Elizabeth's Journal Entry:
Our Mountie arrives home today! It has been truly insightful to remember what it was like before Nathan Grant was stationed in Hope Valley. I am so relieved to see Allie more focused on her studies as her uncle continues the healing process. The young girl smiles brighter every day.
Little Jack is sprouting up faster than I would like. There are days when I wish he could remain my "little" Jack forever. But then I recall every special moment that I will get to experience with him throughout his childhood, into adulthood. And that thrills me even more. One day, a young lady will capture his heart, and I just might become a grandmother. I have mixed feelings about that one.
There has been something else weighing on my chest lately. I understand Lucas' point of view in not alerting Nyrah of Sol's appearance in Hope Valley. Sol seems to be here for more than a reunion with her best friend. There is a coldness in her eyes, and I think Lucas fears for the woman he held feelings for. Lucas shared one afternoon, about how he held interest in Nyrah for quite some time when she first arrived in town. Nathan also showed some interest. This left me confused for a while, because I had already suspected something was going on, and had my own growing care for both men. Lucas assured me that things have changed for him, and a flame sparked within my heart when he said it.
I still find myself in tears once and a while, still unable to completely decide whether I really want to move forward with Lucas. Jack was a treasure that can never be replaced, and though I am open to love, it will require a lot of patience. I don't want to rush into anything.
The Thornton home is loud with a little boy's excited squeal, and Elizabeth lifts her focus away from her desk at her son pasting fingerprints all over a window. An amused expression lights up the porcelain skin across her face. Elizabeth sets down the pen, and scoops her son up into her arms with delight. This is when she picks up movement outside through the smudged glass. A shadow, with golden hair. Sol treads carefully at the front door, frozen and hesitant. Elizabeth awaits the sound of knocking, but it doesn't come. Instead, Sol strides back down the steps, and hooks her thumbs onto her belt. She is in better clothing than before, but still insists on wearing pants. The woman never minds the stares or the gossip whirling through town; she only keeps her chin tight and eyes still, betraying nothing beside indifference. Elizabeth finds herself wrapping little Jack deeper into her embrace. Before Sol has time to notice that her presence is known, Elizabeth drifts quietly into a corner of the house where she won't be seen, and debates on the decision to call Lucas with the telephone.
"Mama." Jack touches Elizabeth's cheek with his small hand.
"Shh," she gently tells him, a finger over her mouth. The teacher waits a few moments, still searching the front of the house through the window. Sol leans against the support beam, staring out toward the mountains. Elizabeth draws in a breath, and decides to call Lucas after all. And that is when Lee's car gurgles past the house, and Sol trails on after it.
The second she is able, Elizabeth asks Florence at the switchboard to connect her to Lucas Bouchard. "Alright, please hold." The school teacher dabs the back of her hand against her forehead, impatient and sweaty. "I've connected you now," Florence says.
"Thank you, " Elizabeth tells her.
"Hello?" His voice is deep over the phone, but Elizabeth puts that out of her mind for now. She gulps, "Lucas, I'm glad I got a hold of you."
"I'm glad to be of service." He chuckles, probably uncertain what this random call is about.
"Sol was just at my house."
"What?"
"Yes, she was standing outside the door. She didn't knock, and I didn't let her in, but then she just stood there as if she was guarding something." Jack tries to grab the phone from Elizabeth's hand, but his mother notices it in time, and tugs the earpiece away from his curiosity. "Lee's car drove by, and she followed it. I don't know where she is now." Silence fills the distance between them, and she fears that they were disconnected somehow, before Lucas finally speaks.
"Are you and Jack, alright?" Panic is in his tone.
"We're fine. I'm just worried for Nyrah. Nathan was supposed to come home today. Lee left for the hospital this morning to pick them up."
"Alright, just stay where you are. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Lucas?" Elizabeth doesn't let him hang up yet.
"Yes?"
"Just remember that we don't actually know if she's dangerous...be careful."
"Thank you. I promise."
Stretching my legs after a car ride has always been an enjoyable activity for me. Muscles are loosened, joints are repositioned, and bones are released of their air bubbles. Lee and I escort Nathan inside. I know Nate won't admit this, but this car ride has exhausted him. He still needs to regain some strength. The doctor gave me some exercises to do with him, and Allie is to participate a much a possible. I'm also worried about the emotional trauma this experience may have caused him.
"Have I ever told you that I really love ice cream?" Nathan speaks for the first time since arriving.
"Good thing we had some today then. Just two more steps, and you can rest in your bed, huh?" I hold in every pant and sigh possible. I don't want him to believe that this is too much for me to handle. I want to be by his side, even if that means supporting his weight where his crutches cannot. Thankfully, Lee is helping me. After negotiating the stairs, I rush ahead to set pillows to support Nate's back, unrolling the bedspread.
"Awesome, now we can call in Carson and have him look you over before you completely settle in." Nathan rolls his eyes, and I scoff. "I'll have you know, that I whooped my butt off trying to get you up here. I am just making sure I didn't cause any internal hemorrhages."
I turn in a huff, but a warm hand stops me from leaving. Lee clears his throat and talks to himself. "I think I'm gonna go check on Allie." And just like that, Lee aborts the mission and leaves me with the patient.
I slowly face Nathan, finally noticing the ugly brown bedsheets he is sitting in. "You...whooped your butt off?" He asks, genuinely confused and concerned for me. A smile returns to my face, laughing at what I had just said to him.
"Sorry," I laugh again. "I may have, um...exaggerated."
A loud knocking erupts from downstairs, and I mention that I will be right back, but Nate brushes his lips across the back of my hand. My emotions soar and float into the clouds. No one has ever kissed my hand like that before. I still sence where his lips were not ten seconds ago, and I find that the room has suddenly become humid. My face must be crimson right now.
"I should probably...go see what's going on." The words are sticky on my tongue, much like peanut butter, as I stagger into the thin corridor.
Allie and Leland Coulter are gathered around a man with an attractive beard. A well recognized face that used to make my heart flutter.
"Hi, boss! I'm back! I should be ready to get back to work in about a day or two."
Lucas frowns slightly. Is there something in my teeth? "Nathan is doing just fine; he's resting upstairs." The frown deepens. "What brings you by?" Maybe I didn't greet him as enthusiastically as he expected? I am very tired from everything, and I probably forgot.
Lee claps once. "Lucas just came here to see all of you-" Another knock, gentle and unfamiliar to me, raps at the door. I'm not certain why, but energy tingles through my veins when I go to open the door.
I haven't seen my best friend in nearly a year and a half. I gave up on the notion of finding her, yet here she is. A bobbed hairstyle, bright lipstick, and almond-shaped eyes. All of it. All of her.
I cannot bring myself to say anything, and my face is wet. Left hand wrapped behind her neck, she looks down for a moment, but recovers quickly and speaks. "Nyrah, if your jaw falls down any further, I'll have no choice but to stuff it with breadsticks."
Sniggers subtly alert me of Allie bounding toward the person of interest. "I think I've seen you around before," Allie announces.
I'm crying, but I cannot tell whether or not it is from intense sorrow, joy, or anger. I'm grieving because I don't know what all of this is supposed to mean. My body stands rigid with adrenaline and excitement because I've ached for my best fried for so long. I'm furious because of the torrent of fear ravaging my internal organs. Has everything been a joke to her? Where has she been all of this time?
Lucas swipes sweaty fingers through his hair and avoids eye contact. That attractive expression he used to have whenever we were in the same room has soured into guilt. There is no other conclusion to come to than the fact he must have known she was here. I've never been upset with this man, but I'm going to be. My mind is too stunned and confused to process a reaction. Lucas must find himself to be so smooth and able to hide what he's thinking. He's not.
"Sol...forgive me. It's just been a while." I endeavor to muster the courage to add content to that statement, but fall short. The hug is awkward at best, and Sol grunts from the impact. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions," she tells me. Slowly we melt into one another as if nothing happened at that bridal shower, before pulling back.
"Hello." Lee offers his hand, and Sol accepts it. "I'm Leland Coulter. I own the sawmill in town. I believe I have seen you the past few days, but never got around to introducing myself."
"Don't worry about it. I was actively avoiding you." I believe Sol is joking, but no one could pick that up from her behavior, so I laugh out loud in order to clue everyone in. "Um, she's not serious." I don't believe what I said, and gauging in on everyone else, they do not either.
The room is quiet enough to hear a crumb drop from a bread box, and Sol glares like she is nothing but murderous. That's not like her. Sure, Sol can be prickly, but not to this extent. Something is terribly wrong.
I'm concerned for Allie; her demeanor has shifted from gleeful to morose. This young girl is usually the first to do all the talking. I have noticed that she steadily improved emotionally whenever Nathan did.
Sol clears her throat. "Look Ny, I'm here because of our mutual acquaintance. I request to speak with you in private."
Another chapter is finally here! I'm so sorry for the wait yet again. I finally had to put "SLOW UPDATES" in the description. Don't worry! I haven't forgotten about any of you. Life is just crazy.