Chapter 38

Elizabeth was very busy the month of June. The last month before the summer break was full of tests to grade, reports to read, and class projects to finish. She also had report cards to fill out. Not only that she had a party to plan. Everything was going according to plan except she seemed to be running out of energy faster than usual. She was exhausted by eight o'clock and would sometimes fall asleep grading papers. She was also trying to keep track of the progress at the build site and tend to the gardens.

She was busier than usual so Rosemary and Allie tried to ease some of her workload by helping with the housework and laundry. Rosemary was starting to worry that her friend was burning the candle at both ends. She suggested that Elizabeth and Nathan take a rare night off and have dinner together while her and Lee babysat. Elizabeth thought that sounded wonderful as long as Nathan agreed. Rosemary told Elizabeth that she would prepare a feast for them so that they would be able to enjoy a romantic night home alone. Rosemary loved the attention but she knew Elizabeth and Nathan liked simplicity and didn't need fancy nights out to be happy. They just needed each other.

That Friday after school Elizabeth was looking forward to their date night in. It seemed like forever since they had time alone. They were both so focused on their new home, their children, and their jobs that they only shared some time alone before their children woke up in the morning and just before bed. They made those times special but they realized they needed more.

Elizabeth took care dressing for the date even though she wasn't leaving her house. Rosemary had brought over dinner and had set the table. What needed to be kept warm was on the stove and the rest was either on the table or in the icebox. Elizabeth knew that Nathan wasn't going to the build site after his rounds that day. He was coming straight home after grooming Newton and changing out of his uniform. Though she wouldn't have minded her husband coming home in his uniform. That uniform was a big part of who he was and she loved all of him.

Elizabeth was waiting for Nathan to arrive when she heard a soft knock on the door. She wondered who it could be because she knew Rosemary never knocked and she wasn't expecting Julie for a couple more weeks. Elizabeth opened the door and saw her husband standing there with the most beautiful bouquet she had seen since her wedding bouquet. Nathan smiled and said, "we really didn't have a proper first date so I thought I'd try to rectify that tonight, though the night won't be ending at the door with a chaste kiss like most first dates". Elizabeth laughed and kissed him. She went to the stove and began putting the food on the table while Nathan found a vase and put the flowers on her desk.

Nathan and Elizabeth enjoyed the food Rosemary had prepared and the delicious cherry cobbler she had made for dessert. They decided to skip the wine and had sarsaparilla instead because Elizabeth knew she would get sleepy if she had wine. Nathan turned on the viola and they danced the tango and waltzed around the living room enjoying their time together. After a few dances they decided to call it a night. Elizabeth thanked Nathan for a wonderful first date with a kiss. Then they went upstairs to their room and fell asleep in each other's embrace.

Nathan never tired of waking up trapped under Elizabeth. She seemed to fall asleep next to him and during the night her head would end up on either his shoulder or chest and her arm would be flung over him as if hugging him in her sleep. He wondered if his heartbeat lulled her into a peaceful sleep. That morning he had planned to go work on the barn but he decided that his wife and children deserved a special day. He was going to do his rounds and then take them fishing. They would have a fish fry for dinner that night. He had promised himself never to take his family for granted and today he was making time to show his children that they were more important than anything else.

Elizabeth watched Allie and Nathan fish while she laid on the blanket reading. She tried fishing but enjoyed watching her family fish more. Her line usually tangled or the fish would get away so she decided that for her in was better to be a spectator. Nathan had made a small fishing rod for little Jack and he attempted to fish but to him it was more fun than actual fishing. He enjoyed being included and mimicked Nathan's movements.

Little Jack was becoming more vocal and liked to chatter. He knew plenty of words but putting them together was a work in progress. All of a sudden little Jack squealed, "Dada fish", they all looked at him and sure enough little Jack had managed to hook a fish. Nathan wasn't sure what he was more shocked by, little Jack catching a fish or calling him Dada. Elizabeth just smiled at the two men in her life. She knew that little Jack thought of Nathan as his father and she was happy. She would still tell him about Jack but Nathan would be the man raising their son, being his father.

After a while Nathan came to sit by Elizabeth. He was closely watching Allie and little Jack as they played by the blanket away from the creek. He thought they had enough fish for tonight. Elizabeth decided it was time to tell him about the surprise party and their upcoming guest. Since she no longer had a guest room Julie was most likely going to be staying above the saloon.

Elizabeth lazily said, "Nathan, I decided to throw a party for the school children and the town as part of the school's year end celebration. I want to thank everyone who has helped us build the house and barn. Hopefully everything is finished before school starts or soon after. That night will end with a dance for everyone. Don't worry, you don't have to do anything except show up and dance with me. I asked my sister Julie to came and help me with the event. She is quite the party planner and I have missed her. There is just one thing, I haven't told her or my family about us getting married yet. I was hoping to do that in person so do you think we could take a family trip to Hamilton this summer"? Elizabeth looked at Nathan trying to gauge his reaction.

Nathan nodded, "Bill said we needed a honeymoon but I couldn't see us being away from our children more than one possibly two nights at the most. A family trip sounds perfect. I'll ask Bill to cover for me. Do you think the end of July, beginning of August would work? The barn will be done by then and most of the interior. Ned said that the paint you ordered for the house should be here next week. How do you think Julie will react to the news? Do you think she will keep our secret"?

Elizabeth wasn't sure but she hoped Julie would be ecstatic that her sister was so happy and had a wonderful family. Julie loved secrets. Elizabeth knew Julie had plenty of her own.