"Rosie, can we talk?" Lee asked as they sat down at the breakfast table a couple mornings later.

"Of course. What is it?" Rosemary sat down across from him.

"I just want to make sure that you're okay." Lee said carefully.

"I'm fine." Rosemary replied airily.

"You don't need to talk about anything or spend extra time together?"

"Nope." She smiled at him. "It's fine."

"Alright. If you're sure." He sounded unsure of what he was saying.

"Why? Do you need to talk about it?"

"No, it's fine." He replied.

They ate breakfast in relative silence; Rosemary thought to herself how close Lee had been to guessing, and Lee wondered what he had said wrong. After breakfast, Lee gave her a quick kiss and left. Just after he was gone, the door opened and Elizabeth walked in. "Morning." She said.

"Good morning!" Rosemary replied. She was happy for a distraction.

"Can you watch Little Jack today? Laura can't babysit." Elizabeth explained.

"Of course." Rosemary nodded excitedly. "I'd love to."

Elizabeth didn't buy the fake smile. "Rosemary, is everything alright?"

"Well…" Rosemary paused and then launched forward. "It's Lee. We've barely talked at all about the baby, and I just feel like he's already moved on. He keeps ignoring the subject, and so do I, and well, things are getting a bit awkward between us. I don't want to bring it up, and apparently neither does he." She frowned at the memory of breakfast the morning.

"Just talk to him honestly and ask him," Elizabeth advised.

"Easier said than done."

"You can do it, I'm sure. I really have to go now." Elizabeth said with a smile. "I'll be back later for Little Jack."

"Take your time!" Rosemary said as Elizabeth disappeared out the door. Then she turned to Little Jack. "Looks like it's just the two of us now, little man. I'm so glad to have you here," she continued in a softer voice. "Talk to him. Maybe I don't want to talk to him."

A tall, lanky figure was walking along the road to Hope Valley, shouldering his pack over his shoulder. He could see the town coming closer to him, and as he neared it, he shifted his pack over. It had been a long walk, and he was ready to come to a place where no one knew of him or his misdeeds. Hopefully this time he could stay out of trouble and actually do some good. He brushed his brown hair out of his eyes and continued towards the town. Hope Valley, he thought as he read the water tower sign. "That's quite a name for a little town." He walked down Main Street, looking around him.

Everywhere, people were bustling about. There was a Mercantile that seemed to be busy, a Saloon that seemed to be even busier, and a Café close to him. He chose the Saloon – it looked like it would have rooms for the night. He stepped inside the Saloon and was immediately greeted by a man with brown hair and a firm handshake. "Good afternoon," the man greeted him. "I'm Lucas Bouchard. Can I help you?"

"I'm Jacob Harper. Howdy. Yes, I'd like a room for the night." Jacob said flippantly. "Whatever you have, I'll take her."

"I have a couple rooms. Follow me." Lucas smiled stiffly, then turned and Jacob followed. Lucas led Jacob to a room above the saloon, the fourth door down. "Here you go. It'll be fifty cents a night."

"Here." Jacob dug in his pocket and gave two dollars to Lucas. "Four nights."

"Thank you." Lucas nodded, then left, leaving Jacob in the room by himself.

Jacob set down his pack, then paced the room. He looked out the window and noticed the schoolyard. It was busy with children playing, the perfect place he needed to be. I'll take a walk, he decided. He slipped down the stairs and out towards the schoolhouse.

Out at the school, the children were taking lunch. They were standing in a circle, throwing a ball from one to another. "Throw it to me," Angela Canfield pleaded. Even though she couldn't see it, she was willing to try.

"I'll roll it!" Her younger brother, Cooper, called back.

"Alright." She nodded and knelt down.

"Here goes." He rolled it, but it missed her hands and rolled right into Jacob's feet.

"Did you roll it? Where'd it go?" Angela asked, confused.

"It's right here." Jacob spoke, placing the ball in her outstretched hands.

"Th-thank you. Who is that, Coop?"

"My name is Jacob Harper," Jacob said.

"I'm Cooper, and this is my sister, Angela." Cooper said, coming beside Angela.

"Very nice to meet both of you."

"Thank you for helping Angela," Elizabeth said, entering the conversation. "Lunch is over, children."

"Yes ma'am." Cooper nodded, and took Angela's hand to lead her back to the schoolhouse.

"You must be new here," Elizabeth extended her hand. "I'm Elizabeth Thornton, the schoolteacher."

"Jacob Harper." Jacob shook it.

"If you'll excuse me, I'd better get back to my classroom." Elizabeth smiled. "Thanks again." Then she turned and walked back up the stairs.

Jacob continued on his walk, pleased by what had just happened. Oh yes, he would find a way into this town, and he would find it from their weakest link. What was that old saying? Flattery will get you everywhere? Well hopefully it would prove to be true.

Lee looked at the men in front of him and sighed. "Listen, gentlemen, this can be resolved."

"How?" Mr. Wolfe asked angrily. "We can't let Mr. Walden run wild buying up land in this town."

"I know, but we need to give him a fair chance too." Lee pointed out. "The final vote will go before the council."

"I voted for you!" Mr. Wolfe continued. "Is this what my vote did?"

"I'm trying my best." Lee said evenly, trying not to show his own frustration. "Can't this wait until the council meeting tomorrow?"

"Fine." Jesse turned away. "But he will get what's coming to him then."

"Jesse-" Lee pleaded, but Jesse closed the door on his way out. "Men," he began, turning back to them. But they too left, one by one, shaking their heads. Lee wearily sat down at his desk and breathed heavily. Being mayor was harder than he had thought it would be. If only there was someone to talk to for advice, he thought, pondering over the town's residents. He didn't really want to bother Rosemary right now – she was upset at him already. Abigail had been mayor before, maybe she could give him some insights. He stood up and walked out of his office towards the Café.

The Café was busy with their afternoon rush, and as soon as Lee came in, he saw that Abigail was running everywhere. "Good afternoon, Lee," she greeted him. "Can I get something for you?"

"I-" He began, but was interrupted by a call for more coffee. He glanced about the room. "It's fine. I'll come back later."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep." He nodded. "Have a good rest of the day."

"Bye." Abigail called as he turned and left. She stared after him for a second, wondering what was on his mind, but the business around her made her turn back to her work.

Lee walked along the road towards the rowhouses, thinking about the upcoming council meeting. He gulped as he thought ahead to all the debate that would most likely occur. What he needed was a listening ear – what he needed was Rosemary. He walked up the front steps of their house, and heard voices. It wasn't like him, but he paused to listen to the conversation inside.

"…not talking." Rosemary was saying.

"Hmm." He heard Elizabeth respond. "Maybe he's trying to process his own grief too."

"Well why won't he just talk about it?" Rosemary argued back. "He's been so distant lately," she frowned.

"Why don't you talk to him?" Elizabeth gently prodded.

Rosemary began to answer, but stopped as the door opened and Lee walked in. "Hi sweetheart, Elizabeth," he said quietly.

Elizabeth looked at Lee, at Rosemary, and realized what she needed to do. She took Little Jack's hand and made her exit, leaving Lee and Rosemary in the house.

"How has your day been?" Rosemary asked, trying to make conversation.

"Fine." Lee replied.

"Are you ready for the council meeting?"

"I hope so." Lee walked over to the couch. "Rosie, can we talk?"

A glimmer of hope came over Rosemary's face and she walked over to sit beside him. "What is it?"

"It's the council meeting. I'm not sure what to do about it; there are so many upset people and they all want different things. I don't think I can make everyone happy and I…" Lee stopped when he saw Rosemary's face. "What is it?"

"Nothing." Rosemary stood up. "I just need some air. Can we talk later?"

"I – sure." Lee nodded.

"Thank you." Rosemary turned and walked out of the rowhouse. She walked along the road. "The council meeting!" She said to no one in particular. "That's all he wants to talk about, the dumb meeting. Can't he see that I'm hurting, that I need him? I can't believe it! So much for talking. Hmph; this is ridiculous."

Meanwhile, Lee stared at the walls inside the house. Everything had gone wrong and he had made the person he cared about most mad at him. He had to fix things, somehow.

Jacob's walk led him around the forest, and then back along the road of rowhouses. He was walking along, looking at the houses, when he saw Angela and Cooper playing outside. "Hello again." He said cheerfully, coming up to them.

"Hi." Cooper replied with a smile.

"Hi." Angela said, carefully sitting down on the stoop of the house.

"How was your day in school?" He asked.

"Good." They replied together.

"Good. Do you know where I can find Lee Coulter?"

"He's probably in his office in town," Angela replied.

"Okay. Thanks." He gallantly shook both of their hands and then walked away, whistling as he went. He was nearly at the office when he noticed someone standing in the middle of the street, looking up at the sign that declared: Mayor's Office.

"Hello there." The man in the street said.

"Hi." Jacob responded.

"You must be new in town. I'm Wyman Walden."

"Jacob Harper." Jacob said, shaking Mr. Walden's hand.

"Shall we talk in my office? I wouldn't go inside if I were you."

Jacob looked around the streets. "I knew you'd be here." He finally said. "That's why I came. I'm right behind you."

Mr. Walden smiled. "Wonderful." Then he turned and led Jacob into his own office. Once they were in the private of the office, he gestured to a chair. "Please. Take a seat." Jacob sat, nodding his thanks. "Have you taken a good look at the town?"

"I have. I checked out the property you want, and I think the idea is great."

"Hmm. Good. I need you to come to council meeting with me tomorrow. Do you think you can do that?"

"I think I can." Jacob nodded.

"And the other things?"

"Coming along. I have to win their trust first, before anything else."

"Well don't let it take too long." Mr. Walden cautioned.

"Florence? Can you connect me to our house?" Lee asked through the telephone. Hopefully Rosemary at least wanted to talk to him.

"One second." Florence's voice came over the wires. "Alright, here you go."

"Hello?" Rosemary asked.

"Hi sweetheart. Do you have a few minutes?"

"What do you need?"

"I need you to meet me at the office in half an hour."

"Lee…" Rosemary sighed for a second.

"It's important. Please." He pleaded.

"Alright," she conceded. "I'll be there."

"Good. Thank you." Then he put the phone down. Perfect. His plan was going to work!

Half an hour later, Lee was in the office and he was ready for Rosemary as she walked up to him. A slight smile played across her face as she saw the picnic blanket and things set up on the floor while all their stuff was moved back. Lee had been sitting, but he rose to take her hand. "Thank you for coming, sweetheart."

"What is this?" Rosemary asked excitedly.

"It's a picnic. I thought that we need to sit down and talk, so here we are." Lee explained as they sat down. He cleared his throat. "Sweetheart, before we eat any food, there's something I need to say."

"Okay." Rosemary nodded.

"I'm sorry for not being here for you. I was trying to process it by myself, and I shut you out without meaning to." Lee apologized. Rosemary didn't say anything, so he continued. "I thought that you had already gotten over it, and I didn't want to hurt you by bringing it up again, so I just didn't say anything."

"Lee," Rosemary sighed. "You don't have to apologize. I should have made the time to talk to you, and explain everything. I'm sorry for assuming that you didn't care at all."

"I think we might have had a little communication problem." Lee smiled.

"Just a smidge." Rosemary agreed with a slight chuckle.

"Food?" Lee asked.

"Mmm yes please!"

"Wonderful." Lee opened the basket and took out two fabulous-looking sandwiches. He handed one to Rosemary and took one for himself. "Delicious." He said as he took a bite. He chewed it completely, then spoke again. "Rosie, I want you to know that I love you and I don't want to shut you out. I know that I often stuff things down, but from now on I want to be open and honest with you about everything."

"Me too." Rosemary nodded seriously.

"Remember our date night tradition?" Lee took another bite.

"Mmhmm. We kind of let that go." Rosemary remembered with a wry smile.

"We've been busy," Lee agreed. "But I've been thinking that we should start it again."

"I love it!" Rosemary exclaimed. "That's a wonderful idea. We could go for walks, and have picnics, and talk, and it'll be great!"

Lee laughed. He kept laughing for a moment, then his laughter died away at Rosemary's questioning look. He chuckled slightly, and then smiled widely at her. "I've missed your excitement lately." He answered her silent question.

"Oh." She chuckled. "I guess I have been a little quiet. Well," she fluttered her hands. "I'm back now."

Lee laughed again. "And I am so glad. Have I told you that I love you?"

"Just a few minutes ago." Rosemary smirked. "But you could say it again."

"I love you." Lee declared, leaning forward and kissing her.

"I love you too."

They sat there on the picnic blanket, talking until late into the night. By the time they closed the office and drove home, they knew that they had talked through all their problems and they were once again on the same page. They were ready to move forward and attack the world together! They were stronger together, Rosemary realized as she held Lee's hand on their drive home. Why had they ever let go? When they got home, they sat on the settee inside for a little while longer, still talking. Then Rosemary's eyelids began to feel heavy, and she slipped her head on Lee's shoulder. Before she knew it, she was asleep.

Lee sat there, stone-still for a few minutes. He was so thankful to have his Rosie back. There would still be hurt, but they could work through it together. Now for the council meeting…he still needed to talk to Rosemary about that. Soon enough, his own eyes felt tired and he too joined Rosemary in sleep.