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Chapter Nine: Joy Comes in the Morning

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, and there were the impish faces of Joshua and Caleb that startled Rosemary awake. She glanced at her watch: ten o’clock. She had slept fitfully, her mind likely still dancing to the rhythms of the previous night. The sudden realization of the hour pulled her into the present.

As she pulled on her dressing gown and followed her “twin masters” into the kitchen, the air was thick with the scent of brewing coffee, crisp bacon, and frying eggs. The aroma acted like a tonic and chased the last remnants of sleep from her system. After a quick bathroom trip to freshen up, she returned to find a mug of steaming black coffee waiting for her, courtesy of Caleb. Joshua busied himself piling a generous portion of breakfast onto her plate.

“Thank you, Mum,” she said, smiling at Callie, though her eyes remained on the boys. “And thank you, Riddle and Rhyme, for the excellent service.”

The domestic peace was interrupted by the shrill ring of the telephone. Callie, being the closest, answered with a curious arch of her eyebrow. “Rose, it’s for you. I wonder who would call so early on a Saturday?”

Rosemary took the receiver, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Hello, Jeremy.”

“Good morning, Rosemary,” his voice came through, warm and melodic. “I’ve just finished a breakfast of maple-syrup flapjacks served by MJ herself. I was thinking… the weather is far too good to waste. How about a picnic tomorrow for the five of us?”

“That sounds wonderful,” Rosemary replied. “Consider it a massive ‘yes’ from the Ascott camp.”

When she hung up, the boys were standing before her like two statues of anticipation. Rosemary decided to have some fun.

“Well,” she said, keeping her face neutral. “Jeremy and I are going on a picnic tomorrow at Fairview Lake.”

The reaction was instantaneous. The boys expressed their disappointment vociferously, with a theatrical display of foot-stomping that echoed through the kitchen. Rosemary held her resolve for a few seconds before her heart melted.

“Oh, settle down, you two,” she laughed, pulling them into a hug. “It’s a picnic for all of us. MJ will be there, too.”

In a heartbeat, the grumbles turned into cheers. In the corner of the room, Callie watched the display with tears of joy. “Thank You,” she whispered. “Joy truly does come in the morning.”

The following afternoon, after a quick return from church and a hurried change of clothes, the midnight-blue Buick pulled into the drive. The boys were already at the door, Joshua clutching the heavy picnic basket while Caleb shouldered the blankets and their swimming trunks.

They arrived at Fairview Lake to find a cloudless sky and a perfect temperature of 70°F. They were blessed to find a vacant table nestled under a large, shade-giving tree near the water’s edge.

“That’s luck,” Jeremy remarked as he began to unload the trunk.
“No,” Rosemary corrected gently, “that’s a blessing.”

MJ, wearing a blue frilled bikini, led the boys—sporting matching red trunks—to the lake.

“There go the Three Musketeers,” Rosemary laughed as they sprinted toward the water.

The rules of the lake were strict and sensible: no motorboats, only paddle and rowing boats to protect the swimmers. The water was remarkably clear, allowing a view of the sandy bottom a metre below the surface. While the children splashed, Rosemary and Jeremy set about “breaking camp.”

Rosemary was busy smoothing the tablecloth and arranging the dishes when she felt Jeremy’s arms slide around her waist. He leaned in, pecking her lightly on the cheek.

“Jeremy, please!” she scolded, though her tone lacked any real bite. “Behave yourself. We are in public.”

“I’m a doctor, Rose,” he whispered into her ear, squeezing her slightly tighter. “I’m just checking your vitals. You seem to be suffering from a case of being far too beautiful today.”

By the time the sun began its slow descent, the “Musketeers” returned, damp and ravenous. They inhaled the sandwiches and sides Rosemary had prepared, their bodies exhausted from hours of swimming and racing.

The drive home was quiet, the back seat occupied by three very tired children. After dropping Jeremy and MJ off, Rosemary had no trouble getting the twins through the shower and into their pyjamas. They were asleep before their heads even hit the pillows.

Grateful for the silence, Rosemary ran a deep, hot bath. She slipped into the water, letting the heat envelop her tired muscles like a heavy blanket. Later, she joined her parents in the kitchen for a final cup of tea and a dwindling pile of home-baked cookies.

“It was a good day, wasn’t it?” Bruce asked, looking up from his tea.

“It was a perfect day, Dad,” Rosemary replied.

As she finally climbed into bed, her mind was already shifting toward Monday morning—the office meetings at Luxor, the team briefs, and the busy week ahead. But as she closed her eyes, the last thing she felt wasn’t the stress of work; it was the lingering warmth of the sun and the memory of Jeremy’s laughter by the lake.