January 10
Rosemary awoke the next day with what felt like a radiant light beaming from her soul and a song on the tip of her tongue. She gracefully billowed the linen sheet before tucking it tight into the feather tick bedding, all while humming to herself. If there ever was a more wondrous day than yesterday, she had never known it. Well, of course, besides the day her handsome stranger rode into town. She could still see Lee riding in on that motorcycle, with nary a care in the world. The crowds had gathered around, intrigued by not only the stranger, but the odd contraption he rode in on. Lee, behaving quite like an ornery boy, revved the engine and circled around in boisterous show. From the get go, he had piqued her interest. Not only was he dangerous and mysterious, but he was decked out in a style she hadn't seen since the Big City- his black leather jacket, flashy red pants, and, don't forget, the cockiness of a man well in charge. His dark hair and flashing dimples sealed the deal. It hadn't taken more than a second for him to turn her head. She'd made a beeline over to him and commented on his motorcycle, but he saw straight through her facade and saw her interest in him. To her delight, he hinted at an interest in her, too. She'd been waiting all her life for such a confident, industrious, and smart man as himself, with a lot of money to boot. Oh, sure it had started out that way, but soon she found he had a good heart, a heart that put the rest of the men she'd ever courted to shame. Something about him had challenged her, inspired her, yet quite honestly…soothed her. He allowed her to be her amazingly buoyant self, yet something within him accepted her, the totality of her, just as she was. And something about that was downright calming. Could true love cause her boisterous heart to tap into tranquility she'd never known? Perhaps, but there was still plenty of pizazz. And Lee adored her pizazz, did he not? Not to worry, she would not be losing that anytime soon. But something about their matchup worked. They complimented each other. Oh, sure, they butt heads often, but there was a new depth entering into their love. And now, here, nearly a year and a half after their wedding, he was building her a home. Her dream home. And not only that—she cradled a gentle hand around the slight bulge in her belly—they were building a family together. They would be a real family and nothing could ever change that.
She reached over and fluffed Lee's pillow before turning towards the dresser mirror to check her appearance. My, with all the moisture in the air from the recent snowstorms, her hair had abandoned its usual softness and luxuriousness and had instead taken on an unfamiliar frizz. A frizz she was not at all fond of. She wrinkled her nose at her reflection. It would not do for the wife of the most prominent man in town to be seen with uncontrollable tufts of hair. How atrocious! This morning, she'd opted to tuck her hair into a low chignon bun, clasped with her priceless mother of pearl clip. She calmed a few flyaway hairs then freshly swept her bangs to the side. Well, that would have to do.
Her eyes fell to the dresser, to her elaborate velvet jewelry case. She opened the box and searched around for her new prized possession. She sighed when she felt the cool metal on her fingertips. So it hadn't been a dream! She withdrew it from the jewelry box and watched as the key from their new home dangle from its scarlet thread. If only she could commit to memory every detail of yesterday. It had been her first walk through of their new, albeit still under construction, home. Perhaps, if Lee found some help soon, even if it was in the unexpected form of the ex-Mayor, Gowen, they could finish in time for her to go shopping. There were plenty of items she needed to put on her list. Some would be special ordered through Calgary or Edmonton, some all the way from Union City. With one last look, she placed the key back inside her jewelry box for safekeeping. She could order those lovely lamps from Eaton's Shopping Catalogue, but the bedding set she must really pick up herself from Edmonton, just to make sure it was as high quality as she remembered. She closed the jewelry box lid, her fingers brushing against a piece of paper tucked under the side of the box. What was this? She picked it up, something about it felt oddly familiar. She traced the lettering of her name on the outside of the paper. Oh yes! This was the troublesome telegram that had informed Lee of her little spying spree at his office when he had found it in his closet. How could she have forgotten? She had tucked it into the waistline of her skirt that day and during her spying escapade, it had managed to be left behind in Lee's office closet without her knowledge. She hadn't thought of it again until Lee had returned it to her yesterday, and with all the excitement, she had forgotten all about it! She hadn't even read it. In fact, hadn't she left it down on her desk in her haste? Lee must have tucked it away for her here. It could simply be a business telegram, informing her of her account balance with Eaton's Shopping Catalogue based in Toronto. That would be less than exhilarating. What she truly hoped was that perhaps it was a letter from family, such as Cousin Candace Rose. It had been a dreadful time since she heard from her, and this was her first winter without Jeremiah. Over the summer Constance had been widowed at the young age of twenty-eight. It was a crying shame, really. Perhaps this note would be an update. Oh, how she hoped so!
She unfolded the telegram, and a pretty flowery script met her eyes. With such beautiful handwriting, this was most definitely not an order update from her Eaton Shopping Catalogue account, but rather a letter of sentiment. Too bad Constance Rose's handwriting was more block-like than flowery. But who would be writing her a letter of sentiment? An old chum from New York City? Or Great Aunt Agatha? She scanned the message and what she saw, caused her knees to buckle. She quickly fell onto the bed, the dreaded telegram still in her hands. Her heart was beating clear up to her throat. She could scarcely see straight for the walls closing in on her. From the bed, she closed her eyes for a minute, willing it all to be a bad dream, but when she opened her eyes again, the telegram still waited there, bringing her worst secret to light. How could she have found her after all these years? Why, for heaven's sake, would she reach out now? And most importantly, why would she intrude upon their new hometown of Hope Valley? The room started to swirl. Before she knew what occurred, she found herself curled up on the bed, anxiety coursing up and down her body in a violent wave. Why here? Why now? Everything had been going just perfectly. Why couldn't she have just stayed buried in the past where she belonged?
After what could have been minutes or perhaps hours, she pulled herself up into a sitting position at the edge of the bed and folded the telegram back into its original form. She lifted a hand to her tear-rimmed eyes. Whatever was she to do? How would she go about telling Lee? The questions swirled around, threatening to cut off her air supply.
After a few deep breaths, she stood up and walked to the dresser, where she stashed the telegram directly under the heavy house key. No one would think to look here. Her secret would be safe. The sadness waned, and in its place a strong current of anger swept in, threatening to overtake her. A deep flush burned her neck. How dare she barge into her life? How presumptions that she thought she could come here, causing an uprooting of secrets from her past when she was not ready? No one had given her permission to come, and she was not welcome here. Rosemary would make sure she knew this was not her place. She would meet her on the stage and send her back where she came from before the dust settled. This was no place for her. There was no room in her heart for such a woman.