Rosemary blinked her eyes twice, her head pounding. As she came to, she felt a gentle squeeze on her hand, and suddenly realized she had quite the audience grouped around her, all with concerned looks on their faces. How had she fallen? She must have forgotten to eat, or perhaps her bodice was gripped too tight, or… the conversation from moments ago replayed in her mind.
Twins! Why she couldn't possibly have two babies….
She felt another gentle squeeze on her hand. It was Lee holding her hand. He smiled broadly.
She glared back at him. This was all entirely his fault!
His smile faltered. "Rosie… are you ok—"
"I don't know how you can sit there smiling like that! This is all your fault!" Two children, at once? How in the world would they handle that?
Carson leaned forward into her line of vision. "I'd have to dispute that— it is not necessarily one person's fault over another's…"
"Oh!" She wanted to slug the both of them. Men, what did they know of sleepless nights shifting with extra weight around the middle, letting out clothing, not to mention raging hormones? Nothing, that is what. It would be a good while before she allowed Lee to sleep back on the bed next to her. Yet, perhaps… the news she was carrying not just one baby but two did make sense… Like the fact she outgrew her skirts faster than most and felt like a complete barrel around. And perhaps… do mothers of twins have twice the emotions? She wouldn't disagree with that notion.
Carson gripped her elbow and helped her to her feet. "There you are, Rosemary. Up an at 'em." He looked into the pupils of her eyes as if analyzing if she was well enough to stand on her own. He nodded. "I know this news comes as a shock. But two babies? What a blessing from God. He must have known you two were up for the challenge."
Faith nodded from beside him.
She groaned, it was yet to be determined if this was a blessing or not. What was she thinking? Of course, babies were a blessing… but two? At once? Immediately the dream from the other night returned to her thoughts. In the dream, she had a baby… a girl… did that mean that Lee going to get his baby girl? And her with her comments and thoughts about it being a boy… could it be true? Was this a case of not only mother's intuition, but father's intuition too? Maybe they were both correct. One of each—a boy and a girl. Only time would tell.
Carson let go of her elbow after she proved steady on her feet, but Lee held on protectively. He gave her a conflicted smile. He looked as if he was not sure if he should place a kiss on her lips or duck out of the way from a well-deserved blow. She wasn't sure which to administer to him—after all he was the man responsible for this… but she finally decided to error on the side of kindness and placed a somewhat stiff kiss on his awaiting lips. He couldn't expect more from a woman who was most decidedly in shock.
"Now, it's just a guess… nothing truly can be confirmed until delivery time, but according to a few of my readings, as well as Nurse Carter's physical exam, this could be more possible than not." Carson cautioned them and then proceeded to set up a time for them to come into the office on Monday.
Rosemary brushed at the lock of hair that had escaped her updo during her fall. My, she must look a sight, and here in the middle of her own party. Harriet came to her side, and she could feel her light touch on her elbow.
"I do imagine this was quite the shock," Harriet clicked her tongue and then gave her a smile. "But two of them? Wow!"
She merely nodded, not quite able to stir up excitement at the prospect at this exact moment.
"Perhaps you and Lee should take off early. I will help the clean up crew with the decorations and secure a ride home later this afternoon. I think a certain gentleman will be willing to assist—" Harriet wiggled her fingers in a wave Bill Avery's way and he nodded back with a smile on his face.
"Oh, that's not necessary," she tried to wave her suggestion away, but a few dizzy dots appeared before her eyes and she closed her eyes and breathed deep.
"It sure looks like it is necessary. Besides, I have been underfoot all week. You need some time alone… with him." Harriet nodded towards Lee who was shaking the hands of the men who had wandered up to congratulate them.
"Perhaps you are right. Let me gather my purse." Rosemary braved a step, but the world was a bit unsteady.
"No, you stay there. I will gather it for you." Harriet scurried off across the room before she had time to protest.
A good five minutes later, Harriet walked towards them with Rosemary's purse in hand. "There you are. And don't you worry your pretty little head. I talked to both Abigail and Elizabeth about your departure and… they completely understand."
At that precise moment, Abigail and Elizabeth waved to her from the food table where they were starting to gather items.
She smiled her thanks and then allowed Lee to lead her to the car, her mind numb and her legs moving almost as if in a trance. Lee held her elbow, and then squeezed it.
"It's going to be okay. We are in this together, remember?" His voice was soft. "Two babies. I didn't think there was any way it could get any better… but two, at once. Imagine that."
She felt her eyes narrow. Of course he would be happy. She was the one who was going to have to go through twice the labor, twice the feeding, twice the— everything.
"Now, now, Rosie," he said reading her thoughts, "Everything will work out. I promise. And I know this first part,… well, it's mostly up to you, but I am going to be there every step of the way. And Harriet… maybe we could convince her to stay here, you know as maybe a nurse maid or something of that sort."
"I think she knows less about children than I do… and I hardly know a thing!" She let out a wail that sounded dramatic even to her own ears.
"Now, now," he patted her arm in a comforting manner, "we will all learn together. Trust me, we will look back on this and just be amazed. Life is never going to be the same."
He could say that again. Oh, she truly was going to have two babies, and yes it was a cause for joy, but her head was just starting to wrap around the idea of caring for one baby… and now to learn— there were two?
"One step at a time." Lee said and helped her into the car. "For now… I've got a treat for you."
She relaxed her forehead, which had been pinched with concern and shot him a questioning look. "A surprise for me?" The man sure did know how to get her attention.
Lee nodded and rubbed gentle circles on her hand.
"Okay, I'm listening…" She looked into his glittering ocean blue eyes.
"How does a warm cup of tea, your favorite book, and a foot massage sound about now?"
"Oooh," she purred. "Heavenly."
"Good." He closed the door and started the engine. "Let's go."