"Mom? Did you hear what I said?" They were now standing in the foyer.

"Yes, son. I wish you two would have waited until we were there."

"Yes, well, I'm sorry about that but we didn't want to be separated for a long time and possibly postpone the wedding. We wanted to be together."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Bennett," Rachel offered.

"You as well, Rachel." Mrs. Bennett seemed to at least tolerate her presence so that helped Rachel a bit.

"How is dad? Is he asleep now?" Josh wondered.

"No, he's awake, watching The Lone Ranger on the television."

"Dad and that show," Josh said with a laugh. He looked at Rachel. "Dad has loved that show ever since he splurged on the television set last year."

"Can I meet him?"

"I don't know, dear. He isn't very pleasant these days. Not feeling good has taken its toll," Mrs. Bennett told her.

"Maybe tomorrow then," Rachel nodded to her mother-in-law.

"I'll get the guest room ready for you," Mrs. Bennett told them.

"Oh, actually, Mom, we have a room at the Alberta Grand. We figured it would be easier on you and Dad." Not to mention more private.

Mrs. Bennett nodded and walked into the kitchen. Josh turned to Rachel. "Sweetheart, I'm going to go see him. Will you be right?"

"Of course. I'll go spend time with your mom." She said it with a bravery that she didn't actually feel.

He kissed her briefly. "We won't stay long and then we can go back to the room."

"Okay."

She watched Josh walk away and took a deep breath before heading toward the kitchen.

She found Mrs. Bennett sitting at the table, her head in her hands. "Are you alright? Should I get Josh?"

"No, I'm afraid there is nothing he can do."

"Are you ill?" Rachel sat in the chair next to her.

"No. I was speaking of my husband."

"Oh. Do you need anything? I can make you some tea."

"That's not necessary."

"Perhaps not, but it helps me when I'm worried about something." Rachel got up and turned on the stove, putting a kettle of water on the burner to boil.

Next she grabbed two tea cups and two saucers. "These are beautiful, Mrs. Bennett."

"Thank you. They were a wedding present from my mother."

A few moments later, they were sipping tea at the table in silence. "That necklace. Did Joshua give that to you?"

"Yes," she admitted, her hand reaching for it. "He said it was his grandmother's."

"Yes. My mother's."

From the expression on her face, Rachel worried that she wasn't okay with her wearing it. "If you aren't okay with me having it, I'll give it back to you."

"Rachel," Josh said from the doorway. "The necklace is yours."

"Yes, but, I…" Rachel glanced from Josh to his mother.

"I gave it to you, knowing it would stay in the Bennett family. When Grandmother gave it to me, she told me to give it to the woman I love." He knelt down beside her, his blue eyes shining. "That's you, sweetheart." Rachel melted at his words. She touched his cheek, her thumb stroking his beard.

"I love you too."

He gave her a quick kiss and then hugged her. "I'm going to help Dad up to bed and then we can go."

"Alright."

Marian watched her son and his wife. They very obviously loved each other. She could see it plainly. She didn't begrudge them their happiness. She just wished she knew more about Rachel and that they could have been at the wedding.

"I'm sorry if I come across gruff, Rachel."

"Its alright."

"Its not. It isn't who I am. Just this thing with Joshua's father is taking a lot out of me. I don't know what I'll do if something happens to him."

Rachel covered Marian's hand with her own. "We are going to stay until he gets better or until Josh needs to go back to town. We are here to help with whatever you need."

"Not the way you imagined your honeymoon, I expect."

"No, but family means everything. I'm happy just to be here with him and get to know you and Mr. Bennett."

"He loves you. I can see it."

"And I love him."

"Good to know," Josh teased from the doorway. "I'm going to steal my bride away, if you don't mind, Mom."

"Of course. Enjoy your evening."

Josh kissed his mom's cheek. "We will be back in the morning so I can examine him."

"Thank you, son."

….

Josh noticed Rachel holding her the pendant of her necklace with her hand, staring out the window of the cab. "Sweetheart?"

"Hm?" she turned her head and looked at him.

"Are you alright?"

"Sure. Just tired, I guess."

He put his arm around her, pulling her into his side. "What if I drew you a bubble bath when we get back to the hotel?" he asked quietly.

"That would be nice. Will you be joining me?"

"Only if you want me to."

"Of course I do."

"I just thought….I mean…maybe you would want time alone."

"Sweetheart, this is only our second night together. I absolutely want to be with you."

About thirty minutes later, they lay in the tub in the darkened bathroom of their hotel room, a few candles lit, sitting on the sink.

Rachel sighed, leaning back against Josh's chest, completely relaxed. He stroked her arm with his fingertips, his lips grazing her cheek. "I love you, Rachel Bennett."

"To the moon and back," she told him, her lips meeting his.

"I'm sorry about my mom."

"No need to be. She apologized for being gruff, I think she put it. I know she's just worried about your dad." She wrapped his arms tighter around her. "I can't imagine how it must feel. To be so scared of losing the one you love."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"I know but life happens. Things happen that we never plan."

"Like meeting me?"

"Yes, that was wonderful. I came out into the dining room and I thought you were so handsome." She reached up and touched his beard. "Promise me you'll never shave this."

"Whatever you want, love."

…..

Back in Hope Valley….

"How many bedrooms?" Chris asked again as they lay in bed talking about the house he agreed to let Jack and Nate build.

"Four?"

"Why do we need four? That's a lot."

"One for girls. One for boys. One for us and one for guests. It makes sense."

"How about three? We can always add on in the future, right?"

"I guess." She smiled. "This is going to be great. Our own house, honey."

"Yeah." He still was a bit unsure about accepting something as big as a home as a "wedding gift" but he insisted he pay for a barn on his own. That made him feel a bit better.

"Papa said to tell you he is going to make a few sketches of the house for us. Should be ready in a couple days." She turned onto her side and smiled at him. "Will you dig me a garden, Chris? We can grow our own vegetables. I've always wanted my own garden."

Leah could absolutely dig her own garden but she figured it might help Chris see that she needed him in the project, that he was useful.

"You got it. Now lets go to sleep. Dawn is just around the corner."

That was true but regardless, Leah lay awake dreaming long after her husband was snoring in her ear.

….

The next morning, back in Alberta

Josh and Rachel showed up at his parents house around six thirty. Rachel wanted to make everyone breakfast. It was how she thought she could be of assistance. Making meals she could do.

So as soon as she and Josh let themselves in, she headed to the kitchen and tied an apron around her waist that was hanging on a hook. Then she looked in the refrigerator and found the makings for an egg, sausage, and cheese casserole. Josh stayed with her until he heard movement upstairs.

"That's probably Candace. She usually makes breakfast."

"Oh. Should I stop?"

"Of course not. She will just step in and help."

"Josh? Oh my goodness!" Candace rushed toward him, throwing her arms around his neck. "I'm so glad you're home."

Rachel resumed her cooking to give them some time. "Rach? Sweetheart, this is my sister Candace. Candace, this is my wife, Rachel."

Candace turned and hugged Rachel. "Its good to meet you. I'm so happy to have a sister!"

"Hi, Candace. I'm happy to meet you too."

"Call me Candy. Mom insists on full names but I've never really liked Candace. Now, how can I help with breakfast?"

Josh smiled at his sister and winked at Rachel before heading upstairs.

Rachel had Candy make tea and coffee and set the table. "So how old are you, Candy?"

"Sixteen. Almost seventeen."

"So are you enjoying high school?"

"Not really. I wish I could just stay home. I want to be a housewife and marry Tommy Spencer and have babies. Not sure why I need school for that."

"You need to learn things at school like finances and how to care for a home. Those things will help you , believe me."

"Did you like school, Rachel?"

"I did. I learned a lot. Then my mother taught me how to cook and now I work in the café in our town."

"Josh lets you work?"

"We both decided I would keep working until we have children."

"He's a good man," Candy told her. "He will be a good Daddy too."

"I agree."

By the time the food was done, Josh and Marian were bringing George downstairs for breakfast.

He was a tall man, about three inches taller than Josh. He had gray and brown hair and Josh's eyes and nose. A handsome man, but obviously ill.

"Dad, this is my wife, Rachel. Rach, my dad, George."

She walked over and offered her hand to shake. "It's a pleasure, sir."

"The pleasure is mine," he said breathlessly. Josh helped him sit down in the chair at the head of the table.

"Mr. Bennett, would you like some tea?"

"I would, thank you."

As they ate, they talked about how wonderful her food was and about her family.

"I have three brothers and two sisters," she told them.

"Are you the oldest?" Candy wondered.

"I am."

"Then who?"

"Then Leah, then Danny and Luke and then Genna and little James is a few months old."

"How did you two meet?" Marian asked.

"I was in the café in town," Josh began. "And had some wonderful beef stew and biscuits so I asked to speak to the cook." Josh smiled and put his arm around her.

"The waitress brought her out and I knew I loved her right then."

"What? You never told me that, Josh."

"Its true. I knew that I was going to marry you."

"What happened next?" Candy asked.

"I left her a note every day after eating yet another delicious meal. Eventually, one Sunday after church, she agreed to go on a picnic with me."

"I loved you, Josh. I told Leah that night that I knew you were the one for me." He smiled and kissed her forehead.

"I'm glad." He needed her beside him, especially now, seeing his father's health declining.

…..

Back in Hope Valley

Jack waited until Elizabeth went to town before he grabbed the hatbox and head across the yard to Will and Ashley's house.

He knocked on the door and waited. Brooke opened the door.

"Hi, Papa."

"Hi, Brookie. Can I come in?"

"Of course."

"What do you have there?"

"I thought maybe you and Becky might want to help me with a Christmas present for your Grandma."

"Yes! We would love to help."