February 20
10:25 a.m.
Of course Rosemary should go over the top for this occasion. She always had been one to throw a great celebration, and why should this event, landing on her birthday by design, be cause for any less? She smiled to herself in her quaint kitchen of the row house as she dabbed the last spoonful of pink frosting onto the cake and smoothed it. There, it was practically perfect. The guests would be arriving at the top of the hour and she was practically all ready for this magnificent event.
"There's my birthday girl," Lee approached her from behind as she was struggling to loosen the apron strings around her middle. "Let me help with that." He helped her loosen the apron and then handed it to her, his lips softly pressing against hers.
He glanced around the room, his eyes widening as he looked at the cake. "Oh, I can help you with that too." Before she could react, he dipped his finger into the pink icing and put it to his lips. "Mmm… you make the best cakes."
"Lee Coulter!" She teased him, swiping at his hand.
"What? It was a smidge too thick in that spot… I was just trying to help." He shrugged his shoulders and gave her a playful smile.
"Well, I have everything under control. In fact, you ought to make yourself scarce in the next twenty minutes or so. It wouldn't do for all the women to arrive to a manly host." She giggled at the thought.
Lee reached his arms around her middle. "I think it is great of you to throw Mary a surprise baby shower on your own birthday, no less."
She smiled. "Isn't it wonderful? She will just be tickled pink." They both laughed at the pun.
"But truly, I want this day to be about you, too. We can't skim over the fact that you are a year older today."
She frowned.
"Maybe that came out wrong…" he shifted, "I just mean, we can't miss a chance to celebrate of another year of wonderful you. Does that sound better?"
"Much." She folded the apron and put it on the countertop.
"Good. Now, I am going to make myself scarce. I have a present that needs some final touches…"
She shooed him away, but not before giving him another kiss on the lips.
"I'll catch you later tonight. And Rosie… this whole thing—" he motioned to all the baby shower decorations, "well it is just simply amazing of you. I… I see so many changes in you. I know you are always up for the pomp and circumstance of a big event, but to throw someone a baby shower, in your home, on your birthday… well, that's selfless. You really are feeling settled here in Hope Valley, aren't you?"
She nodded. "Not just here—" she motioned to the window indicating the town, "but also here." She put a hand to her heart.
Lee came back to her side and lifted her hand, placing a gentle kiss in the palm of her hand. "I'm glad. I think you are becoming more and more fully Rosie every day."
She smiled at his compliment as he walked towards the door. He was right, she knew. This was something she never would have imagined doing years ago when she first stepped foot into Hope Valley. Back then life was all about her. Her wishes. Her goals. Her desires. Thank God that He had intervened and her most important prayer had not been answered: that Jack Thornton would become hers. Instead, God had answered in another, most wonderful way. A way she had never seen coming. And life with Lee Coulter, and soon— these babies— was about the sweetest thing she could ever experience. And her heart— oh, her heart had changed. Something amazing happened once she knew she was fully accepted and loved by God. She could stop grasping at all the straws. She could stop-well for the most part- her nosing into all things. She was learning to trust. And a new peace had begun to wash over her, daily she felt more complete and full than ever before. And now she had more to give… hence, the baby shower today. It wasn't about monetary help, although she was happy to contribute that, but more about a generosity of the spirit, of the heart, of love and community. She was truly beginning to see it all unfold and she truly was feeling more "Rosie" than ever before.
A voice cleared from across the room. "He's right you know."
Her head snapped up. She had forgotten Harriet was sitting on the settee working on the last few stitches of the embroidered gown for Mary's new baby girl.
"I know. He usually is." She approached the settee, and decided to sink into it, for everything for the party was already set and ready. Sidney rubbed up against her legs and she reached down to scoop the cat into her lap.
"Don't let him hear you say that. That man already has all kinds of confidence." They both shared a laugh. "But truly… even since my arrival, I have seen a shift in you, a change."
Well, she wouldn't go into all the details of what a horrendous amount of stress and pain Harriet's arrival had brought, almost driving her to outright desperation, but she would share the reason for her hope.
She cleared her throat. "I know we haven't talked much of it, but truly… any transformation you have seen, well, it wasn't my doing."
Harriet gave her a puzzled look.
"Right around when you came to town… well, I put my heart back into the hands of the Savior. I thought I knew what it was like to follow Him… but there was so much more than the lip service I offered every week at church or the striving to live the right way. In fact, true salvation has nothing to do with those things."
Harriet sat quietly, so quietly Rosemary wondered if she was listening. Her sewing had even ceased.
"I know you have gone to church with us since you arrived, but are you and God on terms with each other?"
Harriet shook her head sorrowfully. "No, not since…. Well, not for a long time."
Rosemary nodded. "I understand. I had my own issues with God." She blushed, thinking that the main issue was in fact sitting right in front of her. "But, I learned to listen to the whispers of His love. To realize His acceptance, faithfulness, and forgiveness. And I forgave him too."
"You forgave God?" Harriet snorted, and Rosemary did realize it sounded outrageous. She took a moment to compose her words as she pet the kitten in her lap.
"It's not because God has done something wrong… no he's not capable of that. It's just that, I… I held so much against Him for so long. I thought He was the one responsible for the problems I was going through. I thought all the weariness of this life should be lifted, and when it wasn't immediately lifted from my shoulders, I somehow translated that to His fault. I mean, how could a loving God allow me to go through something like that?"
Harriet's eyes filled, and she swiped at a tear falling down her cheek.
"But things changed when I realized that God… He has been here all along. He's not the creator of my valleys— no, this fallen world and the corruption that came when sin entered the world is responsible for that— but the Father's love had been there all along… waiting for me to come back to Him… and when I did, I realized that His hands, they have always held me. Even when I did not feel held. There has never been an instant I was ever alone. It's the same for you, you know. I—"
A gentle tap came at the door startling both of them. Harriet rose, her face red, the baby gown in her arms. "Oh, I must look a fright. I am going to clean up and will be right back down."
Rosemary nodded, first feeling aggravated at the interruption, but then remembered it was all in God's hands. Perhaps he'd allowed her to say those words now so they would have time to simmer in Harriet's turmoil-filled soul. In His timing, he would help Harriet take the next step. A step closer to His Kingdom.
After one more pat on Sidney's back, she rose to answer the door, a dolled up Florence and Molly there with dainty-wrapped presents in hand. "Oh hello! Do come in!"
After hanging their coats, exchanging greetings, and placing the presents on the end table, Rosemary went about pouring a cup of tea for both of her friends. Before she even had a chance to hand the teacups over, several knocks came at the door, and the tiny row house living room was almost filled to capacity. Florence, Molly, and Dottie all chatted in a threesome as they were perched on chairs on the outer lining of the living room. Elizabeth, Faith, Katie Yost, and Clara all sat on the couch. Harriet had arrived back downstairs, her eyes still a bit red-rimmed but a smile on her face and sat talking with Abigail and Wilma Lawson. The only one missing so far was the guest of honor. Rosemary hoped all was well and they were on their way. Dewitt had promised to deliver her in a timely manner—
"Rap, rap." A manly knock came to the door. Rosemary hushed everyone as she went to the door and pulled it open partly.
"Mrs. Rosemary? I've brought Mary and the baby along for that visit we promised you." He all but winked at her, and his excitement was so evident, she would be surprised if Mary hadn't sensed something was up.
Mary stood there, in her new dress, a bundle in her arms.
"Oh how delightful. Please, do come in." She motioned behind her back to the awaiting ladies.
Dewitt, holding onto Mary's arm and the baby, entered the house with her as a chorus of "Surprise" burst into the air.
Mary looked around the room, awestruck at the people gathered there, the decorations, the presents, and perhaps, the pink cake. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Rosemary… a party for me and Bea? On your birthday? It… it is too much."
"Fiddle faddle. It's just a group of friends meeting to celebrate the birth of this sweetheart. Now come on in. I know we can't wait to get a glimpse of her."
Dewitt helped Mary to the chair with the baby, and making sure she had all she needed, dismissed himself through the front door. Mary proceeded to pull the blanket further from the baby's face and proudly display her for all the friends to see.
"Her name is Beatrice Janette, although we call her 'Bea' for short. And although I thought she'd be born today, a glorious day for a birthday—" she smiled at Rosemary, "she had her own plans, and was born just after the Valentine's Day dance."
The ladies oohed and ached at the little baby, as Mary beamed with pride.
"She really is a good little baby," Mary said as she stroked the newborn's soft cheek.
Rosemary extended her own arms. "I'll volunteer to hold her while you open the gifts."
After one last stroke on the baby's cheek, Mary transferred the bundle into Rosemary's arms. The warmth of the newborn, the baby fresh smell, and her sweet little curved lips threatened to overwhelm Rosemary with a love she never felt before. So this is what it would be like to look at her own flesh and blood, something that was so uniquely hers and Lee's, given to them by God. And they wouldn't just have one of these perfect creatures, but two? Oh how she hoped her heart would not burst at the newfound love she would experience as a first time mom. Bea's little pink lips softened into a bow, and she practically purred as she slept. Rosemary sighed as a wonderful contentedness settled in her soul.