Chapter 56 New Year's Day
Maura is hosting a New Year's luncheon at her new house and all gather. Many of the townspeople have been included as well. Before the luncheon starts Julia shares her vision of how she wants the Regan Foundation to start helping the town of Hope Valley. She envisions adding a large addition to the Library that will be able to hold room for community lectures, book clubs, or various community projects. She also wants the upstairs divided into educational areas where the older children or townspeople could improve their skills including typing classes, science and lab classes with microscopes/a small lab. She would like to include the beginnings of electrical and circuit training. She wants to encourage hands on learning that the community will need to grow and thrive as well as help the older children look for employment paths. There will be a small stage and art studio for those individuals who want to enhance their music and art skills. Rosemary is thrilled with this suggestion. To support all these area Julia wants to entice Instructors to rotate through to instruct and build up the project.
For that to work she wants to purchase one of the buildings in town and set up a Boarding House as she sees the town growing and needing more housing needs. Julia has more visions than this, but by the looks on people's faces this is enough growth for now. All excitedly discuss the opportunities this will afford the town. Bill is beaming with pride with Julia's vision and Elizabeth is excited as well. Both Maura and Nathan know Julia will be full speed ahead on this project and the building we probably start in the next week. All of this town improvement will come out of the Foundation which will be a sizeable investment in Hope Valley.
After enjoying the luncheon Nathan reminds Elizabeth of the phone call with her parents. Leaving the children in Maura and Julia's care they go off to the jail to place the call. Elizabeth calls her parents and after the niceties are exchanged she says "Father I hear Julie has been talking to you about my private life". He responds saying "Elizabeth I respect that you want to stay in Hope Valley; I'm not quite sure why, but I do respect it. I know the loss of Jack and raising Little Jack has been very hard on you. Julie tells me that you have met someone else and I would like to know more about it.
She responds "Father after Jack passed I never imagined I could meet someone else to share my life with. It has been a bumpy road to acknowledge and work through all me feelings, but yes I have a met a wonderful man, Nathan Grant." He continues "Elizabeth my understanding is this is another Mountie which I am sure has caused you some concern" Elizabeth responds "Yes Father that is why I referenced the bumpy road we traveled. But we love each other and are committed to having a life together. Our love is so strong I am willing to commit to him as a life partner. We are engaged Father and are planning a wedding in the spring. "
Her father responds "Well I knew you would never consent to me giving permission to marry as I assume you would have been angry at your young man if he did so. You are somewhat independent Elizabeth" Laughingly Elizabeth agrees, but she assures her Father that Nathan has wanted to reach out to her family, but she has been the hesitant one.
He asks to talk to Nathan who has been impatiently pacing. Picking up the phone Nathan says clearly, "Mr. Thatcher it is an honor to meet you. I am Constable Grant." They exchange some pleasantries and then Mr. Thatcher asks "So you are engaged to my daughter. I hope that you will accept her son as one of yours as well."
Nathan responds "With all due respect Mr. Thatcher if I couldn't love Jack as my own Elizabeth should have nothing to do with me. However I understand your concern as I have been raising my sister's daughter and recently adopted her so I understand you ask out of a love for your grandson and daughter. I never expected to find someone as wonderful as your daughter and I promise to care and cherish her for the rest of my days. I love Elizabeth and Little Jack and together with my daughter Allie we are looking forward to a wonderful family. We would love it if you could come and meet our little family so you could see for yourself just how strong we are and how much love we have for one another. If I was you Mr. Thatcher I would also want to know if I can support Elizabeth and a family and I can positively answer that. I would never have asked Elizabeth to be my wife if this was a concern."
Since Nathan had taken control of the conversation there was little left to ask by Elizabeth's father. He chuckled quietly and said "Stand down young man; I have heard only wonderful things about you. I did check though. I am pleased to welcome you to the family and I might remind you the trains run to Hamilton as well." Nathan responds "Understood sir".
Elizabeth returns to the phone and her father says "You have found yourself quite a young man Elizabeth. I hope you will be happy and we would love to meet your new family. "
"Any time" Elizabeth responds. That continue to chat about other family issues and Elizabeth relaxes and enjoy s the conversation. However just as they were saying their good byes her father says "I like your young man whether he is Nate Regan's nephew or not, he seems really solid." She says "Father that is not an issue and makes no difference to me. It is not something Nathan likes to exploit" Mr. Thatcher says, "Relax Elizabeth I already know all that and if was trying to get me to like him, most men would lead with that, so I have to respect Nathan wants to his own person. I may like him yet. Good luck daughter and your mother and I both very pleased for you as certainly deserve happiness. Let us know about the plans and as I told your young man the trains run both ways." With that the call ended and both Elizabeth and Nathan exhaled.
They looked at each other and started chuckling lad it was over. Both realized they were more nervous than they had thought. Elizabeth did say to Nathan that her father knew Nathan was Nate Regan's nephew. She says to Nathan, "I think her was more impressed that you didn't talk about that though".
Nathan pulls Elizabeth in his arms and as they embrace they relax against each other knowing this was right for both of them and together they could meet whatever lay in front of them. With a quick kiss Nathan says "Let's get our children and begin to enjoy the New Year".
Disclaimer: This has been my thoughts prior to Season 8 and I still love my Nathan and Elizabeth pairing. I like my imagination better than the reality right now 3 episodes in.