Chapter Seven

The Look

After a long train ride, they made their arrival in Hamilton. Nathan had made arrangements to stay at a nice hotel that was walking distance to the shopping area. After a much needed good night's sleep and a hot breakfast of French toast and sausage in the hotel's cafe, the two were eager to head out for some shopping. Hamilton was huge, Allie thought when she looked out the cafe window. She noticed too, the motorized taxicabs.

"Are we going to be able to ride in one of those?", she asked, pointing at the oncoming taxicab.

"Yes we are."

She was speechless again and in awe of everything. It would be hard to talk and at the same time have that big of a grin on one's face, however a toned down squeal of delight was quite audible.

"There's a nice shop over there Uncle Nathan. Shall we?", she asked while indicating the shop directly across the street.

"But of course" Nathan replied then took Allie's arm in his and escorted her safely through the traffic and across to the shop.

Unbeknownst to Nathan and Allie a familiar face was close by. Their presence was equally unbeknown to that other person.

Elizabeth and her sister Julie busily chatted as they walked down the sidewalk. Passing one of the clothing shops, Elizabeth glanced into the shop window and was taken aback to unexpectedly see Allie's face looking right at her. Elizabeth did a shocked double-take to make sure she was not just seeing things.

Instantaneously, Allie did a shocked double-take also. Stunned, she realized she had just come face to face with Mrs. Thornton but like the protecter she was, she knew she did not want Uncle Nathan to see Mrs. Thornton. She wanted only to spare his heart from pain although when she saw Mrs. Thornton face to face, she knew she was fighting her own feelings too. She missed Mrs. Thornton more than she had realized but was not about to let anyone know nor ruin the time she had here with Uncle Nathan.

Elizabeth saw Allie's forlorn face watching her. Sadness and confusion gripped Elizabeth's heart. Julie could see what was happening so she grabbed Elizabeth's arm in her arm then hastily guided her to the other side of the street while trying to distract her with small talk.

Allie had also maneuvered her uncle to look at some clothing that did not face the storefront window in hopes he would not lay eyes on Mrs. Thornton.

Once Elizabeth and Julie had crossed the street, Julie asks tentatively "Have you and Nathan talked since you told him your were not in love with him?"

"No. I can't. I can only imagine how much I hurt him with my words and actions. I doubt he ever forgives me. He avoids me and I don't blame him" said Elizabeth then in a quieter and sadder voice adds, "or Allie".

Julie could tell that seeing Allie, however briefly, had Elizabeth in an emotional turmoil which seemed to be the case whenever they would talk about Nathan or Allie. Julie was confused about who Elizabeth really loved. Elizabeth had not talked much about Lucas at all. Her reaction on seeing Allie was obviously from caring.

Julie continued to direct Elizabeth down the sidewalk however Elizabeth had quickly snuck a look back across the street but did not see them.

"There's the cafe right on the corner Elizabeth. Let's get some coffee and a bite to eat, OK?"

Elizabeth nodded in silence and gave a slight, forced smile. She knew Julie was trying her best to keep Elizabeth's thoughts about simply having an enjoyable day together. Hopefully she could forget about Nathan and Allie having been just across the street.

Meanwhile, back at the clothing store, Nathan tried to get Allie's attention. She had suddenly seemed distracted. "Allie." No answer. "ALLIE!" Allie jumped to attention and turned to face Uncle Nathan. "What do you think of this shirt?"

"I love the color Uncle Nathan. Makes you look mighty handsome...I mean even more handsome", Allie said managing a giggle. "You will have to fight the women off you know?"

Nathan said with a smile, "Yeaaa...right. Did you find yourself a few new outfits?"

"Oh yes...AND look at these beautiful shoes that would go with my new outfits. Sheepishly she asked, "Is that Ok Uncle Nathan?"

"We're splurging. Knock yourself out!", he said. "You deserve new outfits and a new pair of shoes." About that time he glanced outside and unexpectedly saw Elizabeth walking on the sidewalk across the street, arm and arm with Julie. Elizabeth turned around to look towards the store but before she could see him, he stepped away and out of view. He would not allow himself to be sad. What is done is done. He also did not want Allie to know what he saw and how he felt. Today was their day. No worries or sadness.

Allie ran to the dressing room to try on her new outfits. She came out wearing a burgundy colored skirt with a tucked-in vanilla ice cream colored blouse that had a lacy, white collar. Her outfit was topped with a soft, light beige overcoat that sported the prettiest buttons she had ever seen. She also had on a pair of matching light tan, lace-up leather boots that she felt went perfectly with the outfit although quite similar to the shoes she already owned only with a few more bells and whistles.

She pointed to her hair where she had placed a pretty, burgundy colored sparkly barrette. She twirled to model her new outfit.

"I feel so modern" she exclaimed with bubbling excitement.

Nathan took a deep breath. Allie was starting to look so grown up. His heart swelled with pride and a tear tried to escape the corner of his right eye but he slyly wiped it away before being seen.

"Beautiful Allie."

"Really Uncle Nathan?"

"Absolutely. By the way...you are not dating until you are thirty!" They both laughed.

"I'm going to pay then we can head to the hotel. This shopping is not my cup of tea." He cringed after he mentioned "cup of tea". Wounds take a while to heal.

Allie noticed the barrettes were on sale. "Uncle Nathan can I buy some barrettes for the girls at school? They're on sale. Pleeeease?"

"Yes you can but we need to pick out something for the boys too. How about those black combs over there? They would fit right in their pockets. Do you think they would like those?" Nathan asked.

Allie looked perplexed then says, "I think they would like candy better."

"Then why don't we get barrettes, combs, and candy? Like I say…I just got a new job and this is a splurge."

Allie let out an excited "Yes!" and ran into Nathans arms for a big hug. She loved her uncle so much and knowing he was going to adopt her made her feel so loved which was never how her real father had made her feel. He was in jail right now and that is where he needed to be. Her mother made her feel loved though. She still ached for the love of her mother. No one could ever take her mother's place but at the same time she longed also for a female figure in her life. That was why it had hurt her so much when she felt rejected by Mrs. Thornton. Allie knew it was just something she would have to get over, after all, she still did like Mrs. Thornton even though Allie was acting like she had no interest in a friendly relationship with her.

"OK…OK. Now seriously. Let's pay for this and get back to our lodging. We have a busy day tomorrow and we both need to get up before the roosters crow. I don't know about you but I am missing home.", states Nathan.

Allie laughs, "There's no roosters in the city Uncle Nathan! Why do we have to get up so early?"

Nathan chuckles then puts an arm around her shoulders, "OK, OK. You got me. Now let's check out of here and go."

"But you did not tell me why we have to get up so early tomorrow."

"Because", Nathan draws out the word keeping the suspense building. "Because we are going to buy a motor vehicle tomorrow and will drive ourselves home in it!"

Allie's mouth dropped open. "What!", she exclaimed in a rare speechless moment.

A speechless moment. Ahhh…a nice change of pace, Nathan thought amusing himself.

"REALLY?", she asked while looking at him as if she was waiting for a punch line.

"Yes indeedy."

They checked out at the store and headed out with their multiple bags of goodies. As they walked out Nathan's gaze was drawn to the corner cafe across the street. His eyes met none other than Elizabeth and she was staring right at him. There was no escaping that penetrating stare. He wondered why she stared at him so much if she was so in love with Lucas. She had made her choice and he was not going to stand in her way. Life goes on after heartbreak. His father had told him once when he was a teenager, "You make your bed. You lie in it." Nathan guessed Elizabeth had made her own bed in this case.

He had swiftly looked away pretending like he had not seen Elizabeth. He and Allie happily made their way back to the hotel.

Elizabeth silently wondered why him and Allie were shopping in Hamilton. He surely knew she would be there but Hamilton was a big city and odds of them running into each other anyway would have been slim or strictly coincidence.

"Elizabeth?", Julie says breaking Elizabeth's thoughts. "I think there is something you and I need to talk about."

"Not now Julie. Not now." The tears were starting to well up in her eyes but she blinked them back.