Chapter Thirteen: Rosie

“The horses were my favorite,” Elliott said as he washed his hands, ready for dinner. “Do you think I’ll get to ride a pony before we go home?”

“Maybe,” Rosie replied as she handed Elliott a towel. “If Levi said he’ll talk to his friend about it, then he will.”

Because he was the kind of man she could trust.

Rosie glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed from being out in the fresh mountain breeze and her hair was in serious need of brushing. But she looked happy. The taut lines that had appeared around her eyes and mouth were smoother.

“I like it here.” Elliott looked up at her as he finished drying his hands. “Could we buy a house here? I’m sure they have plenty with backyards.”

“It’s not that simple, Elliott,” she replied as she took the towel and hung it up.

“Why?” Elliott was an expert at asking the most simplest of questions that had the most complicated answer.

“Because my job is in the city,” she began.

“But you are working here right now,” Elliott countered.

“I’m only working here for a week, then I go back to the office.” She glanced at her reflection once more, feeling as if she was betraying the person looking back at her.

“What if you had an office here?” Elliott replied.

“That’s not up to me,” she told him. “Come on, Mary has cooked a wonderful dinner for us. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.”

“I like Mary,” Elliott said as they left the bathroom and headed back to the kitchen, where the smell of Mary’s delicious cooking greeted them. The rustic kitchen was filled with the inviting aroma of pot roast, mingling with the distinct aroma of rosemary and thyme.

“Just in time,” she called, beaming at Rosie and Elliott. “Dinner’s ready. Hope you’re both hungry.”

“Starving!” Elliott’s eyes lit up at the sight of the feast before them.

“Why don’t you sit here?” Levi, who had been laying the table, pulled out a chair for Elliott. “We found you an extra cushion.”

“Neat.” Elliott scrambled into his seat, eagerly looking at the spread of tender pot roast, mashed potatoes, and green beans glistening with butter.

“And Rosie.” Levi bowed slightly as he pulled out a chair for her next to her son.

“Thank you.” She sat down, and her stomach rumbled in appreciation. “Are you sure there is nothing I can do to help?”

“No, you sit and let someone else cook for a change,” Mary said.

“Can I get you something to drink?” he asked. But then Levi looked up, and his gaze shifted to the kitchen door as if he’d heard something.

Rosie turned her attention to the door and listened, but she could not hear anyone approaching. “Is everything all right?”

“Fine,” Levi said, looking a little guilty.

“Waylan and the boys can smell when dinner is ready from a mile off,” Mary said good-naturedly. “They’ll be in any second now.”

Sure enough, a few minutes after the sound of footsteps approaching announced the arrival of Waylan, Klein, and Dougray.

“Howdy,” Waylan said, nodding at Rosie and then Elliott. “Did you enjoy the tour?”

“We did,” Rosie said.

“Ezra and Camille have just arrived,” Klein said without looking up as he seated himself at the table.

“Good. Camille texted and said they were running late. I was hoping they would get here before we ate.” Mary put her hands on her hips as she surveyed the food on the table. “I think that is everything.”

“Then you sit down,” Levi told his mom. “And I’ll pour the wine.”

“I’ll grab the beer,” Dougray said as he crossed the kitchen to the fridge.

“Hey there.” Ezra entered the kitchen with Camille’s hand in his.

“Hey,” Mary waved them in as Levi filled up the wine glasses and Dougray grabbed a handful of beers from the fridge. “You two look happy.”

“We are.” Ezra clasped Camille’s hand so tightly, as if he never wanted to let it go.

Oh, my! Rosie knew that look. Camille had taken the pregnancy test, and it was positive!

“I know people usually keep these things quiet for the first few weeks…” Ezra began.

“Camille…” Mary was out of her seat, holding out her arms to Camille.

“We’re having a baby,” Ezra finished.

There was a moment of silence, and then the kitchen seemed to erupt as everyone offered their congratulations.

“What’s happening, Mommy?” Elliott said as they watched the scene unfold before them.

“Camille is going to have a baby,” Rosie said, her voice choked with emotion.

“Do you think you might have a baby, too, one day?” Elliott asked.

“I don’t know,” Rosie said, as her eyes misted with tears.

“I’d like a brother or sister, or lots of brothers or sisters, like Levi.” Elliott leaned toward her. “I’d help.”

“I know you would.” She leaned toward him and kissed his head as she held his small hand in hers. “And I’d like that, too.”

As she spoke, Levi turned to her, his eyes shining with happiness, but then his expression darkened. The intensity in his gaze was unmistakable, sending a shiver down her spine. At that moment, the bustling kitchen seemed to fade away. It was as if Ezra and Camille’s news had changed something in him.

No, changed something between them.

Rosie tore herself away from his gaze and cleared her throat, trying to steady her racing heart.

“What did I miss?” Henry had entered the kitchen unnoticed. “A new pie, Camille?”

“No, she has a bun in the oven,” Klein joked and earned himself a playful punch in the arm from Dougray.

As Rosie watched the family share in the joyous news, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of longing.

This was what she wanted. To be a part of a family like the Thornbergs. To share in the warmth and closeness, and the feeling of belonging and being accepted for who she was.

More importantly, she wanted this for Elliott.

It didn’t matter where they lived, the city or a small town. What mattered was who you shared your life with.

And she wanted to share her life with Levi.

The thought hit her hard, winding her, and she reached out and placed a hand on the table to steady herself.

“Congratulations,” Rosie said as Levi’s family dispersed back toward the table. Where the wonderful meal Mary had cooked was getting cold.

“Thank you.” Camille came around the table and held out her arms to Rosie. As they hugged, Camille whispered, “And thank you for getting the test for me. I think I’d have put it off even longer if I had to go to the store myself.”

“Well, I’m glad it was the news you wanted.” Rosie got up from the table and hugged Camille. “You look radiant.”

“I’m so happy.” Camille inched away from Rosie. “And I know you will find the same happiness, a man who will love you and Elliott.”

“I wish I had your optimism,” Rosie replied with a smile as her gaze lingered on Levi.

“I think perhaps you already do,” Camille said as her eyes followed Rosie’s.

“Let’s eat!” Mary clapped her hands together. “This is the best news. I just wish Wyatt was here, too.”

“Who is Wyatt?” Elliott asked.

“I guess he’s Levi’s other brother since there are six of them and I can count only five. How about you?” Rosie asked as Elliott looked around the room and counted, mouthing the numbers to himself.

“Why isn’t he here?” Elliott asked.

“I don’t know,” Rosie said. “Perhaps he works someplace else. He might have moved out of Bear Creek.”

“I would never leave Bear Creek if I was born here,” Elliott said as everyone settled down around the table.

“You like it here that much?” Rosie asked.

“I do.” Elliott smiled up at Levi as he came around the table and sat down.

“Help yourselves,” Mary said. “But maybe let Rosie, Elliott, and Camille help themselves first.”

“Mom always worries that we’re going to eat all the food before our guests get a chance,” Levi said. “But she always makes so much there will be leftovers.”

“Your family is so happy about Camille’s baby,” Rosie said as she helped herself to potatoes and then added a smaller serving to Elliott’s plate.

“Yeah, Mom has been longing for a grandchild for so long,” Levi said as he took the potatoes from her. “She babysits for Camille’s neighbor, but since Ezra and Camille met, she’s been getting very broody. Not that there’s any pressure on Camille to have a child.”

“Oh, I know Camille has been hoping to get pregnant ever since she and Ezra became an item,” Rosie said. “It sure was a whirlwind romance. But it’s obvious they are so in love.”

“Love at first sight,” Levi said, not looking at her as he added meat to his plate. “At least for Ezra.”

“Oh, from what Camille said, the attraction was mutual.” She looked up at him as their fingers brushed together over a dish of vegetables, and she looked into his eyes and smiled. “If you believe in such a thing.”

“You don’t?” he asked.

“You do?” she countered.

“I do,” he replied, and the look he gave her made her cheeks flush pink. She turned her gaze back to her plate, suddenly very interested in the gravy. “Rosie.”

As if she were under his command, she raised her eyes to meet his. “Yes,” she whispered as he held her gaze for a moment longer than she expected. There was something ancient and knowing in them, something that made her insides turn to liquid fire.

And made her believe in love at first sight. Because that was what she’d felt when she first laid eyes on Levi.

She could deny it all she wanted, but that didn’t make it a lie.

Rosie tore her eyes away, focusing on Elliott, who was now busy trying to fork too much food in his mouth at once. “Slow down. Take your time and chew your food.”

Elliott flashed her one of his trademark cheeky grins, and Rosie covered her mouth as she tried not to laugh. She loved him more than anything.

His comments about wanting brothers and sisters echoed inside her head. Until she came to Bear Creek, she’d thought that she would never have the chance to have more children, that her life would be consumed with trying to claw back what they had lost because of Terry.

But sitting here, next to Levi, surrounded by his family, she could see a different future. One filled with love, laughter, and lots of children.

And Levi.

As she picked up her knife and fork, ready to eat, she glanced sideways at him. But she didn’t need to look at him to know he was there. It was as if their bodies were perfectly attuned. As if she could hear his heartbeat and feel the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

She opened her mouth, wanting to tell him that she did believe in love at first sight.

But Waylan was on his feet, glass in hand, as he looked around at the faces of the people at the table. “I wanted to take this moment to say how grateful I am to have you all here. Family is everything, and it’s always a joy to welcome new members.” His voice was warm and sincere, every word resonating with the simple truth of belonging.

Rosie felt a lump rise in her throat as everyone raised their glasses in a toast. She picked up her glass and then helped Elliott do the same, although he looked a little confused.

“To family,” Waylan said.

“To family,” everyone chorused.

“May we continue to grow,” Mary added.

Waylan placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder, and they exchanged a look of pure love. After all the years they had been together and the children they had raised, they looked like a couple in the first flush of new love.

As Rosie sipped her wine, she wondered if there was something in the water in Bear Creek. Perhaps an ancient love spell had been cast on the creek from where the town got its name.

Whatever the reason, she was ready to embrace it.

But did Levi reciprocate her feelings, or did he see her as a passing fling, a chance for romance with a woman in town for a short time?

Rosie placed her glass on the table and began to eat. Whatever Levi felt, whatever his intentions were, she needed to find out. She couldn’t keep dancing around the edges of this tantalizing possibility, not when her feelings felt as real and solid as the food on her plate.

And if she had read too much into his actions, maybe a brief fling, something fleeting and uncomplicated, would be enough to mend her bruised heart. But deep down, she hoped for more.

So much more.