Hope Valley Meets Patrick Coulter
Lee and Rosemary arrived home just as it was getting dark. They hadn't even taken their coats off, and the telephone rang. "How does anyone know we just got home?" asked Lee. Rosemary picked up the telephone before Lee could reach it.
"Hello. Oh, Florence, yes, I'm fine. Yes, Lee is fine too. Yes, we met Patrick. Um hmm, yes, we're going to adopt him. We're so excited! We go back to Brookfield on Friday to pick him up. Yes, please tell me about the ladies' meeting yesterday. Uh huh. Yes. That's wonderful news! No, we haven't been upstairs yet. What did you say? The room is already painted and wallpapered? How did you do that so fast? I know we probably should have let you know that Patrick wouldn't be coming until Friday. Now I feel bad that everyone felt they had to get the room done by tonight. OK, Florence. I'll go upstairs now and look. Yes, I'll certainly call you back after I've looked at the room. Thank you, Florence. Bye now. Lee, you're not going to believe this. The men have already painted and wallpapered Patrick's room. I promised Florence I'd go look at it now. Will you come with me?"
"Now?"
"Yes, now. I have to call Florence back after we've looked at it."
Lee and Rosemary brought their carpet bags up to the second floor and opened the door to what had been a spare bedroom and storage area. They couldn't believe what they saw.
"Rosie, look at this. Everything is done."
"Oh, Lee, it's just beautiful. They set up Little Jack's crib and a set of drawers. Oh my goodness, all the drawers are full with baby clothes. I wonder where they found the rocking chair? Look at the bookcase. It already has books and toys. The lamp is so sweet. Someone must have made that beautiful lamp shade."
"Wow. I can't believe this. The room is beautiful. Did we have those curtains in the window? I don't remember them," said Lee.
"No. When I called Elizabeth from Brookfield, she told me that Clara had the fabric, and Molly was making the curtains. I can't believe she made them that quickly. Everything is so clean and new. Even the rag rugs on the floor match perfectly. This is why Hope Valley is such a special place."
Rosemary and Lee wanted to look at every little detail in Patrick's new room, but Rosemary knew she had to call Florence back. Lee took the time to start unpacking. He couldn't help but smile the entire time.
"Hello, Florence. Yes. I saw the room. It's beautiful. How did you get all that done in one day? Really? That many people. The clothes and blankets are just perfect. Yes, Clara said she was going to sew some things for the baby. It's OK. We won't need them until Friday. Yes, Grace and Lillian are just fine. They said they have some things for us that came to the orphanage with Patrick. Oh, and we met the baby's great aunt. She gave us her blessing, and we promised to stay in touch and send pictures. She's going to tell us all about Patrick's parents. Oh, Florence. I'm sorry. Someone is knocking at the front door, and Lee is upstairs. Yes, I'll talk to you tomorrow, and Florence, thank you for everything. Good night. Who in the world could be here now? Elizabeth, oh my goodness, please come in."
"Are you sure you're not too tired? I won't stay. I just wanted to check to see how you made out in Brookfield."
"Elizabeth, remember when you told Abigail that you knew being a mother would be wonderful, but that you didn't know it would be that wonderful?"
"Yes. I'll never forget the day Little Jack was born and how you, Lee, Carson, Bill and Abigail helped me. I wouldn't have Jack today if it weren't for all of you."
"Now I understand what you meant about how wonderful being a mother is. We fell in love with Patrick the moment we met him. He is a dear baby. He's so sweet. I think he smiled at Lee, and you know he can't stop talking about that. Eleanor said she thinks it's gas, but Grace is convinced that Patrick smiled. Oh, and Patrick's room. It's just so beautiful. I don't know how you got all that done in one day."
"Well, it was a group effort. The clothes and things that were dropped off at the Café Sunday night were washed, hung to dry and ironed by the afternoon. The men insisted on painting and wallpapering. Molly had the curtains made by the time the men were finished, and she hung them. Then the men came to my house, disassembled the crib and had it re-assembled in Patrick's room in no time. We used the dresser that you already had and just freshened it up. Fiona made a new shade for your lamp. Florence had the rag rugs from her son, Paul's room, when he was little. She washed them, and they look like brand new. Ned Yost ordered the rocking chair for someone else quite a while ago, and they canceled the order. Ned got it out of storage, and there you have it. The ladies are checking on bottles and diapers. We may need to order more than the Mercantile has in stock."
"Lillian and Grace said that Patrick came with some baby things, and she thinks there may be enough diapers and bottles. Oh, Elizabeth. I can't believe it. We'll pick up Patrick on Friday. I can't wait. Lee is just as excited as I am."
"I'm so happy for both of you. I'm going to go. Laura is with Little Jack, and I'd like her to be home before her family has dinner. We'll talk tomorrow. If there's anything you need, you know we're all glad to help."
"Thank you, Elizabeth. I think tonight we're just going to eat the sandwiches Eleanor made us and get some sleep. I've never been this exhausted."
Rosemary and Elizabeth hugged. It had been a long day at the end of an even longer week. The next week went by quickly with Lee trying to catch up at the office, Rosemary publishing a mid-week edition of the Valley Voice, as well as getting ready to return to Brookfield. Finally, it was Friday. Although Lee and Rosemary had a busy week, they did manage to relax and get plenty of rest.
The trip to Brookfield was quickly. They arrived at the orphanage at noon, had lunch with Lillian, Grace and Eleanor, and they met the circuit judge by 2 o'clock. Lillian had prepared all the paperwork meticulously, and the judge was glad to see that Patrick's sad story of losing his parent to influenza would have a happy ending. Miss Black attended the hearing as well and spoke highly of Lee and Rosemary adopting Patrick. After the hearing, everyone went back to Lillian and Grace's home for cake and punch. The children had just come home from school, and everyone joined in the celebration.
As happy as everyone at the New Hope Orphanage was on Friday, that's how sad they were on Saturday when it was time for Lee and Rosemary to drive back to Hope Valley with baby Patrick. There were many tearful goodbyes from everyone except Miss Black. She was truly happy to know that Patrick would have a good life with the Coulters.
It wasn't long before Lee and Rosemary drove into town. They were surprised when they saw all the town had lined up along the main road to welcome them home. Little did they know, but they would be spending the afternoon at Abigail's Café with their friends and neighbors enjoying a light luncheon. The Café was all decorated with blue streamers and a big sign that said, "Welcome home, Patrick." There were sandwiches galore, and the entire town stopped by. Clara made a beautifully decorated cake, and everyone had an opportunity to meet Patrick Coulter.
Lee stood. "Could I have everyone's attention, please. Rosemary, Patrick and I want to thank each and every one of you for helping welcome Patrick to Hope Valley. This is a day Rosemary and I have long dreamed of. We are so grateful for your friendship and your outpouring of love and support. Patrick is a very lucky boy to be able to grow up in Hope Valley among all of you. As you know, he lost both his parents to the Spanish flu back east. He has a great aunt in Brookfield, but until today, that was the only family he had. We can't even begin to thank you for fixing up his room and gathering all the clothes and baby things for him. Rosemary and I are so touched by your generosity and friendship. We're so lucky to call all of you friends. Rosie, is there anything you'd like to add?"
For the first time that Lee can remember, Rosemary had nothing to add. She just stood next to Lee, holding Patrick and holding back tears.
Ned Yost had been at the party earlier but had to return to the Mercantile before closing for the day. He returned to the Café and made his way to where Elizabeth and Lucas were standing with Little Jack.
"Excuse me, Elizabeth. I have a telegram for you. It sounded important, so I thought I'd bring it right over."
"Thank you, Ned." Elizabeth looked at Lucas and then opened the telegram. "It says that the provincial government is sending a librarian to Hope Valley. He's supposed to be here next week. The government is going to pay the librarian's salary. He is also a tutor who specializes in mathematics and science." Elizabeth looked at Lucas again. "It says that Mr. Walden was so impressed with the performance of the students at the Jack Thornton School, that he recommended that a librarian and specialized tutor be posted to Hope Valley. I know once Mr. Walden realized that we could teach Angela in the school, he said he would do what he could to send additional resources. He was very impressed with Allie's mathematics ability and Angela's knowledge of science. I guess he really did follow through with his promise. I'll have to let Allie and Angela and their families know. This will be wonderful for them."
"That's great news. Will you be alright meeting with Nathan about this?" asked Lucas.
"Yes. That will not be a problem at all. He was at the Café last week with Bill and Joseph when the ladies met. Little Jack wandered away from me, and went to sit with them. When I was leaving, I stopped at the table to pick up Little Jack. I think Nathan understands now. He seemed peaceful in a way. I think it will be fine."
"I'm glad. I've always liked Nathan and consider him a friend. I really didn't want to be at odds with him. I'm glad he understands now, truly," answered Lucas.
"Yes. I'm sure it will be fine. Well, this has been an exciting day—first a new baby in Hope Valley and then a new librarian. It sounds like people are finding out what a special place Hope Valley is," said Elizabeth.