“Do you like it?” Katherine whispered in Daniel’s ear.
“Besides you, this is the best gift I’ve ever received. You will have my heart forever, Katherine.”
When the song ended, she turned off the CD and then handed a package to Rosie and Francesco. She picked out two beautiful songs for them from Italy, and two from the south. All were love songs, as a tribute to them both. Then she pushed the button and in walked Carl. She handed him a package. He looked puzzled, as Francesco had celebrated Christmas with the staff two days ago. He opened it and saw the beautiful young lady on the front. The CD was titled “For All You Do,” and she sang three songs from Broadway productions that he’d mentioned he liked.
“Thank you so much, Miss Katherine.” Carl stood there with the biggest smile. Finally she gave him a kiss on the cheek and wished him Merry Christmas.
“Rosie, look at this!” Francesco turned the CD case to face her. “For My Family.”
“Katherine! You can call us that anytime!” Rosie chimed.
Francesco was speechless. His wide smile spoke a thousand words.
After breakfast was over, Daniel led Katherine up the stairs. “You sang for me.” He put his arms around her and held her close to him. He never would have believed, in a million years, that he'd be this loved and happy. This was the best Christmas of his life.
Andy had called in the afternoon to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and to thank Katherine for the beautiful songs. She’d made him a collection of Irish classics that he loved and express mailed it.
The bar was planning another large celebration with good food and friends. Andy thanked Francesco for all the specialties that were catered in from Nashville. They were getting ready to sit down in a few minutes. Everything looked and smelled delicious, he’d said. Andy informed Katherine and Francesco that he was feeling much better, and then proceeded to talk nonstop about Maryann, the new woman who just moved into town. She was a year younger than him and was ‘a real knockout.’
This made Katherine very happy. “Remember what you told me. Don’t waste time! Daniel and I are engaged and couldn’t be happier. Merry Christmas, Uncle Andy. I miss you.”
For the next week, Katherine couldn’t walk anywhere in the mansion without hearing herself sing. On New Year's, she approached Daniel with a business card.
“Do you know who this is?”
Daniel stared at the card. “Yes, he’s a big music producer.”
“He introduced himself to me at the studio. I didn’t know he was in there listening. He wants to sign me.”
“Are you serious?” Daniel’s eyes grew large.
“I don’t think I should do this though.”
“Katherine, you could be famous, love. Why wouldn’t you want to jump on this offer?”
“I can make you as many CD’s as you’d like. But I know what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
“You get to start school in the spring. It’ll be so exciting!”
“Daniel, you came to Tennessee because you needed to change some things. I too was running. I want to be a wife and I want to be a mom. I would love to design and sew a dress for our daughter. I would love to learn to make quilts with Rosie. Maybe later I would like to go back, but the reason I went to school in the first place was to get out of Prairie, and I knew it would make me more money than minimum wage. Everything that I ever believed in or didn't believe has changed. There's more to Katherine O'Brian than what I even knew existed. I just want to learn as much as I can about myself.”
“I'm perfectly content with any decision you make. I wouldn't complain one bit if you just wanted to stay home."
"You wouldn't mind if I didn't have a career or a job?"
"Katherine, just like Rosie, your money isn't any good here. All I want to do is spoil you and make you as happy as I can. You can take all the time you want to make decisions for yourself. When you're a mom, that'll be the most important and impressive job you'll ever have."
"I can take all the time that I want to set a date for the wedding?"
"No!" Daniel said playfully. "Your input means everything, of course, but I want to be married in the spring.”
“It’s my favorite time of year. Remember the first time you held me? It was in the meadow on the farm. You ran around and picked me flowers. I still have them in a scrap book."
“Katherine, would you be willing to marry me in the meadow? You have no idea how many times I was drawn to that place because of you.”
“I would love that, Daniel. I only have one concern though. I know that you and your father know a lot of people, but I wouldn’t mind having a small, intimate ceremony.”
“Katherine, I look at you and wonder how did I get so lucky?” Daniel kissed her tenderly.
"You're okay with nothing fancy?"
"Katherine, the only guests we need are my father, Rosie, and your uncle."
Katherine took Daniel’s phone out of his pocket and opened the calendar. “How about April the fifteenth? That’s a Saturday, so maybe you won’t have to work.”
“Like I would put something in front of marrying you…”
Katherine sealed it with a kiss and even put a reminder on his phone. Daniel saw it and laughed.
Near the end of March, Francesco, Rosie, Daniel, and Katherine boarded the jet to fly to Prairie. Francesco was doing last minute confirmations with officials and finishing up the agenda. He and Andy were hosting the first public meeting to hear opinions, ideas, and concerns from the people in Prairie.
Rosie would be going to the farm for the first time since leaving. She didn’t know how she would handle it, but now she had a good reason to go back.
The first stop was the meadow. Katherine and Daniel walked around, each holding one of Rosie’s hands, until they found the perfect spot. They would be surrounded by the beautiful rolling hills, wildflowers, and clean air. Daniel had called the week prior and had the barn remnants removed. He didn’t want Rosie to see that.
Rosie stared at her house, but she had no desire to enter it. It felt foreign to her, tainted. The only time there was love under that roof was the first year of her marriage to Albert and for the entire duration that Daniel was with her. She let her eyes wander over to the land where the crops used to grow, and the worn path that her horses had walked. She tried to make herself feel numb, but the pain wouldn't completely escape her. It was another life, a wasted life. Rosie saw the house and land as her prison.