Chapter 63
Elizabeth leaves the letter on his desk at work and Nathan discovers it after his morning rounds. He is so moved as it appears she has been inside his mind and put his jumbled thoughts into words. He is astounded as to how well she really knows him and thinks no one has ever had this connection to him ever. His eyes well up with unshed tears as he reads the letter one more time and knows without any doubt that he is marrying the love of his life and she is truly committed to him with her whole heart. You can almost visibly see him lighten and radiate happiness. Nathan wonders if he has ever felt this way before.
He checks the time and makes sure to get his work done so he can see her at the end of the school day. Diligently he applies himself to his work to pass the hours and to ensure that he is caught up before the wedding. His feelings of calm help center him as he completes endless paperwork and he watches the time.
Before school ends he makes his way home to freshen up and he hurries to school. It is a beautiful winter day with a bright blue sky and the sun shining above. In Nathan's view everything looks cleaner and fresher as he breathes in the invigorating air.
Perfectly timed, he arrives at school as the students are being dismissed. Nathan bounds confidently up the steps and finds Allie. He tells her, "Please stop at Elizabeth's and tell Laura she will be a couple of minutes late. Then go home and start your homework, I will be by in a little while. "Allie spies the flowers he holds in his hand and says "Dad, what is this romantic gesture?" He just smiles at her and ushers her out of the door.
All the students are gone and Nathan shuts and locks the door. Elizabeth turns from the board and sees Nathan confidently striding towards her with the sun forming an arc behind him. She is frozen as he approaches; he seems so confident yet light. She can think no more as he sweeps her into his arms and rains kisses upon her face saying "Thank you, thank you , thank you" before finding her lips and giving her a searing kiss. When he pulls back he brackets her face with his hands and says "Elizabeth how could you reach inside my jumbled thoughts and put them into words and feelings? Thank you so much for sharing all this with me in the letter. It is a gift for the ages. You are willing to become my wife even knowing how flawed I am. Thank you sweetheart! You are a gift from God". While Nathan was talking Elizabeth's eyes were filling with happy tears and finally they spilled over. Catching them in his fingers at first and then with his lips; they just lock themselves into a timeless embrace. They hold onto each other for dear life each softly saying love words to one another.
Laughingly they separate from each other and Nathan offers the flowers to his love. She smells them and admires them and then places them on her desk to enjoy them during the school day. Nathan again comes behind her and buries his face in her hair and holds her from behind. With a sigh Elizabeth leans into him and says "So I guess this means you have no concerns". With that Nathan spins her around and stares into her eyes and movingly says "I love you Elizabeth Thatcher Grant and I cannot wait until we are married and you become my wife. I will love you forever". Again, overcome Elizabeth melts into Nathan and murmurs "How is it possible to be this happy".
Eventually they pull apart and come back to the real world. Hand in hand they leave the school and head for home and their responsibilities. Nathan offers to get food from the Café for dinner for them and they will eat at Nathan's later.
Later that evening after dinner they watch Allie read a book to Little Jack and they talk about the wedding and blending the two households. Every now and then Allie looks up at them and secretly smiles to herself as they seem to both be lit from within and wrapped together. She has never seen Nathan look so happy and Allie is secretly pleased for all of them as she can see their family grow and love. Allie is wise beyond her years to understand all this!
The days go by swiftly now as the wedding is quickly approaching and while it is small there seems to be many details to finish off. Elizabeth starts moving things over to Nathan's for after the wedding and they prep a room for Little Jack. All is on schedule for the upcoming nuptials and the whole town is supportive of the happy couple.