A New Beginning

Chapter 59: A Step and a Kick

Chapter 59: A Step and a Kick

Rose runs a hand through her curly hair and lets out a long sigh.

"What is it, Rose?" Emma asks, coming down to the kitchen in the morning.

Rose is sitting at the kitchen table amongst bridal magazines and other papers. She's in a thin nightie that stretches with her baby bump and keeps her cool in the hot August air. Sybil sits in her high chair, sucking on a spoon. Jack and Peter had already left for work and Emma had decided to take the day off to prepare for her finals and spend some time with her sister.

"It's all this wedding planning," Rose groans. "When it was my wedding to Cal, my mother took care of the details, now that it's mine... it's a little overwhelming."

"I hear you sister," Emma says, pouring her sister some juice and then starting to make iced tea for the both them.

"Why couldn't it be simple and spontaneous like your wedding on the bow?"

"Well, we certainly had a lot of help from folks down in third class," Emma comments, grabbing ice from the icebox. "Peter and I just wanted it to be you guys and the pastor but they insisted on helping and attending."

"I remember," Rose sighs. The two take a short moment of remembrance for those who didn't survive.

"Anyway, it is technically my wedding too. I really wish I could help you more, but with finals coming up you know..."

"I understand," Rose says, looking through another bridal magazine. "But it's also insane with how much it costs, the dress, the hall, the cake, the food, the church and everything in between."

"Well we have part of that list figured out," Emma says, bringing the ice tea to the table. "Holly agreed to help bake a wedding cake, Carl might be able to find you a nice place for the reception and I think Jack might talk to the pastor he worked with if that's okay with you of course."

"Why wouldn't it be?" Rose says. "I'd be honoured to be married by the man who took care of Jack when I couldn't"

"And vice versa," Emma smiles.

"I just don't want Jack to spend any of that money he made. We need to save it for a house and other things."

"Right, but again, Peter and I are paying for half of this too, don't forget. Money isn't usually a problem... We can pay for it all if..."

"No way!" Rose insists. "You guys have already done so much for us already; We don't want to impede on you anymore with this wedding."

Emma smiles, knowing there's no point in trying to argue with the red-head or her fiancé. The two had their pride and could never repay their debt of gratitude to her and Peter.

"Well you do have your own auction money," Emma points out, looking through another catalogue

"Yes..." Rose says, biting her lip, looking at a fancy bridal gown. None of them were to her taste. They were either too frilly, too lacy, too big, too long, too expensive or wouldn't be able to fit over her baby bump. Nothing simple and practical, but elegant.

"I can't find any dress that I like," Rose sighs. "I wish I had your situation, all you must do is wear your mother's dress."

"Don't sugar coat it," Emma grimaces. "I still have a blood stain to get rid of and a lot of catching up to do. Seawater does not mix with lace very well."

Rose gets up to distract herself from her current dilemmas. Her back was starting to hurt more and more as the baby grew. She had been to the doctor not long ago and everything was as it should be, but Rose was always tired now, or hungry, her feet were sore and she was feeling hot all the time, which mixed with this summer weather did not help at all. She goes to the front door and sees that the mail is here. She walks out into the bright sunlight and grabs the envelopes from the metal box.