As they walked out of town toward the house, Stella looked down and then back up to Elizabeth, smiling, "I'm assuming Nathan didn't know your news while he was in Spruce Grove?"

Elizabeth frowned slightly. "No, I told him we were expecting right when he got back. Why?"

Stella shook her head, laughing. "Because we wouldn't have heard the end of it," she said, raising her eyebrows.

Elizabeth smiled at her. "Nathan talked about us?" she said.

Stella nodded. "Pretty much any time it made sense to bring up you and his family, and the town..." Stella said, smiling. "And a few times when it didn't make any sense at all." Stella suddenly turned to Elizabeth and frowned. "Do you have a rooster named Chester?"

Laughing, Elizabeth said, "Yes."

Nodding, Stella said, "Okay, then that makes a little bit of sense now." At Elizabeth's raised eyebrows, Stella said quickly, shaking her head, "Oh, no, it's a long story and it's not even funny. I think Nathan was making a joke, but with his jokes he really needs to let people know when it's time for them to laugh."

At that moment, both Elizabeth and Rebecca snorted, and Stella thought she might not be alone in that assessment. "Well, that's a relief. I thought it was just me. Jessie thinks he's hilarious."

They were approaching the house now and Elizabeth stopped. Since their arms were linked, Rebecca and Stella had to stop as well.

"I like to look at the sunset from here," Elizabeth said, gazing at the house. "Usually we're watching it from inside."

Rebecca cautiously pointed out the obvious. "But, Elizabeth, the sun is over there." She pointed behind her and to her left where the sun was visibly moving toward the horizon.

Elizabeth didn't move, but continued to look at the house. "No, I like to see it set on the house," she said softly, as if she was making perfect sense. Then she looked left and right and could see they needed clarification.

Looking forward again, Elizabeth said, "You can see it on the snow in the trees behind the house, right? The colors?"

Stella squinted and then said, "Yes, it's like the snow is just faintly orange and pink." She smiled at Elizabeth and then looked at the house. After a moment, she said, "Oh. I see what you mean." She smiled and hugged her arm. Then Stella shook her head and looked at Rebecca as if to say, Okay, I get it. She's pretty special.

They stood there for a while, all three gazing at the house as it delicately changed colors. After Nathan had unsaddled Bear and had come around the side, he watched them for a moment. Narrowing his eyes, he moved closer in the twilight. Then he got worried and walked faster.

"Everything okay?" he said, looking at Elizabeth.

Rebecca said, "We're watching the sunset."

Nathan frowned and said, "But the sunset is over th..." He was pointing behind them. Then it dawned on him and he grinned.

"She's got you doing it too, huh?" he said, looking at the three of them. Then he saw that the sun had dipped below the horizon and it was getting colder. He put his arm around Elizabeth and said, "Mrs. Grant, we have company inside. We can't be out here watching the house set, or the sun set on the house, or whatever you call it." He kissed her on the cheek. "We need to entertain."

Elizabeth laughed. "And this from the man who likes to keep it simple at Christmas?" she said.

"Did I say that?" He walked with her up to the house, grinning. "I don't remember saying that."

"I need to start writing things down," Elizabeth said as they reached the porch steps.

Stella and Rebecca hadn't moved. Stella was smiling. "Wow. I don't think I've ever seen two people so much in love. They're like a walking romance novel."

Rebecca laughed. "I still haven't gotten used to it. It can be a challenge to get their attention sometimes."

Sighing, Stella said, "That's what I'm looking for. I've always thought it was too much to ask, but now that I've seen it, I'm gonna start asking."

Laughing, Rebecca took her arm and walked with her. "Good for you, Stella. If you never ask, the answer's always no."

Inside the house, Allie and Jessie were starting to set the table for the dinner Elizabeth and Allie had prepared before going to the train station. They'd made shepherd's pie, roasted winter vegetables, and Elizabeth had made brownies for dessert. All very easy, and it had kept warm until the train arrived and the guests were settled.

And tonight, Elizabeth learned that she must be more visibly pregnant than she thought she was, because no one would let her lift a finger to do anything. So, with a houseful of guests, she was kicked out of her own kitchen. She sat happily in front of the hearth with Jack, building tiny paddocks while answering rapid-fire questions about serving dishes and beverages from the multitudes swarming around the stove and the table.

I could get used to this, Elizabeth thought.

"Don't get used to this," Nathan said softly, coming up behind her and kissing her neck.

Elizabeth laughed. "You're reading my mind again," she said. She looked up at him. "They won't let you do anything either?" she asked.

Nathan smiled at her and sat down. "No, I've been dispatched to see if there's anything you need." He narrowed his eyes. "So, how is it that the groom gets less attention than the bride at the wedding, and now here we are again? I had something to do with this too, you know," he said, tilting his head at her.

"Yes, but I'm doing the heavy lifting," she said, grinning. She squeezed his arm and ran her hand lightly across his red serge. "Nathan, you've worked most of the day and you haven't even had a chance to change yet," she said. "Go and take a minute for yourself. Relax."

He looked at her and shook his head. "I love you, angel. Do you know that you always think of others first?"

She smiled at him. "Not all others. Just you. But that's sweet of you to say."

"So do you need anything? Because I'd love to get washed up and changed before dinner, if I could."

"No, nothing," she said, smiling. "I have everything I need." She leaned up and kissed him.

Just then, Jack tried to crawl up Nathan's leg, and though Nathan was anxious to go, he couldn't resist. "Up you go," he said to Jack, putting him on his knee. It was probably because Jack heard women's voices during most of his day, but he loved listening to Nathan's voice no matter what he was saying. He would look seriously up into his eyes, and Nathan knew he wanted a story, or just to hear him talk.

"You..." Nathan said softly to Jack, "...are going to be a big brother soon." Jack listened intently, looking at Nathan, but with his chubby fingers absentmindedly touching the brass buttons on his tunic. "For a while, it's gonna be pretty noisy and confusing around here, but trust me, they'll get a little older and you're gonna love it. Always someone to play with, two little ones to watch over..."

Then Jack did something he did often. He put his hand on Nathan's cheek and just held it there. Nathan would turn quickly and kiss his hand, and Jack would giggle. That game could go on for a long time.

Elizabeth laughed right along with them, and then she said, "Jack, you need to let your dad get out of his Mountie clothes."

"Mountie close," Jack said, holding the buttons again. It didn't look like Jack was buying it; he seemed pretty comfortable on Nathan's lap.

Rebecca came to the rescue. "Jack. Where's the Christmas tree?" she said, looking around.

Jack immediately pointed over to the spot in front of the windows. "Tree!" he said.

"Can you show me?" Rebecca said, putting out her hands.

Jack happily jumped down and took her hand, leading her over to the tree. Not even a backward glance. Elizabeth and Nathan smiled their thanks to Rebecca.

Elizabeth nodded. "Grandparents. Aren't they just the best? They know exactly what to do." She looked at Nathan. "I love your mother."

"It's mutual," Nathan said, seeing his chance to head down the hallway to change his clothes. He stood up after quickly kissing the top of her head. "I'll make my escape."

Elizabeth nodded. "Nathan. Take your time." She pointed to the kitchen and dining room, where everyone had congregated and were now talking animatedly and loudly. "Dinner will keep and no one will even notice."

Nathan smiled at her, his eyes twinkling. Elizabeth laughed and pushed him down the hall. "They would notice if both of us were gone," she said, "Go!"

Elizabeth stood up and walked over to the countertop between the kitchen and the dining room. She went up to Allie and whispered, "Your dad would like a minute to get changed. Would you mind if we put out some of your cheese with the bread we baked today? You can tell everyone how you make it."

Allie's eyes lit up. "Really? I'd love to!" She grabbed Jessie's hand and led her out to the box in the mudroom where she kept the butter and cheese she made for Le Bistro. "Where are we going?" Jessie said, laughing, just as the door closed.

Stella stood next to Elizabeth. "Those two," Stella said, smiling. "You'd think they'd known each other all their lives."

"Nathan thought they would get along," Elizabeth said, nodding. Just as fast as they'd gone, Jessie and Allie were back. Elizabeth talked them through getting the plates down and making squares of bread for people to taste the cheese. She walked over to the pantry and pulled out some of the fig jam she'd made last August and put that out with a knife.

They set it all out on the counter, and Allie started walking samples around. It didn't take long before she had an audience as she described how she transformed Lizzie's milk into the delicious soft cheese.

After Stella got a bite and complimented Allie, she took Elizabeth's arm and led her over to the front windows. "I've really been looking forward to finally meeting you," Stella said.

"I have too," Elizabeth said, and she genuinely meant it. She had to admit that Stella was as pretty a young woman as everyone had said, but she seemed completely unaware of it and totally guileless. "I'm so glad you came to visit. I know it means a lot to Archie."

Stella smiled. "I suppose on the surface this doesn't happen very often. Spending Christmas with the Mountie who arrested my father? But I see Dad very clearly. I know who he is and what he's done. Nathan was in the right, and it's his job, pure and simple."

Elizabeth squeezed her shoulder lightly. "I told Archie that maybe someday we can have you all here. With your father. We'll say a prayer for that."

They looked out the window for a moment, enjoying the fragrance of the Christmas tree nearby. Jack was still showing Rebecca all his horse ornaments, which were low on the tree for that very reason. Right now, Jack had the ornament that Bill had given him, of Nathan on Bear with Jack in front of him. Rebecca smiled up at her, and Elizabeth said, "Bill Avery made that for Jack."

"Dad. Horsey. Jack," Jack said, pointing his finger to illustrate the three figures on the ornament.

Rebecca simply smiled up at Elizabeth and put her hand on her heart as Elizabeth nodded.

"Rebecca told me all about your wedding as we rode down on the train together. She brought her photo book to show me." Stella sighed a little. "It was such a beautiful wedding." She walked Elizabeth over to the wall with the photo with the elder blossoms blowing in the wind. "This is...incredible."

Smiling, Elizabeth said, "Yes, a moment caught in time." Stella watched as Elizabeth's eyes went soft, and she knew that there were memories of more than that one moment passing through her mind.

"Did you know right away?" Stella asked softly. "About Nathan?"

Elizabeth laughed and turned to her. "Nothing about us was easy. I was confused, Nathan was tongue-tied, neither of us thought we were ready..." She shrugged. "But we loved each other, right from the start, even if we didn't know it then. I don't think either of us really had a chance, to tell you the truth. No matter how much we pushed each other away, we were going to be together sooner or later."

Stella smiled. "It's a beautiful thing to see, Elizabeth. The two of you. Gives me hope." She raised an eyebrow. "Nathan doesn't have a brother, does he?"

Elizabeth laughed and took Stella's arm to sit on the sofa in the living room. "No brother. But we do have some eligible bachelors here in Hope Valley." She looked sideways at Stella's pretty face and her light brown curls. Coupled with her obvious intelligence and sense of humor, Elizabeth could see Stella having her pick. "You'd be very popular."

Smiling, Stella said, "Archie has said the same thing."

Elizabeth patted her hand gently. "You'll be here several days. You think about it. There are so many opportunities here. We're growing quickly, and until you found out what you wanted to do, we have three restaurants that are always in need of help."

They sat down on the sofa and Elizabeth said, her eyes twinkling, "And I would be Jessie's teacher."

Stella looked at Elizabeth's very round belly and laughed softly. "For how long?"

"Until February, unless our doctor tells me I need to stop sooner. You know they're twins?"

"Yes, Rebecca told me. And Archie told us long ago that Nathan and his sister were twins." Her face darkened a little. "But Archie's never told us what happened to his daughter. It seemed to cause him so much pain that we never asked."

Elizabeth nodded. "It was a very difficult time for all of them. I'll ask Nathan if he minds me telling you how she died, and we can talk while you're here. They don't seem to mind people knowing. They just find it very hard to talk about."

"And what happened to Allie's father?" Stella asked.

Elizabeth smiled. "I'll give you the same answer. I'll talk to Nathan and let you know." She took Stella's hand in hers. "If Allie and Jessie are going to be friends, and I think that's already happened, I'm sure they'll talk about it, and it would be good for you to know about Sarah and Caleb."

"But Allie calls you Mom and Dad?" Stella said. Then she squeezed Elizabeth's hand. "I really don't mean to be so inquisitive, but I know there will be questions that Jessie will ask. Her father left us before she got to know him, so it makes her more curious about other families."

"I understand," Elizabeth said. "Allie is the same way. They see families with a father and a mother and they feel different, set apart. And really that's why we're Allie's mother and father. She very much wanted us to be. So the moment we were married and we were able, we adopted her."

"Thank you for having us, Elizabeth," Stella said suddenly. "We've spent far too many Christmases with just the two of us."

Elizabeth smiled sadly and said, "Yes, it can be tough to make things special when it's just you." Elizabeth took both of Stella's hands in hers. "Nathan said that to me when he was alone with Allie and I was alone with Jack." She looked at the warmth of the house and the lights on the tree, and heard the laughter and conversation that had been going on nonstop the whole time she and Stella had been talking.

"It'll happen for you, Stella," she said. "I can see that you have a lot of love to give. And if I can give you any advice at all, it would be to stay open to it. I only had my heart open a tiny bit for a long time. It wasn't enough for real happiness."

"What opened it all the way?" Stella asked.

"I thought Nathan died," Elizabeth said simply. "On a job. And when I thought he was gone, it all came rushing in."

Stella exhaled and squeezed Elizabeth's hand. "How terrible that must have been for you," she said.

Smiling, Elizabeth said, "Actually, I'm grateful. It told me what was in my heart. That I loved him completely."

"So this was fairly recent?" Stella asked.

Elizabeth laughed softly. "No. We had some bumps after that. But the important thing was that we knew, deep down, that we loved each other. So it was only a matter of time."

"What's a matter of time?" Nathan said, coming up behind Elizabeth and putting his hands on her shoulders.

"Dinner," Elizabeth said, standing up and turning to give him a dazzling smile. "Now, we can eat!"