*****
Shawn went into the parlor downstairs, which was crowded with people. “Alex? May I speak with you, please?”
Alex looked at Amaryllis who nodded at him. He pulled the cloth from his nose and Shawn could see the bruising. He stood and followed Shawn from the room, carefully staying several feet behind the older man.
Shawn led him into his study and sat down behind the desk, gesturing to the chair in front of it. “I want to apologize.”
Alex snorted. “Go ahead then.”
“I’m very sorry for hitting you.” He sighed. “Can I tell you a story?”
Alex nodded. “Sure. I have nothing to do while my nose heals.”
“In September, my wife told me she was having a baby. I was so excited I couldn’t see straight. I decided to go home from work early one day just because I wanted to be with her. No other reason.” He paused, leaning back in his chair. “Just as I got home, I saw my wife leaving my house with another man. I followed them, not sure what to think. I mean, I trusted my wife, but my eyes were telling me that wasn’t a smart thing to do. They went to a park, and spent some time talking to my sister-in-law, and then when my wife’s sister left, they sat together on a park bench and when they parted, they embraced. There was no kissing that I saw, but that hug told me there was something between them.”
Alex’s eyes widened in understanding, but he didn’t say anything.
“I decided not to confront my wife over what I’d seen. Until I saw her with another man that day, I didn’t even realize that I loved her, so I didn’t think I had the right to get angry, but I was. I was very angry.” He looked at Alex. “I didn’t see her with that man again, but today he showed up at my office saying my wife had sent him. I did what came naturally.”
“And broke my nose.”
“Is it broken?” Shawn asked interestedly. He’d never actually hit another man before, so he was surprised.
“Doc said it is.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. Do you want some ice for it?”
Alex shook his head. “No, I’m fine. I’m sorry you saw us and believed I was having an affair with Rose. I went to school with Rose and have always been interested in Amaryllis. I had no desire to compete with the men surrounding Rose.”
Shawn sighed. “The men surrounding Rose are what made me think you were her latest suitor. She always has men surrounding her.”
Alex nodded. “She does. It’s the oddest thing.” He shrugged. “As soon as she started putting her hair up she had all the boys in school willing to do anything for her. I didn’t really know her until my mom married my step-dad, but I watched them all acting like she was a princess sent her from a foreign land and wanted to laugh at them. It was strange.
“Who’s your step-father?”
“John Higgins. He was once Harriett Farmer’s butler.”
“I know him!” Shawn shook his head. “If I’d known you were his step-son, I’d have known nothing was going on.” What an idiot he’d been!
Alex stood, reaching out to shake Shawn’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you finally. Rose thinks you make the sun rise in the morning.”
Shawn closed his eyes. “I have a lot to make up for.”
Alex walked back to the parlor with the others while Shawn remained in his study for a moment, thinking about what he’d said and done. He needed to make sure his wife knew he loved her every day going forward.
When he finally joined the others again, Rose’s mother was standing in the doorway. “Oh, there you are, Shawn. Everything’s going well, but it’s still going to be a while. Rose was certain you’d want an update.”
“Thank you.” Shawn looked toward the stairway, wishing it was all over and he could hold the baby in his arms.
Mary turned back to the young couple on the sofa. “Don’t think I don’t see you two sitting there holding hands. Amaryllis, you are not to accept the suit of any young men until you are at least eighteen. Did you forget our rules?”
“No, Mama. I didn’t forget. It’s just that it’s Alex.”
Mary shook her head. “I know it’s Alex, and honestly, I can think of no other young man I want for a son-in-law more than Alex. As soon as you’re eighteen, you’ll be free to pursue a relationship with him. But not now.”
Alex looked down. “It’s my fault, Mrs. Sullivan. I have been sending her letters through Rose.”
“I don’t mind if you two exchange letters, but there will be no hand-holding, no sneaking around to see each other, and no touching of any sort until she’s eighteen. Have I made myself clear?” Mary put her hands on her ample hips, letting the young couple know she meant what she said. “And now I’m going back upstairs to help my oldest daughter give birth.” She patted Shawn on the way. “Don’t worry about how long it’s taking. First babies always take longer than anyone thinks they should.”
Shawn sighed as he watched her leave. He wished they’d let him hold Rose’s hand during the long hours ahead. He knew better than to ask, though.
*****
The hours that followed seemed to last three weeks to Shawn. He wanted to be with Rose, but couldn’t, and he could hear an occasional cry of pain from upstairs. Finally, Mary came downstairs with tears in her eyes. “It’s a boy.”
Shawn jumped to his feet. “Rose?”
Mary patted his arm. “Rose is fine. We need to give the doctor another few minutes and then you can go in and see him.”
Shawn stood up, beginning to pace back and forth. He’d heard stories about men pacing while their wives were in labor, but he’d been calmer then. Now that he knew the baby had arrived, he was anxious to see her. Mary hurried back upstairs and a few minutes later walked out again. “Shawn?” she called down.
Shawn took the stairs two at a time, hurrying to be with his family. He opened the door to his bedroom and saw his wife sitting up in bed, with a pretty ribbon tied around her hair.
She held their baby in her arms and stared up at him with wonder in her eyes. “It’s a boy.”
Shawn sat carefully beside Rose on the bed, reaching out a finger to touch the baby’s cheek. “A boy?”
Rose nodded. “And his name is Fred. Frederick Arthur Henry.”
Shawn nodded. “I get to name the next one.”
“Only if it’s a girl. Remember our agreement?”
Shawn sighed. “You’re going to have a dozen boys just to keep me from getting to name one, aren’t you?”
She giggled. “I don’t know how I could make that happen, but I would if I could.” She stroked the baby’s cheek. “He looks like you.” The love in her eyes as she gazed down at the baby made Shawn smile.
Shawn studied the baby for the first time. He thought he looked more like a wrinkled mess than anything else. “You think so?”
“I do.” She leaned forward and kissed him on his lips. “I’m a little annoyed with you about thinking I would have an affair, but I forgive you, because we have a beautiful baby.”
“I’m so sorry, Rose.” He sighed. “The day I saw you with Alex was the day I realized I love you. I couldn’t think straight. I just saw you standing there hugging him, and everything went black for me. I almost followed him out of the park and hit him that day.” He put his finger in the baby’s hand and smiled when he clenched it tightly. “Oh. I broke his nose.”
Rose gasped. “You broke Alex’s nose?” She stared at him for a moment, before the giggles started. “You broke his nose, because you thought...” She laughed out loud. “How on earth could you even think that? Kissing Alex would be like kissing my papa or my Uncle Max.”
“I’m an idiot, I guess.”
Rose shook her head. “Not an idiot...I mean, you finally fell in love with me, right?” She grinned at him happily.
He laughed, leaning forward to kiss her. “Is that like kissing your papa?”
“Come here and kiss me again, so I can thi
nk about whether or not it’s the same…”
Epilogue
Rose sat with Aunt Harriett, and they watched as little Fred and Annabelle crawled all over the floor. “Being a mother is amazing,” Rose said with a smile.
Harriett nodded. “I can’t think of anything better.” She held her older boy, Simon, on her lap, keeping him from tormenting the babies.
“Have you heard from Lily yet?” Rose asked, referring to the list Lily was supposed to be compiling for Harriett.
“I haven’t. I’m not sure she’s ready for marriage.”
Lily came into the room then and handed Harriett a piece of paper. Harriett looked at it. “There’s only one name on here, Lily.” She studied Lily over the top of the paper.
Lily shrugged. “He’s the only man I would even consider marrying.”
“But I’ve seen you with men surrounding you everywhere you go.” Harriett read the name again. “Was he even one of them?” Please tell me he was one of them. Was she going to have to go through this all over again?
“No. I want you to see if he’s interested in me.”
Harriett groaned. “Not again. Why can’t you girls choose from the men who want to marry you instead of choosing men who don’t seem to care one way or the other?”
Lily folded her arms over her chest. “You promised to investigate the men I’m interested in. I’m interested in him and only him.”
“I’ll let Higgins know.” Harriett sighed. “You girls sure are good at making things difficult.”
Lily picked up her nephew from the floor. “Well, Fred? Do you think he loves me?” Fred gurgled happily, gripping the lace on the front of Lily’s dress. “I sure hope you’re right.”
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Rose: Book One in Suitors of Seattle Page 14
