Hello! :-) Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy. :-)

Chapter 29

Julie and Little Jack greeted Elizabeth as soon as she arrived home.

"How did it go?" Julie asked, anxious.

Elizabeth smiled. "Helen liked the changes. I'm so relieved. I feel so much better. I can move on and tackle more chapters without worry."

"Elizabeth, that's wonderful," Julie enthused.

"It is. I was so afraid she didn't like what I had written, but then we talked, and I could tell her approval was genuine. I feel as though I made a better professional and personal connection with her, too."

Julie beamed. "I am so happy for you."

"Thank you. Now, let me say hello to my son."

"Certainly."

Julie handed Little Jack, who had been turning his head back and forth during the exchange, to his mother who peppered him with kisses and then hugged him close.

"Mama is very happy," she told her son and then tickled him, which made him giggle and clap.

"Mama," he said and then pointed to the playpen.

"I know," she said, walking towards the area. "You'd rather be playing with your toys."

He smiled when she set him down in the playpen.

"Rosemary came by this morning after you left. She is very concerned about you. She wants to see you."

"I wanted to talk to her, too. I will go in a few minutes. Let me freshen up. Did I just miss Laura?"

"Yes. Her father came by needing her help, so I told her it was fine to leave."

"I'm glad you were here."

"About that," Julie said. "I'm not so sure I should leave next week."

"Why?"

"I can tell you're feeling better about things and hopefully that will let you sleep better at night, but you still have a lot of work to do, Elizabeth. Maybe I should stay. At least for another week or so to see how you do."

"It's fine with me. I love having you here, and I appreciate all the help you've given to me and to Laura. But I'm thinking about you, Julie. You have your own life in Hamilton. Don't you miss it?"

She lowered her eyes. "Not really. I was thinking about calling Geoffrey and letting him know I don't think we should see each other anymore."

"You're going to do it by telephone?" Elizabeth asked, shaking her head.

"Well, if I stay here a little while longer, it's not going to matter. He's not going to wait forever. I understand that. I might as well let him know."

"Have you thought this through, Julie? Are you ready to give up on what you could possibly have with Geoffrey? I know how impulsive you can be. I don't want anyone to get hurt, but I also don't want you to have any regrets."

Julie sighed. "I have thought about this. I see how your courtship with Lucas is progressing, and I know I will never reach that stage with Geoffrey. We don't have that connection, that bond. I wouldn't have wanted to escape Hamilton if I truly cared about him the way you care about Lucas and the way he cares about you. Geoffrey and I don't have that, and sadly, I've realized we never will. I need to move on, and I need to allow Geoffrey to move on, too."

Elizabeth reached for her sister's hands and squeezed them. "I know you are an adult who can make her own decisions, but I will always watch out for you. I respect your decision. Only you know how you feel and what is in your heart."

She paused as she recalled those words being said to her. After what she had experienced, she reasoned maybe, sometimes, it is hard to know what's truly in your heart or what your heart is willing to allow you to admit to yourself, but once you do, no doubt exists. Elizabeth knew that to be true.

Julie nodded. "I agree. Unfortunately, Geoffrey has not captured and will not be able to capture my heart. I'm making the right decision."

Elizabeth hugged her sister and told her to do what she needed to do.

"I hope it goes well for both of you."

"Thank you. I will ask Rosemary if I can use her phone tomorrow. Speaking of Rosemary, you'd better go."

"I just need to freshen up."

As Elizabeth climbed the stairs, she heard a knock on the door. She thought it might be an impatient Rosemary and waited for her to enter. When she didn't, Julie said she would see who was there, so Elizabeth continued to her room.

Julie opened the door and was shocked to see Geoffrey standing there.

After Nathan, Francine and Allie enjoyed a nice meal at Abigail's Café, Nathan invited Francine to his home to stay with Allie. He told her he needed to make his evening rounds and then he would join them. He sensed Allie's excitement at having some alone time with Francine. He knew his niece had a list of questions she wanted to ask. Nathan instructed Allie not to bombard Francine and let her lead the conversation.

Francine understood Allie's curiosity and wanted to help if she could.

Nathan acquiesced and told them he would be home soon. He had questions for Francine as well but wanted to wait until they were alone to find out why she had disappeared when they, including his late sister, had needed her the most.

Elizabeth returned and found Julie sitting and talking on the sofa with a gentleman she did not recognize. When Julie saw her, she quickly stood and so did Geoffrey. Julie introduced them.

"It's nice to meet you, Geoffrey," Elizabeth said.

"The pleasure is mine," he assured her. "I have heard so many good things about you. Congratulations on your book being published."

"Thank you," Elizabeth said demurely. "I'm sure you two have things to talk about. I was going to visit my next-door neighbor. I will bring Jack with me."

Julie caught Elizabeth's eye and silently thanked her.

"It was very nice meeting you, Geoffrey."

"Same here. Allow me get the door for you."

"Thank you. I hope you two have a nice visit."

As Elizabeth walked the short distance to Rosemary and Lee's house, she certainly hoped their conversation would go well and maybe there would be a mutual parting of the ways.

Nathan returned from his rounds and found Francine and Allie deep in conversation about her mother.

"Uncle Nathan," Allie said, as soon as he sat next to them on the sofa, "did you know Miss Richardson knew my mother since they were in school. Just like Opal and me."

Nathan smiled. "I did know that. Your mother and Francine go back a long ways."

"Not as long as I had hoped," Francine said, with a small smile. "I wish we could have had more time together."

"They played games and did everything together."

"I remember," Nathan said, giving Francine a tender smile.

"When your uncle was a young boy, he did not like us to bother him," Francine said with a laugh. "You were always shooing us away even though we were older and more mature."

Nathan chuckled. "I guess I did."

"Your uncle was always so serious," she said to Allie. "Your mother and I liked to have fun."

"Well," Nathan said in his defense, "one person's idea of fun might not be the same as someone else's."

Francine laughed. "I guess not because you did not agree with what we considered fun."

Allie gave Francine a very knowing and wise-for-her-age look. "Uncle Nathan needs to laugh more."

"Does he? Maybe we can help with that."

Allie nodded and smiled. "We should. Like going to movie night tomorrow."

"Allie," Nathan said, his tone terse. "We have already discussed this."

"What is movie night?" Francine asked, intrigued.

"Where you are staying they show a movie once a month," Nathan explained. "One of the residents orders a movie and has it sent to be shown in the saloon."

"That does sound like fun," she said, nodding in agreement with Allie.

"You would be interested in attending something that's mostly for the townspeople?" Nathan asked.

"Why not? You introduced me to Bill at the café. I think it would be fun to meet some of the other people and participate in something that's unique to Hope Valley."

"See, Uncle Nathan? I told you Miss Richardson would want to go. Can we? Please? All of us?"

"You would be there, too, right, Nathan?"

Allie shook her head and sighed. "Uncle Nathan doesn't go. I usually sit with Opal and sometimes my teacher, Mrs. Thornton, but it would be fun if all three of us went, wouldn't it?"

"I think that would be wonderful."

Nathan sighed. "I'll see what I can do. I'll try to rearrange my schedule so I'm available during movie night."

"Thank you, Uncle Nathan," Allie said, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him.

"You're welcome," he said and smiled. "But now, you have to do something for me."

"Sure. What is it?"

"I need you to go to your room, close the door and do not listen in on my conversation with Miss Richardson. We have a couple of adult things to talk about that do not concern you. All right?"

She nodded. "Okay. I promise I won't listen."

"Thank you. Now say goodnight to Miss Richardson."

"Goodnight. Thank you for talking with me about my mother."

"Of course. We will talk more. I know you have more questions. I'm sure I can answer most of them."

Allie smiled.

After looking at Nathan who nodded his assent, Francine held out her arms to give Allie a hug. The young girl clung to her and whispered her thanks.

"You're welcome," she whispered back. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

After Nathan checked to make sure Allie was in her room and not listening at the door, he returned to his seat and told Francine he had a few questions he would like her to answer. She nodded and said she was ready to tell him everything that led up to her abrupt departure from their lives while her best friend was taking her last breaths.

"We are so happy you are all right," Rosemary said to Elizabeth, as she and Lee sat with her at the table. "You had us worried."

"I know," Elizabeth said. "I'm sorry I wasn't there last night. I just wanted to close my eyes for five minutes, and three hours later I woke up."

"You needed the rest," Lee said. "We're relieved that's all it was."

Rosemary nodded and patted Elizabeth's hand. "Are you sure you feel okay?"

Elizabeth smiled. "I feel so much better. Lucas's mother liked the revisions I wrote. I'm so thankful. I feel like I am back on track with my writing and can get the rest of the book edited without too many more hurdles and send it off to the publisher."

Rosemary returned her smile. "That's wonderful. I knew this would happen for you. Does Lucas know?"

Elizabeth hedged. "No, not yet."

"Don't you think he would want to know?"

"He was mighty worried about you last night," Lee added.

"I know, and he's the one who helped me with my writing. He did ask me in a note to meet him at the library if I could make it, but I don't know."

"Of course you will meet him," Rosemary stated.

"Julie is most likely ending things with Geoffrey at my house. I have Little Jack on my lap. It doesn't seem like it will work for us to meet."

"We will gladly take Little Jack," Lee said, looking at him and making funny faces that made the boy laugh.

"And I can check on Julie in a little while to make sure she is all right. Go, Elizabeth. Meet Lucas. You have good news to share."

"I sure do," she said. "And I would like him to know."

"Then go," Lee said.

"There is one thing I want to ask before you leave," Rosemary said.

"What is it?"

"What does Lucas have planned for tomorrow night? We are the only ones who know there is no movie, so what is he doing for entertainment?"

Elizabeth grinned. "We are making several important announcements. I'm not going into detail, but be prepared to enjoy yourselves. There will be food and beverages for everyone, including the children. There may even be dancing if anyone so desires. You two might think about making an announcement of your own, if you are ready. I think tomorrow night would be the perfect time to let the good people of Hope Valley know you will soon be parents."

Rosemary and Lee shared a tender look and a smile as they held hands.

"We will definitely think about it," Lee said.

Rosemary agreed.

Elizabeth nodded. She saw, by the look of anticipation on their faces, they were ready. She couldn't wait for everyone to know and share in their blessed news that Baby Coulter was on the way.

"Before Colleen died," Nathan said, "she asked me where you were, and after my sister passed, I asked myself the same question. What happened?"

"As I wrote in my letter, I want to apologize for not being around during the last days of Colleen's life and for my disappearing act. I have thought about Colleen, you and Allie a lot these past few years, but I never felt the time was right to contact you until I found out you had been assigned here. Your headquarters told me this was your permanent assignment."

"As permanent as anything can be as a Mountie," Nathan clarified.

"I did keep track and knew you had been moving around a lot. I wanted to reach out, but it seemed you were never in one place for very long. So much movement made me wonder if you did not have Allie because I couldn't imagine having to pick up and leave so often while caring for a small child."

"We survived," Nathan said, sounding defensive.

Francine smiled. "I can see that. You two are wonderful together. Allie seems happy and well-adjusted, which I know is all you. I applaud you, Nathan. This entire situation cannot be easy for either of you."

"Yes, well, I'm doing what I have to do. But you…you still haven't told me…."

"I know. Here is my story. During Colleen's illness when we knew she was most likely not going to recover, her husband Isaac started coming around my home quite often. At first, I thought he needed someone to talk to, but then it became more. He would have a few drinks and then come to me and want, well, you know…."

She lowered her eyes, unable to say the words.

Nathan emitted a harsh breath. "I can't believe he would do that to you."

Francine looked up. "We never did anything. I fought him off and threw him out and told him never to come back, but…"

"Did he threaten you?" Nathan asked, his blue eyes blazing.

"Not in so many words, but Nathan, I did not feel I should be around any of you after that. I knew Isaac was lonely and scared about what was happening to Colleen, but I could not be around him. He was not a pleasant man, and he was worse when he drank. I don't like saying this, but he knew I was in distress about what was happening to my closest friend and he knew I was concerned about you and Allie. I believe he would have used my emotional state to his advantage if I had stayed. I couldn't take the risk. I was scared. I didn't want to be anywhere near him, but that meant I couldn't be with any of you either. And that broke my heart."

"Why didn't you come to me?" Nathan asked.

Francine gave a bitter laugh. "And say what? Your sister is dying, and her husband is acting inappropriately towards me?"

"Yes," Nathan exclaimed.

Francine shook her head. "Like you didn't have enough going on. Besides, if you had confronted him, it would have been my word against his, and it wouldn't have ended well between the two of you. No one else was around to see what he did. It would not have done any good. It would have caused only more harm. But it did cost me those last few days with Colleen and a proper goodbye which I regret to this day."

"Okay," Nathan said. "You stayed away. I understand why. But what about after? Did you know Isaac took off and left Allie behind? Because if you did, we could have…well, I could have used your help."

"I didn't know exactly what happened. Before she got sick, Colleen told me she knew Isaac did not want to have children, and she struggled with that knowledge, Nathan. She loved Allie so much and was so happy she had a daughter, but the burden of knowing her husband didn't feel the same way weighed on her. Heavily."

"I know," Nathan said, sadness present in his voice. "She told me that, too. I sometimes wonder what would have…would have happened if Colleen had lived. I still think Isaac had something to do with her premature death, but I know…I know I'll never, you know, be able to prove it."

"She got sick, Nathan. As much as we have both come to loathe Allie's father, I'm not sure it's proper to place any blame on him. I am relieved Colleen was able to make the arrangements she wanted for you to be Allie's legal guardian when she became ill. I know she was fearful of leaving her daughter with Isaac."

Nathan looked at Francine's concerned face and released his own clenched jaw. He had his suspicions about the role Isaac may have played, and no one would be able to convince him otherwise, but he did not want to argue that point with the lovely woman sitting next to him who he could tell was having a hard time talking about this part of her life.

"Right after Colleen died," Francine continued, "I was accepted into a nursing program in Boston. It felt like a prayer had been answered. While I was distraught by all that had happened and sad to leave without being able to see or say anything to you and Allie, I felt as though I had been given a fresh start. I wanted to start over in a new city where no one knew me, and I could concentrate on something worthwhile. I completed the program."

"You're a nurse," Nathan said and smiled. "I remember you talking about that, even when we were growing up. Congratulations."

"Thank you," she said and smiled. "There's just one problem."

"What's that?"

"When I called you to say I had a few days off from work, I didn't realize those were not going to be vacation days. Yesterday, the administrators decided to cut back on the number of nurses working in the hospital and since I was one of the newer ones hired, I lost my job."

Lucas turned around when he heard the door open and smiled when he saw Elizabeth enter the library.

"You came," he said, quickly closing the space between them to greet her. "I saw my note was still in the drawer, so I wasn't sure if you had seen it. I thought I would wait for a bit just in case."

She smiled. "I glanced at it while your mother read my chapters. Very clever of you, Mr. Bouchard. We are getting good at this, aren't we? I noticed the books were not on the table, so I knew you had been here. But I didn't have anywhere to put the note, so I left it in the drawer."

Lucas nodded. "I'm thankful you saw it, but I would have understood if you hadn't. I hope you have eaten. I didn't arrange for a meal since I wasn't sure we would be meeting."

"I'm fine. I ate a little something at Rosemary and Lee's. I needed to fill them in on everything."

"So much has been happening," he agreed. "Let's sit and visit. We don't have to stay long."

They sat next to each other on the cloth-covered bench below the window. Lucas took a moment to search Elizabeth's face for any signs of fatigue or distress. He sighed inwardly that she looked so much better than she had the previous night. Her cheeks had a natural tint; her eyes were clear and bright.

She noticed his observations and lowered her eyes. She knew what he was doing because she was doing the same. He didn't look as weary either. Maybe they had both managed to get some sleep.

He reached for her hands; his warmth matched hers which pleased him as well.

"I have to say I am relieved. I can see you are feeling better."

"I am. I believe I am back on track with my writing. A huge weight has been lifted. Your mother liked my revisions, Lucas. I am ready to move on to the next chapters. I am so happy."

"That is wonderful," he said, bringing the back of her hands to his lips and kissing them. "I know how much not being able to write overwhelmed you. I am so happy you had a breakthrough and could write what you wanted to make those chapters the best they could be. I knew, when I left your house, you would do it, and I knew my mother would approve."

Elizabeth laughed as she enjoyed the feel of Lucas's fingers massaging hers. "I think you had more confidence than I did, but once the idea came to me, thanks to you, I felt I could run with it. I am so pleased the words flowed the way they did. This gives me hope I know what to do with the next few chapters."

"That is great. I know you will make those chapters flow, too."

"If anything, I feel so much better about this whole editing process. I think your mother and I are forming a nice professional bond, too. I hope you don't mind I told her you helped me."

Lucas grinned. "What did she say?"

Elizabeth returned his grin as she removed her hands from his so she could stroke the hairs on his cheek as she stared at his lips. "Honestly, I think we amuse her. She seemed, shall we say, intrigued."

Lucas moved a bit closer and whispered near her ear. "We are definitely not playing by her rules, are we, Mrs. Thornton?"

Elizabeth shook her head as she looked into his dancing eyes and smiled. "We definitely are not, Mr. Bouchard."

"What do you think we should do about that?" he asked, capturing her face between the palms of his hands and using the pads of his thumbs to caress her soft cheeks.

She steadied herself and swallowed as she continued to stare at the yearning she saw on his face. She knew, without a doubt, he would do anything for her because he already had. Her love for him enveloped her in its embrace. He had been so thoughtful and kind and supportive. She continued to look at him as if wanting to memorize every inch of his appearance while appreciating everything about him that made him the man he was. The man she loved dearly.

"Elizabeth?" he asked, when she seemed to be in a trance. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she said, impulsively wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him while enjoying the undeniable and, she hoped, unbreakable connection they had made with each other.

Sometimes she wasn't sure all of this was real, but when she held him and felt him respond as he was doing now, she knew this was not a dream.

"I am okay. And it's due in large part to you, Lucas. Thank you. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I love you, sweetheart. I mean that with all my heart. You are so good to me and my son. We both love you. I hope you know that."

"Of course I do," he said quietly, feeling Elizabeth's emotion in the way she clung to him. "I feel exactly the same way."

"I know and that makes me so happy and makes me feel so loved."

Lucas pulled back a little to look at her. "You make me happy."

'We're good for each other, aren't we?" she said, nodding to confirm her own statement.

"I think so. I can't and don't want to imagine my life without you and Little Jack."

Elizabeth seized the moment to express what she knew to be true. "I'm starting to feel the same way. When I was watching you a few moments ago, peace and joy filled me. Simply because I'm with you. I haven't experienced an emotion that pure in such a long time. I was certain I would never experience it again. I fall in love with you a little more each day. If you weren't here, I don't know what I would do. And, on some level, that scares me, but on a higher plane, it tells me how much I have come to adore you, my darling."

"I want a future with you and your son, Elizabeth. And I want a different life for your son than I had. I don't begrudge or resent my upbringing because what we went through as a family taught me so much about life. But I want to have something different and better for us if we were to marry and become a family."

Elizabeth gave him a thoughtful look. "You really have thought a lot about what you want your future to be like, haven't you?"

"I have. Most people don't understand or maybe they don't understand me, but I have seen a lot in my travels, and I know what I want and what won't work for me. Right now, my father is in London, but he's heading to New York to finalize a business deal. His work takes him where he needs to be. I want a more stable life. I want to know where I am going every day and what I will be doing. I'll take chances and risks in other areas, but not with this. But I am very thankful, Elizabeth, that you took a chance on me."

"I see your goodness and your kind heart every day, sweetheart. Sometimes, to be honest, I'm not convinced you see it as clearly as you should."

He shrugged off her compliment, not wanting the focus to be on him. "I just like seeing people happy," he explained. "If I can contribute to their happiness, I will."

"And you have brought so much happiness. That's why I want to bring you happiness, too."

"You absolutely do, Elizabeth. Believe me. I have never been happier than I am right now, even with everything that's been going on. To have you and your son in my life is all I need to make me happy."

She smiled. "I'm glad. I haven't heard you mention too much about your father, but you just did. Does that mean you heard from him?"

"I did. He is going to help me."

"Lucas, that's wonderful! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because I wanted to enjoy you and us. I don't have all the details, to be honest, but one of his trusted associates is going to contact me. So, for now, I wait. Some more."

"But there may be that light at the end you love to see," she said and smiled.

"Yes. There very well may be. Time will tell, I guess."

"I am glad you heard from your father. That must have made you feel better."

"It did, although I have a feeling there's more to come from him, but I'm okay with that. If he sends me a letter, I can read it and then move on. At least, he is helping me."

"I want this to be resolved for you so much, darling. But I also want to hear more about your father whenever you want to share the details."

"You know that's my goal. I will tell you about my father. When the time is right."

She nodded in understanding. She knew he would tell her. When he was ready. She could wait. She began to hope they had a lifetime of finding out everything there was to know about each other while also discovering new things to share with each other.

"And with Henry possibly returning..."

Those words brought her back to the present. "You know about that? We didn't even talk about Abigail's letter last night."

"I know. Carson told me. He was worried about you, too. I told him you seemed to be doing better."

"I could tell he didn't quite believe me when I said I felt all right."

"We don't want anything to happen to you, sweetheart."

"I know. That's how I feel about you and all that you are going through. But we are doing okay, right? I feel so much better about my writing, and you are going to get help soon, hopefully."

"And tomorrow night we celebrate."

She smiled. "Absolutely. Tomorrow night will be joyful. Whoever may not know we are together will have no doubt after we stand together with my son and announce our courtship. I can't wait, Lucas. I want everyone to know."