As always, I'm floored with the positive messages sent my way. Elizabeth and Nathan aren't coming through their problems yet, but Elizabeth begins to have actual self-awareness again.
Chapter 6
A Third Perspective
Nathan arrived in Calgary a few days later. Weary and saddle sore, he was very anxious to get to his mother's place and check in with them. But he was stabling Newton at the Mountie Office nearest her place. Nathan walked slowly into his mother's building. Allie was sitting on the bottom of the staircase.
"DAD! You're here!" Allie said with happiness as she wrapped him tightly in an "Allie hug."
Nathan just smiled at her and held her tightly back.
"How are you?" Nathan asked.
"Doing alright. Nicole is spending time with her grandparents this week," Allie said, speaking of the girl she had befriended.
Nathan and Allie walked to the Grants apartment. Allie had a key and unlocked the door.
Ruth was standing in the kitchen finishing making dinner. Archie was setting a table. Nathan had to stop himself and watch a scene he had thought he would never see this late in his life. They looked like they had been getting along. And Archie looked like he had stayed true to his promise to stay clean.
"Nathan! You're here!" Ruth said with a smile. "Stop standing in the doorway gawking. Come inside."
Nathan didn't bother replying verbally; he just stepped inside and shut the door.
"How was yer ride, son?" Archie asked with a smile.
"Long," Nathan answered.
The Grants all smiled at his simple response.
They sat down to dinner.
"Dear Lord, we give thanks for Nathan's safe arrival to our home and being able to spend an evening together as a family. We give thanks for the blessing of our shelter and our food," Archie said for their prayer.
Nathan looked up in surprise to the people around him. They had worked a system in the short time they've been together, and it was working. Nathan shot up a quick silent prayer for having his parents support and help with Allie and this whole situation.
They enjoyed a good meal with nice conversation.
"I'll be tracking someone for a while. I don't know how long, or how often I can send a message," Nathan said to the three of them before he was going to be leaving. "These are Allie's records, just in case."
Archie grabbed the file, while Allie was hugging him quite tightly.
"Be safe, and good luck," Ruth whispered before hugging him herself.
"Thanks, Ma," Nathan said over her head.
Nathan then went on the long walk back to the Mountie Office where he would stay the night and start his mission early the next morning.
In the morning, Nathan was paired up with a green recruit fresh from the Mountie Training Center. They took off to follow their lead, while others were looking in different directions.
While Nathan was away, Allie would be staying with Archie and Ruth.
In Hope Valley, the closed up row house at the end of the lane was a constant reminder that two of their more important citizens were gone, and might be forever. Each time Cat Montgomery or Mrs. Weise were inside to check things, there were people outside to check if Nathan or Allie were back.
Bill was reminded just how much Nathan did as a Mountie, having taken over many of Nathan's duties. He had thought he could handle it for a few days, but it was nearing a few weeks from their being gone and no one had heard anything from Nathan. Bill decided to see what he could learn from Mountie Headquarters. The answer was not much. Only that Nathan and his partner had last checked in 3 days ago in a remote part of territory. Bill hated to ask, but he knew that they were going to need a Mountie to pass through soon, or things were going to be very difficult.
It was the week of Florence and Ned's wedding when everyone got a flurry of potential hope, when a man in a red surge rode into town. Bill could tell by the horse that it wasn't Nathan, but he hoped the man had more news.
"Constable?" Bill greeted.
"Judge Avery, I presume?" the man said back.
Bill nodded and stuck out his hand.
"Constable Gabriel Kinslow," the man shook his hand.
"Welcome to Hope Valley," Bill said.
"I see I'm not the one they wanted to be here," Kinslow looked around at the citizens of Hope Valley who were all more depressed and glaring in suspicion about how Nathan hadn't come back or checked in.
"Constable Grant is well loved here," Bill said as he looked at the people on main street.
"Yeah, I got that feeling from him, when he came to help with some issues in Brookfield," Kinslow admitted.
Bill smiled.
"I'm here to check in and help for a bit. Grant asked me to help when I can if he didn't make it back within a certain time frame. And since Hope Valley looks like a large town compared to Brookfield, I figured the least I can do is be here for a bit," Kinslow explained.
"We're happy you're here," Bill said as he clapped his shoulder. "Let me get you set up in a room."
The two men entered the saloon and walked to the bar area.
He recognized Lee and Rosemary, and that was about it. But Lillian and Grace had spoken fondly of their friends in Hope Valley.
Kinslow went about getting settled and grabbed two packages before going back downstairs. He slowly walked around the room and observed the people.
"So, I'm told you're the man to ask about the dynamite story," Bill said loudly from his table.
Kinslow couldn't help the smirk that etched across his face.
Everyone inside the saloon all stopped and looked at Kinslow in shock and wonder.
"I take it Nathan is being his normal taciturn self by not talking?" Kinslow said.
"You seem to know him well," Bill said.
Kinslow nodded in agreement.
"I will be happy to tell you the dynamite story. But after I make some rounds," Kinslow said, before walking outside.
His rounds were in the intention of walking to the cemetery. He was going to pay respect to Jack Thornton. Kinslow approached and bowed his head in prayer for the brave man.
He heard a rustling and someone setting something upright, and muttering 'Again!?' in frustration.
Kinslow turned to find a pretty woman setting up an amateurs' cross with some paper attached. The woman felt his gaze and turned to look at him. She was surprised that there was anyone else there, and was even more surprised by his location.
"Hello, my name is Constable Kinslow," he introduced.
"Elizabeth Thornton," the woman introduced.
"Ma'am, it is a great pleasure to meet you. I served with your husband in the Northern Territories. He spoke of you often," Kinslow explained why he was standing at her husband's grave.
"Oh. He didn't mention what he went through...much," Elizabeth said.
"Most of us don't," Kinslow added.
Just then, a large blast of wind took a leap straight at the amateur cross and, as if someone took a good kick at it, knocked it over without losing any of the paper. Mrs. Thornton looked annoyed.
"It keeps falling down, I don't know what else to do," she said in frustration.
"Do you mind if I take a look?" Kinslow asked.
"Not at all," she stepped out of the way.
Kinslow walked over and righted the cross before reading the name.
"Colleen Parks. Well no wonder it's not staying up. She died a Grant," Kinslow said knowledgeably.
"You knew Colleen?!" Mrs. Thornton said in surprise.
Kinslow nodded.
"You know Nathan…Constable Grant….then, as well," Elizabeth said with frustration in her voice at the constant need to self correct.
"Very well," Kinslow acknowledged.
Elizabeth looked at the fallen cross.
"Nath….Constable Grant…" she said again.
"I'm okay with you calling him Nathan in private," Kinslow said, trying to move the conversation along.
She smiled softly back.
"Nathan only said that Dylan Parks ran off after awhile," Elizabeth said.
"And that's true. He did. But if you know Nathan as well as you should…" Kinslow started.
"That is the bare minimum of the truth anyone is going to get without more prying," Elizabeth said.
Kinslow nodded.
"I only know because we were already friends and had been for a few years at that point," Kinslow said as they walked the path back towards Hope Valley.
They had reached the edge of town.
"How long are you staying, Constable?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'm not sure yet, but please call me Gabe," Kinslow said.
"Elizabeth. Wait, are you from Brookfield?" Elizabeth asked.
Gabe nodded.
"Who else told you about me, since we both know that's not Nathan's doing?" Gabe asked.
"Lillian Walsh. She thinks very highly of you," Elizabeth said.
Gabe smiled brightly.
"You've just made my day, Mrs. Thornton," Gabe said.
Elizabeth smiled in understanding.
They walked to the Mountie Office in silence. Gabe entered and watched her walk away before placing the papers that had been tied to Colleen's cross on Nathans' desk. Gabe looked at the picture of the Grant family on Allie's adoption day. He had never met Archie and hadn't seen Nathan with most of them around. They were all beaming happily at Allie. Gabe hadn't seen proof of Nathan's old demeanor in a long time. He had been sarcastic and witty, despite being hurt by his father, but the completely closed off man he had become was after Colleen's death. He was the only one who Nathan had allowed to see how much her death had impacted him.
Gabe opened a drawer and then felt around and found Nathan's present to the future Mr. and Mrs. Yost and his journal with letters to Colleen. Nathan had written one every year since she had passed. Nathan didn't have the journal on him, so he sent this year's to Gabe and had asked him to put it with his others. Gabe did so carefully, but also put Mrs. Thornton's letters to Colleen inside the journal with a note about what he had discovered.
Gabe walked back outside to watch the saloon getting set up for a party.
He watched the various townspeople looking at him in wonder and fear that the Mountie they had grown to admire, respect, and love was being replaced.
"Constable Grant is still your constable," Gabe said loudly to the busy main street. Everyone in Hope Valley soon had a much more welcoming disposition towards him.
'Man, if this was how they act for potentially losing Nathan, then they must have put Nathan through the paces when he got here for replacing Thornton,' Gabe thought. The story of how well loved, by both his wife and the people he served, was a story Mounties passed along between each other.
"We're told that you know Nathan fairly well, constable?" Lee Coulter asked in greeting.
Gabe nodded.
"How well?" Rosemary asked in curiosity.
"We were cadets together," Gabe answered. Everyone got looks of awe and wonder at this answer.
"Well, you're invited, and we're going to keep you well into whatever drink you choose," Ned said as he and Florence crossed to enter the saloon together.
"Well, it won't be alcoholic!" Bill teased as he patted Kinslow on the back, but then pushed him towards the doors.
Everyone got settled as they explained about what had happened with Ned and Florence recently. And the guys started playing poker and sharing stories, while the women were starting the bridal games.
Gabe was listening to the various conversations going on as the men played.
Soon the parties mixed.
But it was interrupted by Cat Montgomery running into the saloon.
"Constable, there's someone in the Grant rowhouse," she said as she found Gabe's eyes. Gabe dashed out and took off on Apollo. Bill followed after him.
They each took out a gun and quickly checked the first level, but they could hear a drunk man rummaging around in Nathan's room.
"Mounted Police! Freeze!" Gabe yelled as he opened the door.
Dylan Parks was staring drunkenly at Nathan's picture of Colleen. One that he kept hidden.
Bill grabbed one arm, Gabe grabbed the other.
"You're under arrest for breaking and entering," Gabe said as they manhandled the drunk man back through town. They were acquiring a large crowd, but Gabe felt this needed to be known.
"Isss NOT FAIR! Cccccccoooollllleeeennn, my...mmmy...wife," Dylan slurred in protest.
"You didn't seem to care about her when she was your wife, Mr. Parks," Gabe said firmly with a long glare.
The town froze.
"She got fed up with your lies and your drunken issues, and she divorced you," Gabe reminded the man, but this was the first time that Hope Valley had heard this story.
"How you know," Dylan gave him a glassy eyed look
"Because I was with Nathan and Allie when she came out of the courthouse. She was excited and beaming and shaking her paperwork. Excited to legally be a Grant," Gabe said.
Dylan Parks had a long glare at another man having been there. They were glaring at each other with utter hatred.
"Want to share it with the rest of us, Kinslow?" Bill asked from the other side of Dylan Parks.
Gabe took a steadying breath.
"It was literally 10 seconds AFTER Colleen had finished finalizing her divorce and changing her name back, that she was hit by a drunk driver swerving onto the sidewalk."
The sound of utter horror and shock was palpable.
"Colleen wasn't going to make it with her injuries, but she was awake and lucid. Nathan asked me to distract Allie, while he held his sister as she took her last breaths. She asked for Nathan to take care of Allie and to be buried as a Grant," Gabe finished.
The silence and deep breaths were mounting.
Bill and Gabe continued to walk Dylan Parks to the Hope Valley jail and locked him inside. Gabe grabbed Nathan's personal things scattered around the room.
"Will you store these somewhere? I don't trust the man, and I don't want him getting ideas, or more angry because he's surrounded by the proof that Allie has been and is better off with Nathan," Gabe said quietly to Bill as they left the Mountie Office. Bill nodded in agreement.
"We all have questions, do you mind trying to answer some of them?" Bill asked.
"I will listen to your questions, but I may not answer some of them," Gabe agreed.
Bill nodded as they shuffled everyone who was there, most of the town, into the saloon.
Gabe looked around at his audience with a little trepidation. The leftover bridal-bachelor parties were completely forgotten. But there were more people in the room than there had been before.
"Constable Kinslow has agreed to answer questions under the stipulation that he can defer some of them to Nathan's return, and we all respect that," Bill had glared out at the audience.
"He never mentioned how his sister died. You're saying she was hit by a car?" Lee asked.
Gabe nodded.
"Yes, like I said in the street. She was coming out of the court house in Calgary from having her divorce finalized and her name changed," Gabe said with a calm tone.
"You saw it. Did Nathan?" Mrs. Weise asked.
Gabe nodded.
"He's always been the tallest in the room. He noticed her first," Gabe confirmed.
The town laughed at the tallest comment.
"What exactly did you see?" Mr. Woolf asked.
Gabe looked around at the varying age groups of the people in the saloon. And the varying levels of friendship with Nathan. He took a few long moments in how to answer this question.
"We watched Colleen be blindsided by the car. The driver didn't slow down or stop. We knew from our experiences as Mounties that she wasn't going to make it. I was holding Allie, and she had been distracted by dogs playing in a park. She didn't see her mother get hit. Nathan ran to her, did a quick assessment of her, knew that she was dying, and gently held her up against his chest. I won't describe the severity of her injuries, but she was bleeding quite profusely. I took Allie into the toy store nearby and told her to look for a present for her and her mother and we shopped. I kept one eye on the scene nearby and one eye on Allie," Gabe answered.
"How close were they?" Cat Montgomery asked.
"As close as two siblings can be. They were each other's support and best friends. They protected each other. I can't tell you how often Nathan got letters that made him threaten to go home, and one time Colleen actually DID come down to glare at someone Nathan was having a problem with," Gabe was smiling at that memory.
The citizens all looked at him in surprise.
"If you think a glare from Nathan or his mom is bad, then Colleen's was 1,000 times more effective. On that particular trip, she surprised Nathan and convinced us to go to dinner. The cadet who was being a problem was on guard duty. When we walked past, she turned as if to wave, and then gave him a withering glare, gave him the 'I'm watching you' signal and turned back around smiling like nothing was wrong," Gabe explained.
There was a chorus of small laughs.
"I think that the rest of our questions can wait until later. It's getting late," Bill said. The people present all agreed.
The Coulters were all lingering and waiting for Elizabeth.
"Mrs. Thornton, do you mind if I walk with you?" Kinslow asked as they were about to leave.
She nodded in agreement. Kinslow walked beside her. Bill Avery followed the group.
Whatever Gabe was needing to say, he waited until there was distance from the town.
"Mrs. Thornton, there's some things you need to understand about your husband, but also about Nathan," Gabe said.
"Oh?" she asked in surprise.
"When Colleen passed away in 1910, Nathan and I had been stationed together in Calgary. He had rented an apartment near his mother, because she refused, even then, to have help. Colleen's plan was to live with Nathan for a bit and get a second chance with Allie away from Dylan Parks. The plan for that day had been a day to celebrate her new freedom, and my new post," Gabe started to explain.
Everyone stayed quiet as this information was of the utmost importance.
"When Colleen passed, Nathan was a wreck. He'd lost the person who was absolutely the closest to him. She was his rock and his biggest supporter. And it was the same for her. Despite the fact that they are siblings, they loved each other fiercely. In the days that followed, I knew that Nathan would need help getting used to trying to live without her. Ruth did what she could with Allie. But Allie has always been an active child who pushes boundaries, and she missed her mother and would run off and away from Ruth in her depression. Nathan ended up moving Allie's things completely into his apartment because Allie was no match for Nathan's stride. We put out notices and missing person flyers for Dylan Parks. Technically, he was Allie's next of kin, despite the divorce. He showed up a few weeks later. Nathan offered to let Dylan stay with him until Dylan could figure out what he wanted. Dylan agreed. Their truce was always tentative. Dylan seemed to always have his eyes on a bar. Dylan left in the middle of the day, a day he was SUPPOSED to be watching Allie. He packed his bags and left her alone in Nathan's apartment for over 5 hours before Nathan got home. Allie was wailing so hard that the neighbors had been trying to force the lock," Gabe said.
Their group had slowed to a stop.
"Nathan waited for a little while, to see if Dylan would come back, and he didn't," Gabe continued. "During the events that followed, Nathan had, obviously, taken a bereavement leave, but I also felt that I needed to stick around. Help him find his feet again. So, I told headquarters that I needed to take a leave of absence as well."
"How did they take that?" Bill asked skeptically.
"Fairly well, actually. Apparently our superiors were impressed enough back then, that they wanted to make sure that we both stayed being Mounties. They approved my request, and my position was filled by another Mountie, who was slightly more experienced than me," Gabe explained.
"Where was this posting?" Bill asked, knowing that it must be important for Gabe to have mentioned it at all.
"A small, tiny really, little mining town," Gabe said.
The people who were standing with him all got the inference.
"You were originally supposed to be in Coal Valley?" Bill asked in surprise.
Gabe nodded, "But I couldn't leave Nathan alone to deal with Colleen's death. So, Headquarters gave it to Jack Thornton."
"He had been very angry that his orders had changed when he first got here," Elizabeth said in remembrance.
Gabe nodded.
"But he grew to love it. I hadn't had the pleasure of meeting Jack Thornton until the Northern Territories, but we all know of his history and his skills," Gabe went into the explanation. "When we met up there, I explained that I had been assigned to Coal Valley first, and that I needed to thank him for taking it. He looked genuinely surprised by that. So, I explained that my closest friend had lost his sister and had become his niece's guardian just before I was supposed to leave. Jack was humble about it, but actually commented on the fact that he should really be thanking me, because being posted there was the best thing that had happened to him, then he proceeded to wax poetic about you and the town, but mostly you."
Everyone turned to glance at Elizabeth. She had tears glistening in her eyes, but they hadn't fallen yet.
"Jack and I spoke of the people we cared about, and for me that included Nathan. Jack was curious to know about him, and if they had tried to send him to the Northern Territories as well," Gabe continued. "I just laughed and said that headquarters knew that Nathan would have handed that order slip back with his letter of resignation and a two fingered salute, if they had sent him into the middle of those battles with Allie."
The group all laughed at his description.
"When the fighting was done, we returned back to our lives. I was assigned to Brookfield, and while there I was shot on duty. While on medical leave, I had gone to Fort Clay to be supportive to Nathan for the disciplinary actions against him, and when I got there, I ran into Jack first."
Everyone held their breaths again.
"We were both surprised to see the other there. I explained that I had been shot and was here to help be a support for Nathan during the inquiry. Jack nodded his understanding. He then explained that I just missed meeting you as his wife. That he had gotten orders to fill in for Constable Grant's training recruits while he was on suspension. I gave him a lecture on leaving you on, essentially, your honeymoon alone. But Jack just shrugged and said, 'I would've turned it down, but I owe Grant one...and to be honest, Hargraves is being a jerk.' Jack felt that he was doing a solid for Nathan because me doing a solid for Nathan in the past, led Jack to Hope Valley."
Gabe let that information be processed.
"Nathan wasn't allowed to complete any Mountie work while on his suspension, so he had been spending time out and about with Allie, going fishing if it was safe. I was with him when the Mounties in Fort Clay had found out that Jack had passed away in a rockslide accident. I watched as Nathan reacted with horror, shame, and guilt about how his replacement was one of the ones killed. I tried to explain that Jack chose to be there. That it wasn't his fault, but Nathan wouldn't hear of it. He still feels like if he hadn't been disciplined then Jack would be alive."
He let them process again.
"Nathan's skills as a tracker are common Mountie knowledge. Jack had made a comment that if it had been a different superior officer involved in the disciplinary action, that there would have been a slap on the wrist reprimand for disobeying orders, but he also acknowledged that if it had been him who been tracking the cattle thieves, he would have done the same thing, and then been awarded for it. Jack, and everyone else there, felt that Nathan wasn't being fairly punished. I told Nathan what Jack had said to me in passing, but Nathan doesn't agree. Nathan was acquitted of wrongdoing during the inquest, then transferred to Fort Simpson, where it had settled down after the battles," Gabe finished.
The small group were all teary eyed and sniffling.
"Thank you for explaining things," Bill said with a nod.
Gabe nodded in acknowledgement before turning back to town and walking back alone. The Coulters and Bill all walked Elizabeth home and entered into her parlor to be supportive of her as she processed this.
Rosemary made tea for everyone while Bill and Lee sat next to her on the sofa.
"It's certainly been a full day," Rosemary said as she passed around the tea cups.
They all nodded.
"How are you doing, dear?" Rosemary asked Elizabeth.
"I don't even know," Elizabeth said. "I knew that Nathan and Colleen were close, they way he still hurts when she's mentioned, showed as much. But I didn't realize just what exactly he was mourning until Constable Kinslow explained."
"None of us did," Lee gave her an encouraging nod.
Rosemary and Bill nodded in agreement.
"It speaks volumes that headquarters knew Nathan and Kinslow well enough to let Kinslow take leave to help Nathan after his sister's passing. His pain must have been very evident," Bill added.
The others nodded at his comment.
"How are you doing with what Kinslow said about Fort Clay?" Bill asked Elizabeth.
"On some level, I knew that it was a choice for Jack. He was too calm about it. I also felt it was weird that they had given him new orders just after coming back from the Northern Territories. Jack never mentioned anyone he worked with unless they showed up in town. So, I had no idea that he met Kinslow or knew about Nathan," Elizabeth said.
The group was silent as they let Elizabeth think.
"Bill, with what you know, and your experience as a Mountie, what do you think of Nathan's inquiry?" Elizabeth asked timidly.
Bill didn't need to ask which one she meant.
"I agree with what Kinslow said that Jack said. Nathan did what any good Mountie would have done. I would have done the same thing, and argued loudly back about the unfairness. Jack most certainly would have done it, and he was right about being commended for it. Nathan should have gotten, at most, a stern lecture that ended in a wink of approval. The suspension should never have happened in the first place. I don't know why Hargraves decided that he needed to go that severe with Nathan's reprimand, but if we're to blame anyone, besides mother nature and Jack's own choices, for Jack's death, there is a logic that it would be partly on him," Bill said.
The others took in a sip of tea as they processed.
"I don't know what to do with this information. It's made me understand Nathan better. But what good is it going to do now? Nathan's away and Allie's with her grandparents, and both have one foot out the door. What exactly does it change?" Elizabeth said after sitting in silence for a minute.
"It might not change anything, my dear," Rosemary said kindly as she patted her hand. "But it also could change everything."
Elizabeth looked at her.
"Rosemary's right. We've been telling you for a long time now that you need to do some soul searching. With everything you know, and having seen what a Hope Valley without Nathan and Allie looks like, do you want to live a life without them in it?" Bill asked.
"Of course not! I've always wanted them to stay," Elizabeth said in defense.
"Why?" Bill asked back calmly.
Elizabeth glared at him.
"You know why," Elizabeth said.
"This is something you need to say out loud, to an audience," Bill said.
"Allie has thrived here. I think she could continue to do so, if given the proper chance."
"Wouldn't it be kinder to give them a clear clean break if you're staying with Bouchard?" Bill asked again.
"Can't they do that here?" Elizabeth asked back.
"Sure, if you let them. But you wouldn't be allowed to their special moments," Bill added.
Elizabeth sniffled.
"You would only be Allie's teacher. That's it. A teacher. You've been struggling with that. Why?" Bill pressed.
Elizabeth sniffled and glared but stayed silent.
"You would have to watch someone else come sweeping into their lives," Bill continued.
Elizabeth crossed her arms.
"You would have to watch Nathan become his awkward enamored self, with someone else," Bill added.
Elizabeth sighed.
"Watch him fall in love. For her and Allie to get along splendidly. To watch them get married, build a house on the land he buys to settle down. To watch them have more children together. Grow old, and happy together."
Elizabeth stiffened next to him.
"Watch him have a beautiful and happy relationship with another woman," Bill pressed.
"STOP IT, BILL!" Elizabeth growled out.
"Why does that bother you? You've chosen Bouchard, this shouldn't bother you. A good friend would want him to be happy," Bill continued.
He felt Elizabeth getting more and more tense with his completely realistic hypotheticals.
"Why does it bother you?" Bill pressed.
She stiffened.
"Why?"
Elizabeth started crying.
"Why, Elizabeth?"
She was glaring with a lot of pain on her face.
"Why?"
"BECAUSE I LOVE HIM!" Elizabeth shouted, finally snapping and lashing back, and then she took the time to process her statement. "Oh, God, I'm in love with him, but I can't lose him the way that I did Jack."
Elizabeth had finally admitted this out loud to her friends.
"Elizabeth, you're not being fair to anyone involved by not being honest about your feelings," Rosemary said gently as she took Elizabeth into her arms.
"You also don't seem to realize that there are other ways to lose someone. Yes, you MIGHT lose him to his job, but you WILL lose him to someone else if you don't try," Bill added.
"Yeah, and besides, I think Nathan is less attached to his job than Jack was. Kinslow made that comment about headquarters knowing that Nathan would have resigned had he been sent there during the fighting," Lee added.
Everyone nodded. Elizabeth was crying heavily.
"I….I've b...bbbeeeennnnn, horrible! Why have you all waited this long?" Elizabeth asked in shock and shame of her behavior.
"You needed to be in a place to be receptive to it. Nathan shocked you out of your own ego," Bill added as he handed over his handkerchief as she sobbed.
They all nodded in agreement.
"I'm sorry. I'll start fixing this tomorrow," Elizabeth said as she had stopped crying.