Fall 11
It had been three days since I told my father about Jack and our unborn child and two days since we became a public couple! It all still felt like a dream! A wonderful dream! One that you only read about in fairy tales!
I snapped back to reality with a giggle at the movements of my darling child. Natalie did fuss at me for keeping my pregnancy a secret for so long, but I was thankful that my little cutie was the picture of health! At least, according to Natalie.
"Are you hungry, my little cutie?" I asked it as the baby began to move again.
"I'll take that as a yes." I said with a giggle as I lifted myself from my seat at the vanity, heading out of my room.
I opened the door to the kitchen as Ceci looked up from the food preparation for dinner this evening.
"Hello, Miss." She greeted me, "Do you need something?"
"Ah, yes. And I do apologize if I'm getting in your way. I'm just going to grab some chocolate from the pantry and be on my way."
"Be sure to also grab a healthy snack for the baby as well." Ceci said in a slightly scolding manner as I blushed.
"I will. Thank you for looking out for us, Ceci." I replied as I grabbed the chocolate and an orange.
I sat on the bench at the park, finishing the last bit of my orange-chocolate sandwich. Basically an orange wedge sandwiched between two pieces of chocolate.
"Hi, honeysuckle." I over towards Jack approaching me, a blush rose on my face.
"Hello, dear." I greeted as he took a seat next to me.
"How's our little cutie?" He asked as I giggled.
"Our little cutie is doing great after just finishing a snack."
"I can tell." Jack said with a laugh. "You have chocolate all over your fingers." I returned his laugh.
"Did you enjoy your snack, little cutie?" He asked my belly as I placed my hands on it.
"It's moving, so I believe it did enjoy their snack!" I exclaimed, Jack wrapped his arm around my shoulder as I laid on his chest. It was silent for a moment, minus the sound of the wind and leaves rustling. The peace was very nice. I might as well enjoy it now before the sounds of crying and small laughter begin to fill my ears and before our little cutie began taking up our time.
Jack gave me a kiss on the cheek as he lifted himself from the bench.
"You're going already?" I asked as Jack smiled at me.
"Yeah, I do need to finish up some fieldwork. But I'll definitely stop by the mansion later! I actually need to talk to Max sometime today." He kissed me again.
"You two enjoy your outing." And with that he headed towards his farmhouse. I sighed. What could I do today? I looked up at a nearby leaf falling before blowing towards the port.
It made me wonder if Alicia was around. Ceci did say that Alicia wanted to offer me a gender prediction. I might as well take it into account!
Yue and Alicia were chatting and laughing about something as I made my way to the port. Yue looked up from Alicia towards me in acknowledgment.
"Hi, Rosalind!" Yue greeted as Alicia turned to face me.
"Hello, Yue! Hello, Alicia!" I greeted back. "What brings you into town today, Yue?" I asked as Yue blushed.
"Ah, n-no reason, really. I-I thought it would be nice to take a day off and hang around town this afternoon." Yue said as I smiled.
"You know you're always welcome to hang around town!" I exclaimed as she blushed more.
"A-anyway, I'm going to head back to my tent and make some lunch. I'll see you around!"
"Later, Yue!" Alicia exclaimed as Yue rushed off.
"You know…she should tell my brother how she feels!" Alicia began, "I think Yue would make an exceptional sister-in-law!"
Alicia turned her attention towards me, a smile bestowed upon her face.
"But you're not here to listen to my matchmaking story! You're here for that gender prediction, right?" Alicia asked as I nodded my head.
"In that case, the charge is ten gold!"
"Very well!" I exclaimed, handing her the ten gold pieces. Alicia closed her eyes and began doing an incantation. She slowly opened her eyes.
"I see! Yes, your baby is a feisty, hard-working, friendly, spontaneous, and strong-minded little girl!" Alicia exclaimed as I felt my eyes sparkle.
"That was more than I could predict with Matthew." She said sadly. "I only predicted Matthew to be a boy, but I couldn't…see him very well. Your baby, though…I can see her. She's going to be just fine."
"Thank you, Alicia!" I exclaimed.
"Don't mention it! And thank you!" Alicia exclaimed as I bid her farewell, hurrying away from the port.
A girl!
I couldn't wait to get to the farmhouse to tell Jack about Alicia's prediction! I giggled at the fluttery movements of my little cutie. She must be excited for me to tell her daddy the news!
"Rosalind?" I stopped in my tracks, turning behind me at Ray who was hanging out the door of the clinic.
"Oh, Ray! Do you need something?" I asked, he walked towards me, giving a small yet hurt smile.
"Yes…I do. Can we…talk in the clinic?" He asked as I nodded, both of us making our way inside the clinic as he led me into one of the empty rooms, drawing the curtain. There was a small moment of silence before Ray broke it.
"Do you…really love Jack, Rosalind? Or do you think you do because of the baby?" Ray asked as I blushed.
"I do love him, Ray." he just sighed.
"How do you know for sure? He hasn't been here that long! Just for three short seasons!" I started to get agitated.
"You don't even know him, Ray!" I scolded.
"Neither do you!" He snapped back, his tears slowly flowing down his face. I felt my world crash.
Ray was right, I really didn't know Jack…would I be happy with Jack? Would Jack be happy with me?
"We've been friends since childhood. I know everything about you. You know everything about me! But as soon as Jack entered this town, you changed. You're a smart woman, Rosalind. Don't think you have to be with Jack because of the baby."
"Ray, I'm sorry…but…it would never have worked between us to begin with." I admitted in despair.
"I love you, Rosalind…isn't that enough?" He asked as I shook my head.
"It isn't, Ray. I'm sorry." I said. I noticed his tears were flowing out faster.
"There's one thing I want to ask of you…" Ray began, "May I kiss you? Just once?"
"Ray…" I sighed in aggravation as Ray grabbed my face, planting his lips onto mine.
The kiss was friendly, warm, and Ray! But there was no starburst, no shimmer, and my bones felt stable. I broke the kiss.
"That was the only time…I hope you'll find happiness in your life with Jack." Ray said in hurt as I sighed, leaving the clinic. I pulled the clinic's entrance door and came face to face with Yue.
"Oh, hello, Yue!" I exclaimed as she smiled.
"Hey, Rosalind! Checking up on the baby?" She asked as I blushed.
"Something like that." I said, not wanting to get into the whole thing with Ray and me.
"What about you?" I asked as Yue blushed.
"I-…I was cooking and…" She showed me her bloody hand. "Is Ray in? Do you think…he could look at it?" Her face became more red.
"Why on earth would you want Ray to look at it?" I asked in a slightly teasing manner.
"Ah, h-he's studying to be a doctor under his mother, right? S-so…shouldn't he get some practice in?" She said in a slightly flustered tone as I placed my hands on my hips.
"I think you should just tell Ray how you feel." I said as Yue's eyes widened and her whole body flushed a red color.
"What? B-but he would never like someone like me." Yue sighed in defeat, "He's so handsome, smart, and then there's me. I'm so plain and…there's nothing about me to like."
"That's not true, Yue. You're a very beautiful woman! And you have the best personality! Ray is the one out of your league!" I exclaimed with a giggle.
"Besides, Alicia told me that you would make an exceptional sister-in-law for her!" I exclaimed as Yue' cheeks flushed a light pink color.
"And you two would be so cute together!" I exclaimed as Yue giggled.
"Alright, maybe I'll tell him someday." Yue said.
"Someday soon, I hope." I replied sternly as Yue nodded with flushed cheeks.
"Yeah. Anyway, I better get this looked at." She said as I nodded, stepping to side to let her into the clinic. Ray walked out of the room we were in, with red puffy eyes.
"Ray?" Yue asked worriedly as Ray noticed her.
"Ah, hello, Yue!" Ray greeted her.
"Wha-what's wrong, Ray?" Yue asked in concern as Ray gave a small smile.
"I think we should worry more about your hand, Yue. Come, I'll take you to my mother." Ray said as I left the clinic. I really hope Yue does tell Ray her feelings.
I had been watching Jack for the past five minutes working in his fields. He was super focused on his work, that he hadn't even noticed me watching him. I didn't mind though, it gave me a chance to watch his muscles flex with the swing of the hoe. I felt my face flush. He was very attractive when that happened.
He eventually noticed me as his face lit up.
"Hello, Rosalind!" He exclaimed, rushing towards me. "I was actually going to finish up and head to the manor! But, since you're here I can do that later."
"Do you still need to talk to my brother?" I asked as he nodded.
"Yeah, but I still need to finish up some things before I do go and talk to him. However…" He wrapped his arms around my figure.
"I can finish up later. I'd like to hold you for just a moment." I giggled, wrapping my arms around him as well.
"We should enjoy our time together before our daughter arrives." I said, hoping he caught the hint.
"We definitely shou…wait…" He broke the embrace looking into my eyes. "Di-did you just say daughter?" He asked in disbelief as I nodded.
"Alicia gave me a gender prediction! She said we're going to have a girl! A girl with a feisty, hard-working, and a few other personalities all wrapped up into one!" I exclaimed as Jack's face lit up, his eyes began to dance.
"I bet she'll be beautiful like her mother!" Jack exclaimed, lifting me in the air while twirling me, causing me to laugh. My worries about my conversation with Ray subsided. I've never been this happy, and Jack seems very happy as well!
"I don't think she knows how much we love her." He continued.
"At least not until she has her own child." I said as I saw Jack's face turn white.
"J-Jack?" I asked.
"Ah, l-let's not push this moment too much, Rosalind." Jack said flustered as I blinked at him in wonder. I think maybe Jack has been hanging around Douglas too much from his trips to the general store.
