After everyone had gone home Nathan stepped into the library. Miraculously, the fire had been contained to one corner and hadn't done too much damage to the rest of the building. He was very grateful that the children were all okay. Allie had filled him in about Lucas and the candles. Nathan wasn't at all surprised. Leaving children alone in a library with open flames would never end well. Nathan planned on writing his official statement tomorrow after he'd had a chance to talk with Lucas.
His eyes drifted up towards the plaque he'd made Elizabeth. "Always do what you are afraid to do," he read out loud. Luckily the wooden plaque had been on the other side of the library and, aside from the smoke, hadn't been affected at all. Nathan lifted it from its hook on the wall. He would return it once the library had been cleaned and the corner had been rebuilt. Needing a calm place to think after the events of the day, Nathan took the plaque and made his way over to his favorite spot in Hope Valley.
Elizabeth had volunteered to take Allie back to her house with Little Jack so Nathan could handle the aftermath of the fire. She had put Jack down for a nap a few minutes ago and she and Allie were sitting in the living room reading their books.
"Allie?" Elizabeth asked the girl. "Would you mind keeping an eye on Little Jack for about an hour? I should be back by the time he wakes up."
"Really? You trust me to watch Jack by myself?" The little girl questioned.
"Of course," Elizabeth reassured her. "And I think the two of us should sit down and have a conversation soon. I just want to talk with your uncle about it first."
"That sounds good, and don't worry about Jack while you're gone. I'll take really good care of him." Allie said confidently.
"I know you will," Elizabeth looked at Allie and took a deep breathe. "I'm so grateful you are okay." She hugged her tightly and kissed her on the forehead. "You are so important to me and Little Jack."
"I'm so happy I can help by watching Little Jack!" Allie beamed and joyfully kissed Elizabeth on the cheek.
"We're all so lucky to have each other! Thank you for your help Allie!"
Leaving Little Jack in Allie's capable hands Elizabeth started her walk. She always loved to go to the dock by the pond when she needed some time to think. It was a very peaceful spot and she always left feeling better. The fire earlier in the day had scared her. She knew it had scared the children too. Elizabeth had tried to talk to Allie about it, but she had said she wasn't quite ready yet. It wasn't until she was a few steps away from her special spot that she realized that someone else was already there.
Nathan immediately sensed her presence and turned to face her.
"Elizabeth," he said softly, but he skipped over a few vowels making it sound more like "Lizbeth".
"Where are the kids?" Nathan asked her.
Elizabeth smiled. She loved that the children were always Nathan's first priority. "Little Jack is taking a nap and Allie was reading so I asked her if she could keep an eye on him while I went for a walk."
"Oh, Allie must feel honored to have that job!"
"Ha!" Elizabeth smiled broadly, "She was so excited!"
"Would you like to sit down?" Nathan motioned to the spot next to him on the bench.
Elizabeth nodded her head and sat down. She looked over at the plaque he was still holding. "Always do what you are afraid to do. You know that's the best advice I've ever received. It meant so much when you gave that to me." Nathan smiled, remembering all the time he had put into making it for her. He had known that she liked Emerson and that was one of hers and his favorite quotes.
"I'm glad the fire spared this," he ran his index finger along the writing. "I will clean it up and return it the library when it reopens." As if to finish the conversation about the plaque, he moved it to the ground next to his feet.
They both sighed.
"Oh Nathan." Elizabeth whispered, "When I saw you run into the library to save Opal and when I thought you had died earlier this week, it showed me just how much I care for you." Elizabeth sighed heavily. "I need to do what I am afraid to do. I need to tell you, Nathan. Before I continue I need you to know this, in those situations I didn't think about Jack once. I thought about you. While you both wore the red serge you are completely different men. Jack and I were young when we met and we had just come to Hope Valley. I'm at a completely different stage in my life now, I have a child and a stable life here. I know that when you first came here the people weren't very accepting of you. They were upset that another mountie had come to replace Jack. You were patient with them and now the community has grown to care for you."
"I have you to thank for that. If you hadn't been so welcoming I don't think they ever would have either. I'm sure that was hard for you." Nathan stated.
"It was, but I knew it wasn't your fault. May I share something with you?" Elizabeth asked him, a little nervous. She hadn't shown this to anyone else before. He nodded and Elizabeth slipped the letter out of her pocket. "Jack wrote me this letter in case anything ever were to happen to him." Nathan sucked in his breath. He had one written for Allie in case the worst came. "I want to read you part of it," Elizabeth told him.
"Elizabeth, that's too personal. I couldn't ask you to share something like that with me."
"You didn't ask, I want to share this with you."
Nathan gave her a single nod and she began reading. "I need you to promise me one thing, Elizabeth. You will open your heart to love again. Know that I want nothing more than your happiness." Elizabeth felt her fear moving away. She continued talking at a much faster pace, "After a long talk with Abigail today, she helped me realize that locking up my heart doesn't protect me from getting hurt, it just prevents me from being happy again. I have finally been able to conquer my fear and let go of Jack." She splayed out all ten unadorned fingers on her lap.
"I know how big of a step that is," Nathan said softly. "You seem lighter and much happier than you usually are." He lifted up her left hand. "I also noticed that a certain piece of jewelry is no longer on your finger." He said slowly, not wanting to push her.
"I'm ready to move on," Elizabeth told him while folding up the letter. "I had another conversation today I want to share with you. I stopped by the saloon this morning and told Lucas that I have no interest in pursuing anything more than a friendship with him. To be honest Lucas was just a distraction from my feelings for you. I knew that Lucas and I would never have a serious relationship so I wouldn't have to face any of my fears. I feel so badly for stringing you both along but especially you because I know it impacted Allie as well."
"I'm so relieved to hear you say all of this Elizabeth. While it has been difficult for Allie and I, we understood that you needed time."
"I hope you'll let me make it up to her? I'm already planning a girl's trip to Benson Hills with Rosemary, Abigail, and I." Elizabeth told him excitedly. She was so happy to finally be able to tell him all of this.
"It means so much to me that you would include her in that. Thank you Elizabeth."
"Of course. Nathan, thank you for being so patient with me. You once asked me here what was in my heart, and then told me to let you know when I figured it out. I've figured it out Nathan, and I'm finally ready. I'm ready to face my fears, I'm ready to move on with you, and I'm ready to embrace my love for you. I love you Nathan. You and Allie have been in my heart for quite some time now." Finally releasing those feelings and expressing them in words side by side to her love was overwhelming. Elizabeth couldn't keep in her tears.
Nathan gently wiped Elizabeth's face. He had been waiting and waiting and waiting for this moment. He had been so afraid that Lucas was going to interfere. That Lucas was going to use their shared love of books and confuse it with true love. Nathan waited for what felt like forever. He knew deep inside Elizabeth loved him she just hadn't been ready yet, now she was.
He wiped another tear off her check, "I love you too Lizbeth." He told her, his own tears in his eyes. He leaned down and his lips met Elizabeth's for the first time. The kiss started out gently but a passion sparked inside of them and they deepened the kiss. He wrapped his arm around her tiny waist drawing her closer. She let her hand make it's way to rest on the back of his neck keeping him near her. This kiss communitcatd the deep love that they shared for each other. It began what they hoped would be a lifelong love.
When they did separate, Elizabeth rested her head on Nathan's shoulder. She took a deep breath and blew out air. Her mind was finally at peace and she felt an overwehlming joy! She loves Nathan! It's always been Nathan and it will always be Nathan! She couldn't wait to share the news with Allie and Little Jack and all of their friends! A new chapter was about to begin in Hope Valley and Elizabeth and Nathan were excited to build their lives together.