A/N: I am so sorry this update took so long. I wanted to get ahead, so I wrote four chapters in one weekend, and then work got crazy, and I didn't get a day off for thirteen days. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks, Missela, for giving me the idea to call the baby Squishy Pumpkin.
Chapter 49 – A Scare and a Surprise
Lee and Rosemary pull up to the infirmary, and he helps her get out of the car. While they are walking to the door, Rosemary questions, "What if something is wrong, Lee? I did too much again today, and now I hurt our baby."
"We don't know yet, sweetheart. Hopefully, Faith can tell us what is going on. Are you still hurting?"
"Not right now."
Lee opens the door for her, and they step inside. Faith is there waiting for them, asking, "What is wrong, Rosemary?"
"My abdomen tightens for a little while and lets up."
Faith ushers Rosemary to the table and closes the curtain, instructing her, "Change into this gown so I can examine you."
Rosemary nods, looking as frightened as she did when she saw Lee lying on the ground after the tree fell on him last year. "Can Lee be here for this?" inquires Rosemary.
"Certainly, I'll let him know to come back here," answers Faith.
Rosemary barely gets out a "Thank you" before Faith leaves to get Lee. He quickly joins his wife and helps her get into the gown and lay back on the table. As soon as Rosemary gets situated, she grabs Lee's hand as the tightening shows up again.
Lee calls out to Faith, "She is feeling it now. Can you check on her?"
Faith pops in behind the curtain and sees the discomfort on Rosemary's face, asking, "What are you feeling? How long has this been happening? What were you doing when it started?"
"I was sitting outside watching Lee teach Patrick about woodworking tools, and I started feeling my stomach tighten and go back to normal. Then I would feel it again five or ten minutes later. So, when it happened a third time, I told Lee I thought something was wrong, and we should find you." Rosemary rubs her belly and continues, "Lee took Patrick to Elizabeth's, and he helped me get to the car."
"Did walking help?"
"Now that I think about it, yes. I only feel the sensation if I am sitting or lying down."
"Are you still feeling it now?"
"No, it went away. Faith, is this the beginning of labor?"
"I don't think so, but let me do a thorough examination." Faith checks everything out and smiles when she finishes. "Good news. The baby is doing well, and you are not in labor."
"I'm not? Then, why is this happening?" asks Rosemary emphatically.
Faith replies, "We don't know why, but it is your body preparing itself for labor."
"So, she is not in labor?" questions Lee.
"No, she is not." Lee and Rosemary both sigh in relief. "What have you been doing today?" inquires Faith.
Rosemary guiltily admits, "I might have done too much today. Patrick and I took Lee on a scavenger hunt for Father's Day."
Lee adds, "She carried entirely way too much stuff from the car to the picnic spot by herself, plus a lot of other activities."
"Rosemary, I thought I told you to slow down."
"I really did try, Faith."
Lee chimes in, "Believe it or not, she did try, but she doesn't know when to stop."
"Rosemary, please listen to me because I'll only say this once. If you don't start taking it easy, I will force you on bedrest again."
Rosemary shrieks, "No, that won't be necessary."
Faith responds sternly, "I want you to promise me you'll work half-days at the paper. There will be no more scavenger hunts or carrying things back and forth, and you will visit me every week until your little one is born. Do you understand?" Rosemary nods. "I will be keeping tabs on you. Trust me. I'll be the first to know if you are not following orders."
"I understand, Faith," replies Rosemary, and she changes positions. "Will I keep feeling these tightening spells?"
"Yes, you'll probably have them off and on between now and when you go into labor," reveals Faith.
"Is there anything I can do to prevent them or make them go away faster?"
"Don't overdo it physically. Try changing positions or go for a walk. Have Lee give you a massage. Practice breathing in and out, which will help control the pain when you do go into labor."
"How will I know if I'm actually in labor?" inquires Rosemary.
Faith answers, "You'll be in a lot of pain, which will be consistent. The pain will start in your back and travel around to your front instead of just staying in your belly like it is today. Those contractions will last a minute or longer, and they won't go away no matter what you do."
"Thanks, Faith. I am so relieved Squishy Pumpkin appears healthy and is staying inside of me longer."
Rosemary is in the office on Tuesday morning when the phone rings, and it's the call she's been waiting on for the last two weeks. Lee just stepped out for a meeting, and Patrick is playing with Nicholas on the boardwalk in front of the dress shop. Rosemary tries to focus on her work but is too excited. She grabs her things, gets Patrick, and goes straight to Elizabeth's. As soon as they walk in the door, Rosemary bursts out, "I have some exciting news. Do you remember I got a call from the magazine about interviewing me?"
Elizabeth excitedly answers, "Yes."
"They called this morning, and a woman named Callie Thibault will be here to interview me around 2:30 pm at The Valley Voice," reveals Rosemary with a giggle.
"That's terrific, Rosemary. I am so happy for you."
"Ooh, I need to find an outfit to wear. I sure hope I have something fitting for this glorious occasion. In fact, do you mind watching Patrick while I get ready? I'll pick him up when it is over."
Elizabeth responds, "Of course."
Rosemary hugs Patrick, telling him, "Mama has the interview we talked about the other day. Do you mind staying here with Aunt Elizabeth for a while?"
"Okay, Mama. Good luck," offers Patrick. Rosemary waddles next door and peruses her closet searching for the perfect outfit.
It takes her some time to decide, but she finally chooses her newly favorite maroon satin dress she had Clara make a few weeks ago. Rosemary touches up her hair and makeup and manages to get her shoes on, which is becoming harder to do each day. She glances at the time and heads back to town even though she is early. Rosemary takes a moment to catch her breath and opens the door to her office, where she is surprised to see a young lady talking with her husband.
Lee kisses her on the cheek, saying, "Hi, sweetheart. We were just talking about you."
Callie holds out her hand and introduces herself, "Missus Coulter, I am Callie Thibault from the Woman's Home Journal, and I am here to interview you. I'm sorry, I tend to be early everywhere I go, but your husband has been nice enough to entertain me for a few minutes." Callie looks her up and down, mentioning, "My editor did not tell me you were expecting."
Rosemary shakes her hand, giggling, "You can call me Rosemary, and no, your editor didn't know. Is there a problem?"
"No, not at all. I may change some of my questions, though."
Lee clears his throat, offering, "Well, I will leave you two alone. I'll see you later, honey." He grabs his briefcase and walks over to Bill's office for a meeting.
Rosemary points to a chair in front of her desk, suggesting, "Why don't we sit down. I'd be happy to answer whatever you want to know."
Callie sits down and brings out her notebook and pen. "I like to start my interviews getting to know the person and finding out what makes them tick.
Rosemary smiles and shares her love for the theater, stint on Broadway, and moving to Hope Valley. "Speaking of theater, my husband recently built me, well, the town, an amphitheater not far outside of town. He had promised to build me a theater several years ago, but it was never the right time. That is until now," says Rosemary with a grin. "Our opening production was three weeks ago, and it was a play I wrote."
"Wow, you are quite impressive," states Callie.
"I always thought my calling was the theater, but after meeting my husband and becoming part of such a giving community, I realized there is so much more than the stage or acting. So, I began to explore other passions, like designing clothes. But more recently, I've wanted to do something more important and meaningful with my life. And that is where I came up with the idea to start The Valley Voice."
Callie responds, "Great. Why don't we proceed to the real questions? Do you feel like you are treated seriously as a female editor-in-chief?"
"So far, yes. I live in a very open and tight-knit community, and everyone has been so welcoming with my new venture. I imagine it might not be the case if I were in a different town."
"How supportive has your family been?"
"My husband and son are my biggest fans and supporters in whatever I do. When I first told my husband I wanted to start a paper, he was so happy I found something I was passionate about again. He is also the one who encouraged me to call myself editor-in-chief in the beginning, and I am grateful he is there to push me and cheer me on."
"You have a son? How old is he?"
"Yes, we do. My husband and I adopted him last year. He is eight years old and the light of our lives," remarks Rosemary.
"Do you like sharing an office with your husband?"
"I do, for the most part. Sometimes it is challenging living and working together, but I believe we've both come to appreciate the opportunity. It's been so helpful with taking care of our son, and I get to see my husband during the workday."
"Where do you see your paper in five years?"
"I would love for it to reach out of Hope Valley to the neighboring towns. So, it can truly be the voice for people all over the Valley."
"Do you plan to continue working after your baby is born?"
"Definitely. I don't have to work, but I want to show my children that they can do whatever they want if they work hard. The sky's the limit. Plus, it doesn't hurt we live in a small town, I share an office with my husband, and I can bring our child to work with me." She points to Patrick's desk in the corner, explaining, "My husband set that up for our son, so he spends time with us here as well. This office has really become our family's second home." Rosemary lovingly looks down at her bump, suggesting, "And I don't see it changing with this new little one."
"How do you have time to take care of a family and run this paper?"
"I have a great support system. My husband is around if I can't be with our son. I have an amazing partner who helps me with articles and publishing, Hannah Martin. In addition, we have wonderful friends who are always there for us."
Callie ends with, "Thank you, Rosemary, for answering my questions. It has been fun getting to know you. Your article will be in next month's issue, and we'll send you some copies in advance."
Rosemary mentions, "Thank you for coming out here and interviewing me. It has been such an honor to get asked."
"You're welcome," says Callie.
"I'd like to show you around Hope Valley if you have some time," offers Rosemary.
"I would love to, but my train leaves in thirty minutes, and I need to get to the train station."
"If you are ever in Hope Valley again, I'd be happy to show you around our little hamlet."
Callie responds, "I would like that very much, but I need to go. Congratulations on The Valley Voice and on the addition to your wonderful family."
Friday morning, Lee tenderly wakes up Rosemary with a kiss and a belly rub. Then she groggily opens her eyes to her grinning husband. "I have a surprise for you, my love," reveals Lee.
Rosemary stretches and props herself up with her pillows, inquiring, "What is it?"
"We are going on a weekend trip, and I cleared it with Faith as long as you don't overdo it again."
Rosemary giggles, asking, "We are? A trip? To where? What do I need to pack for Patrick and myself?"
"Patrick is staying with Elizabeth, and you and I will spend some time together in Union City. What do you say?"
"Does Patrick know?"
"I told him yesterday, and he said he would be okay."
"Well, in that case, how long do I have to pack?" Rosemary tries to get up, but Lee stops her.
"I have packed for you and Patrick, and our bags are already in the car. All you need to do is get dressed, go downstairs, and eat some breakfast."
"Lee Coulter. What are you up to?"
"Nothing. I just want this adventure to be as easy as possible."
"Are you sure you have everything I'll need?"
"Yes, you'll only need to grab your makeup and the things you use to get ready in the morning."
"If you say so," remarks Rosemary as she struggles to get out of bed.
Lee kisses her, stating, "I'll see you downstairs." Rosemary smiles and watches her husband as he steps out the door. Then, she dresses, does her hair and makeup, and sits on the settee, trying to put on her boots. But Rosemary can't quite manage to get them all the way on her feet. Rosemary tries all sorts of positions, and nothing works, so she yells, "Lee!"
Lee runs to their bedroom, inquiring, "What's wrong, sweetheart?"
Rosemary pouts and points to her boots, revealing, "I can't get my boots on. I am too big." Lee can't stop himself from chuckling. "It's not funny, Lee. I'm serious."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed."
"No, you shouldn't have," remarks Rosemary as she holds out the boot to him. "Can you please help me?"
Lee takes the boot, replying, "Of course, I can." He lifts her right leg, effortlessly slipping the boot on and tying the laces. Next, he lifts her other leg and does the same.
"Thanks, sweetie. I'll add it to the growing list of things I cannot do anymore. What will be next?" They both laugh at the thought.
"Are you ready?" questions Lee as he offers to help her up.
Rosemary stands up and points to her vanity, saying, "Almost." She throws all her morning necessities into her carpetbag and announces, "We can go now." Rosemary hands the bag to Lee, and they walk down together, where Rosemary sees a bouquet of wildflowers at the table along with her favorite breakfast.
Patrick is on the floor playing with Laika when he sees his mother. He jumps up and hugs her, exclaiming, "Good morning, Mama, little brother or sister."
"Good morning, my brave boy. Come sit with me for a minute." Rosemary and Patrick sit on the settee, and Laika hops up for some loving, licking Rosemary's hands and then leaping back on the floor. Patrick crawls into her ever-decreasing lap, and she inquires, "Are you okay with Papa and I going to Union City for the weekend?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I don't know if I can leave you, though. I am going to miss you too much."
"Don't worry. Papa will keep you company, and the Grant's will keep me company. And you'll be back in two sleeps."
Rosemary responds, "You are so wise."
"I know, Mama!" exclaims Patrick. They eat their breakfast, and the boys clean up the kitchen while Rosemary tidies the house and ensures Lee doesn't leave anything important. When it is time to go, they walk next door and knock. Allie and Elizabeth answer and let them in.
Elizabeth asks, "Are you ready to spend the weekend with us, Patrick. It will be so much fun."
"Yes, ma'am."
Elizabeth glances over at Lee and Rosemary, questioning, "Are you two ready to go?"
Lee replies, "Yes, we are all packed and ready to go. Thank you for keeping him." Lee looks around and doesn't see Nathan or Jack. "Where are the guys?"
"Nathan had to run into town to get something from the jail, and Jack insisted on tagging along. I thought they would be back, but maybe they got sidetracked."
"Can you tell him we said thank you?" Elizabeth nods and follows Lee and Rosemary out to their car. Patrick hugs Lee quickly, followed by Rosemary, who won't let him go.
"Mama, I'll be alright."
Rosemary squeezes him one more time before hugging Elizabeth, whispering in her ear, "Do you mind if we call Patrick tonight and surprise him? Maybe you can bring him over to our house around 7:30 pm since you don't have a phone?" Elizabeth nods, and Lee and Rosemary get in the car and drive away, sadly waving goodbye. Rosemary watches out the back until she can barely see Patrick anymore and shouts, "Stop!"
Lee slows the car down, and they eventually stop in front of the last row house. "What's wrong, Rosie?"
"I don't think I can leave him, Lee. I haven't been away from him overnight since he moved in with us." She pouts and pleads with Lee to go back and get Patrick.
Lee turns to her, reassuring, "Patrick will be fine. Elizabeth and Nathan will take great care of him. He will get to play and have fun. Besides, this is the first time he has been okay with us leaving him." Lee's mouth curves into the grin that Rosemary fell in love with so many years ago. "But most importantly, we need to spend time together, just you and me."
Rosemary giggles and leans in for a kiss. "Alright, we can go, but it doesn't mean I won't be sad that Patrick isn't here with us on this trip."
They pull into Union City around 3:30 pm, and Rosemary is giddy with excitement, asking, "What do you have planned?"
Lee laughs, answering, "Whatever we want. The world is our oyster." He glances at his wife, who is thinking about all the possibilities. "I only have one request. I think we should go shopping for Squishy. I know you've been diligently adding to your list all the things you want to buy, and I thought Union City would be a better place to find it all."
Rosemary's face lights up at the idea, inquiring, "Is this why we are here? You want to go shopping with me?"
"Yes, among other things," replies Lee as he parks the car in front of their hotel. "I wanted to do this sooner, but we have been so busy, and you were on bed rest," mentions Lee.
"Oh, Lee!"
Lee points out her window, announcing, "Here is our hotel. Why don't we check-in and rest a bit before we go out shopping?"
"Lee Coulter, you very well know I cannot rest when I am this excited."
"Okay, fine, but if I sense you are getting too tired, back to the room, we will go." Rosemary rolls her eyes at her husband and attempts to get out of the car. "Wait, Rosie." She turns and watches as he jumps out, jogs over to her side, opens the door, and offers his hand. "Missus Coulter, may I escort you into this fine establishment?" questions Lee. Rosemary chuckles and accepts his hand as they walk into the hotel lobby. Lee checks them in, and they explore the hotel's amenities before they walk up to the second floor and enter their first-class suite. They are both impressed with the suite, which contains a fancy four-poster bed, electric lamps, a sitting area, a closet, and an attached bathroom.
Rosemary takes in the elegant room and looks out the window, watching children playing at the park. She remarks, "This room is beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you," responds Lee as Rosemary beams at her husband's flattery. Lee grabs Rosemary's hand and spins her into him.
Rosemary wraps her arms around his neck, pulls him in, and their lips meet before softly revealing, "Flattery will get you everywhere."
"I know," jokes Lee.
Rosemary chuckles, hitting him on the chest, announcing, "I am going to change into something more fitting for shopping in Union City, and you should too." Lee looks at what he is wearing and is confused by her comment. "Your jacket, honey. You get hot walking around with it on."
Lee shrugs off his jacket and smiles at his wife because he knows she is right. He takes her suitcase and sets it on the bed, offering, "Here, let me hang your clothes up." Rosemary follows him to the closet to see what clothes he has brought for her. She goes through each outfit and decides on her dark purple empire waist dress, which she quickly puts on. Rosemary models in front of the mirror, ensuring it still fits her nine-month bump. She never thought she would be good with seeing herself so large, but Rosemary wakes up every day grateful her body is growing their little miracle. "Are you ready to go, Rosie?"
Rosemary loops her arm around his as they leave their room and begin their shopping spree. They check out the first shop, which is a furniture store. She drags Lee to the back where all the baby items are. You would never think she is less than a month from giving birth by watching her. She is full of energy, and even Lee has a hard time keeping up with her between cribs, rocking chairs, trunks, bassinets, cradles, playpens, and highchairs.
Lee questions, "Do we need all of this stuff when Squishy is born?"
Rosemary answers, "Obviously we do, Lee." Lee reluctantly acknowledges and prepares himself for a rather large purchase. "Here, help me decide on a rocking chair. I have narrowed it down to these two."
Rosemary points to two chairs, and Lee sits and rocks a few times on each, stating, "I think we should get the first one. It is perfect." Rosemary nods in agreement.
Then, she drags him to the cribs, asking, "Which one do you like, honey?" Rosemary shows him the two best ones, hoping he'll like the same one as her.
Lee inspects both and stands in front of the second one, suggesting, "Let's get this one. It matches the rocking chair."
"Good eye. I think you are right."
"What else do we need here?"
"I want to get a bassinet. I think it will come in handy for the first six months. But I don't see any I like here."
Lee points to the highchairs and playpens, inquiring, "What about those?"
Rosemary replies, "We don't need to get those now. Pumpkin won't be using them for a while." She reads through her list one more time, telling Lee, "I think we have everything we need from here. There are so many other places I want to go, though. But first, I'm starving."
Lee laughs, questioning, "Let me guess. Squishy wants an early dinner?" Rosemary chuckles when she feels him move, almost like he's responding to his Papa. Lee and Rosemary walk up to the counter to buy everything in their basket, as well as the big-ticket items such as the crib and rocking chair, which they will pick up tomorrow. Then he treats her to one of the new Italian restaurants in town. Rosemary gets the lasagna, even though she'll probably regret it later, Lee orders the polenta, and they both have a scoop of gelato for dessert. After filling up on their dinner and dessert, Rosemary insists they go to the fabric store, much to Lee's chagrin. Rosemary drags him inside, and they spend the next hour searching through every piece of fabric she could find for baby clothes, blankets, sheets, and diapers. Finally, when Rosemary has personally seen everything in the store, they take their purchases to the front, and Lee pays more than he wants for a bunch of fabric. Then Lee grabs their bags, and they head out to their car, where Rosemary reveals, "I have something to tell you."
"I do too. You go first, though," mentions Lee.
"I might have told Elizabeth we would call Patrick in fifteen minutes."
Lee admits, "I might have told her the same thing."
"You did?" asks Rosemary as they both start to chuckle. "Why are we just standing here? Let's go call our son." Lee laughs, and they walk back to their hotel as fast as Rosemary can waddle.
After a fun and much-needed conversation with Patrick, Rosemary questions, "Do you mind if we get some milk?"
"Are you having heartburn again?"
"Yes, it always seems to happen when I have anything with tomato sauce."
Lee suggests, "Sure, let's go to the hotel restaurant," and Rosemary agrees. So, they go downstairs and sit at an empty table, where he orders her some warm milk with honey and him a cup of coffee.
A few minutes later, the waiter brings the drinks and a plate with a piece of papaya and pineapple, stating, "I thought the young lady might try one of these. My wife says they always help her."
"Thank you, sir, and to your wife," remarks a grinning Rosemary. She takes a few bites of papaya, sips the milk, and within a few minutes, she finally feels some relief.
Lee inquires, "Are you feeling better?"
"Surprisingly, yes, it seems to be working," replies Rosemary.
"In that case, what do you want to do now? It's still early."
"Can we go for a stroll? It is such a nice night out."
"Are you sure you are not too tired? Your feet and back must be hurting you."
Rosemary responds, "They are, but I'm not ready to call it a night yet." Lee nods, and the two of them finish up their drinks and go outside.
Lee suggests, "Why don't we walk down the street and around the block?" Rosemary agrees, and they meander down the sidewalk in companionable silence. Lee can sense something is on her mind, but he doesn't quite know what it is. So, when they see a park bench, he insists they sit down, and Rosemary grabs his hand for support.
Lee and Rosemary sit there for a few more minutes, and Lee inquires, "What's on your mind, sweetheart? You've been terribly quiet."
Rosemary forces a smile, answering, "Yes, I am fine." She gazes into his eyes for a few moments and back down at the ground. When she looks up again, he sees a few tears on her cheek. He wipes them away, giving her the courage to speak. "I didn't think we would ever be buying a crib for our precious baby, Lee."
"Me neither. I thought Patrick was the answer to our prayers."
"I did too. God does work in miraculous ways, doesn't he?" Rosemary places Lee's hand on her belly. "This little one has been growing inside of me for nine months. We have felt him move and heard his heartbeat. But today, shopping and buying the crib with you made it feel like he's coming, and very soon."
"You're right. I feel like now it is a matter of when she'll be here instead of if she'll be here."
"Shall we discuss names again?" questions Rosemary.
"Excellent idea. Why don't I go first? For a girl, I like Lucy and Ruthie, and for a boy, I like Matthew or Andrew."
Rosemary responds, "Those names are good. I also like Ruby and Isabella for a girl and Jacob or Max for a boy."
"Or maybe Elijah for a boy and Rosalie for a girl?" inquires Lee.
"Hmm. I kind of like Matthew or Jacob Coulter," reveals Rosemary.
Lee replies, "I like those names too." Rosemary tries her best to hide her yawn, but Lee always knows. "I think we should go back to the hotel for the night. We have a big day tomorrow." Rosemary reluctantly nods, and they head back to their room.
The following morning, Lee and Rosemary wake up in each other's arms. They are shocked it's already 9:00 am. Rosemary tries to sit up, but Lee gently pulls her back down, whispering, "No, stay here. We never have time to relax like this."
A not persuaded Rosemary says, "Lee, we can't stay here all day. We have shopping to do."
Lee laughs, mentioning, "Yes, we do, but don't you want to stay here for a little while longer…with me?" Rosemary looks up at her husband, grinning. She kisses him a few times and lays her head back on his chest, relishing the moment.
Rosemary glances back up at Lee, revealing, "I miss Patrick, and I missed tucking him in last night."
"Me too. But Elizabeth is taking excellent care of him for us, and she is the one I want him to be with if we aren't there."
About an hour later, Lee and Rosemary finally get ready to go and have a nice relaxing breakfast before starting day two of their shopping spree. First, they go into the Mercantile, which is much bigger than the one in Hope Valley. There they see a trunk for the baby's clothes, diapers, linens, and anything else he or she will need. Rosemary also finds a bassinet, buggy, teddy bear, and a few rattles. Next, they explore the bookstore, where they find books for both Pumpkin and Patrick. Then, Lee and Rosemary check out the toy store, finding a couple of train cars and tinker toys for Patrick and a stuffed dog for the baby. Finally, after visiting the last store on the block, Lee asks, "Why don't we go back to the hotel? I have a surprise for you."
"You do?" Rosemary questions.
"I do."
"Well then, let's go," remarks Rosemary as they walk back to their room. When they get inside, she throws her purchases on the bed and collapses beside them, catching her breath.
"That tired, huh?"
"Yes, I'm exhausted."
"Maybe we should stay in the rest of the afternoon and evening. Surely, someone else can use our tickets."
Rosemary perks up, inquiring, "Tickets? To what?" Lee hands her an envelope, and she tears it open, squealing at what's inside. "Tickets to H.M.S. Pinafore? Tonight? At the Yorkton?"
"Yes," replies Lee.
Rosemary delightfully giggles, exclaiming, "Oh, Lee! I am feeling much better now."
"I thought you might," remarks Lee.
Rosemary sits up with a grin on her face, but then her face falls, explaining, "Lee, I don't have anything to wear to the Yorkton, the most elegant theater on this side of the Rocky Mountains." Lee smiles and steps into the closet. He pulls out a long cloth bag with Dottie's written on one side. He had hidden it between his suits, and he is grateful Rosemary didn't see it already. Lee chuckles and brings it over to her. "What is this?" asks Rosemary trying to hide her exuberance.
"I had Clara make this for you specifically for tonight. So don't worry, I promise it will fit."
Rosemary narrows her eyes at Lee, questioning, "Did you remember shoes and accessories?"
Lee goes to the closet again and brings back a cloth bag. Rosemary opens it up, and there is a new pair of peau do soie pumps, a black silk clutch, and her best set of jewelry. Rosemary glances at her husband in delight and then down at the pumps, revealing, "Oh, sweetie. I can't wear these big heels right now."
"You can't? I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Rosemary grins at her husband, saying, "It's alright. How could you? However, maybe whatever is in that cloth bag will cover up my regular shoes." She gets off the bed and removes the protective bag from the dress, squealing again, "It's gorgeous." She pulls out the dark green chiffon floor-length A-line dress with a V-shaped neckline, ruffle sleeves, and crisscross pleating around the high waist.
"You sure are full of surprises, Lee Coulter."
"I have to because you keep me on my toes, sweetheart." They both laugh, and Lee claps his hands together. "Why don't you rest for a bit before we get ready? We'll be out late, and I don't want you falling asleep again."
"Ha-ha, Lee. The Nutcracker was the only time I've ever fallen asleep on a live show." Rosemary smiles and rubs her tummy, revealing, "We weren't aware of this little one yet."
Lee chuckles, responding, "No, we weren't. Boy, were we in for a surprise a few days later?"
"We sure were. But Pumpkin is truly the greatest surprise of my life, other than meeting you and Patrick." They both giggle. Rosemary hangs the dress back in the closet and lies down on the bed to try and nap. Not two minutes later, she opens her eyes, stating, "I can't sleep at a time like this."
"Sweetheart, your eyes were only closed for two minutes. Try again."
Rosemary frowns at her husband and closes her eyes, but not for much longer. When she opens them again, Lee is resting his cheek on his hands, pretending to be sleeping. Rosemary huffs and lays her head back down, closing her eyes. But this time, she does fall asleep.
A few hours later, Lee wakes Rosemary, and the two of them get ready for their night out. She slips on her new dress and does her hair and makeup. Lee helps her with her shoes again, which are luckily covered up by her dress. Rosemary inquires, "How do I look, honey?"
Lee grins, answering, "You are stunning, my love," as he offers his hand and escorts her to their car. They enjoy a delicious dinner and barely find their seats before the lights go down in the theater. Rosemary soaks up the electric atmosphere of the theater and audience before raising the armrest and scooting next to Lee.
Lee wraps his arm around her as the majestic burgundy curtain opens, and the cast begins singing, "We sail the ocean blue."
The following morning, Lee and Rosemary wake up early. They want to get home and see their son. They both missed him a lot and wished he had been there last night to see the musical. They knew he would have loved every song. As they are leaving, Rosemary insists they stop one more time. She wants a few more pieces of cute fabric, and luckily, she finds a few to add to her collection. When she is finally ready, they get in their car and drive back to Hope Valley. Rosemary mentions, "Thanks for bringing me here and for buying everything I wanted. Thank you for getting Clara to design and sew a dress that truly makes me feel beautiful inside and out and for treating me to an amazing musical." She scoots over closer to him and pats his leg. "Thank you for always being by my side. I wouldn't want to share this journey with anyone else but you…and Patrick."
"And Squishy," adds Lee.
"And Squishy Pumpkin," remarks Rosemary as they giggle and take in the mountain scenery around them.
Patrick wakes up in Allie and Jack's room on Sunday morning from a vivid dream. He was laughing and running around their picnic spot on a lovely sunny day when he heard a tiny voice yelling, "Bubba!" He turns around and sees his parents sitting on a blanket at their tree. They are both smiling and waving when he sees Rosemary holding a small child. Patrick squints, trying to get a better view of his new brother or sister but wakes up instead.
Patrick sits up and scratches his head, realizing something sticky is in his hair. Suddenly he remembers the candy he was eating last night after everyone went to bed, but he thought he put what was left back in the wrapper underneath his pillow. Patrick frantically searches the bed and the floor for the candy, but it's not there. He immediately runs to Allie's mirror and panics when he sees the red sticky blob tangled in his hair. Patrick tries to pull it out, but it is too stuck. But, instead of panicking again, he tries to figure out what to do, thinking to himself, "What would Mama do?" He doesn't want to disappoint her or make her cry, so he comes up with ideas on what Rosemary might do. Patrick's first idea is to tell Aunt Elizabeth, but he's positive she'll tell his mother, who loves his curls more than he does. His second idea is not to tell her and take care of it on his own. Patrick ultimately decides not to worry his mother and cut the candy out himself. He climbs a chair, grabs the scissors on Allie's shelf, jumps back down, and stands in front of the mirror. Patrick holds the candy in his left hand and the scissors in his right and makes his cut. The candy falls to the ground with a couple of ringlets of his curls. Patrick looks down and sees his hair lying on the ground and then at his head, realizing he cut more than he should have. He mumbles to himself, "I'm in trouble."
Later that afternoon, Lee and Rosemary arrive back home and go straight to the Grant's. Nathan answers the door but turns awkward when he sees Lee and Rosemary. Nevertheless, he invites them in, offering them a seat. Nathan's awkwardness, however, is not lost on Rosemary, especially when Elizabeth comes down the stairs with a guilty expression. Rosemary inquires, "Why are you two acting so odd, and where is our sweet little boy?"
Elizabeth looks at Nathan and then Lee and Rosemary, stuttering, "He's over at Opal's with Allie and Jack. They should be home soon."
"Why do I get the feeling something happened?" questions Rosemary.
Nathan replies, "We'll explain when the kids get back."
"Now, you have me worried."
"It is nothing bad," responds Elizabeth.
Nathan tries changing the subject by asking, "Do you need help carrying it all in, Lee?"
Lee chuckles, "I do, Nathan. I'd appreciate the help because the car is full."
While Nathan and Lee are carrying it all into Lee and Rosemary's house, Elizabeth is distracting Rosemary by bringing up their trip. Rosemary is happy to give Elizabeth every detail, regaling her with everything they bought and about all the best songs in the musical. When the guys eventually finish, they join the ladies and hear the last of the musical numbers Rosemary is raving about when Allie, Patrick, and Jack open the door and race inside.
Patrick immediately sees his parents, yelling, "Mama, Papa, you are back!" as he runs into Rosemary's arms and then Lee's.
Rosemary mentions, "We missed you, bud," when she sees something peculiar about his curls. She squeals, "Patrick, what happened to your hair?" Rosemary turns to Elizabeth, asking, "How did this happen?"
Patrick replies, "It's my fault, Mama. Last night, I hid some candy under my pillow, which got stuck in my hair. I didn't want to see you sad, so I found some scissors and cut the candy out before everyone woke up. I'm sorry, Mama."
Rosemary fingers through his beloved curls, assessing the damage with a gasp. "Oh, Patrick, what have you done?"
Lee suggests, "Honey, why don't we go home. I'm sure Nathan and Elizabeth have things to do. Thanks again for watching Patrick."
"It was our pleasure. All three kids had fun together," remarks Elizabeth as she hugs Rosemary goodbye. Elizabeth sees the melancholy expression on her dearest friend, so she whispers, "Don't worry. His hair will grow back."
Rosemary forces a smile as she follows Patrick and Lee out the door.
Right before Patrick's bedtime, he takes a bath, washes his hair, and changes into some clean nightclothes before nervously sitting down at the kitchen table. Patrick whines, "Do you have to cut it short, Mama? I don't like it short."
"I'll see what I can do," answers Rosemary as she brushes his curls out. "I don't want to cut your hair either, but I don't think I have a choice." Rosemary fights the tears wanting to fall, and puts on a brave face for her son. She reluctantly picks up the scissors, but she can't move.
Lee sees her freeze, so he takes them from her, questioning, "Do you want me to do this?"
"No, Lee. You might make it worse," mentions Rosemary as she quickly wipes away the one tear she can't stop. She doesn't want Patrick to know she is crying, so she mumbles to herself, "I can do this. It will always grow back." Rosemary picks up the scissors again and hesitantly makes the first cut. She racks her brain on what to do, and then an idea pops into her mind, Robert has curly hair. Rosemary will try that style, and if it doesn't look good, she'll take him to Fiona.
Twenty minutes later
"Mama, are you done yet?"
Rosemary chuckles as she makes one final cut, proudly announcing, "Done!" She takes a moment to admire her work and then asks, "Would you like to see your new haircut?"
"Yes, ma'am," responds Patrick as Rosemary suggests he stand up and close his eyes. She guides him over and places him in front of the mirror, telling him to open his eyes while she holds her breath in anticipation.
Patrick smiles, exclaiming, "I like it, Mama. Thank you."
"Good. I do too. Now, promise me, you'll never cut your hair again."
"I promise."
Rosemary scoots him towards the stairs, suggesting, "You go ahead to your room, pick out which book you want us to read, and we'll be up there soon." She messes with his hair, offering, "We might have brought you a little something from Union City." Patrick giggles and hops up the stairs.
Lee grabs a train car out of the bag, and they follow him up to his room. Patrick happily sits on his bed, waiting for them with a book on his lap, Laika by his side, and Nanny at his feet. Lee and Rosemary each sit down beside Patrick, and Lee gives him the gift.
"Thanks, Papa. This is the train car I wanted."
"I thought so. You're welcome. Mama and I knew we needed to get it for you."
"Thanks, Mama."
"You're welcome, bud." Rosemary gets a little closer to Patrick with her back up against the headboard, inquiring, "Would you like to read tonight?"
"It would be my pleasure," answers Lee as Patrick hands him Tik-Tok of Oz. Lee slips his shoes off and gets more comfortable next to Patrick, opening the book to where they left off and reading until Patrick dozes off. Then, Lee sets the book on Patrick's nightstand and turns off the lamp.
Patrick opens his eyes, mumbling, "I missed you, Mama, Papa."
Rosemary responds, "We missed you too, so much. We kept wishing you were with us, especially at the theater."
"She's right. We did," mentions Lee.
"Mama, Papa? I don't want you to leave me again."
"Okay, buddy. We won't," replies Lee as Patrick turns and hugs Rosemary, Lee, and falls back to sleep.
Rosemary kisses Patrick on the cheek, whispering, "I love you to infinity," and Lee does the same. Then they both look at each other guiltily because they left Patrick before he was fully ready.
Lee and Rosemary spend the next couple of weeks trying to fit in cleaning, organizing, and rearranging their room, in addition to being busy with the paper, sawmill, and mayoral duties. Rosemary and Patrick spend the mornings at the office and go home at lunch to spend some one-on-one time together, waiting for Lee to finish work and get home. However, this past week, he didn't show up until well past Patrick's bedtime. So finally, on Friday morning, when they wake up, Rosemary confronts Lee as they are lying in bed. "Last night was the fourth time in a row you haven't been here to tuck your son into bed," remarks Rosemary in a scolding tone.
"I realize that, and I feel horrible about not being here."
"We promised we would tell one another if one of us got too busy. And I think we have reached that point."
Lee opens his arms, and she crawls right in, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. You are right. Between the sawmill and being mayor, there is no time for my family," remarks Lee.
"What are you going to do when the baby gets here? As much as I hate to admit, I can't do it all by myself with a newborn."
Lee is quiet, thinking about what to say, eventually speaking, "I think it is time."
"Time for what?"
"To pass all the sawmill work to Jesse for the time being. That way, I can focus on you, Patrick, Squishy Pumpkin, and Hope Valley."
Rosemary grins, responding, "I think it is a fantastic idea. When will I get you back?"
Lee laughs, "How about we spend time together as a family today and over the weekend. Then on Monday morning, I'll speak with Jesse."
"Perfect! I have a list of things we need to get done, and the rest of the time, we can play."
"A list? I should have known."
"Don't worry. It is not too bad. The most significant task is I need you to finish arranging our room so we can also fit the crib, rocking chair, bassinet, and trunk in here."
"Can you remind me again why Squishy will be sleeping in our room?"
Rosemary raises her head in surprise, "I don't think we will want to take our eyes off our precious newborn. Plus, we don't want Patrick to get woken up every two to three hours when Pumpkin wants to eat."
Lee giggles, "I was kidding, sweetheart." Rosemary hits his chest and chuckles.
On Saturday morning, Rosemary convinces Lee to finish building the crib. She is finally ready to put the bedding on and make sure she has everything she needs for the baby, who should be here in the next couple of weeks. Rosemary keeps him company while he works, hand-stitching some baby clothes. Then out of the blue, they hear a knock at the door. Rosemary hollers, "Patrick, can you see who is there?"
Patrick calls back, "Yes, ma'am," as he runs downstairs and opens the door to an older couple who seem familiar to him. "Hello, sir, madam, I'll get my Mama and Papa for you." Before the man can speak, Patrick shuts the door and rushes up to Lee and Rosemary, shouting, "Mama, I think those people from the photo are downstairs."
"What photo?"
"The one of you and a couple standing on a big stage. I think you were wearing a uniform and holding some flowers. I remember seeing it one time."
Rosemary gasps in disbelief, mumbling, "It can't be." She glances over at Lee worriedly, asking, "Will you please go down there with me?"
"Of course. We will all go together," replies Lee. So, they pad down the stairs, and Rosemary takes Lee's hand before walking the rest of the way to the front door.
She opens it, and standing there grinning are her parents, who yell, "Surprise!"
Rosemary exclaims, "Mother, Father! Please come in." Her mother steps in first, and when they hug, she feels Rosemary's large, rounded belly.
Rosemary's mother steps back and looks her daughter over, shrieking, "Ma chérie, you're expecting?"