Chapter Fifty-Two
"Rosemary, how's the morning sickness? Any better?"
"Actually, Elizabeth, it is better! I still get sick with Breakfast smells, but now, one upchuck usually does it for the day. Which is a whole lot better than before. The thing I can't understand is that I just stay so tired. Poor Little Frederic has to wait to have a playmate till Lee comes home. It's all I can do to look after him, much less play with him. But don't dare tell Lee that!"
"My dear Rosemary, that's all normal. Unfortunately, being tired is part of it. And remember when I was pregnant, I didn't have a child to care for like you do. I wish I could tell you the being tired part gets better, but it doesn't. You're just going to have to take time for naps, and maybe take a little more time off work. Have you told Frederic yet?"
"No, we haven't. He's just been through so much! Getting used to a new place, new parents, new friends, new school. I just can't do that to him, Elizabeth. I love that little boy like I never believed possible. And I want him to feel like he's the center of attention for as long as he can."
"Rosemary, I know you do, we all see it and it's a beautiful thing. I don't want to push, but…" Elizabeth placed her hand on Rosemary's tummy, "he's going to know soon anyway. Everyone's going to know soon. And you want to be the one to tell them, not them figuring it out on their own. And you most certainly don't want Frederic hearing it from someone else!"
Rosemary looked like she was about to cry.
"Elizabeth, I always thought that if I ever got pregnant, I would shout it from the rooftops! Literally! And here I am finally pregnant, and all I want to do is keep it secret, between Lee and me, and you and Nathan of course. We haven't told another soul! And it feels right. Although, I honestly don't know how Lee has kept it quiet. The man is totally besotted with the idea! But, then again, he's also besotted with Frederic!"
"Oh that he is, Rosemary. I've never seen Lee like this. He's literally walking on air. I can't believe people haven't figured it out. But you know, it may be because they see you both so excited about Frederic, that they think that's totally the reason! I hadn't thought about that. So, I guess your secret's safe until you start to show a bit more. But as your very best friend, I have to tell you, I can already see a little bump. Oh, Rosemary, this is so wonderful!" and she took both of Rosemary's hands into hers.
"I've never been so happy in my life and I can't wait to get big and fat! Can you imagine me saying that?"
"No, I cannot, but you just did and you just are and just will. Get bigger, I mean! Trust me, been there, done that! Wait till you have to waddle when you walk!"
"Elizabeth! I am NOT a duck! Nor do I plan to walk like one. And I most certainly will NOT waddle!"
Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh at her dear friend.
"Give it enough time, and yes, you will waddle! Sorry, just another little thing to look forward to… You know, Frederic may surprise you. He might just be thrilled with the idea of a little brother or sister. I know Allie's going to go crazy when she hears it!"
Rosemary laughed, "Yes, she will! She'll be so excited! I think the poor child's worried, that I've been so sick. I'll talk to Lee about telling Frederic and see what he thinks! I can't wait to introduce our Son to everyone tonight at the Dinner. And I'm thrilled Nathan suggested a Dance! What fun!"
"Rosemary, I need to talk to you about something, so you won't be blindsided tonight. But this has to stay between us. You, promise? It's a bit of a shock…"
"Well, now you have my full attention…"
"Nathan had to meet the stagecoach the other day to transfer some briefs for the Packer Johnston case, and he had Bill to go with him as a witness. Apparently, this beautiful blonde woman got out of the stagecoach with a hat as big as the stagecoach and so much luggage Nathan and Bill couldn't figure out how it had ever gotten in there in the first place. She asked for their help and introduced herself as Mrs. Lucas Bouchard…"
"No! Well, that scamp! I never did trust him!"
"Rosemary, you're the one who…oh, never mind! Her name is Sophie and she's Packer Johnston's daughter. Nathan says she seems really nice. But anyway, Lucas was in shock. In fact, he tripped and fell down the stairs at the saloon and Nathan had to carry him to a chair, where he fainted. And then Nathan had to give him romantic advice on what to do. He told him to man up among other things since Lucas claims they really are in love with each other."
"But Elizabeth, he went after you with a vengeance!"
"Apparently, he didn't know he was married!"
"Elizabeth, that doesn't ever happen. That man knew! You mark my word! And you just wait till I give him a piece of my mind. He won't know what hit him. In fact, I just might hit him, myself! That man infuriates me. Thinks he's God's gift to women! The unmitigated gall!"
"Rosemary, he really didn't know. They were at a Society Ball and they, well he, drank Champagne all night long. They already had their license and there was a Justice of the Peace there who was willing to marry them. But Packer found out and dragged Sophie away from her Wedding night, leaving a very inebriated Lucas alone the next morning. He got scared and escaped to Hope Valley. That's why Packer came to kill him. He had married his only daughter. And now, that Packer is in prison and can't hurt them, they want to be together."
"Well, the whole thing is just disgusting if you ask me!"
"Well, I agree it's not the best path to a marriage. But Rosemary, you can't tell any of this, because Lucas and Sophie are just telling people they're engaged. They don't want people to know they're already married."
"Well, of course, they don't! Can you imagine the scandal? It's positively atrocious."
"Rosemary, they want you and me to help with the Wedding…"
"WHAT? You have GOT to be kidding me! Count me out. And that is a definite NO!"
"Rosemary, you know you're the only one in town who can remotely put a Wedding together. You know that, and I just hope you can find it in your heart to do this with me because I can't do it without you. And you know that, too!"
"Well, that's for sure, nobody but us could make a Wedding happen. I don't like it. I don't like it a bit, but maybe for you… Wait, why do you want to help them?" and Rosemary crossed her arms across her stomach, at the same time realizing her tummy was starting to show!
"Oh, no!" She pressed her stomach in with her fingertips like a sponge, then looked down with a frown, freeing her fingertips and letting her stomach pop out. Then she looked down all around her front through lowered eyes to see if she was really showing.
Elizabeth covered her mouth. She was trying so hard not to laugh. But Rosemary didn't even notice. Once Rosemary had not so surreptitiously surveyed her current pregnancy status, she went right back to her indignation regarding Lucas Bouchard and all this new information.
"You should be the very last person in the world to help that cheesy, stuck up Mr. Romance do anything! What is wrong with you, Elizabeth?"
"I told Nathan people change and Hope Valley is about helping people change. And he's trying really hard to do that with Lucas, but on Nathan's terms mind you. There's more Rosemary, and it's bad, but if Nathan can forgive it, then we have to, too!"
"Lay it on me! What in the world could be worse than what you've just told me?"
"Remember when Lee drove us all home together, just after we found out you were pregnant?"
"Of course, I remember. I'm pregnant, not daft!"
"Sorry! Bill was walking to meet Carson, and he overheard Lucas talking to his Mother on the phone, telling her he was giving me an engagement ring for Christmas, and that to not tell me it was all him publishing my book."
"I told you! I knew he was a scoundrel. I never believed that book deal! No offense to you, I just knew he was pulling strings behind the scenes! And there you were…all trusting every last word he said. Wait a minute, give you an ENGAGEMENT ring?" and Rosemary said the word engagement like it was dynamite, whose fuse had just been lit.
"His Grandmama's engagement ring."
"If I was Nathan, I'd just kill him! I'd just flat out kill him and get it over with!"
"Rosemary!"
"I'm serious. I never have liked the way he's treated Nathan, and neither does Lee, like he's beneath him or something. When actually it's the other way around!"
"Well, I think Nathan has finally gotten his points across to Lucas, any friendship they ever have will be completely on Nathan's terms now and only on Nathan's terms. So at least there's that."
"Elizabeth, this is just a mess! I can't believe I let you go to Union City with that man!"
"Well, I was a little shocked about that, too!" Elizabeth rolled her eyes, every bit as good as Allie could! "But what's done is done. So, let's just promise never to mention that again. It still makes me physically ill, that I did that to Nathan."
"Well, it should! So there!"
When Rosemary was in your corner there was no backing down, and Rosemary had been in Nathan's corner completely since their first trip to Buxton together, if not before. And Rosemary was not one to allow any self-judgment on the fateful role she had played in that non-date trip to Union City. In Rosemary's mind, this was all on Elizabeth now, which in reality it was, she alone ultimately had made the uncharacteristic choice to go, and she suffered every single time it came to her mind. What was she thinking!
"Rosemary, we had a plan to keep it from happening. We were never going to allow Lucas to actually give me the ring, and thankfully that saga is over! But now, we're faced with this new dilemma. Do we do the Christian thing and help them or not?"
"Elizabeth, how dare you put it that way? I guess we don't have a choice, but I sure don't have to be happy about it! And for the record, I am NOT!"
"Understood, truthfully, I'm not thrilled either. But, Rosemary, you know it's the right thing to do. And Nathan's worried that if we don't step in, the town might be hostile to Sophie because she's Packer Johnston's daughter and he doesn't want that to happen. He says she shouldn't have to pay for the sins of her Father. And of all people, Nathan understands that. God, alone knows how much Nathan and his family suffered from all of his Father's nefarious activity."
"Well, of course, he does. I guess we do have to take the lead and set an example. But I want you to know right now, and I mean this. I am NOT doing this for Mr. Bouchard, I am doing this for Nathan and Hope Valley and that is it!" and Rosemary let that last line ring out in what sounded like a never-ending crescendo!
"Rosemary, you're a Saint," and Elizabeth hugged her friend.
"There's one more thing I think you should know before tonight. But it's something that could really be good for your business," urged Elizabeth, trying to present the best possible light and prevent her friend from literally exploding!
"Oh, goody! Another surprise!" Rosemary's tone was dripping in sarcasm, and Elizabeth couldn't remember her ever being this worked up about anything, ever!
"Sophie is a Milliner and she's going to start a Millinery Shoppe."
Rosemary was silent. Then she started pacing. And pacing. Elizabeth was not sure this was good at all. In fact, she much preferred an outright explosion.
Rosemary paced some more, not even looking at Elizabeth, and Elizabeth knew to be quiet and let her friend process this last bit of disparaging information.
"I suppose a new hat usually calls for a new dress… We'll just have to wait and see on that one. But, I tell you right now. I'll help you plan their Wedding because it's the Christian thing to do. That doesn't mean I have to like it, or them!"
"Understood."
"Elizabeth, what's this?"
"It's an Advent House. Nathan made it for us. There are 25 drawers, one for each day till Christmas, he placed little trinkets inside for each of us, although some of them have not been so little, and we open them together each day. The children have absolutely loved it! They can barely contain their excitement when we're all together. And," she looked up sheepishly at Rosemary and grinned. "Truthfully, I get just as excited as Allie and Jack!"
"Elizabeth, you called Little Jack, Jack! Did you forget?"
"No, Silly, I didn't forget my Son's name. But, Rosemary, he's going to be two years old in just a couple of weeks, and he deserves for his Mama to use his given name."
"Oh, I suppose you're right, but it's sort of sad. It means he's growing up. Although I don't think Frederic would like me calling him Little Frederic all day long, either!"
"Exactly!"
"Well, let's get back to this beautiful Advent House. You know, Elizabeth, this is THE single most romantic thing I've ever heard of. And I bet Nathan made it himself…"
"Yes, he did Rosemary! He gave it to me the night of our first official date, along with another gift I will always treasure. I couldn't believe it. He included Little...I mean Jack in the gift. His gifts were just so very, very special. He made me feel like the most loved and most pampered woman in the world."
"You do know you get dreamy whenever you talk about that night… Elizabeth, it's so wonderful seeing you both so happy! There's no doubt you two were made for each other."
And Elizabeth started crying.
"Elizabeth, what did I say, what's wrong? Whatever's wrong," and Rosemary wrapped her arms around her dear friend.
"It's not you! Rosemary, and it's not Nathan or me. Nathan and I are as close as we've ever been, maybe even closer. But, we got a huge shock on Nathan's first day back to work. And I haven't spoken about it to a Soul. I don't know how to make sense of it. I don't know how to make sense of it at all!"
"What in the world was it, Elizabeth? No, wait, I'm fixing us hot tea, we're way overdue for a long talk," and Rosemary began gathering everything even though she was in Elizabeth's kitchen.
She put the water on to boil, set out the teacups with spoons, laid out the napkins, and rummaged for some sweet biscuits. When she had everything they needed, she sat down at the kitchen table across from her dear friend.
"You know, Elizabeth, the real reason I'm over here right now, is because I've been concerned about you and I didn't know why. I'm sorry I didn't check on you sooner. It's just that I'm still learning how to balance everything with Frederic and the pregnancy. I'm so sorry. That's not an excuse for neglecting a friend."
Of course, by this time, Rosemary had gotten right back up and was saying all this while at the same time selecting a jar of huge Pickles, as well as a jar of Peanut Paste to set on the table to serve along with their tea and sweet biscuits.
She apparently had forgotten her cravings till just now.
For a minute, Elizabeth thought she was the one who was going to be sick. So, she looked away, and refocused back on their discussion, instead!
"You haven't neglected me. I haven't been ready to talk about it at all. I'm not even sure I am now. But Nathan and I made a pact that we would live our lives and not talk about it together until Sunday. We plan to go riding then and hopefully re-discuss it and resolve it. But the truth is Rosemary, I'm not even sure how to do that or if it can be done."
"Here, let me get the tea.."
Rosemary poured the tea and breathed a heavy sigh.
She put the kettle back on the stove, to keep it warm, and she sat back down across from Elizabeth.
"What is it Elizabeth. I'll do my best to help."
"Nathan was so excited about going back to work, and as soon as he got there Bill unknowingly hit him with this. He took it so hard, Rosemary. I've never seen him like that, not even with the Constable who was killed. It was horrible seeing him like that, but he's kept true to his word and pushed it to the back of his mind so he could be here for me and the children in every possible way. I don't know how he's done it."
"Elizabeth, what was it? You're scaring me, it couldn't be that horrible…"
"Yes, it is. Nathan had orders to come to Coal Valley six years ago, but Colleen died and he got Allie. So, he couldn't come. Rosemary, Nathan didn't know Coal Valley was Hope Valley until Bill accidentally told him."
Rosemary was silent, suddenly realizing Nathan and Elizabeth would have met six years ago, the same time she had met Jack instead.
"Oh, no! That means Jack was assigned instead, to take his place. Oh, Elizabeth, this is truly horrible…" and Rosemary couldn't say another word.
The two women sat there for some time before either could speak.
"But, Elizabeth that means we wouldn't have Little, I mean Jack."
"We know that, and neither of us would change that, not even if we could. Both Allie and Jack are and will always be our greatest blessings. But, Rosemary I had Jack with me. I fell in love with him. We married. And now we have Little Jack, I mean Jack. I had all this beautiful love in my life. And I had you and Lee and Bill to support me and love me, too, along with everyone else when we lost Jack! Nathan only had Allie, when he lost his Sister. It fell to him to provide the love in their new Family at a time when he was grief-stricken! And he had to care for Allie as an instant Father figure. A brand new responsibility he was committed to handle alone, because he loved her. But he wasn't even sure he knew what to do to take care of her. He was just a young bachelor, scared and alone, without much of a Father's example to go by. He did it with very little help, while grieving and starting a new job where he could focus on Allie. And Rosemary, he and his Sister were really close from what I gather. Really close. He simply didn't have the love and support in his life that I did in mine to help him through that loss. Again, neither of us would change anything related to the children even if we could. They are and always will be our primary focus. We love them more than life itself. And neither of us would even want to change the love Jack and I had for each other. But knowing Nathan and I were meant to meet earlier is still a loss, one that we can't recapture. It's just something we have to process, and neither of us knows quite what to make of it."
"I'll tell you what you make of it. Nathan was always meant to be in your life. That is more clear now than ever. So you make the very best of that now and every single day you're blessed to be together. That's what you make of it. It's that simple, Elizabeth. You both love each other twice as much, and by doing so, you make up for those lost years, every single one of them!"
"You make it sound so simple…"
"It is. You both work through this grief and you put it in your past along with those lost years and then you both concentrate on loving each other more than you ever thought you could love a person. Just like you said, Nathan made you feel like the most loved and most pampered person in the world on your first date. You do the same for him. And your mission, and it is a mission, is to make each other feel like the most loved and the most pampered person in the world each and every day."
"It really is that simple, isn't it?"
"Yes, my dearest friend. You know, it's funny, there's a closeness with Nathan, even for Lee and me, like he's always been here with us. Lee and I've even said that very thing. Maybe in spirit, he has been with us all along. And Elizabeth, in my estimation, this just sort of proves it!"
Elizabeth started crying again, but this time it was a cathartic cry, and Rosemary, as a true friend does, just sat there and cried with her.
"Thank you, Rosemary, more than you'll ever know."
'You are welcome more than you'll ever know. But you know what I want to talk about, fun stuff! And since we're planning a Bouchard Wedding, have you and Nathan even talked about any Wedding plans?"
"Well, of course, you know we have."
"You do know when you two marry, I must have advance notice. I will not throw my best friends' Wedding together like an after-thought, so just promise to leave me plenty of time to put together the absolute most perfect Wedding ever! Because your Wedding will be perfect. You just leave it to me. I just need plenty of time to make that happen, and that's all I ask!"
"We promise; we'll give you plenty of advance notice," then Elizabeth laughed. "You know this ring debacle with Lucas has done one thing."
"Besides being livid, what else could that possibly be?" asked Rosemary, who was getting mad all over again at just the mention of his name.
"It made me wonder what kind of ring Nathan will choose. I have no idea, you know."
"Oh, these men, it's true you never know what they'll come up with! That's for sure!"
"Rosemary, somehow I can't at all picture what type of ring Nathan would choose."
"Have you given any hints?"
"No. Maybe I don't know myself what I would choose, because what I really want, no longer exists!"
"And what's that?" asked a very nonchalant Rosemary.
"A ring that was lost years ago."
"Ooh, that sounds like a fun story! 'Case of the Missing Ring!'" exclaimed Rosemary dramatically. "Tell it, we need some fun!"
"Well, it is rather mysterious. Ever since I was a little girl, my Grandmother on my Mother's side wore a ring that I just thought was the most beautiful ring in the world. In fact, it's the only ring I've ever, ever wanted. It wasn't her engagement ring, but as a child, I always thought 'That's the ring my Prince is going to give me when I grow up and get married.' I loved it so much, my Grandmother used to tease me, 'Just send your Prince to Granda, and old Granda will see he has your ring, Sweetheart!' Mother said she even put it in her Will, that I was to have the ring. But when Mother and her sisters went through her jewelry, it was nowhere to be found. They even combed the house together looking for it, because they knew how much it meant to me. But they were never able to find it. So, I had to give up on my dream. It was so beautiful, Rosemary, more like a cocktail ring, really. Rather on the large side, which isn't me at all, but somehow this ring was just so special to me. Maybe it was because it was Granda's and I loved her so. But to this day, I still think it's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen. And as silly as this may sound, knowing I can't have it, it's still the only ring I'd love to have."
"That's a beautiful story, but you haven't even told me what the ring looked like. I want to know what I'm missing out on," she laughed.
"It was a Victorian Styled ring. Not at all a typical cluster. It was oval-shaped and made of platinum, with a large center diamond that looked oval, but was actually round. Or so Granda said. Granda always told me it was how the diamonds were placed around it that made it look that way. But I always insisted that the largest diamond was actually oval. I remember an oval roped band of platinum that was so delicate and really tiny that wrapped around all the diamonds in the center. Then as if that weren't enough, there were beautiful, fairly large round diamonds all around the outside of that band. And there were little epaulets on either side of the ring, each filled with another diamond. They appeared to lift the whole set up off the finger. Oh, well it wasn't meant to be!"
"I can see why you loved it, though. Your description sounds beautiful! But it sounds bigger than anything I've seen you wear."
"Oh, it was. And because it was so big, I never understood why I was so attracted to it. I mean Granda, and Mother, too, for that matter, had larger diamond rings. But this was the one I loved. It's funny, given the other diamond rings in the family, I guess this one seemed smaller to me!"
"Wow, a range of huge diamonds to choose from! What a nice problem to have. Oh, Elizabeth, I'm so sorry they couldn't find your ring!"
"It was just a silly childhood dream. But back to engagement rings. I honestly don't have any idea what I would want…"
"Hate correcting the Teacher, but I think you should say 'what I want,' because I'm sure at some point there will be a beautiful new ring on your finger! I know personally, if it were me, I'd be figuring out exactly what I wanted and dropping hints like crazy!"
Elizabeth laughed, "You know me! A bit more laid back than you, I think! But Nathan has good taste, and honestly, I'll be happy with whatever he chooses. My goodness, look at the earrings he chose! They couldn't be more beautiful!"
"You're right about that, and I get the distinct feeling, Nathan helped Lee select my ruby pieces!"
"What makes you think that?" asked a curious Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth, I love Lee with all my heart, but let's just be honest. Selecting jewelry has never been his strong suit in all the years I've known him. And suddenly he goes shopping with Nathan, and chooses the most beautiful earrings and necklace I have ever been given? That, my dear friend, has Nathan written all over it! And I'm not complaining, but I tell you this: your job is to make sure Nathan always shops with Lee. Promise?"
Elizabeth laughed, knowing Rosemary was absolutely right, "Promise!"
"Hey, Rosemary, I know, you could go shop with Nathan to help him."
"Oh, no you don't! I haven't a clue what you'd like either. So, you just leave me out of this! Plus it should be his choice, Elizabeth."
And Rosemary turned to leave, with a huge grin on her face!
"Toodle loo!" she called back to Elizabeth.
"Rosemary, wait…thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!" and Elizabeth hugged her best friend, whose grin had quickly disappeared.
Just in time…