"A Surprise for Lee and Rosemary"
Lee and Rosemary walked home after dinner. Lee wanted to take a leisurely walk. The cloudy sky of the pre-dawn hours was gone, and it was now bright with stars. Lee attempted to point out the constellations to Rosemary, but she was concentrating on nothing else, but getting home and calling Brookfield.
"Lee, come on. Keep moving. We need to get home quickly."
"We have plenty of time. Florence is at the switchboard for at least another hour. But, I understand you're anxious to talk to Lillian and Grace, so, OK. We'll look at the stars another night."
When they arrived home, Rosemary flung off her coat, and it landed partly on a chair, but mostly on the floor. She picked up the telephone and anxiously waited for Florence to put the call through.
"Hello."
"Lillian, is that you?"
"It is. Rosemary?"
"Yes, oh thank goodness you're home."
"I told Lee we'd be home all night. He knew you'd be anxious to talk to us."
"Oh, I am. What can you tell us about this darling boy?" Rosemary motioned for Lee to come near the telephone, so they could both hear the conversation.
"Rosemary, he's such a sweet baby. He never fusses. Grace hasn't been able to put him down since he came here. Such a tragic story. He lived with his parents back east. They came down with the Spanish influenza and passed. The only relative they had was an elderly great aunt just outside Brookfield. She went east to pick the baby up. She thought she could raise him on her own, but she realized she couldn't. We know her well, and she entrusted us to find the boy a good home. Grace and I thought of you and Lee immediately. You'd be wonderful parents, Rosemary. What do you think? Do you want to come visit him?"
Rosemary placed the receiver to her chin, and motioned to Lee without even speaking.
"Yes, when can we come?"
"Would you like to drive here after church tomorrow? You'd be welcome to stay overnight. We have a spare room right now. We never know how long it will be empty though. You're welcome to it. Then you and the baby can become better acquainted."
"That would be wonderful. We would love that."
"Rosemary, it would take a couple of days to do the paperwork if you decide to adopt. The baby's great aunt has already signed the boy over to us. It was hard for her, but she knew it was the right thing to do. If you decide to adopt, I think she'd like to meet you and try to stay in touch, if that's alright with you," said Lillian.
"That would be lovely. Oh, what's the baby's name?"
"His name is Patrick, answered Lillian.
Rosemary and Lee looked at each other. Lee's face drained of all color. "Patrick. Rosie, his name is Patrick." Lee remembered the brother he lost so many years ago.
"It's meant to be, Lee. God sent us a baby, and his name is Patrick," said Rosemary. "Lillian, we'll see you sometime tomorrow afternoon. We'd be grateful to stay at your home tomorrow night, and thank you."
"Thank you both. This little boy's life may have hit a bump in the road, but I know he'll be loved and cared for by the both of you. I'll see you tomorrow."
Rosemary hung up the telephone. Lee called Florence to thank her for standing by the switchboard.
"Lee, let's pack tonight. I'm never going to sleep, even though I'm exhausted. I have to look for my yarn and needles. I know I have baby patterns. I bought them before Little Jack was born. No, first I have to go see Elizabeth."
"Rosie, slow down. I'll look in the spare room for your knitting supplies and bring them downstairs for you. I can get out the carpet bags to pack. I don't think we'll need a trunk. Go on. Go see Elizabeth." Rosemary smiled, kissed Lee and was out the door and on Elizabeth's porch before he finished his sentence.
"Elizabeth, Elizabeth. Are you home? Please be home," Rosemary whispered to herself.
The door opened quietly. "Rosemary, what's wrong? Please come in and sit down. I thought you'd had enough excitement the past two days. Where is your coat?" asked Elizabeth.
"Coat? Oh, I didn't have time to put it on. That doesn't matter. Oh, Little Jack must be sleeping. I'm sorry if I was too loud. I don't want to wake the dear."
"It's fine, Rosemary. Jack is just like his father. He can sleep through anything. Tell me what's wrong."
"Oh, Elizabeth. I had to come and tell you right away. I think Lee and I are going to adopt a baby."
"Rosemary, that's wonderful. I know how much you and Lee want a child."
"Yes, we do. Lillian and Grace have a baby boy at their orphanage. His parents died from the Spanish influenza back east. An elderly great aunt took him in to her home in Brookfield. She realized that the baby needed a family, and she asked Lillian and Grace to find one. They thought of us."
"Oh, Rosemary. I'm so happy for you."
"Lee and I are going to Brookfield tomorrow after church, and we're going to stay the night and come back Monday. We'll be able to spend time with the baby and get to know him. Elizabeth," and Rosemary hesitated a moment, "His name is Patrick."
"Patrick. Lee's brother, who passed was named Patrick, wasn't he?"
"Yes. That's when we knew that God had sent us that baby. It's meant to be, Elizabeth." Rosemary and Elizabeth hugged, and they both wept tears of joy. "I'm going to need your help."
"Certainly. You know I'll do anything."
"We won't be able to bring Patrick home with us on Monday. There will be paperwork that needs to be done. The baby's great aunt has already given permission for Grace and Lillian to find a good home for him. Elizabeth, I don't have anything for a baby except a couple of balls of yarn and some needles. Can you help me?"
"Of course I can. I gave some of Little Jack's things away that he has outgrown, but I'll talk to the other mothers in town at church tomorrow, and we can put together everything you'll need. I still have Jack's carriage and crib. He climbed out of the crib a year ago. It's still in his room, but he's been sleeping in a bed. You're more than welcome to the crib and carriage. Don't worry about anything. When you get back, we can get the ladies in town to help decorate Patrick's room, just like you did for me before Little Jack was born."
"Elizabeth, you are the dearest friend anyone could ask for. Thank you, sincerely. I'm so happy, I think I'm going to burst with joy, and it will just spill out everywhere."
"Well, you could have fooled me!" Elizabeth and Rosemary laughed and hugged. "Can I get you some tea and a cookie?"
"Thank you, Elizabeth, but no. I really need to go home and try to pack. I know I'm exhausted from not sleeping the past couple of nights, but right now, I'm full of energy."
"Why don't you go home and pack, then sit and have some chamomile tea, and just go to bed. You're going to need your rest for the trip."
"I will, and thank you." Rosemary and Elizabeth hugged.
The door shut behind Rosemary, and Elizabeth smiled. "I should see what I have for clothes for the baby. I'm a terrible knitter. I know some of the other ladies will take on that task," Elizabeth said to herself.
By early Sunday morning, Robert had distributed all the newspapers. Rosemary didn't even look at their copy she was so excited about going to Brookfield. "Rosie, come have some breakfast so we can get to church. I've already been to see Joseph to tell him the good news."
Rosemary came down the stairs ready for church and with her carpet bag all packed. She deposited it by the front door. "Lee, you made breakfast already, thank you. I guess I slept too late."
"Don't worry about it. You were exhausted, despite being excited. Come sit down and eat something," said Lee.
Rosemary and Lee ate their breakfast, packed their bags in the car and drove to church so they could leave for Brookfield from there. Lee made some sandwiches and packed them for their lunch on the road. Pastor Canfield was at the church door and welcomed everyone as they arrived.
"Rosemary, Lee, welcome. I guess I don't have to ask how you are this morning, do I?" asked Joseph.
"Joseph, we are over the moon. Lee said he told you our news. Could you pray for us this morning?" asked Rosemary.
"I would be glad to. Would you like to stand and tell the congregation about your wonderful news yourselves?"
"We would love to, wouldn't we, Lee?" Lee just smiled from ear to ear. "Oh, and Elizabeth wanted to say a few words to the ladies. She's going to see if the ladies can help get some things together for the baby." Joseph agreed.
Angela played the opening hymn, 'Near the Cross,' a Fanny Crosby composition. Everyone sang enthusiastically, and then Joseph began the service.
"Good morning, and what a beautiful morning it is. We've had quite a bit of excitement in Hope Valley this week. Our prayers have been answered that Judge Avery, Constable Grant, Constable Kinslow and the Hope Valley Town Council were able to work through the difficulties and lean on their faith for the courage to do the right thing. That's never easy, especially when there are large sums of money involved, but we all know that would never sway their judgment. I'm grateful that no one was hurt during this ordeal, and everyone is safe. For that, I thank the Lord. Before we begin, I believe that the Coulters and Mrs. Thornton have something to tell you and ask you. Please come forward Lee, Rosemary and Elizabeth."
"In the midst of everything happening this week, Gabe Kinslow took me aside to share some news. He said that Grace and Lillian had a three-month-old baby boy at their orphanage in Brookfield." Lee and Rosemary told the congregation about the baby boy's sad circumstances. "When Rosemary and I were talking to Lillian last night, she told us the baby's name was Patrick. My brother, who passed as a child, was named Patrick. That's when Rosie and I knew that God had sent us a child." Lee stopped and looked around the church. There wasn't a dry eye in the congregation. "No, no. I don't want you to cry. This is happy news. Rosie and I are going to have a baby by next week's church service."
The congregation began applauding, and Lee and Rosemary beamed with pride.
"Elizabeth, do you have something to share with our congregation?" asked Joseph.
"Yes, thank you Pastor Canfield. All this is happening so quickly for Lee and Rosemary. They won't be bringing Patrick home to Hope Valley tomorrow. Lillian and Grace have to complete all the paperwork for the adoption. I wanted to ask the ladies of Hope Valley if we could get together and see if we can gather most of the things they will need for their new son. I saved some of Little Jack's things, and I have a crib and carriage. Would you like to get together at the café after Sunday dinner so we can come up with a plan?"
The ladies all agreed. "That's wonderful. Shall we say 4 o'clock then? Clara and Bill thought that would be a good time, because it would be quiet at the café. "We can meet in the back room. I'll see you then. Thank you, Pastor Canfield."
Rosemary, Lee and Elizabeth sat down. Elizabeth put Little Jack back on her lap. Lucas had been holding him, and Little Jack liked Lucas. The service passed quickly, and everyone saw Lee and Rosemary off on their trip to Brookfield.
"It's such a happy time for Lee and Rosemary. It's hard to balance the sadness of that sweet little boy losing his parents with the joy I feel for Lee and Rosemary," Elizabeth told Joseph.
"I understand. It is a conflict of emotions and hard to balance, but I believe the Lord knows best. He brought that baby boy to Lee and Rosemary," replied Joseph.