Chapter 40
Julie's train was supposed to arrive later that afternoon. Elizabeth planned on meeting her at the train station after school. Elizabeth had asked Lee to drive her because knowing Julie there would be a lot of luggage. Hopefully Lee wouldn't need to make more than one trip. Julie had told her that the railway had arranged delivery of the crates of supplies to the school house. They should arrive the day before the party as they would be held at an additional charge, as not to ruin the surprise. The party was in four days.
When Rosemary found out that Julie was going to be staying at the Saloon, she wouldn't have any of it. She offered Elizabeth her guest room for Julie. That way Julie would be right next door. Elizabeth agreed and told Lucas the room was no longer needed. Rosemary and Julie had gotten along quite well the last time Julie had been in town so Elizabeth wasn't worried about Julie's accommodations. Elizabeth just wasn't sure how Julie would take it because Elizabeth hadn't told her that her own guest room was permanently occupied.
Elizabeth, Rosemary, Laura, and Allie had been baking up a storm preparing bread, biscuits, cookies, pies, and a cake in honor of Julie's arrival. Rosemary and Allie also helped Elizabeth plan and start preparing a welcome back dinner for Julie. Rosemary would start everything while Elizabeth was getting Julie and Elizabeth would help finish the meal after returning with Julie. It would be a large dinner party with the Coultiers, Bill, and Elizabeth, Nathan and the children. Elizabeth thought that Julie's reaction might be tempered with more witnesses. She hoped that Julie would be happy for her, for her family.
That morning Elizabeth and Nathan had had their morning coffee together before Nathan went off to work. Elizabeth and Allie waited for Laura before heading towards the school. Allie looked pensive and asked Elizabeth, "Do you think your sister will like me? Do you think she will like Dad? Do you think she will be happy that we are a part of your family? Do you think that she will want to be my aunt, I've never had an aunt before"? Elizabeth was surprised that Allie was so worried about Julie's visit. Elizabeth was a little nervous herself. She wondered how Nathan felt because Julie was his sister-in-law. Elizabeth answered as honestly as she could not knowing how Julie would react, "Allie what's not to love. You are an amazing person and I believe Julie will see that. As for your father, Julie will probably give him a hard time to see how much she can get away with but as long as she sees the love between us, she will be happy. She will definitely love being an aunt. As for whether she'll be happy that we are a family, she better be because I'm not losing either of you. You are too important to me and little Jack".
Nathan sat at his desk finishing a few reports that he had been neglecting to work on the house and barn. The barn was almost finished. They were ready to start building the stalls and lay the floor boards in the hay loft. Right now, it was just the beams. The barn was fully enclosed and the roof was done. They had made good progress. Nathan wanted nothing more than to be in the workshop instead of doing the paperwork while his nerves got the best of him. He had met Julie once before at little Jack's christening but at that time he and Elizabeth were just friends, although even then he knew she was special. Elizabeth had told him that Julie liked Jack and that made him unsure of himself. Would Julie approve of him for her sister? Would she resent him or would she accept him as her new brother-in-law? Would she accept Allie? Those were questions he hoped would be answered later tonight.
Elizabeth and Lee were at the train station almost a half an hour before Julie's train was supposed to arrive. When they got there, they were told that the train had arrived already and Miss Julie had walked into town. She had left her luggage for them to collect. Lee loaded up the car and Elizabeth told him to take Julie's bags to her room. Elizabeth was going to walk into town and find Julie. She wondered what trouble Julie might find along the way. When it came to Hope Valley, trouble always found Julie.
Elizabeth walked the short distance into town not finding Julie on the walk. That meant Julie was either in town or on her way to the house. Elizabeth decided to stop at the Mountie office and get Nathan to help find Julie. Elizabeth knew that Nathan was on duty but she couldn't help herself, she made sure she closed the door behind her. Her husband looked so good in his uniform and she could see that he was nervous. She went behind his desk and kissed him. He needed the reminder that she chose him and that no matter what Julie thought, she was his wife. He pulled her down into his chair and kissed her again. They were oblivious to their surroundings and didn't hear the door open until they heard, "excuse me".