk about this? I don't want it to get around to Rosemary. You very well know there are eyes and ears everywhere when it comes to my wife." Bill nods and follows Lee across the street in the rain. They go into his office, and Lee offers Bill a seat. "The land is for an outdoor theater or amphitheater I want to build for Rosemary and the town. I am sure you know about the theater I promised Rosemary before we got married."
Bill grunts, "Hasn't everyone?"
"Fair enough. I got to thinking the other day. I can build an outdoor theater the town can use for more things than plays. I'm envisioning concerts, graduations, talent shows, and even weddings. It can be great for the town. Now, I would buy the land from whoever owns it and pay to build the stage and whatever else it needs. Then, I would lease it back to the town for a penny a year with the idea it would be free for everyone who lives in Hope Valley. And if people outside the city want to use it for events which I think they will, the money can go to the city."
Bill questions, "Who will pay for upkeep or additions?"
"I will. I'll still own the land, and Hope Valley will continue to pay me a penny a year until I no longer want to own the land and amphitheater. At which point, I will just deed the land to the town."
"That is very generous, Lee. Have you thought of a name for this place?"
"I think it is better if I left the name up to Rosemary."
Bill laughs, "You are a smart man. Can we go out and see this land? Or did you need to get back to Rosemary and Patrick?"
"I'm sure they're okay. We can go out there for a minute," responds Lee. Lee grabs a couple of umbrellas, and they drive out to the land. He shows Bill the picturesque location with the beautiful sloping hill and the perfect spot for the stage.
Bill states, "I think this is a great idea, Lee. If it is ready in time, we can even have our forum there. I'll be sure to expedite the process so you can buy the land as soon as possible."
"Thanks, Bill. I appreciate anything you are willing to do to help. I need to get back, though, and relieve Rosemary." On the way back, the rain starts pouring again. They see a stalled car with a frantic woman and three small children climbing the walls with boredom. Lee and Bill stop right behind them, getting out of the car and questioning, "Are you okay? Do you need a ride somewhere?" The woman, on the verge of tears, tells them what happened. Lee asks her name, trying to calm her down, and offers them a ride.
She answers, "Oh, thank you. My husband will probably send out a search party if we don't get home soon. My name is Genevieve, by the way, and my kids are Amos, Andrew, and Ada. And you two are?"
"My name is Lee, and over there is Bill. Why don't we gather your things, and we can give you a ride to where ever you need to go?" Genevieve gathers her and the kid's things, and they pile into the car. Lee thinks to himself, "I hope Rosemary doesn't get too worked up. I have a feeling I won't be home anytime soon."
Bill inquires, "Ma'am, kids. Where are you headed?"
"We were on our way home to Benson Hills," remarks Genevieve.
Lee mentions, "Benson Hills is not too far from here. We should have you home in thirty to forty-five minutes."
Lee arrives home a couple of hours later than he intended with a warm, deliciously-smelling apple pie. The first words out of Rosemary's mouth are, "Where have you been, Lee Coulter? I have been worried sick. I've been cleaning up vomit all day, and you have been galivanting around who knows where. Fiona told me she saw you and Bill drive out of town, and then nobody sees you for a couple of hours. Who does that when they have a sick child at home and a wife who tends to overreact at a moment's notice?" Rosemary huffs and grabs the box out of his hands, bringing it to the kitchen. She sits down at the table and opens the box. Lee joins her with a knife, two forks, and a grin he hopes will calm her down. Rosemary snatches the knife and forks from Lee and moves the pie away so Lee can't reach.
"I am sorry, sweetheart." Lee clears his throat, trying to figure out how to explain why he is so late and why they were out there in the first place. Without question, Lee decides to go with the truth, except for suggesting Bill is why they went out there. Lee tells her, "We were looking at some land Bill wanted the town to buy. And then, on our way home, we found a woman and her children stuck on the side of the road. So, we ended up driving them home to Benson Hills and having to stay for a cup of coffee when the woman wouldn't take no for an answer. Otherwise, I would have been home much sooner."
Rosemary stuffs a bite of pie in her mouth and begins, "You are a good man, Lee, and I am sorry. Patrick has thrown up so many times today. He has nothing left in his stomach, so at this point, only stomach fluids are coming out. I hold him and try to comfort him since it is the only thing I can do. Patrick finally fell asleep again about thirty minutes ago, so I took the opportunity to come downstairs and wash some clothes. Not five minutes later, I hear a car pulling up in front of the house and you opening the door. I thought I would be too tired to yell at you, but when I see you coming in looking so guilty and with a gift for me, I took my frustrations out on you."
"No worries. I would have been the same way."
"No, you wouldn't have. You don't let silly things bother you as I do." Rosemary cuts Lee a piece of pie, handing it to him as a peace offering.
Lee accepts the pie with a twinkle in his eye. He mentions, "Well, I am home now, and I will be on Patrick duty. So you can bathe, nap, go for a walk, or whatever you so desire." Rosemary finally grins when they are interrupted by a knock at the door. Lee opens it and is surprised to see Nathan with a basket of something. Lee invites him in, and Nathan sets it on the kitchen table next to Rosemary.
Nathan says, "Elizabeth told me Patrick is sick. My sister Colleen and I had the stomach flu when we were kids, so I know how bad it is. We made you some chicken soup, extra broth for Patrick, fresh bread, and some yummy drink, as I used to call it when I was a kid. It was something my mom used to make when my sister I were sick. It is just a mixture of water, sugar, and salt to help rehydrate the body. I also added some comics I used to read to Allie when she first came to live with me. It is called The Upside Downs of Little Lady Lovekins and Old Man Muffaroo: A Fish Story. They are fun because you read them right side up and then flip them over and continue the story. I thought Patrick would want to read those while he is lying in bed."
Rosemary is the first to speak, "Thank you so much, Nathan. You didn't need to do this. I am sure we will eat every bite of the food, and I'll make sure Patrick doesn't ruin your comics."
"Nathan, I don't know what to say other than, Thank you. We have such great friends, family here in Hope Valley," mentions Lee.
Nathan responds, "It was our pleasure. I know you would do the same if Allie or Jack were sick. In any case, Elizabeth and the kids are waiting for me, so I better get going. Oh, and don't worry about the comics. If they get ruined, it's not the end of the world."
Rosemary and Lee both say, "Goodbye and Thank you," as Nathan walks out the door.
The next couple of nights, Rosemary and Lee don't get much sleep. Patrick insists Rosemary hold him all night, and Lee stays close on the settee in Patrick's room. Patrick is gradually able to keep down the chicken broth and Nathan's yummy drink. Then Patrick wakes Rosemary up on Monday morning, inquiring, "Can I have some more broth, Mama. I'm hungry."
Rosemary slowly opens her eyes, grinning at Patrick. She feels his forehead, and his fever has finally broken. Rosemary asks, "How are you feeling, bud?"
"I'm feeling better, Mama. How long have I been sick?"
"It's Monday morning, so it's been two days. I'll go warm you up some broth. I will be right back. Rosemary kisses Patrick on the top of his head and gets up, slipping on her robe and stretching her aching back. She goes into the hallway and sees Lee coming up the stairs. Rosemary grins and wanders right into her husband's embrace.
Lee questions, "Is Patrick okay?"
"Yes, Patrick says he is feeling better and wants some broth. So I am on my way down to heat some for him."
"Wait. How are you holding up? Why don't you go back in there? I'll fix the broth."
"Thanks, honey. Where were you, by the way?"
"I got up about twenty minutes ago and walked around. I don't think my body can handle another night sleeping on the settee."
Rosemary remarks, "I'm sorry, Lee."
"I'll do anything for you, pumpkin, and Patrick." Rosemary giggles and points downstairs. Lee chuckles and follows his instructions. She goes back to Patrick's room, and he is sitting up in bed petting Nanny.
"You must be feeling better. You've been ignoring Nanny for two days. Papa is heating your broth."
Patrick responds, "Thanks, Mama."
"I'm so glad you are feeling better. I am going to keep you home from school today, though."
"Okay. Are you and Papa going to stay home with me?"
"I will. You'll have to ask Papa."
Lee enters the room with a bowl of piping hot chicken broth. He announces, "I heard there is a young man in here who wants some broth because he is feeling better. Did I hear that correctly?"
Patrick giggles, saying, "Yes, sir. I think I can eat it by myself."
Lee responds, "Great," as he places the tray on Patrick's lap. Patrick puts one spoonful after another into his mouth with his parents watching on with big grins on their faces. Patrick finishes every drop, slurping up what he can't get with a spoon.
Patrick asks, "Do you have to go to work today, Papa?"
"It depends on how you and Mama are feeling."
Rosemary feels Patrick's head again and reassures Lee, "We will be okay today. His fever has broken, and he hasn't thrown up in twelve hours."
"Are you sure?" Rosemary and Patrick both nod. "I'll try to be home early." Lee kisses them both on the temple. Then, he gets ready and heads out the door.
Bill pay's Lee a visit mid-morning with some good news. He remarks, "I tracked down who owns the land you want for the amphitheater. His name is Chester Williams, and he owns a bunch of land all over the valley. Here is his phone number: Calgary 5923."
"Thanks, Bill."
He inquires, "How is Patrick? And Rosemary?"
"Patrick is much better, and Rosie and I are staying healthy so far. I hope it continues to stay that way."
"I'll leave you to make the phone call. Let me know if you need any assistance." Lee nods and Bill steps out the front door.
Lee picks up the receiver and taps on the switch hook, requesting Florence to call the number Bill gave him." A young woman answers the phone, "William's residence. How may I help you?"
"Hello, my name is Leland Coulter. I am calling for a Mister Chester Williams. Is he available?"
She replies, "Just a moment. My grandfather is in the other room." Lee can hear in the background two people talking. The girl who answered says, "Grandpa, you are needed on the phone," and an old man responds, "Who is it, Sally?" Lee can hear the phone rustling around, and then the old man questions, "What can I help you with, Mister?"
"Mister Coulter, but you can call me Lee. I want to purchase a plot of your land about twenty minutes outside of Hope Valley on the way to Snyder's Ridge. It is a gorgeous location with a hill descending to a flat area."
"Well, Lee. What do you want to do with this land? How soon are you looking to buy?"
"I hope to build an outdoor theater for the citizens of Hope Valley. It will eventually be available to whoever wants to rent it out for a special occasion. I want to buy it as soon as possible. It is a long story. See, my wife is almost six months pregnant, and I want to build a stage for her to put on plays with all the Hope Valley children and do it prior to her getting too far along and too uncomfortable. She used to be an actress on Broadway before I knew her, and I promised to build her a theater here in Hope Valley. So I'm hoping she'll see this amphitheater, as a worthy compromise."
Chester laughs, asking, "Does she know you are doing this?"
"No, sir. I want this to be a surprise. I hope to have the stage completed and present it to her right before our first family vacation. We have a "chosen by us" son who just turned eight, and this will be our first trip together as a family. We leave in about two-and-a-half weeks."
Chester laughs again, mentioning, "Mister Coulter, Lee, you seem like an upstanding man, and you are in quite the pickle. So here is what I am going to do. First, you wire me an official bid with the coordinates of the land you want and your price. Then, if I like the offer, I will let you start building on the land once we have a signed contract with your intent to pay for the land in full."
"Oh, thank you so much, Mister Williams. You don't know how much this means to me, my family, and Hope Valley. I will get it to you later today. Where do I send the wire?"
"You can send to my lawyer, Virgil Applewhite at Calgary 2165."
"Thank you, sir. I'm looking forward to doing business with you." Lee grabs his coat and runs to Bill's office. He knocks and opens the door, announcing, "Great news."
Lee repeats everything Chester told him, and Bill pats him on the back, saying, "Sounds like this is going to work out. Good thing we wrote down the coordinates when we were out there the other day. Have you decided on a fair price?"
"I believe so. If Chester doesn't like the price, I hope he'll give me one more chance to make it right. He wants me to send it to his lawyer. If you don't mind, can we send on your judge's stationery? I want this to be aboveboard in every way."
"Of course, Lee. If you want, you can type it up right here. I have some business to attend to at the moment."
"Thanks, Bill." Bill nods and picks up some files, and leaves Lee in his office. Lee types up the bid and heads over to the mercantile to send the wire. He is a lot more nervous than he thought he would be. Lee hands the telegram and the number to Ned.
"I'll send it right away, Lee."
"I should be in my office if I get a return wire."
"I'll deliver it myself. By the look of you, it seems to be extremely important." Lee nods and excuses himself. The rest of the day inches by at a snail's pace. He thought he would hear back quickly from the lawyer, Virgil, or Chester himself, but so far, nothing. Lee calls Rosemary to pass some time but also to check on them.
Rosemary happily remarks, "Patrick has kept the broth down and some bread. He is even reading the comics now." Lee is glad Patrick is on the mend and his wife is happy and staying well throughout this ordeal. Rosemary inquires, "Are you okay, Lee? Where did you go?"
"What do you mean?"
"I asked how your day's going, and you didn't answer."
He forces a smile, hoping Rosemary can hear it in his voice, "My day has been good. There hasn't been much going on, so I caught up on some work I have wanted to do."
"I am glad. I know you have been busy lately."
Lee can hear Patrick shouting, "Mama, do you have any more of those comics Mountie Nathan brought me?"
Rosemary replies, "Yes, I'll bring you some in a minute."
Lee mentions, "I guess he is feeling better."
"Yes, he is. Did you want to talk to him?" questions Rosemary.
"You don't need to bother him. He probably should stay in bed and rest."
Rosemary can tell something is bothering Lee, so she suggests, "You know. Patrick always wants to talk to you no matter what is going on." She pauses for a moment and then tenderly adds, "We love you with all of our hearts. All three of us." Lee hears Patrick shouting again.
Lee responds, "I love you three more. You go cuddle our little boy for me, and I'll be home by 6:00 pm."
Rosemary replies, "I will," and reluctantly hangs up the phone.
Five seconds later, the phone rings, startling him. It's Florence announcing, "Mister Coulter, I have a Mister Virgil Applewhite on the phone for you."
"Yes, put him through, Florence. Mister Applewhite, it is good to hear from you. Thanks for calling me back so quickly."
"Mister Coulter. I just spoke with my client Chester Williams, and he agrees to your offer. We are sending a courier to you with all the paperwork you need to sign. He should be there in about an hour. If you agree to our terms, then sign the papers, and the courier will return them to us."
"Wow, this is amazing. I don't know what to say other than thank you."
"All you have to do is sign the paperwork, and that will be thanks enough. Mister Williams spoke highly of you and wants to get this transaction done expeditiously. I have some other calls to attend to, so I need to go. Bye now."
Lee barely gets out, "Goodbye," before Virgil hangs up the phone.
An hour later, a young man parks in front of his office and climbs the stairs. He knocks on the door, speaking, "Mister Coulter, may I come inside?"
Lee answers, "Yes, please do. What can I do for you?"
The man gives Lee a pile of papers, remarking, "These are from Mister Applewhite. If you could sign in all the right places, I can return these to him. He has marked everywhere you need to sign. If you can be so kind, can you point me in the direction of somewhere I can sit and not bother anyone until you finish?"
Lee inquires, "What is your name, sir?"
He seems taken aback by someone calling him sir. The man stumbles over his words, replying, "My name is Curtis Malloy."
"Curtis, you can go across the street to Abigail's Café. Order anything you want and tell Clara to put it on my bill."
Curtis remarks, "You are too generous, Mister Coulter."
"You can call me Lee. I'll go over the paperwork and find you when it's signed."
Curtis doesn't quite know how to handle someone being so nice to him. He mumbles, "Thank you, Mister, I mean, Lee," and he marches across the street. Lee sits down at his desk and looks through the paperwork. He notices the price, and it reads the transfer of deed for zero dollars. Lee doesn't understand what he is seeing. He blinks a few times, and it still says the same thing. Lee grabs his coat and the pile of papers and heads to Bill's office. Bill isn't there, so he tries the café. Bill isn't there either. Lee decides to call Chester to see why he is gifting him the land for free. He walks back to his office and gets Florence to place the call.
"Mister Williams, this is Leland Coulter. How are you?"
"I am doing well. Please call me Chester."
"Chester, I just received the contract, and it shows you are transferring the land to me for free. I can't accept this unbelievably nice gift from someone I barely know. Do you mind telling me why you are so generous?"
"I spoke with your Judge. Judge Avery, I believe. He sang high praises for you on what a good man, father, and businessman you are. The judge also told me how you would lease the theater to the town for a penny a year and allow anyone from Hope Valley to use it for free. I especially loved hearing about how your son came to be with you and your wife. See, I'm a big proponent of adoption myself. My wife and I couldn't have children, so we adopted three siblings. Adopting them was the best decision my wife and I ever made in our marriage. Our children are all grown now and have children of their own. You talked to one of my granddaughters the other day. They have been such a blessing, and I cannot imagine our lives without them."
"I don't know what to say, Chester. Giving me this land is way too generous. However, I am more than willing to pay the price I offered."
"No need. My family and I have more than enough to survive on. And you are doing a good thing for your wife and town. So if I can somehow have a small part in bringing happiness to the citizens of Hope Valley, I'll count this as a sound investment."
"Thank you, sir. I'll be sure to invite you and your family to our grand opening, which is hopefully my wife's play. I'll finish signing these papers, and the courier should get them back to you today. I can't wait to see my wife's face when I show her the stage!"
Lee leaves work earlier than he anticipated. He is so excited. He can't wait to get home and celebrate with his family. Although, as he is driving home, Lee realizes he can't exactly tell them why. Lots of ideas race through his mind, but he decides to go with he is happy to be with his family. Lee parks the car and enters with a bouquet of fresh flowers. He sets the flowers down and picks up Rosemary, and puts her back down. Lee sarcastically mentions, "Oof. I don't know if I can lift you much longer. You are getting bigger."
Rosemary hits his arm, yelling, "Lee Coulter. I should be mad at you for saying something so horrible, but I don't want to wipe that delightful grin off of your handsome face."
"I'm sorry, Rosie. I am in a good mood and can't contain myself."
Rosemary remarks, "Hmm. I'll let it slide this time, but you better not do something so insensitive again."
"Noted." He looks around, inquiring, "Where's our boy?"
"Oh, Patrick is napping. He fell asleep reading his comics. I plan on keeping him home from school another day. Clearly, he can use another day of rest."
"I think that is a good idea." Lee sits down on the settee, and what happened with Chester hits him full force. Rosemary sees the emotions on his face and sits down next to him, holding his hand and then placing it on her bump right over their kicking baby. Lee gently rubs her belly as they sit in companionable silence. Rosemary notices Lee is pale, so she feels his forehead, and he is warm.
"Are you getting sick, Lee? You might have a fever."
"I don't think so, but I do feel like I could fall asleep right now."
"Maybe you should crawl into bed. I'll bring you up a pail in case you vomit."
Lee whines, "No, I can't get sick. I have too much to do."
Rosemary chuckles, saying, "I don't think you can control getting sick or not. I'm sorry, honey."
"I think I will get into bed after all."
Rosemary frowns as Lee slowly walks up the stairs. She thinks to herself, "No, not Lee. I am tired enough already. How can I take care of him too?" Rosemary feels a kick, and she talks back, "I know. I know. Are you sympathizing with me, my strong boy?" She giggles, thinking it is a boy again. Rosemary reaches for a fresh pail and follows Lee up to their room.