Guest: Yes! Nathan and Allie are in this story too!

Chapter 3: The Duck Family; Expecting Ducks, Odd Duck, Mother Ducks, Father Ducks, Children Ducks.

"Rosemary, as I said before a week ago, there is really not stopping the puking." Faith explained.

"But I thought it was just the morning. Hence the name 'morning sickness' but this lasts almost all day." Rosemary explained as well. "That medicine you gave me doesn't help much."

"There is really nothing else I can do. It's just a symptom of a healthy pregnancy. Just continue to drink fluids to not become dehydrated and stay off your feet as much as possible."

"Is there anything you can give Lee to ease his overbearing me?" They both had a chuckle. "Alright, alright. I'll really try to not be overwhelming. Lee is doing enough for the both of us."

"I can stop by your house later and check on you again."

"Sounds good to me."

Outside on the bench Lee waited impatiently for Rosemary to come out. She had insisted that this one visit that she'd go in alone. She was sure she was fine and did not want Lee to worry about her or the baby. But Lee loving insisted to come along. So here he was, listening to his wife and sitting on the bench. Rosemary came out of the office adjusting her jacket on her. Lee stood up but before a word was spoken Rosemary stopped him.

"Honey, I'm fine."

"Oh good."

"Faith says its a simple symptom of a healthy pregnancy." Rosemary made a dramatic eyeroll. "I just wish it wasn't so...gross." She made a face as Lee hugged her warmly and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"As long as you and the baby are healthy, that's all that matters sweetheart." He kissed her cheek. "Come on. Let's go home for a little while and I'll make your favorite sandwich."

"We don't have cheese at home."

"Minnie walked by a few minutes ago. I asked if we I could steal just two slices from the cafe."

The Coulters made their way over to the café to get the cheese and then straight home. Upon their surprise entering the back door of the kitchen they were met with a packed lunch of Rosemary's favorites; the sandwich, the cake dessert, an oatmeal cookie and mustard covered carrots. "Lee?"

"I just asked for cheese." Lee said as Minnie returned from the bakery stand. "Minnie, what is all of this?"

"Rosemary's favorite craving of the moment." Minnie answered. "On the house."

"Thank you." Lee looked back briefly and saw that Rosemary had already eaten half of the oatmeal cookie, coughing him to chuckle. Rosemary made a face at him. "That good?"

"Delicious. But is there a hint of cinnamon in the cookie?"

"Ah, yes. Ramona assisted me baking them yesterday and she had suggested to add cinnamon." Minnie told them. Speaking of Ramona, the young woman came down the staircase. She turned to the trio and gave them a mid-morning nod and then proceeded out the door. "And there she goes."

"Where too?"

"Taking a walk. She enjoys them."

"What do you mean she takes nightly walks, Molly?" Florence asked Molly as the two women walked together to the Yosts shop and the medical office. "How late?"

"Dark outside. Last night Rosaleen was having trouble sleeping because of a cough—" Florence shot Molly a look of concern. Molly assure her with arm pats. "No, no. It's not that. Its the season illness that she has always gotten. What has always helped her was sitting outside to get fresh air."

"My children are the same way."

"So we're sitting outside and all of a sudden we see Ramona. Just walking along the road and minding to herself." Molly spoke with some confusion. "It was fairly late in the evening. Maybe two hours after dinner time."

"She just got here on Sunday afternoon and it's already Wednesday. What could she had been doing these past four days?" Florence asked aloud. "Is she alone every time?"

"Yes."

"Ned told me this morning that she was up early just before sunrise."

"What's going on so early in the morning?"

"No clue. But have you noticed that of the three rings she wears, she wears a silver one on the engagement finger? Yet no man and no mention of a man."

"No diamond. Maybe just an accessory. Or to get guys away from heard. I heard of one woman in Montreal who did that for sometime after her husband passed. All these guys going after her for a relationship that she had to pack up and move and wear...Well, a wedding ring. But something to get men off of her."

Ramona had made her way to the water that stood still. She had a feeling this spot was popular to take a row boat on but it was too cold to do it now. Oddly enough, it wasn't cold yet for the ducks to leave for the season. Maybe within the next couple of days they would be gone. Ramona sat her bare feet by the water, her shoes at her side, with the bag of oats from her basket that she had purchased at the mercantile. It wasn't too long before the small family of ducks swam Ramona's direction. A mother, father and the five toddler ducks.

Ramona reached into her bag and began to throw the oats to the ducks and within moments the ducks had come over and began eating their mid-morning snack. Ramona threw a few more handfuls to the ducks and then stopped to observe them. The ducks ate together and it may had been just her imagination but Ramona swears that the father and mother duck were letting the little ones first.

"There is plenty of oats for you Mother Duck and Father Duck." She laughed, coughing a few times between her laughs. "Here, just for you two. You need the strength to care for your little ducklings." Ramona threw a fourth scoop more towards the direction of the adult ducks. Both got her message and began to eat the oats. "There you go Mother Duck, Father, Duck, Andre, Clarence, Jacob, Michael and...Ethel."

Ramona sat there for what felt like another hour. Crispy autumn wind in Hope Valley was perfect for her temperature liking. A little chilly on the small side from sitting close to the water. She stuck her feet just gracefully against the tops of the duck-owned water and giggled internally (smiled externally) at the tickle of the waters. Pulling her wrap around her closer for comfort and perfect warmth, tugging it to replicate a hug. All she needed was a little fog and a little drizzly rain or sunshine and she'd be in her favorite kinds of weather.

Ramona coughed a few more times. "I've never been allergic to the country side before." She laughed to herself.

By the end of the hour Ramona placed her shoes back on and stood to go back to her room and hangout with cat for a little while.

Bill was in his room trying to relax like he had been told almost non-stop for God knows how long. But it's Bill Avery. He can't relax. He'll relax when he's...

Never mind.

One of the nurses came to his room to give him her daily medicine as well as a letter and a personal phone message. "From Dr. Carter back in Hope Valley."

"She found the cure." He spoke with some sarcasm.

"Funny. No," She handed the letter. "She is passing that letter along with a letter inside."

"A letter within a letter?"

"Yes. And the phone message was clear and simple. She said you'd get it." The nurse smirked. "Tell Clara or else." Oh...Clara. How did Bill not think about her for a remote second? Clara! The one who asked Bill to walk her down the aisle because he was closet person she had to a father after her own father. He had pushed off telling Clara what was going on with him since she was so far away and he hadn't want to worry her. Bill knew now he had to tell her just where he was. Not the reason. That would overwhelm her too much that not even Jesse could help her. Or Maggie. "Daughter?"

"Hmm."

"You didn't tell your daughter?"

"Didn't cross my mind."

"Well if I was her and you was my dad...He'd get an earful from me about his not telling me that he is in Union City for a medical reason."

Bill nodded with a chuckle. "Trust me. I'll get more than an earful from Clara."