April 24
Rosemary's eyes swept over the empty living room space. How could it already be time for them to say goodbye to their first home? Sure, the trade off was wondrous, with the new house Lee built being loaded with their furniture and belongings presently, but something so innocently sweet and simple existed in this spot. A lump rose in her throat. It was the place they had come to find love. Complete love and acceptance for each other. What seemed like years ago, Lee hoisted her up in his arms and carried her over the threshold after becoming man and wife. They had spent their first night together in each other's arms here—and subsequent more. They danced to the stenograph as song after song rose and fell in the air. They had so many heartfelt talks, and yes, even arguments here. Oh, and how could she ever forget how Lee brought home their first live Christmas tree? She laughed in spite of the lump in her throat. She'd never had a home she had felt so loved in, so accepted. And now they were leaving. A tear trickled down her cheek.
Lee descended the stairs. "That ought to do it." He picked up the last overstuffed carpet bag of items, his muscles rippling with the act. He came to the doorframe and looked over the space with her. "This place sure has served us well, hasn't it?" His words held all the emotion she herself was feeling.
She nodded and turned to look into his eyes where she could see he was struggling himself over the memories they had there.
"Well now…" he cleared his throat and she could have sworn she saw a glitter of a tear in his eyes. "Just think of all the new memories to come in our new home… with our babies."
She smiled. He was right of course. But just because they had so much to look forward to didn't mean it was wrong to take a moment to treasure the memories they had here. And treasure them she would.
Before she knew what he was doing, Lee's fingers intertwined with hers and he twirled her into the middle of the empty room and began a slow dance with her, singing the strains of "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" low in her ear. She let him guide her around the room, in one last dance… one last dance of this phase of life, in this old home of theirs, before they entered into the next phase of the journey.
Later that day
Rosemary held her hands to the aching small of her back as she accessed the wall. "Just a little to the left Hickam, no… other left."
Hickam gave her a pained expression as he held up the heavy mirror.
She nodded. "There, that's perfect."
He pulled the pencil from behind his ear and carefully marked the position on the wall before bending to set the mirror down carefully. He tapped a nail into the wall at precisely the right point.
She turned and watched as Jack and Bill finagled her their old settee into the new parlor. Sure, they already had a new settee, the one covered in plush Italian velvet from Palmer & Embury's, but she couldn't imagine leaving this one behind. It was, after all, their first purchase as a man and wife, and she imagined she would always find a place for it. Even after it was old and worn, she would find a way to reupholster it. Yes, the piece was priceless. Jack and Bill set the white settee facing into the middle of the room.
"Oh no, no." She came close and waved her hands towards the windows behind the settee. "And why, pray tell, would I have such a large scenic window if I wanted the settee facing this way?"
Bill raised his eyebrows. "What? You don't want it facing this way?"
Rosemary fought the urge to roll her eyes. Men could be such simpletons! Of course she did not want it facing that way. Just as she was about to tell him what she really thought she heard Lee clear his throat from behind her.
"Thank you, gentlemen. I can handle it from here."
Both men shrugged, and walked back out the door to the wagon to fetch the next item.
Lee's hands cupped her shoulders as he looked into her eyes. "Rosie… everyone here is donating their time and energy to our cause, remember? I think it is downright kind of them to help us. They owe us nothing. We haven't hired them for the day."
She sighed. How quickly she reverted back to her days of being waited on hand and foot by the servants of her parent's home, especially Amalie, who always knew exactly how to set things right.
Lee chuckled. "I know you want everything perfect, but that will come in time. For now, we will just work on getting the items in the house before dark. Sound good?"
She nodded reluctantly. The house was full of men, grunting and pulling items this way and that, but what she really needed was a lady's touch. Someone like—
"Yoo- hoo!" Dottie stuck her head in the door, just as Bill and Jack were coming by with a dresser. She moved out of their way and then came to Rosemary's side. "Is this a good time to come tour the house?"
Relief slid down Rosemary's spine. "Your timing is impeccable."
Lee greeted Dottie and then proceeded to assist the men in taking the dresser up the stairs.
"Truly. How did you know I needed someone of the gentler sex to come assist me?" Rosemary blinked at her fortune.
Dottie linked arms with her. "I just had a feeling. Us girls need to stick together you know. Now show me everything!"
Rosemary motioned to the kitchen and living room. "You already are acquainted with this spot."
Dottie nodded. "Yes, it was a shame when we delivered my old sewing machine that Mr. Jameston was in such a hurry to get back to his farm. At least today I don't have any time constraints." Dottie glided over to the wall between the kitchen and the living room where the telephone was mounted. "But this is new. Oh it is so beautiful!" Dottie stroked the side of the oak telephone box.
"It is a nice addition to the room if I do say so myself. I'm also sure it will come in handy to reach Lee, or truly any one in town, after the babies are born. Let's go upstairs, shall we?" Rosemary motioned to the staircase.
They proceeded to walk all around the upstairs, with its three large bedrooms, office and study. They'd stop to comment on a placement of an item of furniture or over how she could decorate the walls. Dottie had even helped nudge a few pieces of furniture into their rightful spots, and hung the valances in the spare bedroom which would act as Harriet's place for the time being. They somehow successfully managed to dodge the men as they carried items this way and that.
Dottie paused at the door of the master bedroom and peered in. Of all the rooms, this one was her favorite: the luxurious burgundy bed covering, the creamy walls, the soft silk taffeta curtains, and the large picture windows with the break taking view of the Rockies. And… her surprise from Lee, which he had worked over time to have delivered from Hamilton this week: a four poster bed made of the finest cherry oak topped with a fine feathered mattress.
Dottie caught her breath. "It's beautiful!"
Rosemary peered in, her brow immediately wrinkling. "Yes, except for the overabundance of large crates." She walked into the room. There was at least ten crates in this room alone!
Dottie followed her, peering into a large crate that was already pried open. She clicked her tongue. "Oh, we must hang these immediately before they wrinkle." She moved the lid, revealing a crate full of Rosemary's favorite wardrobe items. "Now, where could those hangers be?"
After a few minutes of digging through the remaining crates in the room, the hangers were found.
Dottie patted the bed. "Here, you sit and hand me the items. I will hang them up for you."
Rosemary sank into the bed, thankful for a moment off her feet. The new mattress, delivered from Hamilton, truly was luxurious. She longed to stretch out on it and rest for a few moments.
Dottie began to arrange the dress onto the hanger. "How are you handling the last month or so of pregnancy? I know it is not proper etiquette to mention, but I do daresay you have grown considerably since our trip out East." Dottie gave her a kind smile.
Rosemary chuckled. "I doubt I would fit behind the steering wheel now— here just three weeks later." She looked down at the swell at her belly. Each day the babies would shift and move, often offering hard kicks to her ribs that would smart for days. Doc Carson still hadn't officially confirmed the fact there were two, but now that they were growing considerably, she would tell the good doctor herself. The amount of limbs and movement had to be conductive to more than one baby for sure.
Dottie finished hanging the first dress and walked it to the closet. "It truly does seem like the time had flown since you told me the good news in the dress shop." Dottie stammered, perhaps thinking her statement was inconsiderate. "I didn't mean to imply the time has gone quickly for you. I am sure it hasn't."
Rosemary nodded. "No, I agree— the time has flown. The moments, well, they seem to be slow motion sometimes. Especially when I get that crick in my back or can't sleep well at night."
Dottie nodded sympathetically.
"But overall, it seems surreal that here in the next eight weeks or less, I will be meeting our babies." Rosemary handed Dottie the next item for hanging.
"Yes, babies sure do have a way of changing the passing of time." Dottie shook out the garment. "I do remember such moments with Bradley… it felt like we would never get through the night feedings and get him to sleep through the night, but then I blinked and now he's practically a young adult. Not hardly a need for a mother." A sad look passed over her face.
"Fiddle faddle." Rosemary waved her hand. "No matter the age, everyone is in need of a mother."
"Yes, I suppose that is true." Dottie walked to the wardrobe and hung the dress up. "Speaking of mothers, how is your mother doing?"
Rosemary smiled as picked up her favorite skirt from the crate and handed it to Dottie. "She is sure enjoying her Sunday afternoon outings with Bill. I do declare, the two of them are like two adolescents. I even caught them sipping from the same straw of a cola at Yost's mercantile last week." She laughed.
Dottie giggled. "The two of them do make quite the pair." She folded the skirt over the hanger. "Last I heard, she was having quite a wonderful time tutoring a few of Elizabeth's students."
"More than a few," Rosemary scoffed. "She has twelve students that rotate between her Tuesday and Thursday meetups." She handed Dottie a deeply wrinkled shirt.
"It sounds as if she truly enjoys it."
"Yes, she does. And I think she's considering making it more of a long time job." A smile curled her lips.
"Oh, truly?" Dottie shook out the shirt and hung it up.
"Yes. At her first arrival I wasn't sure how I would feel about her falling in love with Hope Valley, but now I can only say that I am thrilled at the idea of her staying in Hope Valley long term. I think it is exactly what she needs, and it would give us both the chance to get to know each other more. Especially with the babies coming."
"Yes, and the little dears will be here before too long. May I?" Dottie said motioning to her belly.
Rosemary nodded. She wasn't overly fond of touches to her belly and often discouraged it in public, but here alongside her best friend, she wouldn't feel overly awkward.
"Oh, what blessing they will be." Dottie said as she put her hand on the belly for a moment, then after a small pat, withdrew it.
"Yes, I guess I am starting to come to grips with the whole two babies thing." Rosemary placed her own hands on her belly. "What can I truly do? I just have to accept it."
"Well, if anyone can handle it, it would be you, Rosemary." Dottie's words dripped with sincerity.
Rosemary did a double take. "Me?" Whatever on earth could her friend mean? She imagined just the opposite… if there was anybody who was not cut out for the job— it would be her.
"Yes. Who else in this town has the pizzazz, sense of adventure, and excitement such as you?"
Rosemary sighed. "I don't think that qualifies me to be a good mom."
"Of course it does! Truly… being a mother does not have to do with any certain quality but actually… just more of a sense of willingness. Willingness to love someone fully, to have your own heart walking outside your skin. It truly is the best excitement and pizzazz you will ever have experienced. It's also the most work, too. But you are capable. You are ready. Of that I have no doubt."
Rosemary's heart warmed with the words. Dottie reached out and patted Rosemary's knee in encouragement before grabbing the next clothing item.
"Now," Dottie said, changing the subject, "I know you like to be all independent and self sufficient, but I am thinking you are going to need all kinds of help getting this place ready."
She looked around at the overwhelming amount of crates and chests in the bedroom. The rest of the rooms were just the same. She felt a groan rise in her throat.
"These boxes won't unpack themselves you know." Dottie said matter-of-factly. "So I will plan on stopping in tomorrow after work."
"Oh, how sweet of you, but truly… don't you have enough going on with the wedding just weeks away? We still have the bridesmaids dresses to alter, not to mention the embroidery on Elizabeth's dress and the—"
Dottie waved her concerns away. "Tish tosh. It will all be done, and on time. You just keep on with the embroidery and I will do the rest."
Rosemary nodded. She did like doing the detailed work of embroidery.
"I did notice your living room is still devoid of drapes and my sewing machine is still in your living room. I have simply loads of extra cream silk taffeta at the shop. Would that color do?" She didn't even pause for Rosemary's reaction, but that was fine with Rosemary as she was feeling more and more tired these days. "Yes," Dottie continued, "I hear that project calling my name next. Then we can move onto the dining room, where we truly do need a bit more of a pop of color and the…"
Dottie proceeded to list items but Rosemary's focus remained on the sweet words her friend had spoken moments earlier. Was what she said true? Was the main ingredient to being a mother simply 'a willingness'? Because, if that was the case, she could muster up plenty of that. As the days went on, she was becoming more and more willing to be a mother. Especially if it meant getting these two jousting babies out of her midsection. But all kidding aside, she was ready for the change. Ready for the sharing of love that would encompass their family. She could imagine Lee coming home and offering her a kiss before sidling up to the side of the cribs and scooping up each baby in his arms. The babies would grow. They'd change every day. And their love together would grow, and change. To think that even just three or so months ago she lived with her heart closed off towards deep unconditional love and acceptance. But now love had come barreling through, breaking down all the walls she had so carefully built up over time. It was changing her. Changing them. She could truly say, that in this moment, she was not only ready, but willing to be the mother God created her to be.