Chapter 48
The next morning Lee and Rosemary and Henry met at Elizabeth's row house to drive Elizabeth, Nathan, and their children to the train station. Lee knew that his car wasn't going to be big enough for the luggage and the six of them. Elizabeth had everything packed that she thought that they would need but knew if they forgot something that they could probably find a replacement in Hamilton. Breakfast was unique because they were trying to use up anything that would go bad while they were away. Rosemary had promised to keep an eye on the house and anything that they may have forgot to toss out. Everyone was dressed comfortably because they knew that it was a long trip.
Once the bags were loaded, they got into the cars and started towards the train station. Little Jack and Allie had never been on a train before. They had seen them but hadn't ridden them. Elizabeth had thought ahead and booked a family car for them. It would be easier than separate compartments because everything they would need would be in their car. Even their meals would be delivered to them instead of going to the dining car. There would be separate bunks for Allie and little Jack and a bedroom for Elizabeth and Nathan.
When they arrive at the station the porter took their luggage and stowed it in their train car. Bill was waiting for them when they arrived. He promised to keep the town safe while they were away and to take care of Newton and Sargeant. A few of their friends from town had also come to say goodbye. Rosemary and Lee hugged them all along with Bill before the family boarded the train. They sat on the sofa next to the windows and waved goodbye until they could no longer see their extended family. Little Jack and Allie were content just to watch the countryside outside the train windows for now so Elizabeth pulled out a book from her bag and started to read. Nathan decided that he would read the newspaper he had bought at the station to pass the time while the children were still in awe of the passing landscape.
An hour later they heard a tap at the door, Nathan opened the door to find a uniformed man, "I'm Peter and I'll be your cars personal valet for the trip. I have today's menu for lunch and dinner. If you would please fill out your order I will arrange for your meals. I'll bring the menu for tomorrow with tonight's dinner. If you need anything or require my assistance, please don't hesitate to ring the bell by pulling this cord, located near the door. I'll be back in a few minutes with some refreshments and to pick up the menu order." The children were starting to get antsy so Elizabeth pulled out little Jack's toys and he started to play quietly. Allie wanted to draw so she got out her sketchbook and colored pencils. Elizabeth filled out the menu after consulting with Allie and Nathan while they waited for Peter. Elizabeth knew she had made the right choice by booking the car. It was more expensive than buying four seats but with the children the extra cost was necessary. Peter was going to be a big help by bringing everything they needed.
Later that evening when the sun started to fade Elizabeth and Nathan helped Allie and little Jack get ready for bed. There were four bunks so they used the lower two to ensure that if anyone rolled out there would be no injuries. Luckily, Peter had showed them the collapsible side that could be used for younger children like little Jack. The children fell asleep lulled by the movement of the train. Elizabeth and Nathan weren't tired yet so they cuddled on the sofa in their pajamas and watched the stars through the windows. Elizabeth had her head on Nathan's shoulder and her arms wrapped around him. Nathan cradled her gently against him cherishing the time they had together. They would never take these moments for granted because they knew how fleeting life could be. Elizabeth had lived it and he had seen it many times before.
Before long Elizabeth had fallen asleep lulled by the movement of the train and the beat of his heart in her ear. He scooped her up and moved her to the bed. He drew the curtains down and tried to fall asleep beside her. It had been a long day and he hoped that they all would have a good night sleep. He wondered how many stops there would be during the night or early morning. He knew there were several stations between Hope Valley and Hamilton and the train would be stopping to let passengers on and off. He prayed that Elizabeth and the children would sleep through them but he was skeptical if he would be able to. Unless exhausted, he was usually a light sleeper so he figured he'd sleep between stops.
The next day was similar to the day prior except the changing landscape seemed to keep the children entertained a bit longer. They watched out the windows between coloring, reading, and playing. They even sang a few songs to pass the time. Peter had brought their meals and everything was delicious. The chef onboard was as good as Gustav. It had to be hard making meals on a moving train. They were tired of being cooped up and wanted to go outside and play. Elizabeth promised, "as soon as we get to Hamilton, we will find a park that we can run and play for a while. We will have to go to a couple clothing stores before we go to the hotel. Aunt Julie said that she is going to meet us at the train station. I bet she knows the best one." Allie and little Jack seemed to accept that. She did notice as the day passed the children weren't sitting as much. They were playing on the floor, walking around the car or laying on the couch as they played.
That night they went to bed knowing the next morning they would be pulling into Hamilton. They would have breakfast on the train and about an hour later they should start to see the towns just outside Hamilton. The city kept growing and those towns kept getting closer. Even Elizabeth and Nathan went to bed earlier than they had the night before because they knew that they had to pack up everything they had used the last two days and they didn't want to forget anything on the train. As they inched closer to Hamilton, Nathan started to worry once again. Not about himself but about Allie. What would his mother say about Elizabeth and him adopting Allie? Would she accept that Allie had started to call Elizabeth "mom"? Would Elizabeth's parents accept Allie as Elizabeth's daughter, their granddaughter? He knew Julie loved her like a niece. He loved Allie like a father and wanted to protect her from any pain. Then he thought about little Jack and if his mother and Elizabeth's parents would accept him as little Jack's father. He reached for his wife and tried to draw comfort in watching her sleep. He knew Elizabeth wouldn't let anyone hurt Allie or little Jack either. She always put her family first.