AN: So this chapter is the second to the last chapter of this story. I have a short chapter with Nathan and Elizabeth to follow. For those anticipating the Hamilton trip, I have plans for a sequel which will include that as well as their wedding. I thank-you all for taking this imaginary journey with me, and thanks to everyone who reviewed. I have a When Hope Calls story that I will be posting while starting work on the sequel that I hope people will check out. It's called. For The Love Of a Mountie.
New Year's Eve was a cold but clear night. Lucas had organized a firework display to go off at midnight in celebration. Most of the town had turned out for it, gathering near the schoolhouse to watch the display.
Elizabeth stood with Ally and the Coulters. The papers for Bridget and Ivy's adoption had been signed in Bill's office earlier that day. Though the papers needed to be sent away to be properly filed, the two girls were well on their way to officially being part of the Coulter family. Elizabeth smiled as she watched Rosemary standing with her hands on Bridget's shoulders while Ivy was already asleep in Lee's arms. They made a sweet family, and Elizabeth was happy for her friends.
Looking down at the girl standing in front of her, Elizabeth realized that she was just as lucky. In about six months, Ally would officially be her daughter. That fact made her just as happy as the idea of becoming Nathan's wife made her. Elizabeth reached out and put her arms around the girl standing in front of her. Ally leaned back against her a little, as she placed a hand on Elizabeth's arm.
"I've never seen fireworks before," Ally said excitedly, tilting her head back to look up at Elizabeth.
"You're in for a treat," Elizabeth assured her, thinking back to a few years ago when Rosemary had organized the fireworks after entering a magazine contest. She and Jack had been trying to figure out their relationship after a trip to Hamilton and the interest of Charles had stirred up uncertainty for them. Jack's kiss that night had made Elizabeth feel like they were on their way to a wonderful future.
As short as it was, her time with Jack had been wonderful. They had started to make dreams together after that. Some of those dreams had come to fruition and others had remained unrealized. Still, she was grateful for that time she had with Jack just as she was grateful that Nathan and Ally had come into her life. Like Little Jack had, they had brought joy back to her life and had helped her to start looking toward the future and making plans again instead of simply going through the motions of life.
Looking toward the pond, Elizabeth caught a glimpse of two figures in red serge in the lantern light by the shoreline. Both Nathan and Brian were helping Lucas and Mike set up the fireworks. Part of her wanted Nathan in the crowd with her, but she knew Nathan felt better being involved in the process, making sure things were done safely.
"Okay, ladies, gentlemen and children," Lucas announced, turning to address the crowd, "the fireworks are set," he said, pulling out his pocket watch, he looked at the time. "The New Year will begin in two minutes."
Beside Elizabeth, Lee gently woke up Ivy so the little girl could see the fireworks. Though she was sure the bright lights of the fireworks would have delighted Jack, she had felt he was too young to be out for something so late. The cold had also given her pause to bring him. She was thankful that Laura had offered to stay at the house with him, saying that she would watch the fireworks from Elizabeth's front steps.
"I wish Dad were here with us?" Ally commented, the excitement clear in her voice.
"Your Dad will find us afterwards to walk us home," Elizabeth said. "He's where he feels he needs to be right now."
"I know," Ally commented even as Lucas spoke up again getting ready to start the count down.
A hush fell over the crowd gathered as people started looking up at the sky. As Lucas reached twenty in his countdown, members of the gathered crowd started counting with him. Moments after the countdown reached zero, a cheer rose around Elizabeth as the sky above them was lit up with fireworks.
"Happy New Year, Ally," Elizabeth told the girl standing in front of her even as people around her said those same words to their family and friends.
With eyes still transfixed on the sky above Ally replied, "I think this might be the happiest year in my life, yet."
Elizabeth hoped that prediction for the young girl. If they did, Elizabeth knew it would be one of her happiest years as well.
After the fireworks, Nathan and Brian found Elizabeth, Lee, Rosemary and the children. The two Mounties were greeted warmly with new year wishes, from the others. Elizabeth was a little disappointed that Nathan had simply kissed her cheek, though she hoped he might remedy that later when they weren't in a crowd.
Despite the cold and the late hour, the people of Hope Valley mingled for a while there by the pond. Elizabeth was happy that Nathan and Ally were by her side as she greeted neighbors. Eventually though, groups started striking out toward homes.
Reaching the path running along the row of homes, Lee headed toward the Grant's home with Ally as Nathan planned on walking Laura home given the late hour. Brian, Rosemary, Bridget and Ivy said goodnight to Elizabeth and Ally as they reached the Coulter's home, leaving Nathan to walk Elizabeth to her door alone.
Standing at the bottom of the steps, Nathan and Elizabeth stood facing each other.
"Are we still going on the afternoon ride tomorrow?" Elizabeth asked.
"We are," Nathan told her. "Brian's going to wait until the afternoon to work so he'll be in the office if anything comes up. Are you going to tell me where we're going?"
Elizabeth smiled as she shook her head. "No. I'll explain when we get there."
"Okay," Nathan replied, willing to trust her without knowing what was going on. There weren't too many people he would be willing to do that with.
Without another word, Nathan leaned forward and pressed his lips against Elizabeth's. Immediately his fiancé returned the kiss, which was both hungry and passionate. Even in the bad light of the lanterns, Nathan had noticed the disappointment on Elizabeth's expression when he had kissed her on the cheek, however he hadn't felt comfortable with a more passionate display in the middle of the crowd that had been gathered.
"That was worth waiting for," Elizabeth said breathlessly, as they pulled away from each other.
"I love you, Elizabeth," Nathan told her quietly. "I'm looking forward to starting our lives together this year."
"Me too," Elizabeth agreed, looking up into his eyes. "What is it, Nathan?"
Nathan smiled. Elizabeth was able to read him much the way his sister had been. He found something comforting about that.
"Ever since you accepted my proposal, I've been debating on when would be a good time to give you something," Nathan told her reaching up to undo the one pocket of his uniform jacket. "Remember, I told you about the letters my sister wrote for me and Ally."
"Yes," Elizabeth said, nodding while holding Nathan's gaze.
"Well, when I took the two out that were labeled for Ally's twelfth birthday I came across this one as well," Nathan continued, pulling an envelope out of his pocket and holding it out to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth took it from him and in the light of the porch lamp, read the words written on the envelope.
For the Woman Nathan Marries.
Elizabeth looked back up at Nathan, who saw the surprise in her eyes. It was the same emotion he had felt when he had first found the letter.
"I have no clue what she wrote in there. Until a few months ago, I didn't even know it existed," Nathan told her. "The thought of destroying it briefly crossed my mind, but I couldn't do it. It wouldn't have been fair to Colleen. I just hope she didn't write anything in there that will make you change your mind about marrying me."
Elizabeth laughed. "It's going to take more than a letter to make me change my mind about marrying you," she assured him.
"That's good," Nathan said. "However, I finally decided that the only one who can decide when the right time to open that letter is you. Open it whenever you feel ready," he instructed.
"Okay," Elizabeth replied. "Though I have a feeling, I'll be reading it sooner rather than later."
Nathan nodded. "It's getting late. I should probably be getting Laura home."
Elizabeth nodded. "You're right. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Nathan," she told him.
"Goodnight, Elizabeth," Nathan replied, leaning in for a quick goodnight kiss before Elizabeth headed inside to relieve Laura.
Despite the late night, Elizabeth was up early the following morning with Little Jack. As her son hadn't been up waiting to see the firework, she supposed she shouldn't have been surprised. Still, as she padded from her room to her son's room, she wouldn't have minded a little more sleep.
Elizabeth went through her morning routine, telling Little Jack about the fireworks the night before as she got him changed and dressed. Going downstairs, Elizabeth put her son in his high chair while she went about getting breakfast.
Elizabeth's morning went quickly as she was kept busy with caring for her son and doing some housework. Rosemary would be coming by around lunch time so that she could go for her planned ride with Nathan. She couldn't believe that the holiday break was almost over. She was going to have to find some time to work on lesson plans over the next few days. Today though, she had a more personal topic on her mind.
It was about eleven when Jack drifted off for a nap. Elizabeth laid her son down in his playpen for his nap. With the intent to sit down and rest a bit herself, Elizabeth headed for the settee. On her way there though, her eyes fell on the envelope that Nathan had given her the night before. She had placed it on her desk when she had come inside the night before.
Walking over to the desk, Elizabeth picked up the envelope. She looked down at the words written there. Words wrote by Nathan's sister. Wrote by Ally's mother. Though she had never met Colleen, Elizabeth knew she was now an important part of her life because of the role she played in the lives of two people who were important to her.
Envelope in hand, Elizabeth walked over to the settee. Sitting down, she looked down at the envelope. Nathan had told her to open it when she felt ready. Elizabeth knew that like with Jack's last letter to her, if she had waited to feel ready it would never be opened.
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth let it out slowly as she opened the envelope and removed the paper inside. Unfolding the paper, she saw more of the neat handwriting that matched the writing on the envelope.
Taking one more calming deep breath, Elizabeth began to read.
Dear Future Sister-in-law,
As I write these words, I realize that there is a chance that they will never be read given My Nate's insistence that he will never get married. I understand his feelings on the subject and his fears. However, I hope that they won't keep him from finding the joy that mutual love can bring. Despite his faults, I have known that with Jeff and if he were to get past his fears, I know Nathan will find it as well. Especially given that my brother has a better sense of people than I do.
If you are reading this, then I know that something has made Nathan change his mind about marriage. Perhaps it was having my Alyssa in his life, as I know it will be my brother raising my daughter. However, I think it's more likely that it has been you that has helped him to get past his fears and open himself to all the joys that love can bring.
Knowing my brother as I do, I have no doubt that you are a strong, intelligent, and caring woman. I know those are the traits that would attract Nathan to someone and those are the traits that I would want in a role model for my daughter. I have no doubt that you will be a wonderful mother figure to my Alyssa Rose. If my daughter should decide to bestow upon you the title of mother, then know that it has my blessing. More than anything, I want my little girl to have someone in her life that she can think of as her mother. If Nathan cares enough about you to ask you to marry him, then I know you are worthy of that role.
You may already know this, but Nathan didn't have an easy childhood. Neither of us did, but my brother took our father's mistakes more personally than I did I believe. Though he has never admitted it to me, I think that Nathan feels that he failed to protect our mother and myself. That of course isn't true, but some things are hard to make someone see when they don't want to. However, Nathan is a protector. He will do anything for the people that he cares about. Sometimes, perhaps he is a bit too protective. I think he feels guilty that he hasn't been able to do more for me, but he's done all he can. Just having him here these last few months have brought me a sense of peace. There are some things that happen that are out of our control. That no matter what we do, we can't change the outcome, we can only make the most of the time we have left with those we love. This is one of those times, and I pray that Nathan comes to understand this. So, if Nathan ever seems smothering or unreasonable sometimes in his efforts to protect you, please try not to hold that against him. Know that his actions come from the heart.
I love my brother and my daughter, and it pains me to know I won't be with them much longer. Whether you've already married him, or the wedding is still to come when you get this letter, I entrust them both to your care now. Love them, despite their faults. Share their joys and comfort them in their times of need. I know My Nate will do the same for you, and hopefully my Alyssa has learned those lessons from him.
Love,
Colleen
Elizabeth found herself blinking back the tears that blurred her vision. She didn't know Colleen, but the letter had given her a connection to this sister-in-law she had never met.
"I will love them both with all my heart, Colleen. You have that promise from me," Elizabeth said softly as she folded the letter. She knew she would hold onto it and probably read it again in the years to come.
