Rose: Book One in Suitors of Seattle

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Lily made a face. “I never talked into the wee hours of the morning. That was always you while I was trying to sleep.”

  Rose laughed softly. “I guess it was.” She looked at her sister and saw sadness along the sides of her eyes. What could be wrong with Lily? She was always happily bounding around everywhere in her boys’ clothes. Today she wore a dress that she looked distinctly uncomfortable in. “Why don’t you come to my house and have lunch with me tomorrow?” Whatever was wrong with Lily, she wanted to help her sister.

  Lily looked surprised, but nodded. “I’d like that.” She made a face. “School stars again next week, so if I want to do anything fun, now’s the time.”

  Rose knew that Lily had never really minded school but had always felt out of place there, because she wanted to be outside at recess instead of staying in and talking with the other girls. “Come over around noon, and we’ll have a nice long chat.” She couldn’t wait to sit and talk with Lily, instead of just passing her by chance. She needed some sister time.

  “I’ll see you then.” Lily walked away in the direction Rose had just come from.

  Rose couldn’t help but wonder why Lily was alone in the park. “I wonder what she’s up to.” She made a face as she watched Lily walk away.

  Shawn looked over his shoulder at Lily. “What makes you think she’s up to something?”

  Rose shrugged. “Usually she only comes to the park with someone, and then she’s wearing boys’ clothes not girls’. There’s something wrong. I can feel it.”

  Shawn looked over his shoulder at Lily again before shrugging. “I want you to tell me more about Daniel.”

  Rose looked at him in surprise. “There’s really not much to tell. He’s a nice boy. He made me laugh.” She shrugged.

  Shawn watched her carefully as she said the words, obviously worried there was more to Rose’s relationship with her former beau than she was telling. “That’s all there was and you’d have married him? That doesn’t make sense.”

  Rose shook her head. “He was the best of the choices I had at that time.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’d rather be married to you any day.”

  As they walked back toward the house, Shawn couldn’t help but wonder if he was just the best choice she had. Would she eventually meet someone else that she’d rather be married to? And if she did, how would that make him feel? He experienced a pang at the thought, wondering if maybe his feelings for her were stronger than he’d realized.

  *****

  Rose puttered around the house the following morning, waiting to have lunch with Lily. It was still too hot for any major cooking early in the day, so she had the cook fix some simple sandwiches for her and her sister. They weren’t quite ready when Lily arrived, so Rose pulled her off to the small parlor.

  “You haven’t been here before, have you?” Rose asked Lily in surprise. Why hadn’t she invited her family over before? She wondered briefly if Shawn could handle the chaos of her seven sisters under one roof, and decided it may be best to put off having them all over for another month or two.

  Lily shook her head, looking around her. “This is nice. I like the pillows.” The pillows were some that Rose had embroidered when they were both first learning how.

  Rose grinned. “They brighten up the room, don’t they?” She took a seat on the sofa and Lily took the chair. “What have you been doing the last couple of months? You looked sad yesterday.”

  Lily shrugged, looking down at her hands. “All the usual stuff. I’ve been working at the battered women’s shelter on Mondays and Fridays like always.”

  “What do you think of Annie?” Rose asked. She’d work her way back to whatever was wrong with Lily during lunch.

  “She’s different than the others. It’s almost as if she resents the house for being there.”

  Rose nodded. “I felt the same way. She doesn’t want to be away from her husband no matter what he does to her.” She shook her head sadly. “I hope she gets over it, though.”

  “Do you think she’ll go back to him?”

  Rose shuddered. “I hope not. The bruises on her when she first got to the home were terrible. She can’t go back to a man who treats her that way.”

  “Do you think you could ever love a man who treated you that way?”

  Rose shook her head. “I really don’t. The more I work there, the more I realize just how lucky I am in my marriage.” Her husband may not love her, but he respected her and treated her well.

  Lily nodded. “I’m glad Aunt Harriett is so careful about checking out potential husbands for us.”

  “For us? Are you thinking of marrying?” Was that why Lily had been sad?

  Lily flushed and looked away. A maid came in the room then to let them know lunch was ready and saved Lily from answering. What was going on with her sister, Rose wondered.

  When they were seated at the table, Rose looked at Lily. “What was that blush about? Is there a man you’re interested in?” Rose loved the idea of Lily finally finding the perfect man for her. She’d never really been interested in boys, at least not in the same way that Rose was. She was more likely to go fishing with one than flirt.

  Lily sighed. “There is one I’m interested in, but he doesn’t know I’m alive.”

  Rose’s eyes widened. “Has he seen you in your pants?” Rose was convinced that no man would ever take Lily seriously until she started dressing and acting like a lady.

  Lily nodded. “More times than I could possibly count.”

  “That may be the problem. He thinks of you as a boy and not as a lady.” She eyed her sister’s hair pulled back into its usual braids. “If you started putting your hair up and wearing pretty dresses, he’d notice you. You’re such a pretty girl.”

  Lily shook her head. “I’m not nearly as pretty as you are. Besides, he loves you, not me.”

  Rose made a face. So Lily was interested in one of her former suitors? “Well, no one is going to let a man even court you until you turn eighteen. You have time to make him see you differently.” And she was aching to help her sister change into a lady any man would love.

  Lily sighed. “But I’ll always just be second best.”

  “That’s not true, Lily. You know, all those boys that courted me? Not one of them even knew me. I think they all just wanted to marry me because I was Papa’s daughter and acted like a lady. I’m married now. If one of them really did love me, he’s just going to have to get over it. I’m very much in love with my husband.”

  Lily studied her older sister for a moment. “Would you teach me?”

  Rose looked at Lily, confusion in her eyes. “Teach you what?” Was Lily asking her what she hoped she was asking?

  “How to act like a lady? I mean, Mama taught us all, but I never really paid attention. Now the others would make fun of me if they saw me trying to change and be more ladylike. I don’t want that.” She looked down at her plate, obviously embarrassed to even have to ask.

  Rose nodded, excitedly. “I would love to teach you to be a lady.” She eyed her sister with a gleam in her eyes. “Can we start with your hair? Please? I’ve been dying to get my hands on your hair.”

  Lily shrugged. “It’s just hair.”

  “It’s the most beautiful shade of red I’ve ever seen. It would look so good pulled up on top of your head and not just dangling in braids. After lunch, we’ll go upstairs and I’ll show you how to fix it.” Rose was practically bouncing up and down with her excitement.

  Lily made a face, obviously not wanting to. “Do you think it’ll get men to notice me?”

  “I do! In another year you’ll have men falling at your feet.”

  “But will I still be able to go fishing when I want to?”

  Rose rolled her eyes. “Why would you want to?”

  They spent the afternoon upstairs in the room Rose shared with Shawn practicing different hairstyles.
Finally, they settled on one Lily liked and Rose showed her how to do it herself. “If you don’t want to learn how to do a bunch of different ones, this one is fine. Just no more braids.”

  “Braids don’t get in the way.”

  “Neither will this! Your hair is all up and out of your face. Braids get caught in things. I was so excited when Mama let me start putting my hair up.”

  “I had better things to do.” Lily folded her arms over her chest, making it clear she thought turning into a lady was boring.

  “Who is it?”

  Lily shook her head, blushing again. “I’d rather not say.”

  “Will you tell me how long you’ve had feelings for him at least?” Rose was dying to know the details of what man had caught Lily’s attention.

  Lily sat silently for a moment before finally whispering, “Three years.”

  Rose felt bad for her sister. All the time whoever it was had been her suitor Lily had feelings for him. She wished she could turn back time and refuse to let any of them visit her. “I’m sure he’ll never look at me again with you beside me.” She took Lily’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “You need better dresses. You don’t have to wear the pretty stuff for school, because I know you like to play baseball at recess, but you could wear them away from school.” She couldn’t think of any of her former suitors who were still going to school. “He’s not still in school, is he? Because if he is, you probably shouldn’t play baseball at recess anymore.”

  “He’s not in school.” Lily looked down at her dress. “I’m sure Mama would be thrilled if I started wearing prettier dresses. Will you help me choose them?”

  Rose grinned delightedly. “I’d love to! Mama will set up an account for you. We can have a lot of fun choosing pretty fabrics and designs.” She absolutely loved the idea of spending hours with a dressmaker helping Lily pick out pretty dresses. “You’ll wear them to church?” She had a vision of Lily in front of a wardrobe full of beautiful gowns that all made her look like a princess and choosing the one with the huge patch on the front for church.

  Lily nodded. “I will.”

  Rose smiled. “We’ll go Friday. Tell Mama you can’t work at the women’s shelter because you and I have plans to shop for new dresses. She can send Amaryllis in your place.”

  “You don’t think she’ll mind?”

  “Mind? Mama will be so excited you’re getting pretty dresses that she’ll probably dance a jig as soon as you leave the room.”

  Lily laughed at the vision that created in her mind. “Maybe she will.”

  *****

  Their Friday shopping trip was fun for Rose. They picked out six different gowns that suited Lily with her dark red hair. The dressmaker promised to have them ready for a fitting in two weeks. They made plans to go back on Saturday and afterward had lunch together at the small restaurant next to the hotel.

  They were eating their first course when a throat was cleared beside them. Rose looked up and smiled. “Daniel! You’re everywhere these days.” She indicated Lily. “You remember my sister, Lily.”

  Daniel turned to Lily, his eyes widening. “I didn’t recognize you.” He took Lily’s hand and bent over it kissing her fingertips. “You look beautiful, Lily.”

  Rose smiled happily. Her sister did look good. She was wearing a dress that had been hanging up in the dressmaker’s shop; the owner had never claimed it so they’d bought it for Lily. It fit her like a glove and showed off her green eyes beautifully. She’d worn her hair up, and really did look like a different person.

  Lily blushed, her eyes lighting up excitedly. “Thank you, Daniel.”

  Daniel’s eyes met Rose’s again. “It was good seeing you the other day. If you ever get tired of that dentist, remember, I’m here.”

  Rose sighed. “I’m in love with my husband, Daniel.” She raised her hand to wave goodbye. “I’ll see you again soon, I’m sure.” Whether she wanted to or not.

  Daniel looked hurt at being dismissed so quickly, but went back to his friend who was sitting at a table near the window.

  Rose looked at Lily, who was clutching the hand Daniel had kissed to her. “He’s the one, isn’t he?”

  Lily blushed, but nodded. “He is.”

  “He’s a nice man. I’d have married him if I hadn’t met Shawn.” She shrugged, making it clear to Lily that Daniel would have been second choice.

  “I’m really glad you didn’t, because then I’d have had to hate you for the rest of my life,” Lily declared passionately.

  Rose laughed. “I’m glad too, then. I wouldn’t want my sister to hate me.” She applied herself to her soup, wondering if there was something she could say to Daniel to make him realize what a good catch Lily would be.

  *****

  Rose woke earlier than usual Monday morning, feeling unwell. She put a hand to her stomach, hoping it would calm down. Shawn was still sleeping, so she tiptoed from the room, deciding to take a bath to maybe calm her stomach.

  She sat with Shawn while he ate breakfast, but didn’t eat anything herself. Just the scent of the food was enough to make her want to run for a chamber pot. After he’d left, she went back upstairs to lie down, hoping whatever was wrong would pass quickly.

  It was while she was lying in bed awake that she realized what must be wrong. It had been almost six weeks since her last monthly. She rolled from the bed to her feet and dressed. She’d go to the doctor right away and see if her suspicions were correct. She’d love to tell Shawn he was going to be a father!

  Two hours later, she stepped out into the drizzle from the doctor’s office, still feeling a little nauseated, but more excited than she could ever remember being. She was going to be a mother!

  Instead of going home, she walked the block to Shawn’s office and sat down, waiting for him to appear. She knew he took his time with each patient, so it could take a while. When he emerged, he was patting an older man on the shoulder. “Next time, come to me as soon as it starts hurting. I don’t want to have to keep pulling your teeth, Mr. Samson.”

  The man nodded, his cheek swollen. “I will.”

  Shawn watched him leave, and then his eyes settled on Rose. “Do you have a tooth hurting you today as well?” he asked with a grin.

  She shook her head. “No more patients?”

  “No, it’s lunch time.” He took his hat off the peg by the front door. “Why don’t we eat at the restaurant today?”

  She smiled at him, threading her hand through his arm. Over lunch was the perfect time to tell him. They both ordered their meals, and Shawn sat back. “That was the third time Mr. Samson has been to me to pull a tooth. Every time I tell him his teeth can be saved if he’ll just come to me when he first has a problem. And every time he waits until he can’t stand the pain for another second, and he comes to me asking me to pull a tooth. It’s infuriating!”

  Rose grinned. She loved it when he got angry with his patients. It always made her want to laugh. “I’m sorry he’s so frustrating.”

  Shawn shook his head. “I’m boring you.” He took her hand in his. “Are you feeling better than you were this morning?”

  She nodded. “A little. I saw the doctor.”

  “The doctor? I didn’t realize it was that bad! Did he give you medicine?”

  “No. He said I just had to let it run its course. It’ll be months before I’m completely better.” Would he understand what she was telling him?

  “Months? We need to get another opinion! Is there another doctor in Seattle?” He’d only ever heard of Dr. Brown, but he was willing to search until he found her someone who could help.

  She shook her head. “No. There’s not. I guess I’ll have to wait it out.” Her eyes twinkled as they met his.

  “How long does he think you’ll feel badly?”

  “Oh, the morning sickness should be over in another two months or so. But I won’t feel like myself again for
at least seven months.”

  Shawn stared at her, his face lighting up as understanding dawned. “Morning sickness? Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  She nodded, giggling slightly. “You’re going to be a father.”

  His smile transformed his face. “I’m going to have a son.”

  “Or a daughter!” She smiled. “My father only had daughters.”

  He shrugged. “Or a daughter. What should we name it?”

  “If it’s a boy, I’d like to name it after my father. He always wanted a boy named Fred.”

  He made a face. “I’ll make you a deal. If it’s a girl, I get to name it. You can name any boys.” He hoped they only had girls, though, because he didn’t much like the name Fred.

  She nodded slowly. “That sounds like a fair deal.” The waiter placed her soup in front of her. “We’ll have to turn the room next to ours into a nursery.”

  “You can do whatever you’d like with it.” He took a bite of his soup. “Do you think you’ll hire a nurse?”

  She shrugged. “We always had one, so probably. If you don’t mind that is. I’d like to be able to keep working with the home for battered women.”

  “I don’t mind that. A nurse would make your life easier.” He reached over and took her hand in his. “Thank you.”

  She smiled happily. “I’m as happy about this baby as you are.”

  “I can see that!” Her whole face was alight with it, even though she still had a slightly gray cast to her skin. He hoped the morning sickness wouldn’t be too bad for her.

  “I can’t wait to tell my mama she’s going to be a grandmother.” She giggled softly. “She’s going to hate how old it makes her feel. I guarantee it!”

  Shawn smiled as he leaned back in his chair. “Well, I don’t want to make your mother feel old, but I want to shout it from the rooftops. Should we go over there after we eat supper tonight and tell them?”

  She nodded slowly. “We should!” She pressed her hand to her belly that was still totally flat. “I can’t believe there’s a baby growing inside me.”

  “I hope we have dozens more.”