Chapter II. The Walk
As they wound along the path toward the church, Nathan reflected on the last 19 years. Where had the time gone? It seemed like only yesterday, he was holding a tiny, swaddled, newborn Allie in his arms. During labor, Nathan had waited outside Colleen's door the entire time. And when the nurse emerged and he looked down at Allie for the first time, he'd been completely taken. She'd captured his heart right then and there.
Later on, when Dylan Parks showed up, there'd been a scuffle. Nathan hadn't meant to make a scene, only to convince him to get his act together, if nothing else, for the tiny baby, who now depended on him. Nathan felt responsible for her, even if Dylan didn't. So he tried to make Dylan see the light of day. But, it had ended badly. And when all was said and done, Dylan disappeared again, just as quickly as he came.
So, Nathan had stepped in. He'd looked in on Colleen and Allie at every occasion. He'd sent money, taken care of them, and provided for them, until Colleen had finally given up on Dylan, and gone home to their mother. Then, she'd had the help she needed. But, his funny, confident, carefree sister was never the same. And when his mother had called one day to say Colleen was sick, Nathan hadn't hesitated, but gone straight home.
While the doctors came and went, made their diagnoses, and attempted to make Colleen well again, Nathan had taken care of Allie. He'd tended her needs and kept her busy. She'd been barely four years old - so tiny and shy, and fragile. She'd been through so much already, and he just wanted to make it better for her. So, he'd spoiled her.
And when Colleen passed, it seemed only natural that Allie come live with him. They just had a bond, and even though he was only twenty-two, it made sense. Never had he imagined that he'd do it alone, all these years - fifteen of them now, to be exact.
Now, as Allie walked on his arm, Nathan watched her. She was all woman now, grown up and beautiful. Her deep brown eyes, Colleen's eyes, looked back at him. And when she smiled, he still melted, like he always did. Gone was the shy, fragile, tiny little girl. In her place was a strong, confident, resilient woman, whose bright smile brought him happiness and peace. Peace because that smile meant she, too, was happy, and that was all he ever wanted.
Allie seemed to know what he was thinking, so she stopped in the middle of the path. She turned and looked up into his handsome face. "Thank you, Dad. For everything you did for me, all these years. I wouldn't be who I am…" Her voice broke, and she couldn't say the rest. But, with him, words were rarely needed. They just got each other.
He nodded, and sniffled. He knew. But he wanted her to realize something, too. "Allie, without you, I wouldn't be who I am, either." Raising Allie was the best decision he'd ever made; adopting her the greatest exploit of his entire life. Of all his Mountie adventures, of all the bad guys he'd caught, and all the people he'd protected, she was his crowning achievement. The only feather he'd ever need in his cap.
"You're not going far, you know. You make it sound like we're never going to see each other." He reminded her. "You're still gonna come see your old man, aren't ya?"
"Of course, Dad. What would I do without you?" He'd been wondering what he was going to do without her, too.
He tried to lighten the emotion, suddenly thick between them. "Who would tell you Dad jokes?"
Allie laughed from her gut. "You're right, Dad. Who would tell me jokes?"
Then, she finally gave voice to the one worry that plagued her recently. "I only wish you weren't…alone, Dad. That you had someone." It was the one unspoken objection she had about moving. "I wish you'd found love."
But Nathan told her the one thing he'd realized long ago. Romantic love had never been kind to him, or really fit him, as much as he'd tried. But fatherly love, the love between a father and a daughter, had fit, and it had fit perfectly. And that was enough for him. "Allie girl. You are my great love, my true love. And no matter where you go, you always will be."
A big smile spread across Allie's face, though a tinge of sadness lingered. She took to her tip toes, and kissed him back. "I love you, Dad. You'll always be my true love, too." She answered, with a lone tear.
Nathan wiped that tear. "We better get going, or the groom's gonna worry."
But when they reached the bottom of the stairs, he turned to her once more. "I'm gonna miss you, Allie girl."
"I'm gonna miss you, too, Dad." And she hugged him. Hard. And the tears did come, the ones he promised he wouldn't instigate. But somehow, they arrived anyway.
Nathan pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket. He always carried one, since the first day he got Allie. He'd been the one to wipe her tears, her nose, her bloody knees and elbows, and her mouth after a messy ice cream cone. Now, he tenderly wiped her eyes, and cleaned up a little smear of make up, from one cheek.
"Thanks, Dad." She told him one more time, as she gazed up into those loving eyes.
Paul Blakely and Cooper Canfield waited at the doors of the church, poised to open them.
"Ready?" Nathan rasped, as he extended his elbow.
"Ready, Dad." She answered.
And Nathan led his daughter up the stairs, to give her away.
