Chapter 15
Rose Gabrielle stepped inside the house and paused. Funny how everything looked the same as it had three days ago, and yet nothing was going to be the same ever again. One trip to the hospital had changed everything.
Behind her, Chance moved with exaggerated care, carrying the infant car seat as if a tilt would set off an explosion.
“You know she’s strapped in, right?” Rose asked, tugging the door shut to block out the cold air. Winter was coming early this year, with October already clearly stating there would be no extension to the fall.
“I know.” Chance adjusted his grip, his gaze dropping to the tiny bundle sleeping inside. “The last time I carried something this valuable, it didn’t make squeaky noises.”
As if on cue, Lily made a soft snuffling sound in her sleep, and Chance froze.
Rose laughed softly. “She’s fine.”
“She makes my heart flutter.”
The tenderness in his voice hit Rose right in the chest. She took a quick step toward him to offer a hug, jerking to a stop when an unwelcome ache in her lower body reminded her that delivering Lily had been both miraculous and a rude adventure for certain parts of her anatomy.
Chance snapped to attention. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, other than I’m sore.”
His expression softened. “Do you need to sit? Lay down?”
“Probably both,” Rose admitted, easing off her boots as carefully as she could to avoid any sudden movements.
Chance toed off his own boots and made his way down the hall with the car seat held steady in front of him.
The room they’d set up as a nursery was a work of art.
Fern had designed the murals that covered the walls from baseboard to ceiling, with giant flowers blooming in every direction—including roses, ivy, wild tansy and ferns.
A painted dragonfly hovered near the window while butterflies and bees hid among the petals.
It was a garden that would stay bright and cheerful even through the middle of winter.
Her husband lowered the car seat to the floor. “If Lily is anything like you, we’ll have to keep an eye on her in the future. She might start hauling in dirt to finish the garden.”
Rose laughed then regretted it as her lower body protested. “Don’t made me laugh,” she warned.
“Sorry.” He slipped an arm around her waist and they both stared down at Lily, who slept with one small fist curled beside her face, utterly unconcerned by the wildly fluctuating emotions above her.
A miracle—no other way to describe it.
But while Rose hated to break the moment, she had no choice. She shifted uneasily on her feet. “I need to sit down.”
“Go. I’ll bring her in right away.” Chance kissed Rose firmly then squatted to undo straps and buckles.
By the time she’d made an uncomfortable pit stop, Rose was more than ready to get off her feet.
She’d finally noticed an amazing aroma hung in the air—garlic and rosemary and the sweet scent of roasting carrots. Before she could puzzle out the source, she spotted the paper propped up on the island.
Dinner is in the oven. I have the salad fixings in the fridge, and Cody and I will be over in time to prep everything for Chance’s birthday dinner. Your job is to relax and admire sweet Lily.
You’re welcome.
XOX
Fern
PS: Be ready for Cody. He’s uber-excited for you both, and I’m not even trying to rein him in.
Warmth wrapped around Rose like a hug as she made her way to the couch. That was the right spot, she decided. While their individual easy chairs where she and Chance relaxed most mornings were side by side, the couch would make passing Lily back and forth between them easier.
Sure enough, when Chance paced cautiously into the room, he settled beside Rose and immediately rearranged Lily so they could both touch her.
A miracle. Or had Rose already thought that?
No less than a million times already, and that was fine. She traced the teeny curve of Lily’s ear. “I still can’t believe she’s here.”
Chance stared with open fascination. “I can’t believe the hospital let us leave with her.”
As funny as the comment was, Rose got it. “They didn’t even give us a quiz.”
“Thank God. Driving was bad enough.”
Rose laughed, softly this time, careful not to overdo it. “How are you feeling, love?”
He considered, gaze locked on Lily. “Nervous. Excited. More than a little scared.”
“Me too,” Rose admitted, shifting uncomfortably. “All of those plus sore.”
“I don’t doubt that for one second.” His lips curved into a sympathetic smile before his expression softened. “Mostly I feel…fulfilled.”
Rose’s throat tightened at the intensity in his tone.
He brushed a finger down Lily’s cheek, and even in sleep, her mouth puckered as if searching for sustenance and connection.
“I make art,” Chance said quietly. “I spend hours applying colour and light and shape and emotion to a canvas. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to get the image in my head out for others to see, but I strive on because my goal is to make something that tells a story, or inspires, or leaves a person in awe.”
Her eyes already filling, Rose caught Chance’s free fingers in her own.
His voice was rough when he finished. “I will never in my life make anything this beautiful with my two hands.”
They stared at each other for a moment before Rose leaned her head into his shoulder, the baby in her lap the center of all their love and attention.
They stayed that way until Lily stirred, tiny grunts turning into an indignant cry in a shockingly short time.
“Which cry is this?” Chance asked, near panic in his tone.
“I think hungry.”
He nodded rapidly. “Okay, that’s fine then. I’ll nab you a blankie and then a drink.”
Rose was rearranging Lily to nurse her when the back door opened and Fern popped in, followed closely by Cody.
“We come bearing gifts.” Fern announced. She held a small package in the air and shook it.
The oversized box in Cody’s arms was wrapped with a giant pink ribbon and bow. “Hello, Mama. I’ll come see the cutie again in a minute.” He grinned at Rose before kicking off his shoes and marching toward the bedrooms with his burden. “Hey, Dad. Got something for you.”
Rose lifted a brow at her sister as Fern hurried across the room to offer a kiss. “A pink bow? Why does that feel like a present for Lily, and not Chance?”
“Oh, it’s totally for Lily. Cody insisted we had to give it to you now,” Fern said as she settled on the couch and stole Lily. “It’s a walker thingy. Put the kid in it, toys in front, etcetera. Supposed to be a ton of fun and great for developmental skills.”
Too funny. “Lily won’t be able to use that for months.”
“I know that. Cody knows that.” Fern grinned. “He still wanted Chance to have it now. So happy baby gift, Lily.”
Lily nuzzled in tighter, her protests turning to outright wails as she failed to find what she was looking for.
“Oops.” Fern lifted a crying Lily from her chest. “I don’t have the equipment you need. Or at least, not filled containers. Time to see Mommy.”
She pressed a kiss to Lily’s forehead then passed her back to Rose and headed to the kitchen.
Rose shifted to a better position and worked to latch Lily on. The first pull stung, but Lily found her rhythm quickly enough and discomfort eased, replaced by a satisfaction that was all sorts of out of line with the simplicity of the act.
Her sister’s smile was tender. “You look like a Madonna. Perfect and innocent and pure.”
“That’s sweet. But you forgot terrified and so very, very happy,” Rose whispered.
“As you should be. Maybe not the terrified, because you look like a natural, but the happy is completely deserved.” Fern began chopping veggies for the salad, humming softly as she worked.
Rose watched Lily and let that happiness wash over her. These precious moments needed to be savoured. Sad times and scary times might come, but the good was there, as well.
She glanced up. “Time for a family catch up. How’s Cody really doing, and I’m sorry if the question is annoying, but we worry.”
“We get it. He’s good,” Fern responded quickly.
“Really good, considering. The medication is helping. Exercise is helping.” She paused then met Rose’s gaze.
“We know his Parkinson’s isn’t going away.
We know hard times are waiting down the road, but we still wake up and hope for a good day. Or even a great day.”
Which was pretty much what Rose had been thinking a minute ago. “Yeah.” She considered then went for it. “Tansy and Jake are still trying to get pregnant. Right now, I don’t know how to be a support for her that doesn’t hurt.”
Fern stopped her work completely, expression slack jawed before she pulled it together.
“Rose Fields-Gabrielle, you stop that right now. Tansy would be the first to tell you that she’s overjoyed that you and Chance have Lily.
And all of us in this family know that if nature doesn’t cooperate, there are other ways to build a family than popping out a kidlet. ”
“I know, I know.” Rose’s throat tightened as she stared at Lily. “I want this for her, though.”
Fern smiled softly. “Tansy knows that, too.”
Rose nodded. “Tell me something I might not know. What did I miss while distracted by baby brain?”
The salad was growing as Fern tipped the cut peppers on top of the other greens. “Ivy sent me a video of Carter’s last hockey game. He scored and then nearly skated into the boards while celebrating.”
“Ha. That’s Carter.”
“Chloe’s been singing with Walker and Emma. Apparently, she has zero stage fright, which Walker says is wonderful and really unfair.”
Rose smiled. “And Harper? What’s her newest thing?”
“Nothing specific. She said she was working on something for her new cousin, though, so be ready. It could be anything from a performance to a craft. I couldn’t get her to tell me.”
“She’s a sweetie.” Rose met Fern’s gaze. “I’m glad you’re here. You and Cody both.”
“Love you,” Fern offered in return.
By the time Lily had finished nursing and Rose had burped her, the kitchen smelled like heaven. Fern set the salad on the table as Chance and Cody stepped back into the room looking pleased with themselves.