Summer 27
I sat on the bench at Cherry Blossom Square, waiting; I had asked Jack to meet me here as soon as he was done with his farmwork. Ever since we had learned that we were going to have a baby, Jack had become very protective of me. We still kept our relationship a secret, but I think it was time to at least tell my two best friends about our relationship and the baby! My family would have to wait another day.
"Sorry, Rosalind! Were you waiting long?" Jack asked as I looked over towards him with a smile.
"Even if I was, waiting for you is worth it." I saw Jack's face flush as he took a seat next to me.
"How's our little cutie?" He asked as I giggled.
"I believe our little cutie is doing well. I still get nauseous every once in a while and I'm now wearing leg warmers to hide my swollen feet and Julia has judged me for that…but…it's worth it to know our darling is doing well." I looked up at his soft expression.
"I also…believe it's time to take this a step further…" I began, "I think we should tell people about our relationship. Or at least a few people…" Jack's smile widened.
"I think that's a great idea." The sky began to rumble and the sky darkened.
"Uh, was it supposed to rain today?" He asked, lifting himself from the bench, before offering me his hand.
"Alicia usually knows, but unless you didn't get a weather prediction from her, we'd find out eventually." I said, while taking his offer. The sky began to drip.
"Let's hurry to the church! I think I want to tell Dorothy about us first, considering the church is closer than the bathhouse." I said as Jack nodded, offering me his arm as we rushed to the church.
The sky began to heavily pour as Jack and I quickly entered the church. Even though the heavy rain began as we were at the front of the church, we were soaking wet. Gordon started laughing.
"This place really is a sanctuary! It saved you two from having to be out in the pouring rain!" Jack and I began to laugh as Gordon handed us some towels.
"Now, besides being protected from this rain, what are you two doing here together?" I blushed.
"Ah, Jack and I happened to run into each other on my way to visit Dorothy."
"And I was on my way to the park from Byron's, but then the rain fell…so…I guess Rosalind and I are both going to visit Dorothy now!"
"Well in that case, you kids have fun! And don't talk about anything too adult-like!" Gordon began to laugh "You're still in God's house!" Jack and I began to chuckle nervously as we made our way upstairs.
I knocked on the door as it opened slightly, revealing Julia? She opened it the rest of the way, allowing our entrance.
"It's just Rosalind, Dorothy! And Jack too, for some odd reason." I just groaned slightly.
"He-hello, Rosalind!" Dorothy exclaimed to me, she looked over towards Jack, "U-uhm…" She then made a small squeak as Jack smiled in understanding.
"Hi to you too, Dorothy!"
"Yes, hello, Dorothy! Julia." I began, "Julia, it's not like you to be here by yourself, what's all this about?" Julia just shrugged.
"I was at the manor not too long ago, but Ceci said you were out. So instead of looking for you, I just went to the church, assuming you'd be here later! And I was right, here you are! So…why is Jack with you?" I blushed.
"There's something I need to tell you. We need to tell you." I took Jack's hand into my own.
"Jack and I are a couple…and…we…we're also going to have a baby." Julia's eyes widened as Dorothy's mouth gaped open.
"Julia? Dorothy?" I blushed as Julia and Dorothy's expressions changed from shock to elated as they squealed and gasped in delight.
"Congratulations!" Julia exclaimed, giving me a big hug.
"Wh-when's the wedding?" Dorothy asked as I blushed. Wedding? There never was any plans for a wedding! Jack never even proposed to me! Jack chuckled.
"We haven't really decided yet." I felt my face become hotter. Jack wanted to marry me? Dorothy blushed, squeezing her toy, Fern.
"I-I would l-love to get married s-someday." Dorothy said as we heard a scoffing tsk at the door of Dorothy's bedroom.
"Who would ever wanna marry you?" Barrett asked coldly, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.
"I-I…" Dorothy couldn't even finish what she wanted to say as I noticed tears were streaming down her cheeks. Jack apparently noticed this, too, and snapped at Barrett.
"Why are you so cruel to her?!" Jack asked in fury as I noticed Barrett's eyes were wide and he was blushing madly. He rushed out of the bedroom and out of the church doors into the pouring rain. Jack began chasing after him.
"Wait here." I said quietly to Dorothy and Julia, as I silently followed them. Barrett had collapsed against the wall of the outside of the church and had buried his head in his knees. I opened the doors slightly, trying to catch their conversation.
"You didn't answer my question!" Jack snapped in annoyance, he was hovered over Barrett. "Why do you hate Dorothy so much? She has been nothing but nice to you! When I first came to this town I noticed you were always so malicious to her! I don't even know why she's so kind to you, when you're such a cold-hearted ass to her!"
"I'm a cold-hearted ass to her because I love her, dammit!" Barrett snapped, his head moved from his knees up towards Jack with tear streaked cheeks, I noticed his face was quivering from crying.
"I just want to impress her." he sobbed. My eyes widened, Barrett loved Dorothy? No one would have ever guessed with the way he always treats her, especially since we're all adults now! I noticed Jack's face turned from rage to shock to a calm understanding.
"Barrett…I think you're going at this the wrong way." Barrett began to wipe his eyes with his scarf.
"It doesn't matter anymore." Barrett grumbled, "It's too late now."
"Uh, B-Barrett?" I looked up and noticed Dorothy was leaning out of her bedroom window, "You never had to i-impress me. J-just be yourself!" Barrett stumbled to get up, tripping on his own two feet. Jack caught him as I noticed Barrett blushing, looking up towards the window. Dorothy began to giggle. Barrett's eyes widened before he laughed at himself. Jack pushed him back flat on his feet.
"Are you doing anything on Friday?" Barrett asked as I saw Dorothy shake her head.
"I-I'm very much free F-Friday!" Barrett blushed.
"Then, would you be interested in meeting me at North Square on Friday? One o'clock?" Dorothy rested her head on her windowsill.
"I would be v-very much interested in me-meeting you then." I then noticed that Barrett's face made one of the silliest grins as he began to happily run home in the rain. I shut the church doors with a smile, heading back upstairs. Julia was squealing as I entered the bedroom to a flustered Dorothy.
"Aren't you glad I told you to eavesdrop?!" Julia exclaimed, as Dorothy pushed one of her pigtails behind her.
"Congratulations, Dorothy." I began, "Julia and I will help you get ready for your date Friday!"
"Th-thank you." Dorothy said as Jack walked in.
"Well, I'm really glad that worked out!" Jack exclaimed, turning his attention towards Dorothy, "Congratulations, Dorothy!"
Dorothy smiled, nodding to Jack in a way that told him thank you.
The rain died down around noon as Jack and I took our leave from the church.
"We'll see you two around." Jack said.
"Be sure to tell us a date for the wedding." Julia said as Jack and I left the room and church building.
"I actually do have to stop at Byron's…if you want you can come." Jack said blushing.
"That's okay, Jack. I don't want to invade your visit! I'll just take a walk around! I'll see you later."
"Be careful, Rosalind." Jack said, giving me a hug before making his way to the mayor's house.
I walked back to Cherry Blossom Square, I was going to walk through Cherry Blossom Square, North Square, De Sainte-Coquille Park, and to the manor! I saw Mana, Cecilia, and Alicia together, having a conversation at North Square. I began to approach them, but stopped when I overheard Mana.
"It's just not fair!" Mana exclaimed as I quietly hid behind a bush.
"Rosalind gets everything she wants! And when I'm finally happy again she takes it away!" I could hear Mana begin to sob. What were they talking about?
"Mana…" Cecilia began, "This isn't all on Rosalind, you know?"
"It is!" Mana began, "I bet she paid Jack to knock her up, because that's all she knows how to do! Spend her daddy's money!" My eyes widened…did Cecilia tell Mana and Alicia that I was pregnant?
"Mana, calm down." Alicia said.
"No, I will not calm down!" There was a brief pause before Mana broke it again, saying something I wish I didn't overhear.
"I hope something horrible happens to that baby." I covered my mouth with my hand to muffle the sound coming out of my mouth, as I felt tears roll down my cheeks. My heart began to race.
"Mana!" Cecilia exclaimed in both a shocked and scolding manner, "Out of everyone in this town you know that kind of pain, personally!" There was a moment of silence before Ceci broke it again.
"I don't want to hang out with you anymore, Mana…at least…not until you think and I mean truly think about what you just said." Cecilia turned on her heels, heading towards the park.
"I'm with Ceci on this one." Alicia began, "That was low, Mana." As she followed Cecilia, leaving Mana alone.
"Fine!" Mana exclaimed, while sobbing slightly, "I don't need you!" As she walked towards Cherry Blossom Square, passing the bush I was hiding in. When she was out of sight, I walked out of the bushes. My eyes were red from my tears. I am a spoiled brat, Jack made Mana happy, and I took that happiness away. I'm an awful person. I didn't deserve the baby I was carrying…she did! More than anyone! Especially with all of the pain she went through.
Dinner that evening was a bit awkward in terms of conversation. I was distant; my father and brother noticed me picking at my food.
"Rosalind?" Max began "I think father has something to say that will cheer you up." I looked up as my father smiled.
"Indeeeeeeed! Remember how I said that Mr. Beauregard and Oswald were coming here for an important business proposal?"
"Yes, I remember." I replied.
"Well, they'll be here the second of Autumn…and that business proposal…is actually a marriage proposal!"
"I-I'm sorry, what? A marriage proposal?" I asked, what was my father saying?
"Yes! The Beauregards and the De Sainte-Coquilles will be celebrating the union of Oswald and you, my darling Rosalind!" I felt sick…and not from my pregnancy either. Something about Oswald made me uncomfortable and that's why I didn't like him. The issue with that is that I don't know what about him made me uncomfortable.
"It'll be a wonderful union for our estates!" Father exclaimed as I gave a fake smile and nodded.
"Ye-yes, father. It will be." And with that, my father stood up from his seat.
"Also, there's a rumor going around that you're pregnant. Worry not, my dear Rosalind! I will put those rumors to rest!" I nodded, standing from my seat as Father looked towards Max.
"Come now, Max! We have work to do!" Father exclaimed as Max nodded, walking past me, but before he went past me, he hugged me, and whispered.
"Talk to me in my room tonight." He broke the embrace and bellowed out "Congratulations, Rosalind!" Before leaving the dining hall with my father. As soon as I was sure they were gone, I broke down crying.
I rapped my knuckles on Max's bedroom door that evening.
"Max?" I asked softly as he opened his bedroom door.
"Come in, Rosalind." He said, as I entered his room, "Have a seat."
"Thank you." I took a seat at his desk as he sat on his bed. It was silent for a moment.
"The rumor is true, isn't it?" Max asked as my eyes widened.
"I-uh…"
"And don't lie to me either. I've heard you sneaking out at night." I felt my face go red.
"Y-you heard…?"
"Rosalind." Max scolded as I sighed.
"The rumor is true." I looked down towards the floor with tears rolling down my cheeks.
"Jack?" Max asked as my eyes widened. I looked up at my brother who was smiling at me.
"How did you…?" I began as Max cut me off.
"How did I know? The look our parents gave each other before our mother's passing, and even on her deathbed, was a look that I could not understand. Not until I had seen you and Jack giving the same gaze our parents had given to each other." I blushed.
"Y-you're actually very calm about this." I said.
"You seem surprised." He said with a chuckle.
"Ah, well…I was expecting you to be furious, considering you're very protective of me."
"I'm only protective of you if someone hurts you." I noticed him giving me a genuine smile. "Jack didn't hurt you. He loves you. If he had taken advantage of you, then I would be furious." It was silent for a moment.
"Does Jack know about the baby?" Max asked as I nodded.
"He's very excited, he's even called it our little cutie." I giggled before my expression changed to worried and sorrowful. "But…I don't know what to do about the situation involving the Beauregards."
"Well…I do know Oswald is supposed to propose to you the day he leaves, which will be the day after my birthday. You can just say no to his proposal and explain to our father why you said no after they leave."
"O-oh! But…"
"You're going to have to tell father eventually! You can't keep a pregnancy a secret, considering you're going to get bigger." Max stated as he stood up from his bed, kissing my forehead.
"You and Jack have my blessings. Now, get some rest! And no sneaking off anymore; you'll need to rest before the baby arrives!" Max said gleefully as I stood up from my seat, embracing my brother.
"Thank you, Max."
