Caitlin hadn't wanted to bring the babies on such a rainy afternoon, but there was no one to watch them. Everyone was here.
Liz Parker cried in her husband's arms. The tears slid down his face and he made no move to brush them away. There was no shame, only sadness, as they stood united in grief. The minister stopped speaking, and closed the bible he held. Together they said the Lord's Prayer, and then suddenly, as quickly as it began, it was over.
Caitlin turned away, and she almost didn't notice him. He stood just outside the tent under a large umbrella, his expression sad. He closed the umbrella, and stepped under the tent. He smiled at her, and weakly, she smiled back. He lifted his hand, and gently he pushed the pink blanket away from his daughter's face.
“Hannah?” he asked, and Caitlin nodded.
“I should have told you. How did you know? she asked, looking at him.
His face showed no anger, no confusion, and he simply stared at the baby before looking back into the eyes of the woman he loved.
“I saw the obituary.”
“I wrote that,” Caitlin said.
“It was nicely done.”
“Thank you. I'm sorry, Colin. I wanted to call you. A hundred times I tried, but I couldn't.”
“It's okay. We can talk about that another time. They are mine?” he barely whispered, and Caitlin nodded.
“Where's my son?” he asked, and Caitlin motioned to Nathan. He walked quickly to her side with Rogan in his arm. Colin reached his arms out, and Nathan passed the sleeping child to him.
“Nathan, this is Colin Thomas. Colin, this is my cousin, Nathan Parker.”
Colin put his hand out, as much as was possible, and Nathan shook it. “It's good to meet you, Nathan. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances, and I am very sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” Nathan said, looking at Colin, and then at Caitlin. “I'll see you at the house,” he said, before kissing his cousin's cheek.
Rita watched them from the other side of the tent. She stood with her hand resting on the cherry coffin. “Did you do this, or did I?” she asked, glancing at the wooden box. “I guess it doesn't matter. Goodbye, my dearest friend,” she whispered. She kissed her fingers and pressed them to the coffin, before walking away.
“Hello, Colin,” Rita said, as she approached.
“Hi, Rita. I'm sorry about your friend,” he said softly, and she nodded.
“Thank you. It was good of you to come,” she said.
“I'm glad I did.”
“So am I,” Rita said, and she was. “You're welcome to come to the house. They're saying the rain should pass soon.”
“I have my daughter, my nanny, and a puppy waiting in the car.”
“Oh?” Rita replied, before she could stop herself.
“I adopted a little girl, Rita. It's a long story.”
“I'd like to hear it sometime, Colin. You're welcome to bring them along. The dog, too.”
“Thank you, Rita,” Colin said. Rita reached out to touch her grandson's face, and without thinking, she touched his father's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Colin smiled.
Rita hugged her daughter and whispered in her ear. “Remember what we said?” she asked, and Caitlin smiled into her shoulder.
“I remember,” Caitlin whispered, and when she pulled away, she was smiling.
“I'll be in the car, Caitlin,” Rita said before she walked away.
“Okay, Mom,” Caitlin said, turning back toward Colin. “I'm sorry about your friend. How is Mia?”
“She's doing pretty well. Having the puppy helps a lot. Cate, I'm sorry about everything. I had no idea what an ass I was.”
“I was pretty awful, too. Will you come to the house?” she asked, holding her breath and praying he'd say yes.
“I'd like that.”
“Do you remember the way?”
“I do,” he said. Caitlin reached out her arm for the baby, but Colin shook his head. “I'll take him to the car for you.”
Caitlin looked at him as he leaned his face toward hers. Gently he kissed her lips, and when he pulled back, he whispered into her hair. “I love you,” he said softly.
“I love you, too.”
“The rain is letting up.”
“Let's get them to the car before it changes its mind.”
Colin picked up his umbrella, and put it up when they'd stepped out from under the tent. It was a task with a sleeping baby in his arm, but somehow he managed it.
“That was harder than I thought it would be,” he said, and Caitlin smiled.
They walked quickly to Rita's SUV, and Colin watched as Caitlin buckled both babies into their car seats.
“I'll be right behind you,” he said, before leaning in to kiss her again.
“Okay,” she said breathlessly.
Rita said nothing on the ride back. She let her daughter be with her thoughts. There would be time to talk. In less than five minutes they were pulling into the driveway. The house was surrounded by cars and the rain had finally stopped. The sun was trying to come out, and finally peeked from behind a gray cloud, as they stepped out of the car.
Colin was beside Caitlin before she'd gotten her feet on the ground. “I'll help you,” he whispered, and she smiled at him. “I told Mia about the babies. She's very excited, although I'm sure she has no idea how we got them.”
“And you? Are you mad, Colin?”
“I'm not mad, Cate. I'm disappointed you didn't tell me.”
“You're disappointed in me,” she said, and although it wasn't a question, he shook his head.
“Mostly, I'm upset with myself. I'm not sure I'd have called me if I were you.”
“You seem different, Colin.”
“I am.”
“So am I.”
They stood by the car for ten minutes. Caitlin wasn't sure if they'd said anything, or if they had just stared at each other, amazed that the moment they had separately longed for, had finally come.
“Cate. Liz has offered to help me with everything, and your nanny, Colin, she's lovely. She said she needed something to do,” Rita said, returning from the house.
“That sounds like her.”
“Your daughter is a doll,” Rita said.
“Yes, she is.”
“She's watching Finding Nemo with Erica and Becca in the living room.”
Colin didn't know who Erica and Becca were, but obviously they had good taste in movies. “You have that movie, Rita?”
“No, your little Mia had it in her bag.”
“I'm not surprised,” Colin said, with an enormous smile.
“May I show off the twins?” Rita asked, and Caitlin nodded.
Both women watched Colin struggle to open the stroller. When he was finished, they laid the babies side by side. Colin bent to kiss them, and Caitlin felt her heart swell as she watched.
“Why don't you kids take a walk. The food won't be ready for another half an hour or so,” Rita suggested.
“Would you like to walk with me, Cate?” Colin asked, and Caitlin nodded.
“I could show you Ella's house.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you, Mom. I know you had something to do with all this,” Caitlin whispered, as she hugged her mother.
“I don't know, sweetheart. This one might have been Ella,” Rita said, kissing her daughter's cheek. “He's waiting. Go.”
“Okay.”
Colin stood in the sun at the end of the driveway. When Caitlin reached him, he offered her his hand, and she took it.
“I've really missed you, Cate,” he said, as they walked.
“I've missed you, Colin.”
“I almost came back that day.”
“I wonder if it's best you didn't,” Caitlin said bravely.
“I think you might be right.”
“I think we're supposed to be right here, right now.”
“So do I. I've changed. I grew up, Caitlin. I think I'm a man now.”
“What were you then
?” she asked.
“Caren says I can't use those words anymore,” he said, and Caitlin smiled.
“She's the nanny?”
“Yes.”
“Is she a good nanny?”
“She's a good nanny, and a very good person.”
Caitlin was reminded of another good person. “Ella was my mother, Colin. I never knew that. I found out just before she died.”
“Are you okay, Caitlin? It's an awful lot to take all at once.”
“I will be. How about you, Colin? A lot has happened to you, too.”
“It has. I have to admit yesterday took the wind out of me. Rosario died in the night, and I'd read the obituary, which was beautiful, Caitlin. I just wasn't sure how to feel about it.”
“I know, Colin, and I'm sorry. You'll never know how sorry I am.”
“It's okay. Let's get past that, Cate. Let's not start from there.”
She wondered what they were starting, but she didn't ask. She was too frightened. Instead, she returned to the subject of the obituary.
“I cried a river writing that obituary, but Ella deserved it. She deserved that honor. No matter what happened, she was my mother. My first mother,” Caitlin said, sounding wistful. “It's horrible to lose your mother. I'm so sorry for Mia.”
“Thank you. I'm sorry, too.”
“She's a beautiful child, Colin. I'm so proud of you for what you've done for her.”
“She's precious. You know what she said yesterday?” Colin asked, and Caitlin stopped walking and shook her head. “She said you liked me. She could tell.”
“Oh?”
“She said girls just know that stuff.”
Caitlin smiled. “She's very perceptive.”
“Do you, Cate? Do you like me?” Colin asked, with a gentle smile.
“Yes, Colin.”
“Good.”
Several long moments passed. They said nothing – they simply walked, joined by their hands and their hearts, and the courage to begin again.
Colin broke the silence. “You and Rita seem to be doing better,” he said.
“She really misses Ella, but I think we'll be okay now.”
“Will we?” he asked, his voice revealing his fear.
“I think so.”
“I think so, too.”
“This is Ella's house,” Caitlin said, as they stopped in front of the beautiful Victorian. “She left it to me.”
“Wow, look at all the flowers. This is beautiful, Caitlin.”
“She was a beautiful person.”
“She passed that on to you,” he said.
He leaned in to kiss Caitlin and she smiled against his lips. She was still smiling when he pulled away.
“So, what do we do now?” she asked.
“You could get to know me, this man I've become.”
“I'd like that. And you could get to know this new me.”
“I'd like that, too.”
“And then what?” she asked bravely.
“Perhaps if things work out with this new Colin and this new Caitlin, who suddenly has enormous.........”
“Responsibilities?” she asked with a gentle laugh.
“Yes, I was going to say that. I think this new man, and this beautiful girl should get married,” Colin said, as the tears began to roll down Caitlin's face. “Don't cry, sweetheart.”
“Okay,” she whispered, as he brushed her tears away, first with his fingers, and then with his lips.
“That's a lot to figure out,” Caitlin said, breathless from the kiss.
“It is. Do you love me, Caitlin. Would you like to marry me one day?”
“I do love you, Colin. I never stopped, and yes, I'd like to marry you. My life has gotten a bit complicated. You really think you're ready for this?” she asked, and he nodded.
“You love me, right?” he asked.
“I do love you, with all my heart.”
“Then we'll figure out the rest. I think love is what really matters.”
“That's what Ella said.”
“She was a very wise woman.”
“Yes. Yes, she was.”
Epilogue
Two years later, nearly to the day, Colin Thomas, and Caitlin Goodrich-Thomas stood in front of the house where Ella Simons had once lived. A sign hung above the front door. Casa Rosa, was written in pink letters against a white background. It was the second of many Hospice Care Homes to come. Colin had taken the experience he'd had, and with the help of his esteemed colleagues, he had turned that experience into something beautiful. The first dedication had taken place the previous month. The home in Brooklyn, where Colin had lived for a short time, the first Casa Rosa, had been dedicated the month before, to Eduardo and Rosario Mariposa.
The Thomas family, along with Caren, beloved nanny, lived in the farmhouse in New Hope where Caitlin had grown up. Hollings House was still there, and the attic that had once been home to hidden paintings was now an art gallery for budding artists, Rita included.
Caitlin had finally written a book worthy of print. With Love, From Ella, had risen to the top of the bestseller list in record time. It was a book written from the heart, and many tears were shed, first as it was written, and later when it was read by all who turned its pages.
Rita Hollings-Fields had remarried the summer before, but had lived with Stan Fields for nearly two years. She wasn't one for propriety, and even though Ella had been, Rita knew her friend was pleased.
Nathan Parker had married Maria Sands the spring following Ella's passing. Technically, they never had a first date.
Neither had Caitlin and Colin. He had stayed that first night in New Hope, then never left. They were wed in a small ceremony, surrounded by family, friends, and Ella's roses, on Christmas night, two months after Ella's funeral. It was a beautiful ceremony, and when it was over, Colin had leaned down to whisper to his new wife.
“I don't know if any man ever loved a woman as much as I love you,” Colin had said, and Caitlin had smiled, a knowing smile, for she knew he was wrong. There was another story like theirs, and after reading Ella's journals, Caitlin had bravely told it.
The family's only missing member was Georgie. He had passed away quietly, shortly after Ella, as he lay sleeping at the foot of Rita's bed. He'd had a long life, although his exact age was never determined. Everyone wept, Nathan included.
The dedication began. Rita stood on the lawn, surrounded by grandchildren. Mia stood by her grandmother, holding tightly to her brother and sister. Hannah was very sweet, and stood quietly, hugging a tiny pink teddy bear that once belonged to her Aunt Margaret. She had named the bear Marvin. Mia didn't seem to mind. Rogan picked at his nose, and when Caren tried to stop him, he swatted at her hand. He had become, as once predicted by New Hope's current Chief of Police, a holy terror. Rita held her remaining grandchild in her arms. Ella Tayler Thomas had been born that spring, and at forty-six, and forty-one, respectively, Caitlin and Colin considered their family complete.
Doctor and Mrs. Colin Thomas cut the ribbon together, surrounded by their family, their friends, Colin's colleagues, and many members of the local media.
Colin smiled at the crowd before speaking.
“Thank you for coming here today to Casa Rosa, or what we like to call, The House of Roses. It is the second of many. I dedicate this home to Ella Simons, the rose lady. She was a wonderful woman, who has taught many about the power of love. May her legacy live on, and may all who enter here be surrounded by family and by love.”
He smiled, not only for the cameras, but also at the woman at his side. He had a good life, a great life, a life filled with purpose, and meaning, and most importantly, with love.
Ella Tayler Thomas chose that moment to let out a fierce cry and the crowd laughed, as her grandmother looked down into her beautiful blue eyes.
“It's okay, Ella,” Rita said, as she kissed the little girl's face, before looking up into the beautiful sky.
“We're okay, Ella,” Rita repeated, speakin
g to the woman who had found a way to bring them all together. “I know you're here, my friend,” she whispered, turning away from the crowd. “Where else would you be, but here with us, at The House of Roses.......”
The End
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