Epilogue Two. A Baby is Born

January 30, 1920

Nathan paced the living room back and forth. As soon as he sat down, Mike stood. He took his turn pacing, back and forth, a few times. And then it was Ben's turn. He paced around the room, then returned to his seat in an old wooden chair.

Next, Lee made his few trips back and forth, then went to the kitchen for some water.

Nathan stood again, ran his fingers through his hair, and went to look out the window. Why was he so nervous? After all, it wasn't his wife who was having a baby. Was it because Julia was up there, with Faith, delivering the baby, that he felt nervous? And if Nathan felt nervous, just by association, how must Lee feel right now?

Nathan went to the kitchen to find out. He cocked one hip on the counter and watched his friend who was leaned over the sink, looking rather green. "How you holding up, Lee?"

Lee took another drink of water, and felt grateful to keep it down. "Why does it take so long?"

Nathan chuckled. In some cases, childbirth could be very long. "Don't worry, Lee. She's tough as nails, and in very good hands." Rosemary Leveaux Coulter had never backed down from a challenge, and childbirth would be no different.

Nathan reflected on how good of friends they had all become in recent months, particularly he and Rosemary. Turns out, Nathan and Rosemary had a lot more in common than he'd realized, and she had an uncanny way of understanding him. Maybe it was because she was the daughter of a Mountie, maybe it was because Nathan was a lot like her father. But what had developed between them was a deep brother-sister sort of friendship that he now valued very highly.

Nathan offered a manly hand on Lee's shoulder, to show his support. "She's gonna conquer this just like she did Broadway, and fashion design, and the newspaper business." Nathan chuckled. "Remember, this is your Rosemary we're talking about."

"I know you're right." Lee finally met his friend's gaze and grinned nervously. "It's just so nerve-wracking." As Nathan would one day find out. "But thanks, Nathan, for the reminder."

Nathan offered an encouraging smile back, knowing deep down that it could be a while yet. Lee had called just after midnight, and it was only 4 a.m. now. Julia and Nathan had been the first to arrive, living so close. The others arrived shortly after, one calling the other in a sort of a chain.

Ben had come because he'd heard Faith in the infirmary, filling her medical bag in the middle of the night. He'd come through the door to investigate, then he decided to accompany her, for moral support. Also, because he'd struck up a friendship with Lee recently. Turns out the two men shared a simple passion: motorcycles. In fact, he, Lee, and Jesse had set to working on Lee's old motorcycle, learning the inner workings and fixing it up.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the front door. Mike, who was already pacing, went to answer.

Elizabeth Thornton entered in a huff. "Sorry. It took forever to wake someone, to watch Little Jack." She looked around the room, at the men gathered, waiting. There was an air of comfort and brotherly support, and a hint of apprehension. "How's it going?"

Lee didn't seem able to offer any response. So Nathan offered the latest news. "Julia came down about half an hour ago, for warm water. She said it was going well." Why did her heart still flutter every time she saw Nathan Grant? Would she ever get over that? Even though she had no business thinking it, she couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked standing there, in the middle of the night, ruffled hair, and disheveled clothing he'd probably thrown on in a hurry.

Elizabeth nodded. Nathan added. "I'm sure you can go up. Rosemary would want you there." Another silent wordless nod from Elizabeth, and she climbed the stairs. Look who had a hard time forming words now.

Nathan put his hand on Lee's shoulder again. "Why don't you try to sit down for a while, Lee?" Nathan desperately tried to think of something they could do to occupy the time. "Do you have any games?" Nathan looked around the room, as he asked.

Lee pointed to a drawer in the coffee table. "We have Pit." He told Nathan, though he didn't say more than that.

Mike piped in. "Oh, I love Pit. Is that the one Jesse and Clara brought from their travels?"

Lee nodded, still unable to shake his nerves. But the men pulled out the game and sat around the table. Mike shuffled and dealt the cards, and pretty soon they were all calling and trading.

They didn't stop playing until a loud cry sounded upstairs, which caused complete silence to fall upon the room. In fact, they all froze, still as statues. The cry rang out again, though softer this time, which brought all eyes around to Lee.

He stifled a sob, and raised a clinched fist to his lower lip.

Mike asked the question. "Is that...?"

Nathan put a hand on his friend's shoulder, as Lee listened, for the very first time, to his baby's strong and healthy cry. "Congratulations, Lee."

Lee tried for naught to stifle sobs, as the men all gathered around him, and placed similar congratulatory pats on his shoulder. "Lee. You're a Dad!" Ben told him.

Mike smiled at his friend. "Congrats, Lee!"

Finally, the new father stood and moved to the bottom of the stairs. And there, he was met by Elizabeth, on her way down, holding a small wrapped bundle, tightly in her arms.

She carefully placed the bundle in Lee's arms. And his face became radiant as he gazed down, for the very first time, at his infant baby. Like a moth to a flame, all the men gathered around, smitten and captivated, unable to say a word.

It was only Elizabeth who broke the silence. "It's a girl."

Lee's mouth fell open and he glanced up at Elizabeth. "It's a girl?" He looked down at the baby in his arms. "I have a daughter?"

Elizabeth smile and spoke soft. "You have a daughter, Lee Coulter."

He gazed down at that baby, brought his face closer, and gently rubbed his cheek against hers. He said it this time, as a proclamation. A matter of fact. "I have a daughter."

He pulled back and showed her off. "Isn't she beautiful, fellas?"

All the men looked on, transfixed by this beautiful and adorable little baby. "She sure is." Nathan drawled out long. "She's got Rosemary's nose."

Lee glanced up at his friend. "I think you're right." He brought his gaze back to the baby. "She's got Rosemary's nose."

Mike, who never could quite figure out the right thing to say, added. "And your chubby cheeks."

Lee chuckled and replied to Mike. "Thanks. I guess?" But then he realized something. "She does have adorable cheeks, doesn't she?"

Elizabeth replied. "Yes she does." She needed to tell him something more, but didn't want to spoil the moment. She tried to say it gently. "Lee. There's been a small complication."

That got his full attention, though judging by the look on Elizabeth's face it couldn't be that bad. Could it?

"What is it?" He asked, startled now. "Rosie?"

Elizabeth nodded slow. "The girls have it under control." She put out her hands in reassurance. "Please don't worry."

Don't worry? How could he not worry? They were talking about his Rosie. All the color completely went out of his face. "Can I? Can I…go up?" He wanted, needed, to see her.

Elizabeth told him gently. "I can go ask."

Lee didn't wait, he turned and carefully passed the sweet little bundle to Nathan, who was probably the only one who'd ever held a baby. Then Lee turned back to Elizabeth. "I'm coming with you." He said, white as a ghost, now.

Elizabeth nodded, and try as she might, she couldn't help but let her gaze go to Nathan. How handsome could that man possibly get, tall and strong, holding a tiny baby? And when he looked down at the bundle in his arms, that unruly curl fell over his forehead. Why did she have to notice how inhumanely attractive he was, now? And why could she suddenly not remember what she was doing?

Lee didn't wait, but took off up the stairs. Elizabeth snapped to and followed him.

As soon as he was through the door, Lee approached the bed. Rosemary looked weak and pale, but she opened her eyes when he approached. Lee looked from Faith to Julia and back to his Rosemary again. "What happened?" He wanted to know.

Julia laid a hand on his arm. "The bleeding didn't stop, like it was supposed to, after the birth." She reassured him. "But we managed to stop it now. She's okay, Lee. She just needs to rest."

Lee sat down next to his wife and took her hand. She didn't look very good. "Are you sure she's okay?" He asked as if Rosemary couldn't hear him.

"I'm fine, Lee." Rosemary told him weakly. "Did you see her? Did you see our beautiful baby?" Even though quiet, her words still danced in that usual Rosemary way.

Lee wiped one eye. "Yes I did. She's...perfect." He tried to stifle a sob, but wasn't successful. What was it about little girls that made a man so emotional?

"She is perfect. Absolutely perfect." She told him with a weak but happy smile. "Wasn't she…so…worth the wait? Worth all of it?"

Lee leaned forward, close down over her, and lovingly stroked her head. "Yes. She's worth it all." He held her gaze and told her. "You did so good, Rosie. So very good." And another little sob escaped.

Faith gently interrupted. "Lee, Rosemary, it would be good to rest now."

Lee nodded. He insisted. "You have to rest, Rosie." He kissed her on the hand and then placed her knuckles against his cheek. "I need you. Our baby girl needs you."

Rosemary nodded, and smiled. "Will you kiss her for me?"

Lee smiled. "You know I will." But first, he leaned in and sweetly kissed his wife, on the forehead.

Then Julia took his place in the chair, as Faith followed him out.

Once they were out in the hallway, Lee turned.

Faith wanted to put him at ease right away. "Don't be worried, Lee. She's going to be just fine." Faith reassured him. "She just needs to rest, for the next few days. And if she starts bleeding again, I need to know right away."

Lee nodded. "Consider it done." He told her. Then he looked Faith over. He didn't think he had ever been so thankful, or felt so indebted to anyone, in his entire life. "Thank you, Faith…" his voice broke and he cleared this throat. His eyes were sincere and misty as he tried again. "For taking care such good…" He had to stop again to swallow. "…care of her. Of both my girls."

"It's my pleasure, Lee." Faith told him with eyes that understood. Then she slipped back in the room with Julia.

Elizabeth came down with Lee. They were met at the bottom of the stairs by Clara and Jesse, who had apparently just arrived.

"Lee, we came as soon as we heard!" Clara called out as she held the new baby in her arms. "She is so beautiful."

Jesse put his hand on Lee's shoulder. "Yea, Lee." He said with a lopsided grin. "You guys have a very beautiful daughter." He smiled at his friend. "Congratulations."

Clara carefully returned the baby girl to her father's arms. One look at her and Lee was transfixed, once again. Her cheeks were round and rosy, her long lashes curly. And in her sleep, she made funny shapes with her mouth. Lee didn't think she could be any more perfect.

Jesse announced to everyone. "We brought coffee and muffins." He pointed to the basket and thermos he'd set down on the table when they'd first arrived.

That got the guys' attention. "Really?" Ben asked. He could really use a coffee right now.

Clara piped in. "Yea. I guess we forgot to mention that. We got sidetracked…by the baby." She told them wistfully, as she rubbed her own belly, that was starting to stick out quite far, now.

Jesse uncovered the muffins. "Would you like one, Lee? What can I get you? Coffee?"

And once Lee was served, Jesse proceeded to pass around muffins and coffee, to everyone in the room. Then Nathan delivered two cups and two muffins up to Faith and Julia.

A short time later, the baby began to fuss. When Lee wasn't able to calm her, Nathan went up and softly knocked on the door. Julia followed him back down, with everything necessary to change a diaper.

She set everything up on the far end of the kitchen table. Then Julia looked at Lee, with an awkward grin, "It would be good if you learned how to change her, Lee. Rosemary won't be able to do it for a few days yet."

Lee eyes went round, he looked like a wild animal caught in lamplight. "Me?" He stuttered out, as he looked down at his daughter's tiny features.

"Don't worry, Lee, you can do it. And I'll be right beside you." Julia encouraged. But surprisingly, Nathan stayed right beside Lee, too. Memories of Allie as a newborn came flashing back, he'd helped Colleen out a lot back then.

Julia thought these two men were rather adorable, fussing over a tiny baby, so she stood back and let them. In fact, all the women present, seemed to be watching now. Lee got his baby girl mostly undressed, and Julia or Nathan coached him when needed.

Lee unhooked the pin, opened the diaper and washed his baby clean with a warm washcloth. But as soon as Lee pulled the dirty diaper out, she made a certain kind of face. However, fast as lighting, Nathan grabbed a clean diaper and held it against her bum, just exactly in time.

When Lee realized what had happened he looked up at Nathan grateful. He just saved this new father from what would have been a very embarrassing situation. "Thanks, Nathan." Lee whispered, as he went to work on cleaning her up, all over again.

Jesse, who had come closer to watch the process asked the question. "Now, Nathan, how did you know that was coming?" This was information he himself would need to know a few months from now.

Nathan glanced at Julia before he smiled inside a memory. "I helped my sister with Allie, when she was a newborn." He shrugged. "I guess I just recognized that look, it's a hard one to forget. Colleen used to say that babies always wait for a perfectly inopportune moment to do their business." Julia just gazed at him, impressed, as he continued. "Maybe it's the cold air, or the warm wash cloth, but as soon as the diaper is removed, you can almost count on it."

Lee laughed. He looked at Julia for help. "So you have to be quick when you switch the diaper?"

Julia offered another solution. "Or place the clean diaper under the dirty one, before you do the switching."

Lee nodded, in that way he did, when the lightbulb went on. That was a good idea, indeed.

Lee perfectly maneuvered the second diaper switch, according to Julia's suggestion. He placed the second dirty diaper on top of the first, rather proud of himself.

Then Julia told him something else. "Lee, you will also need to do the diaper cleaning for a few days."

Again that deer in lamplight look. "You mean, wash the dirty ones?" Lee asked, aghast.

Julia nodded carefully.

Elizabeth, a bit tickled, had witnessed everything. She stepped closer and offered. "Lee, I can come over and do it for you. Or at least show you how to boil them."

"Okay." Lee looked down at the dirty diaper pile next to him. There were already two, inside just a few hours. How long before it would be overflowing?

He fumbled a bit with closing the diaper pin, so Julia stepped forward and showed him how to fold the top down, and hook the pin more easily.

Lee had a lot to learn. "I'll take you up on that, Elizabeth." He told her, with a shy, but grateful smile.

A little while later, Julia descended the stairs with a very happy baby. She'd just been up to see her mother, and now had a full belly. Her eyes were open and she looked around, taking in the world around her. When Julia returned the bundle to her father, Lee couldn't believe how awake and aware she was.

He spoke softly to his baby daughter and showed her off to everyone in the room.

When he passed by Clara, she asked the obvious. " Lee, does she have a name?"

Lee looked back toward the stairs. Would it be appropriate to announce her name without Rosie present? And then there was the fact that he, of course, had forgotten to confirm it once again, since she'd been born. Now that they'd seen her, was the name still right?

But somehow, looking down at his adorable baby girl, Lee knew just what Rosie would say. And he knew the one name he wanted to add. He didn't even question it, his wife deserved that much.

Everyone sensed the revelation to come, so they gathered around. Elizabeth, Clara, Jesse, Ben, Mike. Nathan and Julia came close too, their shoulders barely touching.

Lee looked around the room at all who were gathered, and made the announcement. "Yes, she has a name." He looked down at his sweet baby girl tucked tight and warm against his chest. "Dear friends, meet…Patricia Eleanor Rose Coulter." Julia's mouth dropped just slightly and she stole a glance up at Nathan. Lee added. "And we will call her Ellie."

Clara replied. "Wow, Lee. That's such a beautiful name."

"Very beautiful." Jesse told him. "She looks like a little Ellie."

"Patricia, is of course, after your brother." Elizabeth piped in, interested in the origins of the names they'd chosen.

"Yes. Patricia after my brother Patrick, and my grandmother." Lee told them all, then he looked at Julia. "Eleanor is, of course, a nod to Julia, without whom, we would never have been able to…" Lee hadn't meant to be caught by the emotion of that statement, but he couldn't finish. Instead he looked down at his baby girl, who was now interested in his every move, her eyes were big and round as they followed him.

Lee took a moment and then cleared his throat. "As it so happens, Eleanor was also Rosemary's grandmother's name. It's a name we both like and had in mind for a very long time." He smiled again at Julia. "It seemed only fitting."

Nathan placed his hand on the small of his wife's back. She spoke up. "I'm honored to carry the same name, Lee."

Lee's eyes filled, as he nodded and returned his gaze to his daughter. Then, he looked around the room at their friends. "And Rose, well, I added that just because I love my wife."

He hoped she wouldn't be upset, he'd added it without really asking her. But he just wanted to honor her. For the years of waiting, and believing, and loving this baby already. For the nine months she'd carried her, and for the sacrifice she'd made, bringing her into the world.

Lee told them all. "Ellie seems to have her mother's tenacity already, so it seems only suitable, that she carry a part of her name." She was a beautiful baby, and now, had a beautiful name.

As Lee gazed down at her, and she stared back up at him, he became a new man. Lighter.

For there was something fresh and untouched in the bright-eyed way she looked at him. And Lee knew, right there in that moment, that he would never be the same. Changed for the better - and made into a father, inside the span of a moment.

And all the previous exploits of his life - business, travels, and even his successes - were nothing compared to this.