Fall 26

The crisp, colorful leaves danced on the pavement from the light wind's blow. With tomorrow being my birthday; I began to imagine next year and how different my twenty-first birthday would be compared to my twentieth that was coming up tomorrow.

By my twenty-first birthday, my daughter will be in the world; I then began to daydream of her first birthday, which should be sometime in Spring. I sighed, hoping she wouldn't be the only child in Alvarna. I didn't want to imagine my darling being lonely. Sure, Roy and Cammy are here, but they're four, almost five years older than Clara. I doubt they'd want to play with someone that much younger than them.

I finally made my way at the farmhouse where I saw Jack harvesting the last bit of his autumn crops. He noticed me, giving me a wave while rushing towards me.

"Good morning, angel face!" He greeted me with such delight that I couldn't help but smile.

"Morning, dear!" I exclaimed back, Clara's little excited movements caused me to giggle.

"I believe Clara wants to say good morning as well!"

"She does? Well, in that case; good morning, sweetie!" Jack exclaimed to my midriff as I giggled more.

"You know, you can feel her moving now. She's no longer little flutters." I said as Jack blushed.

"Ah, w-would it be okay to feel her move? What if I hurt her?" He asked worriedly.

"You're not going to hurt her! She's strong, like her daddy!" I exclaimed, grabbing Jack's hand, pressing it on my abdomen. I saw his eyes holding a nervous tinge. Was he really that scared of hurting her?

His eyes changed to that of pure enthusiasm when he felt Clara push on his hand.

"Wow! You really are strong!" He exclaimed as I gave a smirk.

"I told you." I said.

"Do her movements hurt you?" He asked in concern as I smiled.

"They do, and they often keep me up at night as well! But they're worth it." I admitted. It was silent for a moment.

"I wonder what she'll grow up to be…what her future holds." Jack said in a distant wonder.

"It is amazing to imagine. I've actually asked Alicia. However, she doesn't even know the answer to that. Something about the future can shift and change." I said as Jack's eyes sparkled. It was silent again, with nothing but the sound of a breeze.

"Ah, I almost forgot! I do need to stop by Byron's, if you want to come with me. Maybe Dorothy's better! You can talk with her."

"I really hope she is better. I'm starting to get worried." I admitted with a sigh.


Jack and I entered Byron's house as he looked up from his desk.

"Good morning, you two!" Byron exclaimed.

"Morning, Byron! I have the letter document you requested." Jack said as he handed Byron an unsealed envelope. I looked at it in question.

"Oh?" Byron asked, as he opened the document, scanning it thoroughly. "Very well! I can have this sent out in about a week's time! It should give you some more time to think about this thoroughly."

"Sounds good!" Jack exclaimed. I was very curious as to what the documents were about, but decided not to pressure Jack. Instead I was more concerned with other matters.

"Is Dorothy here? Is she feeling any better?" I asked as Byron smiled.

"She went to Natalie this morning and is feeling much better! She and Barrett are at the church now." Byron exclaimed.

"I'm glad she's better! What was wrong with her?" I asked as Byron pursed his lips.

"Why don't you two head on over to the church and ask her yourselves! After all, she is better!" He said with glee.

"Yes, I suppose you're right!" I exclaimed.

"And as I said, Barrett's there too! So, Jack can have someone to talk with as well." Byron exclaimed in a slightly joking manner.

"Well, I haven't seen him since they got home, and it wasn't for very long either. I know he was worried about Dorothy. I do want to catch up and ask more about the giant Golem they saw on their trip!" Jack exclaimed as my eyes widened.

"Giant...Golem?" I asked.

"Ah, yeah! I don't know much considering he didn't finish the story." Jack said as I pondered.

"It was probably a statue." I said, while shrugging.

"Well, let's go ask what was wrong with Dorothy and about the Golem." Jack said as he led me out of Byron's and to the church.


Jack and I entered the church to see Barrett and Gordon as I looked around for Dorothy. Gordon looked up from Barrett, giving us a nod as a greeting.

"Jack! Rosalind! You came by at a great time!" Gordon exclaimed.

"Oh? How so? And…where is Dorothy?" I asked concerned as Barrett turned his attention towards us, the biggest smile plastered on his face.

"She's in the bathroom!" Barrett squealed with such enthusiasm, that it was actually quite scary. I have never seen Barrett this happy!

He wasn't like this when Dorothy accepted his date invitation, during the engagement, nor at the wedding! He was happy, sure, but his behavior now was over the top delight! Jack also seemed bothered by Barrett's sudden outburst.

"Uh, wow! You look, and not to mention sound…really happy, Barrett! Unusually happy, actually! What happened?" Jack asked as Gordon gave the loudest laugh ever.

"Yes! Why don't you tell Rosalind and Jack why you're so happy, Barrett, you dog!" Gordon exclaimed as Barrett's face turned white.

"I-is that obvious that I'm happy?" Barrett asked nervously.

"You squealed like a teenage girl about your wife being in the bathroom. Yes, it's very obvious!" Gordon exclaimed while laughing.

"So…what is going on? I know Dorothy was sick but…she is better right?" I asked.

"Ah, for the most part, she's better. Uhm, w-we'll tell you when Dorothy comes out." Barrett said with flushed cheeks as the door to the church bathroom opened. Dorothy looked grotesquely pale as Barrett rushed to her. My eyes widened, I knew that look all too well.

"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly as she smiled, nodding her head.

"I-I'm fine, honey." She said as Gordon started to snort, trying to hold back his laughter.

"H-hello, Rosalind and Jack." Dorothy said as I gave her a wave leaning towards Jack to whisper to him.

"I think I know why Barrett is so happy." I whispered.

"Why?" He whispered back.

"I'll let them tell you." I replied as the couple walked closer towards us.

"Well, Dorothy's back…" Gordon started to snicker.

"W-why don't you two…" Gordon was having trouble forming his sentence from his incoherent laughter.

"Explain t-to Jack and Rosalind why B-Barrett's voice went up two octaves!" Gordon's laugh began echoing throughout the church. Barrett's eye started to twitch in annoyance.

"Dorothy, squeeze your legs together as tightly as possible to cover the baby's ears." Barrett said as Dorothy looked at her husband in bewilderment.

"U-uhm…that's…not how that works, honey." Dorothy said as Gordon's laughter became louder. Jack's eyes widened as I gave a smirk.

"Wait, what? D-did you just say baby?" Jack asked.

"Well, I thought it was obvious that Dorothy is pregnant. She came out of the bathroom very pale looking! I recognized that look all too well from Clara." I stated, turning my attention back towards Dorothy.

"Congratulations, you two! I'm very happy for you!" I exclaimed.

"You're probably more happy with the fact that Clara is going to have someone her age to play with." Barrett said in a joking manner.

"Actually that was something I was worried about earlier. Considering Roy and Cammy are almost five years older than Clara; I was afraid of her being lonely! It would be great if they became friends!" I exclaimed, turning my attention towards Jack.

"Don't you agree, dear?" I asked, as Jack started shaking in excitement, a big smile on his face.

"Did you hear that, my little cutie?" He began, placing his hand on my abdomen.

"You're going to have a friend! Ah, b-but only if Barrett and Dorothy are having a girl too." He said to my midriff in a stern, sincere voice.

"Jack, I don't think it'll matter. They'll be children, they won't understand that kind of stuff."

"Yes, but children will turn into teenagers and then into adults…but her teenage stage is what I'm most worried about." He claimed while hyperventilating anxiously.

"Well, how about we not focus on that? Let's just focus on Clara now and how we're going to raise her when she gets here." I said as Jack seemed to calm down a bit.

"I guess I can do that." He said with a sincere smile, turning his attention towards Barrett and Dorothy.

"Congratulations again, you two!" Jack exclaimed as Barrett and Dorothy gave us smiles in appreciation.


I was reading a baby book in a chair near the stairs that evening as I heard footsteps descending down. I looked up from the book towards Jack walking down the stairs.

"Sorry about that, Ceci." Jack began with a slight nervous tone in his voice. "I'm sure you want to go home."

"It's quite alright!" Cecilia exclaimed, turning her attention towards me.

"Is there any special cake that you want for your birthday tomorrow, Miss? And don't say anything is fine either! It's your special day! I want you to have a good birthday!" Ceci scolded as I blushed.

"I…I've never given it any thought…" I said as Ceci smiled.

"Why don't you sleep on it tonight, Miss? Then you can tell me in the morning!" Ceci suggested as I nodded.

"Yes, that sounds doable! You may retire, Ceci!" I said as she gave me a curtsy, leaving the manor. Jack leaned on the arm of the chair.

"Are you excited for your birthday tomorrow?" Jack asked.

"Actually…I am! Before, I would always…feel bitter about my birthday. I wasn't pleased with how my life was going. I was afraid that I wouldn't be where I am. Now, I'm very happy. More so than I've ever been." I said, a joyful smile spread across my face; knowing that my future now was looking wonderful.

"Well, I really hope you'll like your birthday present from me!" Jack exclaimed as I suddenly held back a laughter. He looked at me in confusion.

"Uh…what's so funny?" He asked.

"I'm not sure why, but I imagined you gifting me a giant Golem statue like Barrett and Dorothy saw on their honeymoon." I admitted as I noticed his face turning white.

"Ah, Jack?" I asked worriedly.

"I was so focused on Dorothy's sickness and learning that Clara was going to have someone her age to play with; that I completely forgot about asking Barrett about the giant Golem!" Jack exclaimed as I shook my head, making a small stifle laugh. I then started to wonder what Jack's present to me was. Deeply hoping it was a bouquet of geschule roses and my hand in marriage.