April 29

They crested the top of the hill, leading to the most gorgeous view Rosemary had ever seen. Their new house behind them, the apple orchard and fields of flowing grass before them. The peaks of the Rocky Mountains glistened in the distance with a fresh dusting of snow; they would remain covered at least until mid-July. She sighed at the beauty lying before her. Lee pressed his hand into hers as they looked out at the long grass, just awakening after a long winter. Soon the trees would be filled with wild, full green leaves and wildflowers would dot the prairie. And the best part of all, this was all theirs. Forever. In a month or two, she'd sneak away with Lee for a walk to this exact spot while Harriet watched the babies. And when the babies were big enough to walk, they would venture out here as a family. Yes, she could see it now. Here, at this spot, they would stand facing the mountains, surrounded by God's beauty.

She intertwined her fingers with Lee's. "Thanks for this." She said, her breath catching from their hike.

Lee accessed her, his cool blue eyes roaming over her, her figure. "I know Doc Carson said you needed to get out on a walk daily… but I am not sure he meant something as vigorous as all this. You're okay?" That genuinely protective glint took form in his eyes again, turning his ocean blue eyes to a steely, calculating blue.

"Yes," she paused, looking over the valley as she inhaled the fresh spring air. "Just fine. My, this is wondrous."

They stood there in silence, and after a moment she felt Lee's eyes on her. "You know what is wondrous?" He said, waiting.

"Hmm?"

"You."

She moaned and turned toward him. "That's going to earn you another pelt you know."

"Not again, Rosie." Lee grimaced playfully and rubbed his arm in an exaggerated fashion.

"It's not my fault, you know, that you made such a comment when I happened to be working on the rice bags for the wedding." She smirked.

Lee's eyebrows rose a notch.

She laughed. "I know things have been a bit…rocky in the emotional department this week."

His brow shot even further up. They both knew that was the understatement of the year.

"I'd just ask you refrain from saying things that anger me. Or sadden me. Or… well, evoke any kind of emotion from me." She laughed at the impossible task. "Basically I am saying you should live with your head in a bag the next three weeks."

Lee laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "It has been a little like walking on eggshells here lately. But I can't imagine what I'd be feeling if the roles were reversed."

"Oh," she giggled. "That would be a sight to see."

After a shared laugh Lee focused back in on her. "But seriously, I was just getting ready to compliment you on how well you are handling everything."

She shifted forward. "Oh?"

"I know you have taken to doubting me when I say you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen… but I wish you would believe me. I mean every word. You know me, I don't have a sarcastic bone in my body."

"Hmmm." She looked him up and down. That may be true. He was not often known to of the sarcastic variety of humor. So what made it so hard for her to believe his heartfelt words? Perhaps it was the way she was feeling nowadays? She was just as billowed as the rare hot balloon that she had seen travel through New York all those years ago.

She cleared her throat. "I guess it is just hard for me to believe. How can I, like this…" she gestured to her large midsection, "be attractive to you? I just don't understand."

Lee clicked his tongue, then took her hand in his. "I'd be happy to explain to you." He led her to the young apple orchard, where he reached over and touched a small bud of one of the new saplings. "See these young trees? We just planted them, right?"

"Well, if you want to be accurate, I'd say you and the workers planted them…" She let her voice trail off as Lee continued to hold onto the small branch with several buds protruding at the end. She sensed he was using the tree as an analogy, but struggled to follow where he was leading.

"I say they are the most beautiful trees I have ever seen, don't you? They are ours. They are going to grow, become the full sized trees they are meant to be. Now, when we come out here years from now, and the trees are grown, and ripe with fruit hanging from their branches… who would dare to call that ugly? Not I. They will in fact, be even more beautiful than now. For the trees will be doing what they were made to do."

Ah. So that was the analogy. She was like the tree. "You think I was made to be a mother?"

Lee wiped the back of his neck nervously. "I didn't mean your sole purpose is to be a mother. I know God has given you many gifts and callings, but yes… I believe one of your callings is to be a mother. The mother of our children."

His ocean blue eyes gleamed with the truth of his statement.

She squeezed his hand. "I appreciate your vote of confidence. I guess when we met I was a bit like this?" She pointed to the small tree before them. It was standing straight and beautiful, but oh so young and vulnerable.

"Oh I am not sure about that… You have always been a strong lady who knows her own mind."

"But… I've grown… we've grown. And you see in me the beauty of a tree ready to produce fruit?"

Lee looked as if he wasn't sure if his statement offended her. "Look Rosie, I didn't mean anything obtuse by it—"

"Oh you wonderful man! I see it now."

Lee looked surprised.

She continued, "A tree full of fruit is doing what it is meant to do and there is no more beautiful tree than that."

Lee nodded.

She felt love shimmering inside of her all the way down to her toes. "You truly do see me as beautiful!"

Lee laughed. "Now you get it. I wasn't sure if there for a moment I was going to earn a punch to the arm." He rubbed his arm to emphasize his point. "But I truly mean it. You are beautiful. More beautiful than I have ever seen you before." He lifted her hand to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles.

She felt the words soak down deep inside of her. Not only did Dottie think she was going to be a good mother, but her own Lee— he thought of her as made for this! Her heart soared. Perhaps she would continue to grow in confidence day by day until the twin's birth. Maybe, just maybe, God was gracing her with courage, both through the words of her best friend and of her husband. Perhaps… she was growing, in more ways than one.