Chapter 56
Elizabeth was surprised that her father had upgraded their private car but she knew that it was his way of showing how much he loved them. What was even more unexpected was the gifts that were piled on the table for the children. There were books, sketchbooks, and paints for Allie and toys and games for little Jack. Elizabeth knew her father was making up for lost time and thinking that the presents would also make the long journey home easier. The excitement over the new things would make the time fly.
Shortly after departure their personal butler for the trip home appeared. He wasn't the same one that had before but was a pleasant man. He left the evenings menu with them and offered to get them any beverages they would like prior to dinner. He left a gift basket with snacks and fruits on the counter for them to enjoy as well. After discussing with Nathan, Elizabeth selected their meals and gave it to the butler when he returned with their drinks. He left a carafe of water as well for drinking. While Elizabeth sipped her hot tea, Nathan drank his coffee and continued to read the book he had brought from Hamilton. Elizabeth found her journal and started to write. She hadn't written in a few days and had a lot to record. Both of their children were content playing with their presents so now was the perfect opportunity to relax.
Luckily the day passed quickly and without incident. The butler delivered their dinner and the food was delicious and plentiful. After dinner Nathan read the children one of the new books that William had bought. Elizabeth then got little Jack and Allie ready for bed. The beds in the upgraded car were much nicer than the regular car. Elizabeth and Nathan tucked their children into bed with a kiss. Elizabeth then changed into her nightgown and robe before joining Nathan on the sofa. She wasn't ready to go to bed yet but she wanted to be more comfortable. She knew that as the baby grew, she would have to adjust her wardrobe and she suspected that soon she would no longer be able to wear the clothes she was wearing now. She could now see that her belly was a little more rounded than before. Their baby was growing and Elizabeth thought she could feel butterflies. She didn't know if it was the baby or if she was imagining things. She reached for Nathan's hands and placed them on their baby bump. Elizabeth knew how blessed she was to have Nathan in her life. He had made her feel alive again, a feeling that at one point she had never thought possible after Jack's death.
Nathan and Elizabeth went to bed shortly after that. The bedroom was as luxurious as her bedroom in Hamilton. They fell asleep within minutes and could hardly notice that they were on a moving train. Nathan slept better than he had ever before. He usually couldn't get comfortable on a train but with Elizabeth in his arms he was at peace. It was a feeling he hadn't truly felt for a long time before meeting Elizabeth. He knew that their relationship had started off rocky but even at their first meeting he knew that there was something special about her.
The following morning, they awoke to a knock at the door. It was Allie letting them know that breakfast had been delivered. Elizabeth and Nathan were surprised that they had slept so late. Allie was already dressed and they could hear little Jack babbling in the other room. Allie had gotten little Jack dressed and had been watching him while they were still sleeping. They couldn't be prouder of their daughter. She was growing up faster than expected. She was a great big sister and would be a big help when the baby arrived. Nathan and Elizabeth dressed comfortably knowing that they would be spending all day on the train. They would arrive in Hope Valley tomorrow morning.
Elizabeth spent most of the day playing games with the children. Nathan had joined in throughout the day but he also wanted to finish his book before they got home. He knew between the house and getting back to work he would have no time to read in the foreseeable future. He loved watching his wife with their children and couldn't wait to see his family welcome the newest addition. The new baby would forever link them together as a family, though the love they shared that continued to grow on a daily basis was the foundation of the family they created. That foundation was something that no one would ever be able to shatter.
As the day progressed the children decided to watch the changing landscape as the train rolled through the prairie getting them closer to home with every passing minute. As they got closer to dinner, Allie started talking about all the things she wanted to tell Anna, Emily, and Opal about Hamilton. She wanted to have a sleepover as soon as they were settled into the new house. At dinner, Elizabeth and Nathan started discussing how to get everything moved into the house with the least amount of effort. They would have to get the rest of the furniture out of the house Nathan and Allie had shared before moving in with Elizabeth. It had been quite a while since they had moved out but there hadn't been room in the house they shared. The new house was larger so they would be able to blend more of their furniture together. After moving everything from both houses, they would decide what they would use, store, or give away. The smaller pieces they would probably be able to store in a guest bedroom but the larger pieces would need to be dealt with.
The dinner had been delicious and the desserts were delectable. Elizabeth had eaten hers and even stole a few bites of Nathans, not that he minded sharing with his wife. She was after all eating for two. That night they all went to bed early knowing that they would be arriving in Hope Valley mid-morning. That meant that they would need to be packed and ready shortly after breakfast. Nathan got the children ready that night because Elizabeth had fallen asleep on the couch shortly after dinner while reading one of the books she had bought in Hamilton. After the children were asleep Nathan changed for bed and went to the sofa and carried Elizabeth to the bed before falling asleep next to her.
The next morning Elizabeth was up early after falling asleep much earlier than expected. She laid out the clothing for the children after dressing herself. While waiting for breakfast to arrive she started packing up all the gifts that her father had given the children. Nathan woke up soon after she did to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. He dressed before helping Elizabeth get the children up and dressed. After dressing Elizabeth packed their used nightclothes in their luggage. They sat down for their last meal on the train. That morning breakfast consisted of bacon, eggs, fresh fruit, and toast. They ate with relish knowing that they soon would be home. Little Jack played with his puppy while Allie and their parents did a quick search of every area of the train car to ensure nothing was missed. The car would return to Hamilton with the next train going that direction.
Shortly before ten the landscape changed and became more familiar. They knew that they were close to home. Lee and Henry had promised to meet them at the station to help them home. When they pulled to a stop, they were surprised to see only Lee and Henry at the station. Elizabeth had fully expected Rosemary to have arranged fanfare when the train stopped. Nathan stepped off the train first and then assisted the children and Elizabeth down the steps. The butler and porter were offloading their luggage. Henry showed them the way to his car. Once all the bags were stowed in the car they got into Lee's car and drove towards town.
The drive through town was very quiet. It seemed like a ghost town with no one on the street or boardwalk. Elizabeth wondered where they were going because Lee wasn't headed towards the row houses. They soon realized that Lee was driving them towards the new house. As they got closer Elizabeth could see a couple cars and several horses and wagons near the house. Elizabeth knew then that Rosemary had arranged a welcome home party. As Lee pulled to a stop Rosemary came running out of the house as everyone cheered. Nathan and Elizabeth were happy to be home with their extended Hope Valley family. They had so much news to tell them and Rosemary looked like she had a lot to tell them as well.