Homespun Hearts (62 page)
Authors: Caroline Fyffe,Kirsten Osbourne,Pamela Morsi
She groaned. “No more flower names! I always felt so stupid having flower names with my sisters.” She hated the idea of giving her girls flower names.
“I’m thinking Lilac has a nice ring to it.”
“Bartholomew is fine. Lilac is out of the question. There’s no way I’m going to name my daughter Lilac. It’s like sending out written invitations for her to be made fun of.” She wasn’t changing her mind about this one. There would be no flower names for her daughters.
“Lilac is a perfectly lovely name.”
Lily sighed. She wasn’t going to win this one and she knew it. “How about Sally? Or Jane? Or Cassandra? I really like Cassandra!” She would just keep sharing as many girls’ names with him as she could until they settled on one they both liked.
He patted her shoulder. “Lilac will love her name. You’ll see!”
L
ily sat talking
with Rose and Aunt Harriett, both of the other women huge in their last months of pregnancy. Lilac and Bart were crawling around on the floor together, both giggling as they chased the small puppy Uncle Max had bought for his children.
Lily looked at Rose. “Maybe you’ll have twins this time!” She knew her sister would hate the idea of twins, but she felt the need to torment her.
Rose looked at Lily’s twins in horror. “I sure hope not! One at a time is more than enough for me.”
Lily grinned. She’d been shocked when the doctor had said he thought he heard two heartbeats and not just one. By the time the twins arrived, she’d been resigned to it. She’d hired Laura, from the battered women’s shelter, as a nurse for the twins, and it helped some to have so much help with them. They were a handful, but they were both worth it.
Lily looked at Harriett with a half grin. “So you’ll have twins this time?” Ever since her twins were born, she’d teased other pregnant women about having more than one baby. It brought her joy.
Harriett blanched. “I love my babies, but one at a time is enough for me.”
Lily shook her head. “You don’t know what you’re missing!” She loved tormenting her sister, and Aunt Harriett was just an added bonus. “I thought Rillie was coming for tea today as well?”
Harriett shook her head. “She sent me a note, refusing to come.”
Rose made a face. “She still has her heart set on marrying Alex. I wish she could get it through her head that he’s moved on.”
Amaryllis walked into the room, glaring at Rose. “I do know he’s moved on, but that doesn’t mean that I have to marry someone else. I can stay a spinster for the rest of my life.” She sat down heavily on the sofa beside Harriett. “I do appreciate your kind offer, Aunt Harriett, but I’m just not interested in marriage at this time. I’m going to open a library and be in charge of all the books there.”
Harriett raised an eyebrow. “We could use a library here.” She patted Amaryllis on the hand. “You just let me know when you’re ready.”
Amaryllis shrugged, taking a cookie off the tray that was offered. “I’ll be content with my books for the rest of my life.” She folded her arms across her chest and glared at her sisters as if daring them to say more.
Lily shook her head. “I understand. I wouldn’t have married anyone but Daniel. No reason in being miserable just so you can have a husband.”
“Books will be my babies.” Her eyes stayed on the twins, though, as if she couldn’t drag them away.
Lily watched her sister watch her babies, and smiled to herself. She’d change her mind soon. There was no doubt about it. She couldn’t help but wonder what was going on with Alex, though. He’d seemed so in love with her sister. She shrugged, turning her attention to one of the cookies.
Rose stared at Amaryllis. “You’ll make a great librarian.”
U
SA Today bestselling
author Kirsten Osbourne knows how to write romance. Each book is an experience that transplants the reader, indulging them in decadence, intense emotion and sweeping love.
Hailing from the state of Wisconsin, she has lived in Texas for over thirty years as a mother, writer, and wife. Married to the love of her life for more than fifteen years, she knows that true love exists and shares that vision with the world.
She writes contemporary and historical romance as well and also ventures into the realm of paranormal romance. She invites you to join her in her world of fantasy, love, and make believe, no matter the location, where there is always a happily ever after at the end.
