Saturday was the day Aaron saw both William and Lilly together again, at their weekly brunch social at Abigail's. When Lee, Lilly, and Aaron arrived at the café (Rosie was still at home with Violet just to be on the safe side even though most of Violet's spots were gone), he found William and pulled both his sister and his best friend into the sitting area. He sat down in one of the chairs while William and Lilly sat down across from him on the sofa. Aaron took a deep breath and said, "Listen, this past week, I've been a terrible brother and a horrible friend."
"You weren't a horrible friend," said William.
"Yeah, you were," Lilly agreed with her brother.
Aaron glared jokingly at his sister and continued, "I acted like a complete jerk this past week, but the truth is, the idea of you both courting scares me."
William and Lilly looked at each other and then back at Aaron, "Why?" asked William confusingly.
"Because…William, you're my best friend in the world. We spent hours upon hours racing cars, digging in the dirt to find bugs, playing baseball, and playing shooting games when we were kids. And Lilly, you're my big sister. I had to suffer through your tea parties and dress-up sessions and pretend fairy tale princess skits," William snickered a little and Aaron glared at him this time, "Like you never did that stuff for Mary and Charlotte's sake."
"Sorry," said William.
"But, you were also the big sister who let me sleep in your bed when I had a bad dream, you defended me whenever someone was teasing me on the playground; I mean, you nearly clobbered Miles Montgomery one time and he was twice your size," Aaron chuckled at the memory, "You've always had a special connection with Violet ever since she was born and I feel like I lost you some then, but you were always still there for me when I needed you, like when I broke my ankle or when I was struggling with science lessons. Or even when I was learning how to read and Mom was too busy with the baby, you would come to my rescue. But now, with William in the Mounties and you two courting each other, I'm afraid I'm going to lose you both."
"How so?" asked William.
"Well, even if you get stationed close to Hope Valley, you both will be with each other all the time. I'll lose my best friend and my big sister at the same time," Aaron admitted, "And if you get married, Lilly will move out…"
"Whoa, Aaron, I'm going to stop you right there," Lilly interjected, "William and I have discussed some things and we've both decided we want to court at least 6 months to a year to see if we're compatible as a couple before we even discuss marriage. I'm not getting married tomorrow. I'm not quite ready for that yet."
"And, no offense to you Lilly, but I could not spend 24/7 with her," William pointed at her, "I'll still need you for guy stuff, like horseback riding and riffle shooting."
"I can do both of those things!" Lilly protested.
"She's inherited Mom's talent in riffle shooting, I'll give her that," admitted Aaron reluctantly.
"Well, what can't you do?" asked William incredulously.
"Keep a secret, stay quiet for more than five seconds, she can't draw well," Aaron listed amusingly.
"AARON!" Lilly swatted at him playfully.
"Anyways, what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry," he admitted.
"It's okay, Aaron. To be honest with you, I probably would've reacted the same way if I was you," said William.
Aaron looked at Lilly, "Of course, I forgive you, you goofball," Lilly got up from the couch and wrapped her arms around her brother.
"No hugs!" Aaron whined and then Lilly started kissing his cheeks, "No kisses either!" he moaned. Though he was secretly enjoying every minute of it, he would never ever tell Lillian that fact. He looked William in the eyes, "But listen William. We might be best friends, but Lillian is still my big sister. If you do anything to hurt her, I will hunt you down like a hawk. Understand?"
"You sound just like you father," William smirked. Aaron took that answer as a yes, "Oh did I tell you guys that Grandma Charlotte is coming for a visit?"
"No, when?" asked Lilly.
"Next weekend," answered William, "Can you believe my grandmother is in her late sixties and still goes horseback riding and duck hunting three days a week?"
Lilly and Aaron chuckled, "I can believe it," said Aaron, "I'm going to go get some food," he excused himself.
William and Lilly headed over to the table hand in hand before Lilly hesitantly spoke, "So…next weekend when you grandmother is in town."
"Yeah?" asked William.
"Are you going to tell her about, you know, us?" asked Lilly apprehensively, "I mean with Mom and Uncle Jack having been engaged, how do you think Mrs. Thornton will react?"
"Lilly," William laid his hands on her shoulders, "It's Grandma Charlotte we're talking about, you've met her plenty of times."
Lilly sighed, "I know, but we also weren't courting then nor did we know about our parents' engagement."
"It'll be fine, Lilly Pie," said William.
"Lilly Pie, really?" she smirked.
"Hey, if you're going to call me Honey Bunny, I get to call you something. I can't use Little Flower, that's what your parents call you. I can't use Lilly Bug, that's what Aunt Rosemary calls you. So I have a choice between Lilly Pie and Lilly Pad."
"As long as it's not what Dad used to try to call Mom when they first got married," chuckled Lilly.
"Which is?" asked William.
"Squidget," Lilly snickered.
"Squidget, that's not even a real world," laughed William.
"Welcome to my parents' marriage."
When Lee, Lilly, and Aaron arrived home from Abigail's café, Rosemary and Violet were in the playroom. Violet came running out of the room to greet them, "Daddy, Lilly, Aaron, look! No spots!" she eagerly twirled around and showed off her spot free body.
"Hey, that's great Princess!" Lee lifted her into his arms and kissed her forehead.
"And no more being itchy," said Violet happily.
"I'll probably keep her home from church tomorrow to make sure she goes 24 hours without a fever and doesn't develop any new spots, but she should be good to go to school when it starts on Monday," informed Rosemary.
"Well, tell you what Princess? How about we have a special tea party to celebrate? How does that sound?" asked Lee.
"With real tea?" asked Violet.
"No, with apple juice," said Lee.
"How about some of Aunt Abigail's scones?" she asked hopefully.
"Have a bag for you right here," he said, holding up the bag. He followed his youngest daughter into the playroom.
"Well, I have a few things to do before school starts, so I'll be in my room if you need me," Aaron kissed Rosie's cheek.
Rosemary watched Aaron disappear and then looked at Lilly, "So did everything get worked out between you, Aaron, and William?"
Lilly nodded, "Yeah, I think we're good."
"Good," said Rosemary.
"Hey Mom?" Rosie turned to face Lilly, "William told me that Mrs. Thornton is coming to visit next weekend."
"As in Charlotte Thornton?" asked Rosemary.
"Yes," confirmed Lilly.
"Well, that should be fun. It's been awhile since we've seen her," said Rosemary. Lilly smiled nervously and Rosemary approached her daughter, "Is something wrong, Lilly Bug?"
"No, I'm fine," Lilly lied.
"Lillian," Rosemary scolded lightly, "I'm your mother, I know when something is bothering you. Now please tell me what's wrong."
The mother and daughter sat down on the settee in the living room, "When you first started courting Dad, how long was it before you had…feelings for him? Not like, marital feelings, but romantic feelings."
Rosemary creased her brow, "What are you trying to ask?"
Lilly took a deep breath, "When did you first know you loved Dad?"
"Oh," Rosemary exclaimed softly. She thought about it for a few moments, "Well, I know the whole 'love at first sight' might not apply to this situation, but the first time I laid eyes on him, I definitely felt something like I had never felt before in my life."
"Not even with Uncle Jack?" asked Lilly.
"Lilly, the love I thought I had for Uncle Jack pales in comparison to the love I have for your father," Rosemary stated adamantly, "But, I would say it was one evening in his office, I told him he didn't have to build me a theater because I knew he was busy, and then he told me I was the best part of his life, and that's when I knew I loved him and that he was the man I was going to marry. It was about a month after we started courting, but it took a little bit longer before I actually told him because I was afraid I was going to scare him off if I told him how I felt about him."
"That's how I feel. I mean, William and I have been courting a week; I can't possibly love him already. And even if I do, is it that profound love like you and Dad or Uncle Jack and Aunt Elizabeth have, or is it something that's going to end badly where I'll look back and regret it?" she admitted, a few tears falling down her cheeks.
Rosemary tucked a lock of hair behind her daughter's ear and said, "Well, I can't really tell you what to do, Lilly Bug. If you want to tell him how you feel, that's fine. If you want to wait a bit and examine your feelings more, that's fine too. But you have to pray about it and follow your heart."
Lilly smiled slightly and nodded, "Mom, do you still have the Rosary that Grandpa gave you when you were young?"
"I never leave home without it," said Rosemary.
"Can I borrow it?" asked Lilly hesitantly.
"Of course, it's in my nightstand drawer," Rosie said.
Lilly's breath shook, "Thanks Mom," she kissed Rosemary's cheek, "I love you," Lilly quietly went into her parents' bedroom and obtained the desired item before she took it to her room. She took the Rosary out if its pouch and held the first bead in her hand, "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen."