Chapter One Hundred Fifteen: Resolution

It had been a long day of meticulous work by all involved.

Bill had even brought Nathan and the Superintendents Lunch because there was no time to stop.

Nathan was confident and the Superintendents, Superintendent Raymond Baslow and Superintendent Shade Simpkins, were aghast they had not put any of this together before.

"Don't feel bad. You just weren't given the whole picture, but I think we have it now," reassured the Chief Inspector.

"But, Nathan, Shade and I talk about cases together all the time! And so do the other Superintendents. How could we miss all this?" asked Raymond.

"Don't forget, I've had the added benefit of seeing all the files, together at once, after the fact, and believe me, I've poured over them. It's just much easier for things to stand out, this way!"

"That's what you say! We're beginning to think you just have a gift!" pronounced Shade. "And that goes for all of us!"

Nathan blushed, "It's the Criminal Mind that always intrigues me, and I just have to understand all the clues we're given, or it drives me crazy!"

"Admit it, Nate. You just have a talent we don't! Harry's going to rip us a new one!" gushed Ray with a lot of respect, but a bit of chagrin at the thoughts of facing their Commissioner.

"No, he won't. We've all worked on this and we're all doing the final presentation together! Why don't you two go change into your civies, and I'll do the same. Don't forget, we're supposed to meet Bill at the Saloon around 5:30! See you there! And guys, with all the new people in town, it might be better for you to go in the back way, so the Serges aren't seen. That will keep us incognito, in case we need it."

"Not a bad idea at all! Feels sort of nice to finally call it a day!" sighed Shade. "I, for one, am ready to relax!"

"Sounds good to me. See you then, Nathan. And great work today! Really extraordinary work!" complimented Ray.

"Well, the three of us did it together!" reminded Nathan.

The two men had not been gone longer than fifteen minutes when there was a knock on Nathan's Office door.

"Come in!" he called as he finished compiling the last of the results from the Background Checks.

"Nathan, I missed you and I just felt I needed to check on you. Is everything okay?"

"Lisbeth! Oh, Darling, yes, everything's okay, especially now that you're here. You have no idea how good it is to see you!"

But if anyone had seen the Chief Inspector's glowing face and sparkling eyes at that very moment, they would have had a pretty good idea!

Elizabeth ran to him and he picked her up and held her tight, then they both did what they had been longing to do all day.

"How can every kiss we share just get sweeter and sweeter and sweeter?" whispered Elizabeth.

"You've seen nothing yet, Darling! It just gets better and better and better! You'll see!"

She smiled, "You know, I already believe you!"

"You'd better," he laughed.

"Did you finish your Background Checks?"

"It took three of us all day long. That's what I'm working on, now."

"Nathan, I need to tell you something, but I hate to betray Julie's confidence…"

"Then don't. I'll tell you instead."

Nathan led her to the chair from across his desk, sat down in the one beside her, and took her hands in his.

"Her Fiance is based out of Quebec. He is not such a nice man and he happens to have a huge problem with gambling."

"Darling, how could you possibly know that?"

He raised his eyebrows, and then she understood.

"Lisbeth, I'm working on it. And I think we're going to take care of everything from our end, but do discourage Julie to stay away from him. That's important if you can do it. At least we have her here with us right now for another week, which is good. I don't want her anywhere near him."

"They've already broken up, thank goodness!"

"He's not still coming to our Wedding, is he?" asked Nathan.

"No, I think he's completely forgotten about that, and anyway, surely he wouldn't know the details, since he and Julie have been broken up for a bit."

"Darling, it isn't safe for Julie to be around him ever again."

"I know. Just from what she told me. Nathan, he abused her."

Nathan's face looked as sick as he felt in his stomach.

"We'll take care of it, Lisbeth. I give you my word!"

Archie and Madelyne had gone for a walk around the Grant property, and Julie knew this would likely be her only chance to talk to her Parents alone, as Elizabeth had gone in to see Nathan, and the Children were next door at Rosemary's house.

Even Julie noticed Nathan's Parents had taken off like teenagers, hand in hand, and Godfrey had carefully packed them a picnic snack, that had a blanket tucked across the wicker hamper.

Julie smiled to herself when she saw them leave, and it made her realize, that's what she truly wanted, a love that would last her whole life through.

"Mother, Father! Elizabeth said we could talk in the library. Would that be okay?" asked Julie rather nervously.

"Julie, we'd love nothing more," and Grace meant that with all her heart.

William saw that the Ladies were seated in Nathan's old leather chairs, then he turned to shut the Library doors, in case anyone unexpectedly entered the house.

He pulled out one of the desk chairs, drawing it close to his Wife and Daughter, and just sat silently, letting Julie take the lead.

"First, I just ask that you not hate me," cried Julie softly.

"Julie, I am your Father and Grace is your Mother. Don't you know Child by now, that we could never hate you? We love you with all of our hearts. I'm aware we didn't say that enough when you and your Sisters were growing up, and we deeply regret that."

"But, Dear, we're trying to change all that. And we give you our word, we are here for you now. What has happened to you, my lovely Julie? How can we help you?" asked her Mother.

In her whole life, Julie had never heard her Parents say words like that, and she was stupefied, almost like this couldn't even be happening.

But she knew she had a lot of filling in to do and a lot of apologies to make.

And this wasn't going to be easy!

So, she started, again.

"I met Tom, Thomas Christian Jourdain in Quebec. It wasn't a society function, at all, although his family is very high society. But, I now realize none of that matters. And this is one of the parts I'm so ashamed of, but please believe me, it only happened once, and I give you my word, it will never happen again."

Her parents looked at each other, and she could see they were trying to brace themselves for what was to come.

"I had money problems, so I tried to fix it in a stupid way. I gambled, only once. And it didn't work."

Her Mother's mouth had dropped open, because any Lady, much less a Lady of Julie's social standing, would not have ever been seen in a covert house of gambling. But Grace was trying so hard to take in what her Daughter was saying without judging her, and Julie saw she was genuinely making an effort to put herself in her Daughter's place, even for this most horrible thing.

'Please, God. Just help me know how to help Julie,' prayed Grace silently. 'Give me strength."

Her Father's face remained stoic, and Julie knew she had hurt him deeply and terribly.

But she continued on.

"Tom was there, and even with his low standards, he was quite appalled I had been allowed to sit at the table. So, he quickly changed places with me, and afterward, he very politely ushered me home. That's how our relationship started. But it wasn't at all roses. I ended up supporting him with what little money I had left because he had helped me and I knew he needed it. Later I found out he was using my money to gamble with. When he finally realized my money was gone, he was going to dump me, and that's when I brought him to Hamilton to meet you, to try to salvage everything. But that's where an even uglier thing happened."

She breathed in deeply and continued.

"While we were in Hamilton at our house, he swore he would get your money if it was the last thing he did. And that was it. I was finished. We returned to Quebec, and I broke our engagement for good! He only wanted me for my money and your money. And this next thing is very hard for me to talk about, and I want you to know, I am alright. But he did sprain my wrist, and he hit me a few times. He cursed at me all the time, almost from the beginning, and I should have known better. It will never happen again. None of this will ever happen again. And I'm so ashamed!"

By now Julie was sobbing, and her Mother just scooted over in the big chair with her, holding her, soothing her, caressing her hair, kissing her.

William sat with his face in his hands.

'Why is this, parenting, the hardest job of all?' he asked inwardly. 'How have we failed so badly?'

But somehow, William knew, that although he and Grace were rather late to the game, they were finally rising to the task at hand. And this was all about making their youngest, wild child Daughter, feel loved.

This time, both he and Grace were determined they would succeed, no matter what it took.

"But there's more…," Julie cried.

"I spent all my Trust Fund, except a few thousand I kept back to live on. And I couldn't figure out a way to fix it. But, Father, I really didn't think I'd spent that much, and neither did my accountant! I don't know what happened!"

"Julie, why didn't you come to me?" and she could see the hurt in her Father's eyes that quickly turned to anger. "And for the record, that Man better never come around me again! I'll tear him to shreds! How dare he touch my Daughter! Or even speak to her like that!"

Grace gave her Husband a quick look that let him know to calm down and do it quickly.

William heeded his wife's silent admonition and garnered every ounce of fortitude he had to put Thomas Christian Jourdain completely out of his mind for the moment and focus on what his Daughter needed.

William scooted over, even closer to Julie, and first kissed her on her forehead, then took her hands.

Then he relaxed and focused solely on Julie…

"Oh, Julie Belle, no one can get in messes like you! And that's been true since you were a crawling Baby! But you know what, it sounds like you got yourself out of this one and I'm proud of you for that!"

"Proud of me? But Father, I lost all my Trust Fund!" and Julie looked as though she was going to cry all over again. "Why aren't you yelling at me? It might make me feel better!"

Instead of being upset, her Father just threw back his head and laughed!

When you had more money than you or your Family could ever use, and then some, you could do that!

"Sweet, sweet Julie, your Father is a Businessman. Don't you think I put safeguards in place when I set up those trust funds to protect you? Well, of course, I did! My Attorney oversees them for a reason, for all three of you girls. You've never had access to more than 10% without it being cleared by me. Darling, what I'm trying to tell you is 90% of your Trust Fund is still intact."

Julie's eye widened, and when she finally realized her Father had protected her from doing the most foolish thing she could have ever done financially, she screamed!

"Daddy, I love you!"

Grace smiled at William.

Finally, they had done something right where Julie was concerned.

And now for the difficult part, which William felt was his duty to initiate.

"Julie, I don't like one of my Daughters having less than her two Sisters. And I say this with the greatest of love. You need to find a way to work and replace what you lost."

She nodded.

"I know you're right. Lizzie and I talked about this. It's my art that I love. In fact, it's the only thing I love. So, I'm going back to that full-time. And I'm going to start by getting a job in the Hamilton Art Gallery. Mrs. Sanders said she would hire me if I'd help her with the cataloging and I can do that! I know I can."

Her parents nodded in agreement.

"But, I would need to stay with you all, so I could save my money," explained Julie.

"Julie, our Home is your Home. Come Home, Darling, and work on fixing all this. Everything will work out, you'll see!" assured Grace, encouragingly.

"Julie, your Mother and I have never been so proud of you. Tonight, you became a responsible Adult, and that means everything! We'll support you in every way, except not financially, beyond what's left of your Trust Fund. You'll replenish it yourself with your new job," pronounced her Father.

"And Julie, you'll see. Your Father and I won't be the only ones to be proud of you," added Grace.

Julie looked puzzled.

"Darling, you'll be proud of yourself! Possibly for the very first time!"

It was the oddest thing, for it was in her Parents taking their money away, the one thing they had given her freely all of her life, that allowed Julie to finally grow up.

All three of them stood and hugged, all with tears in their eyes.

"In the Business World, we shake on a deal, and we just made a deal," laughed her Father.

So, the three of them kissed each other, then laughed, and stuck out their hands, taking turns gripping each others' hands in firm, sincere, and binding handshakes!

Nathan went to the back room of his Office, then changed into his casual clothes.

"Ready to head home, Love?"

They walked out on the Boardwalk, arm in arm.

He mounted Newton, then helped her up too, and they rode to their new house together.

"Darling, I'm so sorry I have to miss the Family Dinner, but I have to meet Bill and the Superintendents at the Queen of Hearts."

"Just be safe!"

"We'll be fine; don't worry. Not expecting any trouble. We just need to go over a few points while they're still fresh in our minds."

He dismounted long enough to lift her down, then held her close, and kissed her goodbye.

"I'll try to ride out later and say Goodnight, but just in case…" he said hoarsely.

"I miss you already…" she whispered longingly.

That just happened to be the moment Archie and Madelyne walked up over a knoll in the distance.

They couldn't help but see their handsome Son and beautiful soon-to-be Daughter-in-Law, passionately kiss, as they stood by Newton, with the last of the sun's rays shining down on them.

And it filled their hearts with joy…

Bill had already met up with Ray and Shade and they were all speaking in low voices, at the dark table in the far corner of the Queen of Hearts.

When Nathan arrived, he took the only chair left which happened to be facing the front door.

"Getting nervous, Nathan? After all, you are the Groom," asked Bill.

"No, proud to report not at all. Anxious, but not nervous!"

The waiter brought beers for everyone, as Bill had already ordered.

But for some reason, Nathan really didn't even care to sip on his.

He preferred to keep his mind perfectly clear until he could answer every last detail of a case.

"How are you all going to handle this? I mean who's going to apprehend him?" asked Bill.

"We'd all like to do it ourselves!" laughed Ray. "But the Superintendent for that area will take care of it."

"As well as the additional sting operations in all three cities to bring in everyone else involved," added Nathan.

Then they summarized the points of the case for Bill, in very low voices, so they wouldn't be heard.

And all of them, well, all of them except Nathan, relaxed.

Then the other three began to razz him, again, about his upcoming Wedding.

Nathan took it like the good sport he was, "Razz me all you want. I'm about to be the happiest Man alive!"

"You just wait, till it's Honey do this, and Honey do that!" laughed Bill. "Believe me, I know!"

"Gentlemen, don't look now, but I do believe, we've just been granted the presence of none other than Thomas Christian Jourdain, right here in Hope Valley."

The others thought Nathan was teasing, but Bill knew better.

"Do you have enough evidence?" he asked, without even glancing around.

"Tons," answered Shade. "More than enough. It just took Nathan to put it all together!"

"Do you know where Aaron is Bill?" asked Nathan in a low voice.

"Went home early!"

The men continued playing with their drinks, pretending to drink without drinking anything at all.

They needed to be alert.

It wasn't five minutes later, Aaron, walked in, still in his Serge.

Nathan watched as Tom eyed Aaron up and down.

Aaron was cutting up with Gustav at the Bar, and so far, thankfully, hadn't seen Bill and his new crew of Boys!

"Bill, go block the door so Jourdain can't leave. Shade, cover the stairs. Ray, you come with me from behind," instructed Nathan. "Careful. We know he's armed."

The men shifted into position, just as Aaron looked up and saw Bill.

Bill waved casually, then gave him a hand signal the three of them used to let each other know something was going on.

Aaron turned, also doing his best to act naturally, and spoke to a couple of the townsmen, making small talk, all the while with his right hand edging toward his pistol.

Tom was watching Aaron intently, but, thankfully, couldn't see his hand or pistol from where he was sitting, because Aaron's right side was completely turned away from him.

With his eyes firmly planted on the Constable in the red Serge, and before Tom even knew what was happening, Chief Inspector Nathan Grant's pistol was cocked and firmly in his back, and Ray was frisking him before he could even reach for his own gun.

"Monsieur Thomas Christian Jourdain, I'm Chief Inspector Nathan Grant, this is Superintendent Raymond Baslow, Superintendent Shade Simpkins, and Constable Aaron Latham. You are under arrest for numerous counts of Gambling and Racketeering in Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you."

By this time, everyone in the Queen of Hearts realized something big was going down.

But they had no idea what or who this strange man was in the very expensive French-cut Suit, set off with a flashy silk tied ascot bigger than the one Lucas typically wore. He had a large matching silk handkerchief falling out of his upper coat pocket, and wore dress shoes, that were as shiny as glass.

Monsieur Jourdain looked every ounce a very rich, very French Gentlemen.

Nathan, Ray, Shade, and Bill, along with Aaron, personally escorted their captive to Jail, where Mr. Jourdain was placed under 24hr watch.

They were taking no chances, not on a case this huge.

Ray and Shade took over managing the paperwork with Aaron, as everything had to be stated a particular way, as this was national, while Nathan called Commissioner Blake in his own Office.

"Sir, we need Gambling Stings set up by each Superintendent in Quebec, Toronto, and Vancouver, all Top Case Load."

Nathan then briefed the Commissioner on the day's events, and the happenstance capture, reiterating how important the Superintendents' help had been, always underplaying his own involvement.

But his Commissioner knew better.

"Nathan, great job! Congratulations on the Capture. I'm doing my best to make it to the game tomorrow, but if I can't I'll at least make it to the Party. Tell Ray and Shade, I'll see them then! Very proud of you. You knocked another one out of the park! Just keep at it, Son. Smartest decision we ever made was putting you in this position!"

Nathan said his goodbyes to his Commissioner, then went back to the Jail.

"Nathan, we've got everything under control. You go tend to your Guests!" directed Bill, as he looked up toward the door.

"Are you sure?" asked Nathan.

"Positive!" declared Ray.

Aaron and Shade nodded in agreement.

"Thank all of you! We couldn't have done all this today without each other!"

Nathan's heart was loads lighter as he rode Newton to their new Home.

Well, technically not his Home yet, but would be after next week.

Something had bothered him all day, and now he knew what it was.

After they had done everything that could possibly be done, he had still felt off, not knowing at all what was wrong.

But now he knew that both instinctively and subconsciously, he had known their workday wasn't over.

He hadn't known how or in what way it would end.

But something had been off for a reason, and it was preparing him to think smarter and to be even more alert.

That feeling had made him see to it that everyone was out of their Serge, although he had no real idea why.

But now he knew, it would have spooked Jourdain to have seen all those Men in Uniform, and he would have run, perhaps even without them seeing him.

Clearly, it had all worked out because of the assistance from a Higher Power.

And on his way Home, as was his custom, Nathan said a prayer of thanks, while only God and Newton listened in.

The Family was sitting around the huge Kitchen table, eating the Pudding Trifle Dessert Godfrey had whipped up for them.

"And that's how it all happened. But Julie, bottom line, Monsieur Jourdain is going away for a very, very long time and he will never hurt you again."

Julie ran to Nathan, full of relief and sincere tears, and he stood to hug his new Sister-in-Law, now his new Sister.

Both understood in that embrace, although they had gotten off to a rough start, they would be life-long friends bound by a Family tie that made them even more, and nothing would ever sever that.

Madelyne cried softly seeing her Son with one of his new Sisters, and even Viola got up and came to hug her new Brother-in-Law too.

Which made Madelyne continue to cry even more.

By this time Grace and Elizabeth had joined in.

"Thanks for taking such good care of Julie and making sure she'll always be safe!" and even Lady Armstrong, was tearing up as she said the words.

Though they would be separated by an ocean and almost a continent for most of their lives, Viola and Nathan now had forged a relationship, one that might be tested over the years, because, after all, it was Viola. But one that was real and built on respect for the new roles they were being given as Brother and Sister.

Even Archie realized the poignancy of this night, and he held Madelyne's hand as both he and his wife could clearly feel Colleen's angelic presence, the Sister Nathan had loved with all his heart.

Because he didn't want to outright cry in front of everyone, Archie excused himself and slowly walked out to the Stables.

He thought a few minutes, yet he didn't know what to do.

He petted Newton, his Son's horse, thinking this might be the closest he'd ever really be to Nathan.

But the weight of his burden fell more heavily than ever on his shoulders, till finally he could do nothing but pray.

So, he knelt there in the Stable, beside his Son's beloved Horse.

"Dear God, I'm just a simple Man, and I've hurt my Family so terribly over the years. I want to make it up to them, but I don't know how. Help me know how. Please help me know how to reach Nathan. I don't want to lose my Son, too. Not my Son. Please help me make it right. That's all I ask. Before I die, help me let my Son know how proud of him I am and how very much I love him."

Nathan was standing in the shadows on his way to get Newton, and he had heard every single word.

And at that moment something inside him broke.

He instantly became that Little Boy, the Little Boy Nathan, who needed his Father so badly, yet his Dad couldn't come.

But instead of all that bitterness he had felt as a Child, he looked at his Father, and all the negative emotions and energies literally burst from his being, flowing copiously over and through the now broken dam of self-protection he had built within.

All the bitterness and troubled feelings bolted into oblivion.

All of the bitterness, the fear, the resentment, the shame, the anger, the rage.

In an instant, it was all gone.

And there was just love left.

Archie got up slowly, still so unsure, and even a little unsteady on his feet.

His Dad turned and then he saw his Son standing there, not knowing at all what to do.

Nathan didn't know what to do either.

But the Little Boy inside him did.

And it was that Little Boy who ran to his Father and embraced him, sobbing, letting out all the tears he had refused to shed from so many years ago.

"I'm sorry Dad. I forgive you! And Colleen forgives you. I know she does."

"I love you Son, more than anything in this world."

Nathan wasn't even sure he could have ever said it, but the Little Boy Nathan was fearless and he swelled up inside this grown man who was the bravest of brave in all things except for this one.

It was not at all the brave grown Nathan that spoke, but the simple Little Boy who knew exactly what needed to be said.

"I love you, Daddy!"

The two stood together, holding each other.

Nothing had been discussed, yet everything had been said.

Everything that was ever needed to be said.

All because a Father and Son refused to give up, yet still couldn't find their way back to each other, God used a Little Boy from long ago and worked his second Miracle of the Day in Hope Valley.

Teaching both the Father and his grown Son the language and power of restorative love...