Chapter 37 Elizabeth's Family
After a quiet evening and with Maura at the house Nathan goes over to Elizabeth. She meets him at the door and says "Great Little Jack is asleep." She then kisses him. Nathan says "While I like this greeting something tells me you have something you want to talk about." Elizabeth says "Nathan I do and leads him over to the settee". Nathan starts "Elizabeth I just want you to know you can tell me anything and we can talk about it even if we don't agree. Allie and I have this promise to each other to always be truthful and take time to listen to one another before we assume what the other is going to say." Ruefully he says "It works most of the time"
Elizabeth says "OK Nathan this is very hard for me, but I want to talk about my parents. I know you think we should talk with them about our relationship, but I am afraid they will give you a difficult time and not be too welcoming. They have never even seen Little Jack which bothers me greatly." Nathan gently encircles her in his arms as he knows this is very difficult for her. She goes on, "On the other hand I know they would be falling all over you if they knew you were Nate Regan's nephew and for that I am embarrassed." Nathan laughs and says "Really Elizabeth. Let's look at me: I am another Mountie and look at all the heartbreak you had over that already. I am raising my sister's child. My father spent time in prison and is trying to put his life back together and my mother has had much sadness and difficulty in her life. I don't blame your parents' for wanting what is best for you and thinking I am not their version of the best. If Allie came home with someone with all the items I just listed I don't know if I would be happy. Their version of what a good person for you is different than what you want—I hope "Elizabeth just looks at him and says "Really".
Nathan continues "All I want is the opportunity for them to know we are serious about this relationship and what they think is up to them. Me being Nate Regan's nephew doesn't magically make me a good person. Elizabeth as long as you love me and want me, that's all I really need and want. Look we both have turned away from our fathers' path. I just didn't become a criminal, I became a Mountie to serve and protect. You gave your up your father's dream of society for you to lead your own path in a frontier town. We are more alike than sometimes we think. We need to make the decisions for our lives' path and it's pretty clear I want you and Jack on my life path. Your parents are your parents and I 'll accept them on whatever terms they want. I just want you to know that I respect them and want them included in our lives if that is what you want. How you want to deal with your parents is up to you. I guess I figured your father would think I was less of a man if I didn't at least reach out. You tell me what you want Elizabeth." After this long dialogue Elizabeth says "Oh Nathan, thank you for all that as it has been bothering me. I will reach out to them and then maybe we will do a call" All on your timeline Elizabeth whatever you want. See that wasn't so bad was it?" Nathan says "Now how about a proper kiss Mrs. Thorton" he flirts, "I think I can manage that Constable and with that she kisses him passionately as he hold her tightly."
