As the waitress left to give Clara, who was cooking that night, their order, Elizabeth looked at the bouquet of flowers that had been sitting in the vase on their table when they had arrived. Between them, and the candles arranged in a heart in the middle of their table, Elizabeth had thought the table looked lovely. The little details that Nathan had arranged before their arrival touched her. Yes, it was more simplistic that Lucas' decorations at the library for their celebratory champagne but she liked that. Simplistic fit Nathan and since coming to Hope Valley, Elizabeth had come to appreciate the beauty in simplicity.
"The flowers are lovely," Elizabeth said, looking from the bouquet to Nathan.
"I'm glad you like them."
"I do," Elizabeth said, with a smile. "Though I must admit, I like the company better."
"Me too," Nathan told her, smiling back.
There was a pause in the conversation. Knowing that Nathan didn't do to well with small talk, Elizabeth knew it was up to her to get the conversation going.
"You mentioned your sister lived in Calgary. Did you grow up there, or did she move there when she got married?"
"We lived just outside of Calgary when I was little actually. Arch . . . Dad worked for a bank in Calgary but my mom didn't want to live in the city. Colleen and I went to a school in the city and we were close enough to enjoy city life but mom also got to have her chickens and her vegetable garden. She use to say she had the best of both worlds."
Elizabeth smiled. "I think I'd like your mother."
"I know she would like you," Nathan replied.
"I take it from your reactions to the crowds here in Hope Valley at Christmas time that like your mother, you didn't particularly care for the city."
"I was much happier with my mother's chickens than I was in the city. Colleen loved the city though and as my mother didn't like her being in the city by herself, I got drug along on her outings quite a bit."
Elizabeth laughed at the image. "How much older was your sister."
"I was two years younger and perhaps a bit over protective at time. I felt like I had to protect both my sister and my mother after my dad went to prison."
"Does your mother still live near Calgary?"
Nathan shook his head. "After Colleen passed and I got a posting elsewhere she said the city didn't have anything for her any longer. My mother also didn't want my dad to be able to find her easily when he got out of prison. She was tired of trying to make it work. Given the heart ache I had seen her go through. I don't blame her. She had a cousin who lived in Spruce Grove so she relocated there. She's happy. She's got a little cottage and a small garden she still attempts to tend. However, with her arthritis getting worse, I think the woman who comes sees her every day and helps her out does most of it."
"So that's what you meant when you said your mom wouldn't be able to raise a young girl."
Nathan nodded. "She would've loved to have Ally with her but her health just didn't make it possible. Nor did it make it feasible for her to be moving around from place to place with me. Though, now that we've settled in Hope Valley, I considered asking her to come here. I'd like to be closer to her if she needed help and I know she would love to be near Ally. However, as my dad knows where I am, there is also that to consider. I've let him into Ally's life and mine, and perhaps he's changed, but I'm not willing to put my mother through any more heartache."
"Don't you think that's her choice?"
Nathan nodded. "And I think she made her choice. She moved away so he couldn't find her. I don't want to be the reason that he walks back into her life and hurts her again. At least not until I'm sure he's really changed."
"Are you still talking to your dad?"
"I am," Nathan told her. "I actually invited him to visit for Ally's birthday. He said he was going to come, but I haven't told Ally. I don't want her to be disappointed if he doesn't show."
"I won't say a word," Elizabeth promised. "Though I think, your father will be here."
"I hope you're right," Nathan said, meaning the words. Like he had hoped his father hadn't stolen the necklace like his father had claimed, he wanted to believe his father would follow through with his promise. However, there was just too many broken promises in his past for him to be able to let himself believe. "Maybe you were right, that night in the infirmary. Maybe my job does make me see the worst in people."
Elizabeth reached across the table and took a hold of one of Nathan's hands. "I think more than just your job affects how you view your dad. He let you down. It's going to take time to rebuild that trust, but you're at least open to that. The fact that you invited him for Ally's birthday is proof of that, so don't be too hard on yourself."
Nathan nodded, absorbing Elizabeth's words.
"Besides, I may have spoken a bit too hasty that night. Giving everything that's happen, I think there was an element of truth in your observation about Lucas," Elizabeth consented. "I still hold to the fact that he's a decent guy."
Nathan smiled. "I'll concede that point."
"So, does that mean perhaps you and Lucas might become friends now that certain things are settled."
"I wouldn't push your luck, Mrs. Thornton," Nathan teased.
Elizabeth smiled, content to let the subject rest at that for now.
As the waitress returned with their plates, Elizabeth let go of Nathan's hand and settled back in her chair. The waitress placed the plates in front of them and then went off to another table.
"Enough about me thought," Nathan said, as they both unfolded their napkins and placed them on their laps. "You've said you had three sisters, and I've met your younger sister Julie."
"You met, Julie?" Elizabeth said. She tried to recall introducing the two of them when Julie was here for Little Jack's christening. She remembered introducing Julie to a lot of people, but Nathan wasn't one of them, despite having told her sister a lot about him in her letters. "I don't remember introducing you."
"She introduced herself, when she was here," Nathan informed her.
"Of course, she did," Elizabeth replied. "I hope she didn't say anything too embarrassing."
"Julie said something about she didn't understand how her quiet, reserved sister kept finding all the dashing men and not to judge the rest of the family on your father's reaction if I were to ever meet him."
Having just taken a bit of her chicken, Elizabeth took a bit longer than needed to chew it, as she digested the information. As it was Julie, it didn't really surprise her.
"She's a bit less reserved than you are," Nathan added, noticing Elizabeth's reaction and understanding it. Colleen had embarrassed him on more than one occasions but he had loved her despite that trait.
"She is," Elizabeth conceded, having finally swallowed. "Julie's our social butterfly and dreamer. She always has been and it's gotten her into trouble on more than one occasion."
"It's a good thing she's got an older sister to look out for her then."
"Julie has two older sisters to look out for her," Elizabeth said. "My other sister, Viola is five years older. She's married and has a little girl, Caroline. I haven't seen Viola since I was back home to Hamilton a few years ago."
"It must be hard to be so far away from them."
"I miss them," Elizabeth admitted. "And I love them but the last time I was home, I realized that I didn't really fit into that life anymore. I'm more comfortable in Hope Valley then I am dressing up and going to parties, though I still enjoy those things in small doses," Elizabeth said thinking of her trip to Union City with Lucas.
"I'll have to keep that in mind."
Elizabeth laughed. "I'm having a hard time picturing you dressed up and going to the theater or fine dining and enjoying it."
"Just because I don't enjoy those things, doesn't mean I won't do them for someone I love," Nathan replied.
Elizabeth felt her cheeks grow hot as she ducked her head.
Nathan gave Elizabeth a few minutes to recover, eating a bit of his own meal. When her cheeks were a little less flushed, he spoke again.
"So, I take it from Julie's comments that your dad isn't going to approve of me."
"My father had hoped I'd marry the son of one of his fellow business associates and settle back in Hamilton after a bit of adventure. Jack didn't exactly fit into that vision."
"Nor would I."
"No, you wouldn't," Elizabeth conceded "However, my father did accept my relationship with Jack with time. I think he'd warm up to you as well and even if he doesn't, I'm not going anywhere," she assured him.
"That's good to know," Nathan replied.
The two continued talking about their pasts as they enjoyed their dinner.
"Would you like to order dessert?" the waitress asked as she cleared their dinner plates.
To Elizabeth's surprise, Nathan didn't hesitate to order a piece of peach pie for the both of them to share.
"What?" Nathan asked, as he found Elizabeth staring at him, a pleased smile on her face as the waitress walked away.
"Did you know peach pie is my favorite?" Elizabeth asked.
"I did," Nathan said. "I may have asked Bill for some advice during our ride to Buxton."
"And he told you to order a piece of peach pie for us to share?"
"No," Nathan said. "That's me following my sister's advice about when you take a lady out to eat always order a dessert to share so she can enjoy something sweet without having to eat it all herself. I asked Bill if he knew what kind of dessert you liked."
"You are full of surprises, Nathan Grant," Elizabeth said with a smile, already imagining Rosemary's reaction when she related this part of their date to her friend. Rosemary had said on more than one occasion that Nathan Grant wouldn't know romance if it hit him in the face. Tonight had convinced Elizabeth otherwise.
"Looks like Gabriel was right," Elizabeth commented as she walked through the door that Nathan was holding for her. A steady rain had started to fall while they were eating supper.
"Guess we'll have to thank him for us being dry," Nathan commented, stepping out onto the boardwalk with Elizabeth.
Lighting the lantern, Nathan handed it to Elizabeth. He then opened the umbrella. Holding the umbrella in one hand, he offered his other arm to Elizabeth who took it.
The walk back to the row of houses was less leisurely than it had been on their way to the café, though Nathan let Elizabeth set the pace. Reaching Elizabeth's house, the two paused briefly on the steps before heading inside. With the rain signing a lullaby around them, Nathan leaned in toward Elizabeth. Hesitantly, he pressed his lips gently against Elizabeth's.
Elizabeth returned the kiss, enjoying it for what it was. No, it was a fiery, passionate kiss. Nor was it drawn out and breathless. However, the kiss seemed to fit Nathan. It was a soft caress that showed that he cared. It was so different from Jack's kiss, and for that Elizabeth was thankful. She wanted to be able to keep the two separate in her mind and in her heart.
"I enjoyed tonight, Nathan," Elizabeth said as the kiss came to an end.
"So did I," Nathan assured her.
Turning, Elizabeth opened her front door and stepped inside, Nathan right behind her.
"Get ready for bed and I'll be up to say goodnight when I get back," Nathan told his niece, holding the front door open for her.
"Okay," Ally said as she stepped into the house, the basket looped over one arm. "Goodnight, Mr. Gabe."
"Goodnight, Ally," Gabriel said.
As Ally headed into the house, Nathan pulled the front door shut again. Nathan rejoined Gabriel who was waiting a short distance away. Falling into step with one another, the two headed back toward the town.
"As, I'm perfectly capable of walking back to the saloon alone," Gabriel commented after only a few steps, "I can only conclude that there is something you want to talk about."
"You don't beat around the bush, do you, Gabe?"
"No, not usually," Gabriel replied. "So what happened that has you spooked."
"I'm not spooked," Nathan protested. Glancing to his right, he found his friend giving him a disbelieving look in the light of the lantern. "Okay, so I'm a bit spooked."
"Why? From what you and Elizabeth told Ally you both had a pleasant supper."
"The meal was pleasant," Nathan confirmed. "However, while we were walking to the cage Elizabeth said something that surprised me."
"Which was?"
Nathan recounted what Elizabeth had told him about what was in her heart. Though he couldn't recall what she had said word for word, he had no trouble getting the facts across to Gabriel.
"I don't see the problem, Nathan," Gabriel said when Nathan was done explaining. "You've told me that you love her and that you thought she was the one. Now you know that she feels the same way."
"I just finally managed to ask her out for a date last week. I'm not ready to propose marriage!"
Gabriel reached out and put his arm around Nathan's shoulder. "Relax, my friend," he said. "Elizabeth isn't expecting you to get down on one knee tomorrow or anything. Just let things flow naturally. You'll know when its time to ask her to marry you and then you'll probably carry the ring around for a few weeks trying to get up the nerve to actually follow through with it."
"Thanks, a lot," Nathan muttered.
Gabriel chuckled. "I know you. You never make an important decision without deciding on it, debating it for a while, and then following through on it. It's just who you are and that's okay."
"What if she gets tired of waiting for me to ask and then moves on."
"I haven't spent much time with Elizabeth, but I get the feeling if she got tired of waiting for you to ask then she might just ask the question herself."
Nathan thought about the day of the windstorm and how Elizabeth had pushed him to talk about what he was feeling. Gabriel had a point. Elizabeth wasn't the type of person that would move on just because things weren't going at the pace she wanted. While he couldn't actually see her asking the question instead, Nathan knew she wouldn't be above moving him toward the outcome she wanted.
However, she had said tonight she wasn't trying to rush him. She had said she just wanted to let him know what was in her heart
"Just relax and let things unfold," Gabriel said again.
"Sometimes, that's easier said than done," Nathan said quietly.
"No one said love was easy, my friend. However, the reward is worth the journey. That much I've seen."
Nathan nodded.
The two friends finished the walk to the saloon in silence, Nathan feeling much calmer after the brief talk with his friend.