January 12

12:15 p.m.

Apparently small towns did something else best too: Gossip. Before the clock had struck noon, Rosemary already had three visitors. Molly— with her shortbread cookies, Dottie— with her famous beef stroganoff, and Abigail—with a basket of fresh, homemade biscuits. Each visitor had entered her home, deep care and concern etched on their faces. She assured them, as she had assured Lee the night before, that there was no cause for alarm. The baby was healthy and happy and she was as fit as a fiddle, well, besides that protruding ankle. It had only been a mere twenty eight hours and fifteen minutes— not that she'd admit she was counting for that would show such sheer desperation— since her unfortunate incident, and she was already bored stiff. This morning, besides chatting with her visitors, she had composed a list of basic necessities she needed ordered before the week was out. She had also started on her order for their new home, but without being able to go and view her grand new home again, she wasn't quite sure if she should place an order yet. It would be ideal to go and spend an afternoon there and soak up the sights and the feels of their new home. Why, that was exactly what she should do. She would convince Lee tonight after supper. Tomorrow, he could take her to their home and she'd be as content as could be sitting there and dreaming up their future while he was away at work. She wouldn't be in anyone's way, as the construction had stalled until Lee could round up some more workers. She felt a genuine smile sweep onto her face. What a grand plan!

The back door scraped against the floor and Lee entered the kitchen.

"Lee!"

"How's my Rosie?" He hung his coat haphazardly over the side of a chair and quickly came to her side.

"What a wonderful surprise!" Her smile beamed.

"I thought I'd stop in for a bite to eat and to check on my favorite girl" he leaned in to kiss her, "and favorite baby girl." He rubbed the palm of his hand against her midsection and cooed in a manner she'd come to accept. The first time he had made such a ridiculous sound, she had laughed and he had looked offended. "What are you doing?" She had reasonably asked. "Talking with my baby girl." His eyes had held such sincerity and warmth. But how Lee was convinced the baby was a girl, she didn't know. But it didn't seem to deter him from expressing it, and expressing it often. She just hoped that he wouldn't be too disappointed if it ended up being a bouncing baby boy.

Lee swept his hand over her midsection one last time, then went to the table where the food was spread out like a wondrous feast. "Wow! I say one of us gets injured every month or so. This is incredible!" He lifted up the towel on the basket of Abigail's biscuits and pulled one out.

"Lee Coulter, you take that back right now. This injury has been the bane of my existence. I can hardly stand it." Her forehead puckered and her lip pouted.

"I'm sorry, Rosie." Lee bit into a buttery biscuit and looked at her. "It will get better soon. Promise. I'll send Hickam on by to check in on you this afternoon and get you what you need from the mercantile."

Oh, this was her chance to tell him of her grand plan. She widened her big blue eyes and batted her lashes his direction.

Lee paused mid-bite. "What? Oh no, I know that look. What do you want now?"

"While Hickam coming to help would be nice, what I could really use is an escape from this house."

"What? Where would you go? You got to keep your ankle elevated you know."

"I know, and that is why I have the most perfect plan."

Lee quirked an eyebrow.

"Oh it's not that bad."

"Okay, because often when you come up with a perfect plan it ends up costing me. Not just money, but time and sometimes my reputation." He tapped her sweetly on the nose, then popped the last bite of biscuit in his mouth.

She smiled thinking about the different plans she had put him through. Most of them had worked out, hadn't they? Oh sure, no one was flawless in their efforts, were they?

"Well, this is what I was thinking. I'm needing to order items for the house."

"Mmmhmm." Lee reached for a shortbread cookie, broke it in two, and put half in his mouth. "Isn't that a catalogue right there?" He pointed to the Eaton's Shopping Catalogue sitting on the edge of the table.

She nodded. "Yes, but the problem is, I'm having a hard time deciding."

"Okay, so ask Dottie for her advice. She's usually pretty good at that sort of thing, isn't she?"

"What would really help me is if you would take me to the new house."

"What? On your ankle? How are you going to do that?"

"I want to spend the day there. Maybe we can bring a chair, and I'll find a box to put my foot up on. I want to stay and envision our future."

Lee sighed. "Rosie…"

"Please? It would mean the world to the mother of your soon to be born baby— girl." Bat, bat her lashes went. Lee groaned, a sure sign he was caving, just like usual.

"Okay, but you got to promise me to stay off your ankle."

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" She clapped her hands together.

Tomorrow would be spent dreaming of their future at their new home and composing her shopping list. Oh she could hardly wait for the next day to come. It would be a glorious day!