CHAPTER 7 UNION CITY REUNION

Elizabeth woke up excited for the day ahead when she would see Nathan and Allie again. She looked over at the dress hanging on her closet door. She wondered what Nathan would think when he saw her. Others had told her how pretty she looked in it when she wore it to the last graduation ceremony. Then she looked at the bags hanging in the closet and smiled. One was her dress for the book signing and celebration dinner after. The other contained her dress for the formal dinner that Nathan would attend with her as her escort. She couldn't wait for him to see her in them, and she became short of breath just thinking about him wearing a tuxedo. Her body began to feel as if the electricity went through her as she continued to think of how handsome Nathan was in just about anything he wore. She couldn't even think of any time he didn't make her feel breathless.

Looking at the time, she realized she had to move because the train was leaving very early. The girls would be meeting them at the station. She got up and quickly dressed, taking great care of her hair. Nathan had mentioned once that he had liked it down, so she just brushed it so that it fell in soft waves. Applying a bit of perfume and some lipstick, she went to get her son ready. She sat him down for his breakfast while she gathered everything.

Remembering Nathan's comments from a few days ago and feeling impish, she took Nathan's latest letter and copied it. Then she took it and began "grading it" as if it were submitted by a student and smiled as she graded it. Elizabeth actually loved his letters and the way he expressed himself. Looking at the clock, she quickly finished gathering her items. As she put their bags by the door, she heard a knock. Hearing the giggles on the other side, she knew it was the girls. Sure enough, they were with Opal in the middle with big smiles.

"Good morning, girls. Are you ready for a fun weekend in Union City?" Elizabeth said, "Mrs. Coulter and I were able to get everything we need for an exciting slumber party with Allie tonight."

"I can't wait, Mrs. Thornton," Emily said.

"Allie doesn't know we are coming yet, does she?" Anna said, "When do we see her?"

"Well, Allie is coming with Inspector Grant and Judge Avery to pick us up at the station," Rosemary said, coming over from next door. "But we need to present our surprise with flair!"

"I'm guessing you already have a plan?" Elizabeth said, raising a brow.

"Well, of course I do, Elizabeth," Rosemary said. "I am an actress, you know!"

"So, exactly what is this plan that you have?" Elizabeth asked.

"We will practice on the train, but I promise you will love it," Rosemary said with a wink.

"Let me grab something off my desk, and then I'll be ready," Elizabeth said. Lee came out carrying their bags to load in the car. Just then, Henry arrived to transport Elizabeth and the children. As they arrived at the station, Lee and Henry got their bags quickly loaded, and then, with a goodbye, Henry was gone. Jessie met them at the station to drive Lee's car home. They were able to quickly get settled in the private compartment Lee had arranged for them. Before long, the train began moving and brought Elizabeth closer to Nathan.

Lee had Jack on the floor, and they played with the Mountie regiment Nathan had made for him. As Elizabeth looked over to where the girls had been sitting, she saw that Rosemary was directing them in how they would spring the surprise for Allie. Seeing that everyone was situated, she pulled out her notebook and began working on her next book. Sometimes she was amazed at how quickly they came together.

She and Jack had played around with Mountie Theodore's stories and had come up with various scenarios. They had been the basis for her first two books though they focused more on the intrigue now. She had started using them to compile stories in those long days before her son was born. Charlotte had also helped with a few of them when she came to be with Elizabeth for a time after she found out she was pregnant. They had a good time going over stories that she had concocted. Charlotte had even filled her in some of Jack's Father and Bill Avery. Then, of course, Patrick and even her Uncle Wynn had helped too. She actually had enough to write five more books quickly. Though she had let Lucas read the frontier stories, she could never let him see the Mountie Theodore ones. What had started as a joke had continued through letters while Jack was in the Northern Territories. She would write some in them, and he would make suggestions for other adventures. When he returned, he told her they had gotten him through some tough times while he was away. She smiled as she recalled some of the laughs they had over some of them. She blushed a bit as she remembered some of the steamy kisses that resulted from a couple of them.

An hour before they arrived, Elizabeth began reviewing her notes for the book signing and speech for the dinner. As usual, thinking about the coming dinner brought up a picture of Nathan in a tuxedo. That led her to start daydreaming of him in his Serge, his everyday clothes, his Sunday suits, and she recalled the day that she had walked in, and he was sitting on the corner of his desk in his Henley. He had been reading some files and making a few notes, so he had been distracted. She had frozen in the doorway, just watching the way his biceps moved as she did. Then there was the way the Henley fit around his upper arms, tightly accentuating and drawing her attention. She felt heat on her cheeks and knew that she was blushing.

"Union City Station, next stop," the porter said, knocking on the door. Elizabeth was startled out of her thoughts but not before Rosemary saw the look in her eyes and the blush on her cheeks. Rosemary leaned in close and whispered, "Something tells me you weren't working on your speeches Elizabeth," then winked.
Knowing that she was well and truly caught, Elizabeth said, "I'm having a hard time concentrating, that's all."

"If you say so, my friend," Rosemary said. "It will be so nice visiting them for the next four days. I know you will look beautiful in both of the dresses. I can't wait to see what Nathan thinks when he sees you in both dresses. I also brought our camera to get some pictures over our stay."

As the train stopped, the girls looked out the window and saw the Grants waiting. "Mrs. Thornton, look, it's Allie!" Opal said.

"Yes, it is, sweetheart," Elizabeth said as she scooped up her son. Heading to the door, Rosemary reminded them they had a plan and needed to wait for their cues. Elizabeth shook her head and walked toward the door to exit. Lee waited for her by the steps to steady her since her arms were full.

Nathan looked eagerly at the exiting passengers, but as the crowd thinned out, Elizabeth and Jack stepped down. His breath caught as their eyes caught, and they entered that secret place momentarily. But Jack spotted his Mountie and was calling out to him. "Mountie Nathan! Mountie Nathan! Allie!

As they drew closer, Elizabeth put him down and watched the two children run to each other, meeting in the middle. Elizabeth looked over at Nathan and saw that he was just as moved by the reunion as she was. Then Jack looked over and ran to Nathan as Allie ran to her.

"Oh, Allie, I have missed you so much. Look how much you have grown since I last saw you, sweetheart." Elizabeth said.

"Where's Mrs. Coulter?" Allie asked, looking towards the train.

"Well, we have a bit of a surprise for you," Elizabeth said, looking over and winking at Nathan. "Why don't we go find her?"

As they drew near the train, Rosemary appeared and said, "Allie, how wonderful to see you again." But before she could say any more, the girls came out of hiding.

"Opal, Emily, Anna?" Allie said, her eyes wide with excitement. "What are you doing here!"

"Mrs. Thornton brought as a surprise," Emily said.

"We are going to have a slumber party too!" Opal said.

"We are staying with you while we are here!" Anna added.

"Really?" Allie asked, looking at Elizabeth.

"Yes, Sweetheart, your dad asked us all to stay with you while we are in Union City. We brought everything we need to have a top-notch slumber party." Elizabeth answered.

"Okay, I think it's time we all get our belongings and head home," Nathan said, coming up to the group.

Before Nathan could say anything, the girls piled in with Allie in his car while the Coulters and Thorntons went with Bill. As they pulled up to the home, they were surprised at the size of it.

"Nathan, this is so beautiful," Elizabeth said as they walked in the door.

"Thank you, Elizabeth! Let me show you where your rooms are so you can get settled." Nathan picked up Elizabeth's bags and started up the stairs.

"Allie's room has two twin beds, so they should be happy in there," Nathan said, chuckling as all of the girls raced past him. "But you are free to use the sitting room tonight for your festivities."

"Great idea Nathan," Rosemary said. "While we have a ladies' night, you men can have a guy's night."

"Lee and Rosemary, I put you across from Elizabeth and Jack. Bill is in the room next to yours and mine next to his." Nathan said.

"Elizabeth, I figured that you and Jack could use these rooms since they connect, and I've locked the second door so Jack can't get out without you knowing," Nathan said, setting her bags just inside the room. "Allie, of course, is next to yours."

"Thank you, Nathan," Elizabeth said softly. "It's perfect!"

"Well, I'll let you get settled, and later I can show you around more," Nathan said, warmth reflecting in his eyes.

"I'm looking forward to it," Elizabeth said softly.

"Oh, I put a toddler bed in my study for when Jack takes a nap. I borrowed it from a fellow inspector. Of course, if the girls are upstairs, they can also keep an ear out for him." Nathan added.

"That was very kind of you to think of that, Nathan. I appreciate you going to all this trouble for us." She replied.

"It's my pleasure, Lizbeth. I want you to be as comfortable as possible." Nathan said as he turned to leave.

"Oh, Nathan, would you mind taking Jack with you so I can unpack? He will want to be with you anyway." Elizabeth asked. Jack ran over to Nathan, holding his arms up as if to confirm his mother's words.

Nathan's eyes lit up with excitement. "I would love to watch him for you. I can give him the surprise I have for him. Come on, Jack, let's go find Uncle Lee and Uncle Bill."

"Kay," Jack said, putting his head down on Nathan's shoulders.

"I'll see you downstairs, Lizbeth," Nathan said, heading downstairs.

Elizabeth looked around at the room she and jack would be staying in. She noticed there was a vase full of wildflowers with a note beside it. Opening the note, she smiled.

Elizabeth,

I remember how much you love these!

Nathan

Her heart was overflowing with love as she bent to smell them. Turning, she quickly put their things away, anxious to be with Nathan again. She stopped momentarily to check on the girls and then headed downstairs. It wasn't hard to find Nathan and Bill because Jack's laughter gave them away. It had been a while since she had heard Jack laugh that deep belly laugh only Nathan could bring out. Her son had fallen for Nathan from the first day they met at the school when he brought the plaque. Nathan seemed to have fallen in love with Jack at about the same time. He could never pass the little boy without stopping. But then she felt the same way about Allie. Shaking off her thoughts, she entered the library to see the two men playing Mounties on the floor with her son.

Jack spotted her and said, "Mama, look what Mountie Nathan made for me?" holding up one of his new Mounties.

"I see, baby," Elizabeth said, taking it from her son.

"Can we go see Newton now?" Jack asked Nathan.

"I would love to see the grounds too, Nathan," Elizabeth said. "It would be nice to stretch my legs too. Bill, have you seen it yet?"

"No, I haven't," Bill said. "But I'll stay here and wait for Rosemary and Lee to come down. Why don't the three of you go ahead? It will be time for Jack's nap soon."

"Shall we, Lizbeth?" Nathan said, picking Jack up and holding out his arm to her.

Elizabeth took his arms and said, "Lead the way, Inspector."

Bill watched them walk out and couldn't help praying that maybe this week together could bring them closer to clearing things up between them. It was obvious to anyone who saw them that they were in love.