Chapter Seven

It had been two days. Barely forty eight hours since she'd last seen Nathan and yet it felt like it had been two years; but Elizabeth was determined to stick to her guns. She would not break down and talk to Nathan let alone see him. He called every few hours and had even been by the house twice and although she knew that he knew that she at home she'd refused to open the door and let him in.

She could not love him. Not now. Not ever. The sooner they both understood it the better it would be for them. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad about the fact that all her paintings were done and she really had no work to do until her show, which wasn't happening soon enough for her. She couldn't believe she still had almost two weeks until the most important show of her career.

0

"She's still not taking your calls?" Colleen asked Nathan.

"No," Nathan replied, ending the call and attempting to smile at his sister. "I think I should just respect her wishes and stop calling her."

"She just needs space," Colleen told him. "Let her figure it out without you crowding her, she'll see sense soon."

"So you think I should stop calling her?"

"Yes. No." Colleen shook her head. "Stop calling her, at least for today. She knows where to find if she wants to see you and like I said, it will give her time to think."

Nathan nodded and turned to the work he had been attempting to do. He would give her the space she thought she needed and wait for her to find him; it went against everything in him because he was almost certain that the more time he gave her the greater the likelihood that she would talk herself out of having any romantic feelings for him but he trusted Colleen and if his sister thought that Elizabeth needed time than he would give it to her.

"You didn't have to check on me, you know," he told Colleen, "I'm totally fine."

"I know," Colleen replied, "would you believe me if I told you that I was just passing by the university and decided to see you?"

"No."

"Then I wouldn't tell you that," Colleen laughed, "but what did you expect me to do after your phone call the other day? If anything you should me praising me for the restrain I showed not driving to your flat immediately."

"I appreciate your restrain," Nathan said. "Now, leave, I have work to do."

"Okay," Colleen handed him a carrier bag, she had made him some food, kissed him on cheek and left.

Nathan made his way slowly to Centenary Park. It wasn't that near his flat but he was very restless and couldn't sleep. Tomorrow was Elizabeth's show and he fully intended to be there for her. He was still a bit hurt that she hadn't called him back or even tried to see him but he'd followed Colleen's advice and given her space and time, and he hoped that it wouldn't be awkward when he showed up at the gallery the following evening. He had had to stop himself from calling her at least hundred times and had even thought of going by landscaping office but he'd had the good or maybe not-so-good sense to stop himself. The ball was firmly in her court and he didn't want to pressure her.

He walked through the entrance which walked slowly through the trees; the park was well-lit and he found himself a thick oak tree and sat down and leaned back against the trunk.

He had made a decision; if Elizabeth was still unwilling to talk to him tomorrow then he was going to accept that nothing would ever happen between them. He was going to accept, finally, that Elizabeth had never meant to be his and he would move on with life. He knew that it was probably going to be even harder than when he'd discovered that she was going to marry Jack but he would get over her and find contentment in a life in which she wasn't a major part.

He would do it.

It would break his heart, although he wasn't sure if he still had a part of his heart that was still intact enough to break, but he would survive. He hoped.

Elizabeth looked at her phone again willing it to ring but it stayed silent. What did you expect? She asked herself. You all but told him that you never wanted to see him again, you hid from him when he came to see you and ignored all his calls. What did you expect? She knew that it was illogical and totally crazy to expect that Nathan would keep calling her after she'd refused to take his calls but she had hoped that he would call tonight.

At first, she'd been angry at the fact that he called every day and then the calls had stopped and she told herself that she was happy that he wasn't bothering her anymore, that he'd finally come to his senses. But now, two weeks later, without hearing from him in almost that long, she was hurting and angry. She couldn't believe that he had given up that easily, if he really loved her like he said he did then he shouldn't have stopped calling.

You didn't want him to call, a voice reminded her, it's not like you really love him like that. She shook her head blocking out that voice. She loved Nathan. It wasn't just gratitude for being there for her, and it wasn't too soon. She loved Nathan and she had to tell him as soon as possible.

She glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost ten o'clock. She just couldn't show up at his door at this hour, and she had to be up quite early the next morning. The show wasn't until evening but Lucas had arranged for meetings as early as eight in the morning. She would have to see Nathan at the show. She didn't even doubt for a moment that he would be there. She would see him tomorrow.

She got into bed only to get out a few minutes. She was too strung up to sleep. She decided to go for walk; luckily her parents had taken LJ for the night so she didn't have to worry about leaving him in the house alone.

She walked without a particular destination in mind and was surprised to find herself at Centenary Park. Without thinking about it she went into the park.

Nathan leaned against the tree and found that he was quite sleepy; all the sleep that had been eluding him for the past few days seemed to have finally caught up with him.

He closed his eyes.

He didn't know how long she slept but he woke to an uncomfortable feeling. There was someone watching him; he could feel it. He opened his eyes closely and saw Elizabeth looking at him with a hesitant smile on her face.

"Hey," he said. "How long have you been standing there? I mean, what are you doing here?"

"I couldn't sleep," Elizabeth confessed, "I decided to take a walk and ended up here. I just got here a few minutes ago."

"I guess I better head home," he said, although he made no move to get up.

"How have you been?" she asked him.

"Fine," he replied, shortly. "Just fine."

Elizabeth shifted from one foot to another. She was still looking at him but Nathan was staring some faraway spot in front of him.

"I'm sorry," she said at last.

"For what?" he asked her. "If anything, I should be the one apologizing for bothering you."

"I'm sorry for running away," Elizabeth told him, "for hiding when you came by and not taking your calls."

He shrugged and hazarded a glance at her.

"I was scared," she admitted, "I'm still scared truth be told."

"I do love you, you know," he told her looking at her.

"I know," she told him softly. "And I think that's the thing that scares me the most."

"That I love you?" he was puzzled.

"No," she shook her head. "That I love you. What if something were to happen to you? What if you were taken away from me? I don't know if I could survive another loss."

"If I could promise you that I wouldn't die," he smiled softly, "I would. But I can't."

"I know," she smiled back, "but do you know what? These past few weeks have been very hard, I really missed you and if hadn't had all those last minute preparations for the show I don't think I would have made it."

"And here I was thinking I was the only miserable one."

"I'm sorry for making us both miserable," she said.

Elizabeth thought of all the things she wanted to say, and they were quite a number but before she could open her mouth, she felt Nathan's hand on her cheek.

Nathan got onto his feet, he didn't even know that he was doing it, and reached out and touched her face. Slowly he leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her lips. He didn't linger; but pulled away before she really knew what was happening. He breathed in her sweet scent and she opened her eyes to look into his. She had placed her other hand against his chest, over the thudding pulse of his heart.

He had kissed her. He had reached for her and kissed her.

She looked up at him to see him staring at her, a stunned expression on his face. He obviously was as surprised as she was. It was adorable, and very endearing that he looked a bit confused, although hopeful.

She hadn't really kissed him back; well not as she would have, the kiss had ended too soon, but she had kissed him back.

Nathan looked at Elizabeth, he was sure she could easily see what was on his mind. She hadn't reacted like he'd expected. She hadn't kissed him back immediately, in fact for a second or two, he'd thought that she wouldn't kiss him back but then she had. Sure, they had confessed their love for each other but maybe she wasn't ready for any physical displays; he had probably moved too quickly.

Elizabeth opened her eyes slowly, she hadn't even realised that she'd closed them, and smiled at Nathan. She'd always scoffed at the expression gladdening of the heart, but that was exactly was had happened. When they had kissed it was like she was at sea, a rough and stormy sea, and he was the only safe anchor.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't hear him speak until he repeated himself.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" she was puzzled. "For what?"

"You're probably not ready… we're moving too fast."

"I don't remember saying any such thing," she teased him, "but now that you mention it I think there are probably a few things that we should talk about."

He nodded and waited for her to speak.

Instead of speaking Elizabeth kissed him again. This time it wasn't unexpected and although tentative at first, they soon both themselves in the pleasure. They were the only two people in the world everyone else forgotten. The kiss was sweet and Nathan didn't try to deepen it into something more.

After a while he pulled away slowly, the tenderness in his eyes unmistakable, and she snuggled against him, she was about to speak when her phone rang.

"Hey Julie," she said. "I just took a walk but I'm on my way now."

She hang up the phone and explained that Julie was at her house wondering where she was.

Hand in hand they walked out of the park and handed home.

0

"I think it was a success."

Elizabeth and Henry were standing in front of one of refreshments' tables. She was too keyed up to eat; the excitement was palpable in the air.

"My dear girl," Henry told her. "Every one of your paintings has been boughand people want more. Of course it's a success."

"I still can't believe it."

"You're too modest," Henry told her. "I knew it would be like this. Now, we have to start working on your next show."

"I don't think I'm ready for another show," she shook her head, "not soon anyway."

"How does three months sound?"

"Henry, please tell me you're joking."

Nathan had met Grace and William, Elizabeth's parents and it hadn't been as intimidating as he'd thought it would be. They were both easy going and friendly people who wanted their daughter to be happy. He had been a bit surprised that they remembered him from the wedding and Jack's funeral, and he'd been amazed that Elizabeth had told them about him, how he had helped her with the pension and that they were friends.

"I'm so happy that you and Nathan made up," Violet had told Elizabeth earlier in the evening. "Now you can stop wasting time and get on with the rest of your life."

Elizabeth had just shaken her head while Nathan, who had been standing with them, stared at Violet in shock.

"Are you ready to go home?" Nathan asked Elizabeth later that evening. The party had died down ,most of the guests having left. Elizabeth had just finished a small impromptu meeting with Henry and Lucas.

"Yes," Elizabeth told him.