"He's Dreamy"
After Lee, Rosemary and Patrick visited with Elizabeth, they decided it was time to rest. They knew they would have to tell people their news and tried to decide the best way to accomplish that without hurting anyone's feelings.
"Sweetheart, I think we could tell people at Sunday church service if you like. Then everyone will know at the same time. What do you think, Rosemary?"
"That's perfect, Lee. We'd only have to wait a couple of days. How are we ever going to keep this secret for two days?"
"I don't know of any other way we could do it, unless you publish it in the Valley Voice." Lee laughed at his own silly idea.
"No, Lee. You know, it's not a bad idea at all. I was going to finish up a couple of things and have the paper ready for distribution tomorrow morning. We could stop the presses." Rosemary stopped for emphasis. "I always wanted to say that. We could do it you know—publish it in the paper."
"Rosemary, no. This is news we need to deliver in person. Sunday's church service is still the best place to do it. I know it will be hectic that day. Everyone is going to want to meet the new librarian too. Would we be spoiling her introduction to Hope Valley if we deliver our news at the same time? I wouldn't want to do that."
"Why don't you go see Joseph. Maybe you could ask him if he could stop by tonight so we could discuss it."
"That's a good idea. I'll go now, and Rosemary, you and Patrick need to sit down and rest, please."
Rosemary smiled. Lee thought to himself that he had never seen Rosemary so happy. He walked the short distance to Joseph and Minnie's house and knocked on the door.
"Lee, how are you, and to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit? Please come in."
"Thank you, Joseph. Are you busy tonight? Rosie and I need some advice from you. Would you be able to come to our house? Any time that is convenient for you is just fine with us."
"Well, I'm free right now. Minnie, I'm going over to Lee and Rosemary's house."
"We won't keep him long, Minnie. I promise."
"That's fine, Lee. We'll be ready for supper in about an hour, oh, and say hello to Rosemary and give that sweet baby boy of yours a kiss from me."
"Thank you, Minnie. I'll make sure Joseph is home in time for dinner."
Lee and Joseph walked the short distance to Lee and Rosemary's home. Lee couldn't stop smiling.
"Well, I can already tell you're happy about something. Is it that new baby boy of yours that has you so happy?"
"Come in the house, Joseph. I'm sure you won't even get your coat off, and Rosemary will tell you all about it. Won't you dear?"
"Lee, where are your manners? I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing to Joseph. Here, Joseph, give me your coat, and we can talk. Please have a seat. Can I get you some coffee and perhaps a piece of pie?"
"Thank you, Rosemary, but Minnie will have supper ready in about an hour. That woman can cook. I can't be spoiling my appetite, but I'd like to come back another time if I could and have that piece of pie."
"Of course you can, Joseph."
"Now, will one of you tell me what's going on? Lee hasn't stopped with that silly grin on his face since he knocked on my door. Lee, has anyone told you that your face might freeze like that if you don't stop?"
"Joseph, Rosemary and I are going to have a baby."
"I already know that." Lee and Rosemary looked at each other in surprise. "I bet you think I'm talking about Patrick, right?"
"Well, yes. I mean no. I mean, what are you talking about?" asked Lee.
"I know the two of you are having a baby. I could tell. Minnie knew too. We talked about it the other night. You see, women who are expecting a child have a certain look about them. People describe it as glowing. I knew. You have the look, Rosemary. I couldn't tell you. You had to hear it from Dr. Carter. Now, I assume she has told you, and you are in fact having a baby."
"Why yes, she told us this afternoon. I can't believe you knew already," said Rosemary.
"Yes, I did. Congratulations. Minnie and I are so very happy for you. Now you are doubly blessed. I'd be willing to guess that you'd like to announce it at church on Sunday. Do you think you can wait that long?"
"Yes, we would like to announce it at church, and no, I'm not sure we can wait that long. Joseph, we know the new librarian will be introduced on Sunday. We don't want to spoil her special day meeting everyone in Hope Valley," said Lee.
"That's very thoughtful of you. How about if we do this. We'll introduce Miss Couture at the beginning of the service. At the end of the service, you can give everyone your good news, and then we can have some punch and cake. It will give the congregation a chance to meet the new librarian and offer their congratulations to you. If you delivered your good news at the beginning of the service, no one will sit still for my sermon. What do you think?"
"Excellent idea," answered Lee.
"It's settled then. I'll ask a couple of the ladies to make some cakes and punch, and we can celebrate after church. I'm not sure how you're going to keep this a secret until then, but I won't tell anyone, except Minnie, since she already knows."
"Thank you, Joseph. We really appreciate it. Now, why don't you head home so you can have dinner with your family," said Lee.
Lee showed Joseph out of the house, closed the door, and he and Rosemary just started laughing at their secret. It was a short walk home, but Joseph noticed someone he didn't recognize walking up the line of row houses, and he stopped.
"Hello, there, miss. I'm Joseph Canfield, the pastor here in Hope Valley. Are you Miss Couture?"
"Pastor Canfield, yes I am. It's Laura, Laura Couture. It's a pleasure to meet you. I thought I'd walk around Hope Valley a little and start to find my way. I should be tired after my long journey, but I'm so excited to see everything in my new home. I'm sorry I'm talking so much. It's a bad habit."
"Oh, no, not at all. Would you mind a little company on your walk?"
"I would enjoy that, Pastor. Thank you."
"I'm just going to let my wife know that I'll be back in a few minutes. Please wait." Joseph opened the door to his house and called to Minnie. "Minnie, I'm back from Lee and Rosemary's house. I'm just going to walk a bit. I'll be back before dinner. I promise."
"It smells wonderful. Is your wife cooking pot roast by any chance?"
"That she is. Minnie is a wonderful cook. Tell me about yourself, Miss Couture. I'm sorry, Laura."
"There's not a lot to tell. I was born and raised in Quebec. I was a bit of an odd duck growing up. My family was one of very few in Quebec who were not Catholic. When I was offered this position, I was grateful to hear about your church. I knew instantly that Hope Valley was a good place for me to call home. I come from a large family. I have four brothers and two sisters. I'm the youngest. All my brothers and sisters are married and have families of their own. My family owns a woodworking shop and my father, brothers and brothers-in-law make lovely furniture. Once I get settled in, my father promised to ship some furniture to me here in Hope Valley. I started a library near my home with all donated materials. Then I went to teacher college. I started college rather late. My mother had been ill, so I stayed home to help out until she was better. I filled in for the local teacher and tutored students at my home, so I could be near my mother. Now, I'm spreading my wings here in Hope Valley with my family's blessing."
"We're very glad you're here, and I know of two young ladies in Mrs. Thornton's class, who are especially glad."
"Don't tell me. I think I know who they are. Are they Allie Grant and your daughter, Angela?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"When Mr. Landis wrote to me about the position here, he told me there were two students who were exceptional in mathematics and science. I'm looking forward to working with them, Pastor."
"They've already decided that the three of you are kindred spirits. That is the highest compliment you can get from Allie and Angela," responded Joseph.
"Yes. Anne of Green Gables. I know and love the books. You know, I met Miss Montgomery when the first book was published. It was very exciting."
"You'll have to tell the girls all about it. I'm sure they would enjoy that story. See now, here we are at the library. Have you been inside yet?" asked Joseph.
"No, not yet. I really just wanted to get out and walk a bit. That will be tomorrow's adventure."
"Well, look who's coming. Constable Grant, come and meet our new librarian."
"Joseph, it's good to see you. Ma'am, It's a pleasure to, uh," Nathan stared and stumbled on his words.
"Miss Laura Couture, I would like you to meet Constable Nathan Grant. He's Allie's uncle. Nathan, this is Miss Couture, our new librarian." Nathan still stared. "Nathan, I don't think she'll bite."
"Joseph. I'm sorry. Miss Couture, it's a pleasure to meet you. Allie said she met you earlier. She told me that you are a kindred spirit. Are you getting settled in Hope Valley?"
"Yes. I'm staying with the Weis family until the Town Council can find suitable lodging for me. They're very nice people. As a matter of fact, I should probably be going. I promised them I'd be back for supper. Pastor Canfield, Constable Grant, it was lovely to meet you both."
Joseph elbowed Nathan and whispered, "Walk the girl home, Nathan."
"Oh, yeah, right. Miss Couture, may I walk you home? It's starting to get dark, and I know you're new here. We wouldn't want you to get lost your first day in Hope Valley."
"That would be lovely. Thank you, Constable. Well, now I've met all the children, Elizabeth, Pastor Canfield and you. Have you always lived in Hope Valley, or are you a newcomer like me, Constable?"
Nathan felt like he was 12 years old asking a girl to dance with him for the first time, but he managed to string a few words together to make coherent sentences.
"I've moved around quite a bit being a Mountie. My sister died, and her daughter, Allie, came to live with me. We've been here about three years now. I had a chance to accept a promotion, but Allie has been doing so well here, that I couldn't uproot her, so I here I am. A few months ago, I adopted Allie. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I couldn't love her more if she was my own child. She's quite a handful though. She has a big imagination, loves to read, fish and does extremely well in mathematics. I understand that you'll be helping her and Angela."
"Yes. I'm looking forward to tutoring both Allie and Angela. Since they have declared that I'm a kindred spirit, does that mean that they are bosom friends, Constable?"
"What kind of friends?"
"I'm sorry. It's from Anne of Green Gables. You'll have to ask Allie. I'm sure she can explain it to you."
Nathan and Laura shared a laugh. He found Laura easy to talk to and so pretty. As awkward as he felt when they met, by the time they arrived at the Weis home, their conversation was easy and relaxed.
"Constable Grant, thank you for walking me home. I enjoyed your company."
"It's Nathan. I enjoyed your company as well. Will you be coming to church on Sunday, Miss Couture?"
"Yes, I'm looking forward to it, and it's Laura. Please call me Laura. I would say that today I started off on shaky ground. You know I was sound asleep in the stage coach when I arrived, and Mrs. Thornton had to wake me up. This is a lovely way to end my first day. I will see you at church then on Sunday?"
"Yes. Allie and I will be there. We'll look forward to seeing you too. Thank you for the walk, and good night, Laura."
"Good night, Nathan." Laura went in the house and closed the door behind her.
"Miss Couture, are you alright? You look a little sick," said Opal.
"Oh, he is just dreamy."
"Dreamy? Who's dreamy, Miss Couture?" asked Opal. "Are you sure you're not sick?"
"As a matter of fact, Opal, I've never felt better."