Elizabeth entered her house to see Rosemary playing with little Jack on the sofa. "Mummy's home!" She cheered, lifting Jack up to see Elizabeth.
Elizabeth took him without a word and held him tightly to her chest, taking a moment to breathe before sitting down next to her concerned looking best friend. "I know you heard what happened." Elizabeth jumped straight into it. She knew that Rosemary was doing really well with not gossiping as much these days, but this was a small town and she was sure that someone had told her the ins and outs of this morning's event.
Elizabeth placed Jack on the rug with his trains, and Rosemary patted her best friend's hand to comfort her. "I only heard that there was a hug. Understandably so Elizabeth, after what you went through you were bound to feel emotional." Rosemary's brow was furrowed and serious.
"That's what Nathan said too...but honestly Rosemary. Jack didn't cross my mind in that moment. As soon as I heard it could be Nathan in that wagon, I wanted to see him. That was it." Elizabeth's eyes glossed over as she spoke, seeming to get lost in her thoughts.
"Oh." Rosemary let out a small noise of surprise. "Well, what are you thinking now?"
"I don't know Rosemary." Elizabeth sounded tired and her eyes welled with tears.
Elizabeth barely slept that night, too many thoughts were racing through her mind. So she took to her journal, writing them all down one by one. Then she went through some of her old entries and began to realise something. All signs were pointing to Nathan. She had mentioned him numerous times throughout the past few months, nearly all of them were joyous mentions of his parenting of Allie, or how she had made him feel that day. Even when she wrote about the incident in the cabin, it came across that Nathan was right and he was just worried for her safety.
Just before Elizabeth was about to leave for school the next morning she heard a light knock on the door. Laura was already there getting Jack ready for the day so Elizabeth assumed it was probably Rosemary, but Rosemary and Lee hardly waited before coming in. They would knock and enter. So when she got to the door and opened it, she was surprised to see Allie on the other side. She was ready for school in her pink overalls and tall boots, her lunch pale by her side and a smile on her face.
"Hi Allie." Elizabeth smiled, slightly confused.
"Good morning Mrs Thornton. Uncle Nathan had to get to work early this morning, so I asked him if I could walk over with you." She informed her happily.
"Oh, of course." She stepped aside to let her student in the door. "Good morning Jack, Miss Laura." Allie greeted the pair with a wave who did the same in return.
"I'll just get my things and we can go." Elizabeth gathered her books in her basket and took her own lunch pale in her hand before they headed out.
"Mrs Thornton?" Allie looked up at her teacher as they walked side by side.
"Yes Allie."
"My uncle thinks that he can hide his feelings really well, but I know that he really likes you." She told her, honestly. Elizabeth nodded, taking it in and waiting for her to continue.
"I don't know how you feel about him, but I wanted to ask you something." Allie looked nervous now, not a look she wore often.
"Of course Allie." Elizabeth was curious as to what she would say.
"Please don't hurt him. My Uncle Nathan is my best friend, and I know that he really misses my Mum a lot. He thinks I don't remember anything from when she died, but I remember how sad we were and how hard Uncle Nathan tried to make us happy again. When he's with you, I think he really is happy." Allie said.
"Oh." Elizabeth didn't know what to say. She stopped walking, placed her things on the floor and turned Allie to face her. "Allie, I care for your uncle alot, and whatever happens between us I will do my very best not to hurt him." Elizabeth told the girl sincerely. "Or you." She added.
Allie nodded and gave her teacher a small smile. Elizabeth nodded, picked up her basket and lunch pale once again and they walked together to the school in silence.
