Chapter IV. The Dance
Elizabeth entered the reception holding tight to Jack's arm. After Lucas left, Bill and Gustave formed a partnership and bought the saloon. And much to Elizabeth's relief, they promptly changed the name, to the Hope Valley Hotel featuring Gustave's Restaurant. They classed the place up, turned it into a proper hotel and restaurant. And now Gustave's, with its warm but classy decor, was the perfect place for a wedding reception.
When they entered, Elizabeth and Jack were met by the Coulters. Their daughter Patricia, who everyone affectionately called Tricia, was four and a half now, and hung excitedly from Lee's right hand. Their son Thomas, just barely three now, buried his face in Rosemary's skirt. Together, the two families located their designated table and sat down.
The restaurant was beautifully decorated. Textures and shades of brown and blue mingled throughout the room, blending perfectly with the wood. Splashes of color stood out here and there, as wildflowers popped from simple clay vases. The decor was inherently Allie, understated but elegant. Even Rosemary commented on it. "Wow. Allie, Opal, and Emily did such a wonderful job decorating."
"They sure did." Elizabeth remarked, as she glanced around the room.
Elizabeth spotted Gabriel and Lillian Kinslow, sitting not far away. They had an adorable little red-headed boy named William now. Next to them sat Ned and Florence Yost.
A few tables over were Faith and Carson. He returned to Hope Valley a few years ago, and they'd eventually married. She was expecting their first child now, her belly was quite cute and round in the empire dress she'd chosen.
Faith had actually dated Nathan Grant, for very nearly a year, not long after Elizabeth and Lucas' engagement was announced. Things between them seemed quite serious, for a spell. The way Faith looked at him back then, and well, the way she still looked at him sometimes even now, was unmistakable - simple adoration, any way you slice it. But their relationship had slowly fizzled after Elizabeth broke things off with Lucas.
Before Faith, Nathan had taken Mei to dinner several times. Elizabeth had wondered about them, too, but Nathan had struck up a relationship with Faith instead. If Elizabeth was completely honest with herself, it had never been easy for her to see Nathan with another woman. Something inside her turned completely upside-down every time she saw him with someone else. But she simply reminded herself that she chose Lucas, and she had to live with that choice.
Across the room, Mike Hickam sat down with the Averys. Bill had finally given in, taken the plunge, and married Molly. As soon as he did, he realized how nice it was to be taken care of. Of course, he would never admit it, and he would certainly never let Molly know, though Elizabeth was fairly certain, she had a pretty good idea. They had an adorable sort of tenderness between them, that was terribly evident if you looked close enough.
Besides a hotel proprietor, Bill was still a judge, and still mayor. Mike was his deputy mayor, and quite frankly did most of the work. But they made a good team and had managed to do a lot of good for the town.
Fiona Miller left Hope Valley a few years back. A smart, capable businesswoman, she followed an opportunity she couldn't pass up. Which left a small hole in Mike's life, but Elizabeth had noticed of late, that he seemed to have his eye on a new head waitress at Gustave's. She was young and pretty, and wet behind the ears, just like he was when he first arrived. His dinner reservation at her table had become quite regular, and Elizabeth speculated, that he was having quite an affect on her, too.
One person Elizabeth sorely missed was Henry Gowen. Just last year he'd packed up and moved closer to Christopher and Rachel, and his grandchildren. Elizabeth suspected the fact that Abigail and Cody were living less than a half day's drive from the Hughes' may have also played into Henry's decision. Yes, he still wrote fairly regularly, but bottom line, Elizabeth missed seeing his lopsided grin around town. And she missed his wisdom. Bill usually took into account the best way to avoid trouble, when he doled out advice. But Henry always gave it straight from the heart, desiring that anyone and everyone learn from his mistakes.
Sitting just on the other side of Lee, were the Canfields. Joseph and Minnie had eventually bought both Abigail and Bill's shares of the cafe. And once they'd acquired Bill's share, which he gladly sold to buy the saloon, they changed the name to Minnie's. It had been very hard for Elizabeth to see that name change - as if removing Abigail's name somehow removed any hope for her return. Of course Elizabeth knew that Cody was in university now, studying to be a lawyer, which was why Abigail had stayed right where she was, so he could live at home until his studies were complete. But that knowledge still didn't make it any easier to see her name disappear.
Elizabeth finally let her gaze go to Nathan, who was standing with his mother now. Why did her eyes always seem to find him? Boy, she could use some of Abigail's advice, right about now. For Nathan Grant was the one conundrum that she could never quite solve. What would it take to get him out of her mind? She was convinced it would never happen, as long as they lived in the same town.
That brought a memory to mind: a Christmas many years back, when an RNWMP officer came to Hope Valley to award Nathan a promotion in Union City. He'd been excited about it, but Elizabeth had butted in and implored him to stay. She even used Allie as the excuse. She'd been so selfish, so unwilling to let him go. But then, only a short time later, when she thought he'd been shot dead in a prisoner transfer, she panicked and pushed him away. And boy did she push him away. Rather brutally. It made no sense, no sense at all, now looking back. But it was the truth, and that truth was just one, in a huge pile of offenses, stacked against her.
Elizabeth let her gaze go to Nathan's mother, Rebecca Grant. She was tall and elegant, and beautiful, even at her age. Nathan favored her - got his blue eyes and that handsome chin dimple from her. She had the same thick, dark, wavy hair, though there were spots of gray near her temples. Just then Archie, who stood just next to her, glanced Elizabeth's way and gave a small smile.
That brought Elizabeth back to the present company in front of her, and just in time, as Tricia climbed up into her lap. "Tricia girl, what do you need?"
"Awntie Liz." Just when Tricia got settled in her lap, the waiters dropped off the first course.
Lee started to move, to take Tricia back, but Elizabeth waved him off. "Oh, please let her stay, Lee. I'm thoroughly enjoying sharing my salad." For Tricia had already picked up Elizabeth's fork, and was helping herself. They watched as she finished nearly the whole plate, and looked rather proud doing it. When she smiled, she looked so much like Rosemary, it was uncanny. And little Trish had that same way of drawing people in, with her charisma and her bright personality. She was the joyful little package they hadn't realized was missing.
Tricia climbed down from Elizabeth's lap and returned to her own seat. From there, she and everyone else enjoyed the rest of the dinner. And after the cake was served, and even Tricia had finished off the entirety of her piece, the dancing began. The kids went off to one corner with Jack, to join the other school children. Lee went to join Mike near the bar, which left Elizabeth and Rosemary alone to visit.
But then, Mike made an announcement introducing the first dance, invited Robert and Allie to the dance floor. And when they began to dance, both Rosemary and Elizabeth were captivated. In fact, that was the general reaction of most of the crowd. Robert turned out to be a very good dancer and he led Allie around the dance floor with ease and precision, which came as a complete surprise.
When the dance was over, Robert placed the sweetest, most tender kiss on Allie's cheek. At that, every woman in the room swooned, a general "awww" hushed over the crowd. And Allie, who had become so much softer now, reached up on her tip toes, and kissed him back. It was a beautiful interaction, between husband and wife. Rosemary glanced at Elizabeth and they shared a knowing smile. Then without even thinking about it, Elizabeth's eyes sought out Nathan's. And when she found him, he was already looking at her. She gave him a shy, sort of understanding smile, for she knew how proud he was of Allie. Then she tore her eyes away, only to realize, that her heart was beating fast and reckless now. Why did such tenderness, on display, make her immediately think of him?
Elizabeth busied herself with Rosemary, to distract herself. But as another dance was being set up, Robert walked past. Rosemary stopped him. "Robert, dear. Wow! We are so impressed!" She told him enthusiastically. "Where on earth did you learn to dance like that?"
Robert, who'd been on his way to find his mother, stopped just in front of them and motioned over his shoulder, nonchalantly. "Constable Grant."
Rosemary and Elizabeth, shocked as ever, looked at each other puzzled, then back at him. "What?"
Robert added, matter of fact, with a shrug. "He's an excellent dancer."
Both ladies brought their eyes front and center as Nathan and Allie took their places on the dance floor. Mike announced the father-daughter dance, and off they went.
If Rosemary and Elizabeth thought they were impressed by the way Robert danced, then they were floored by Nathan. He whisked Allie around as if she floated on air. And he was flawless. Flawless. And he even managed to keep that shy kind of understated style, that was inherently him, when he danced. It was just beautiful.
"Well tie me to a pig and roll me in the mud." Rosemary sputtered out, after she managed to pick her chin off the floor.
Elizabeth was speechless. How did she not know this?
But then she remembered: a Founder's Day long ago, when someone had called for ladies' choice. Oh, how she wanted to find Nathan. He was the first person she thought of. But somehow, she ran into Lucas on the way. And she'd felt so bad for him, standing there looking lost, the new guy in town, that she asked. Oh, how she regretted asking. She'd regretted it the moment the words were out of her mouth, and even more once she glanced up and saw Nathan's face, as he went out the door.
And now, seeing the way he danced, the way his body moved, she regretted it on a whole new level.
Over these last few years, regret seemed to be the only dish on the menu for Elizabeth Thornton. She'd swallowed one bitter spoonful after another. So much regret, that she wasn't sure she would even recognize the taste of anything else anymore. How could she have let it get this far? Why could she not just forget this man?
Robert and his mother soon joined the revelry, but Nathan and Allie danced circles around them. He looked so confident and regal, with Allie in his arms. How was this man still single?
Rosemary looked her friend over, could read her like a book. "Kicking yourself now, are you?"
Elizabeth brought her gaze round to Rosemary. How did her best friend always know what she was thinking? "Something like that."
Rosemary watched, as her friend's eyes went, like a magnet, back to Nathan. "And when you are done kicking yourself, what will you do about it?"
Elizabeth's face became somber. What could she do about it? She was the last person in the world that deserved anything from Nathan Grant. He had loved her through thick and thin, and all of her faults besides. And she'd only served him one hurtful lie after another, until that final blow, the nail that sealed the coffin on any chance they ever had. She didn't deserve the slightest kindness from him anymore, not even friendship.
She was honest with Rosemary. It came out all shaky and broken, but it was honest. "Nothing. I deserve nothing."
Rosemary reached over and placed her hand on her friend's arm. "I'm not sure Nathan would see it that way. Have you tried apologizing? Simply being honest with him?"
Elizabeth glanced up at Nathan again, who's eyes were fixed on Allie. She bobbed on a swallow, just couldn't get it to go down. "After all I've done, he's better off without me."
Rosemary didn't agree. She'd observed them both for a while now, and neither one, not Nathan, nor Elizabeth, seemed to be doing very well. "When are you going to let go of all that guilt?"
Elizabeth's eyes came round in a flash. "I will never forgive myself for what I did to him." And a lone tear made its slow, painful way down her cheek. Elizabeth reached up and wiped it, before anyone could see.
But Rosemary saw, and she understood it all. She'd watched her dear friend flounder for far too long. She'd tried to intervene once, but it had ended badly, causing a rift in their friendship. After a half-hearted apology, Rosemary had caved and kept quiet after that, for the sake of their friendship. But she'd never stopped noticing, or hoping, or wishing. Now it was time to try again, no matter the consequences this time. "It's been too long, Elizabeth. Maybe it's time to stop wallowing in that guilt, and take another approach. How about just being friends?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "He still deserves better."
Rosemary moved her hand up to Elizabeth's shoulder. "A person can never have too many friends, Elizabeth. And it seems like a little resolution might be good for both of you." She glanced at Nathan, who was just ending the dance with Allie. "You could start by asking him to dance."
But Elizabeth just shook her head no, and glanced away. It was better for Nathan Grant to move on and start over with someone new, someone who had never hurt him. She'd done enough damage already.
"Mom!" The happy, excited voice of her son, saved her from that depressing train of thought.
Elizabeth turned to find her handsome Jack behind her, arms folded behind his back, like a true gentleman. "May I please have this dance, my lady?"
Elizabeth's face broke into a big, happy smile. "Why, yes, kind sir. I've been hoping you would ask."
Her son led her to the dance floor, where many were dancing now. He put his arm securely at her back, and led her in a simple waltz. He was still a head shorter than her, but his shoulders were already strong and broad. His blond hair had turned darker in recent years, and was a sandy brown now. He had his father's beautiful brown eyes, and had come to favor him more and more, as of late. And his smile was the exact replica of Jack senior, a token left behind to remind her to smile. And smile she did, almost every time she saw it.
Though not yet ten years old, Jack too, was an apt dancer. The short lessons she'd given him, barefoot in the living room, had apparently been fruitful. He was smart and capable, and proved to be a quick learner. Elizabeth beamed as she gazed at him. He was the one thing she'd done right, a bright light, comforting and warm, in the midst of her darkness.
When the dance was over, Jack led her back to her table, which was empty now. As soon as Elizabeth sat down, Mike got everyone's attention. Rosemary was at his side, and together, they announced a ladies' choice dance.
Elizabeth's jaw dropped, she knew exactly what Rosemary was doing. Was she ever going to give up on this?
But, though she fight it, Elizabeth's eyes still went to the only man in the room that commanded her attention. Like a moth to a flame. And, low and behold, Nathan was already looking at her. Embarrassed and shy, she looked away, let her eyes scan the room. And she realized something: women were moving, asking men to dance, and making matches. Acceptances were made, and couples moved to the dance floor.
She brought her eyes back around to Nathan, and his were still fixed on her. How long had he been looking at her now? Though she suddenly found it hard to breathe, she couldn't help but wonder. And hope. Maybe Rosemary was right. Maybe she should just ask him. Maybe they could try to start over, and just be friends.
Finally, she summoned all her strength and all her nerve, and stood. She took three steps in his direction, but when she brought her eyes back to him again, her heart fell.
A small line of females had formed just in front of Nathan Grant. His dancing expertise had been displayed for all to see, and apparently, not all the women in this town were as dense as she. He had quite a few women callers now, even Florence Yost stood in his line.
Elizabeth could only stand and watch as he shyly accepted the first proposal. A pretty young widow who worked in the saw mill office with Lee Coulter.
As Nathan turned and locked his frame, took position to start the dance, he glanced up at Elizabeth. And what she read there, was nothing short of regret. She knew that look, for it was almost nearly the very same expression she'd had on her own face, at the Founder's Day dance, when the roles had been reversed. What did he have to regret? Not getting to dance with her? That once again, she hadn't asked? She had tried, for crying out loud. She'd been on her way there, when once again, they'd been foiled. Once again, they'd floundered.
Defeated, Elizabeth turned her back on the dance floor and returned to her seat. Rosemary came just after, and sat down next to her friend. "I saw you try."
Elizabeth's solemnness was deep, as she looked down at her hands in her lap. "It's just not in the cards, Rosemary. You should give it up."
Rosemary wanted to cheer her friend, hated to see her like this. "Well, who could blame them? I mean, who wouldn't want to dance with him, after seeing how he handles himself?"
"He'll be busy for a while." Elizabeth looked up at him and a smile slowly took over her face. It just hit her funny, was sort of comical. After all these years of keeping to himself, he was suddenly the most eligible bachelor in town. Something he, himself, wouldn't be too happy about.
Rosemary laughed from her gut. "Even Florence Yost was in his line."
Elizabeth laughed too. It did feel good to laugh, so much better than what she really wanted to do. "What's she doing dancing with another man, anyway?"
Rosemary laughed again. "Ned hurt his back yesterday at the mercantile. So perhaps she's just taking advantage of the man's skill set, since her own husband can't whisk her around."
Elizabeth shook her head. "Oh, Florence. You gotta love her."
"Yes, you do." Rosemary replied, as her two children ran over excitedly and crashed into her.
"Daddy wantza know why yo dinnnnt ask hima dance?" Tricia asked with a tilt of the head.
Rosemary titled her head the same way. "Really? The handsome Leeland Coulter is looking for me?"
"Yesssss." Thomas told her with a giggle, as he pointed to his father, who was affectionately watching his wife, from across the room.
Elizabeth watched it all, amused. She told Rosemary. "Go. I'll watch them."
Rosemary stood quickly, but then stopped. "Are you sure?"
"Go!" Elizabeth said with a chuckle, as she turned her attention to the children, pulled them both onto her lap.
A while later, just as Elizabeth was preparing to leave, Nathan stood. He just couldn't deny the urge any longer. Nine years they'd known each other and they'd never danced together.
And to be completely honest, the way she kept looking at him all night, gave him hope; hope he knew he had no business having. But yet, still…there it was. He'd tried the better part of the last six years to quench that hope, ever since she told him she wasn't in love with him. He'd tried to put it out forever, but it was like a bitter weed that refused to die.
And boy had she done a thorough job breaking his heart, with her excuse that she'd only seen her dead husband in him. Talk about a way to decimate the heart of a man who picked up and moved towns to protect you, and then spent three years doing it.
Oh, she'd given him every reason to hate her forever, basically told him she'd never even seen him at all. That had left him wondering ever since, if he'd imagined everything - their connection, their friendship, their growing affection. And he came to only one conclusion: that their love had been completely one-sided. What had been nothing to her, had to him, been the truest and realest love of his entire life.
But now, as she gazed at him, one more time, from across the room, he couldn't help but wonder. And hope. Each and every glance breathed life onto that bitter weed of hope.
So he decided to take a chance. Hadn't they danced around each other long enough? And if there was one thing he learned, when he'd dated Faith, was that sometimes, you just had to take a chance.
Nathan willed his legs to move, and miraculously, they did. As he slowly approached, he felt self-conscious, and silly, and nervous, and a thousand other things that only this woman could make him feel. On the way there, she glanced up a few times, seemed to realize what he was doing, and became keenly and nervously aware of his every move. Finally, her eyes fixed on him, and she watched him walk right toward her, like a prey being hunted. Why did she looked so scared and wounded, when he hadn't even opened his mouth yet? He hadn't uttered a single word to her in days, maybe even weeks.
For crying out loud, it was just a dance. And he'd danced with practically every other woman in the room. Why not her?
Why was this woman the one woman he couldn't have, but the only one he wanted?
"Lizabeth." The way her name rolled off his tongue made every hair on her body stand up. "Would you like to dance?"
"Dance?" She fumbled, practically spit that one word out onto the floor. "Me?" Who was tongue-tied now?
He shifted his weight but his confidence rose. Was she nervous? Was he having an affect on her, for once? "Yes, you." He smiled crooked. "Could I please have the next dance?"
"Nathan." Nobody said his name like she did. And her eyelids batted. Was that intentional? "I don't…"
Nathan reached down and took her hand. Like a lifeline, he pulled her soft, feminine hand into both of his. And he looked at her with that intense gaze, the one that could melt a pat of butter in three seconds flat. And yes, she was melting alright. "Lizabeth. It's just one dance." That crooked smile again. Her heart was beating loudly in her ears, as he gently implored her. "Dance with me."
Elizabeth blinked, mind fumbling to respond. How many times had he touched her in the last nine years? Oh, she knew exactly. Their hands had touched once in the library. And over the course of a few years, they'd shared three hugs - and all three of them, she'd initiated. One came in a moment of truth, when she let down her guard and expressed how she truly felt. And the other two had been inside the safe confines of her relationship with Lucas, a relationship which had only served to secure a wall between her and Nathan Grant. Yes, her entire relationship with Lucas had been a sham, nothing more than her effort to put an obstacle between her and the man she truly loved, in order to protect her heart.
Yes, Lucas had been the gambler, but this was the bet she'd placed, the gamble she had made. And it had worked. Nathan, a man of integrity, had kept his distance and treated her as nothing more than a friend, from the moment she entered a courtship with Lucas.
Safety. That had become her principal motivation since Jack's death, and Lucas had offered that safety. Even if, ironically, while she'd been with Lucas, she had once been held at gunpoint, and on another occasion, had to hole up in her house and hide. That wall of safety around her heart had been more precious, on several occasions, than even her physical safety. How ridiculous it seemed now.
On two other occasions she and Nathan had touched. The first was at Florence's bachelorette party, when Fiona had initiated that silly game, the one where her hands had ended up in his. What had Fiona said: the man whose hands you hold, is the one you're meant to be with? When Elizabeth had removed the blindfold and realized it was Nathan's hands she was holding, she felt exposed, utterly found out.
And the last time they touched, was after the Yost's wedding, when she'd held his hands and forgiven him for any part he'd inadvertently played in Jack's death. Of course she had forgiven him. How could she not?
There was an irony thick and bitter, as Elizabeth looked back on that day. Had she really advised Katie Yost about the uncertainties in life? Had she really stated that life's greatest risk was possibly never experiencing life's greatest joy? Oh, yes, indeed she had. Advice that applied to anyone but her. For instead of taking that risk, she had run from it, and missed out on life's greatest joy. And she'd broken Nathan's heart in the process, deprived him of that joy too.
She felt horrible. How could she live with herself? That was the one question she heard in the recesses of her mind now. Over and over, it replayed.
But that voice was at war, with the feelings that welled up inside her, as Nathan touched her. His caress was a calming balm, as his thumb slowly and ever so lightly traced over her knuckle. Not to mention that thick, undeniable attraction between them, that she could no longer deny.
The silence between them was long and loud. Until finally, she felt the unmistakable reverberations of a crack in the wall that surrounded her heart. The first signs of life peaked out from behind the echo that ensued. And it was the very first sign of life she'd felt in six years. For it had been six years since she'd broken Nathan's heart and built that wall.
He stood quiet, gaze fixed, confident and sure, patiently waiting. "Yes. Yes, okay. One dance." She finally answered, flustered and insistent on that one limitation.
He held her hand tighter then. "One dance." He repeated, adding an eyebrow and a glimmer of hope. The crack in the wall widened as he led her out onto the dance floor.
Nathan's arm came strong and firm around her back, and she audibly gasped when he pulled her in closer. Her eyes went big and wild with something akin to fear, as he held her hand, and lifted it, locking his frame. Their eyes were glued on each other, and he whispered to remind her. "Breathe, Lizbeth."
She did as she was told, drew in a huge breath, but before she could even exhale, he took off around the dance floor.
They drew quite a few onlookers, because well, there was just something special about the two of them. For when they stopped fighting, and hurting, and running, and when they quit protecting, and were just themselves, they were simply wonderful together.
Every eye in the room was soon on them, as the spark became a flame, and the flame began to blaze. And blaze it did. Allie stood, leaned back against Robert behind her, and just watched them. They were simply incredible. This is what she had seen, all these years, whenever they were together. It was what she had hoped for and prayed for and believed for, when she'd made that adoption ceremony invitation. It's why her heart had also been broken, at Elizabeth's rejection.
When the music slowed, Nathan didn't let go, for something was happening between them. He pulled her in even closer, causing another gasp to escape her lips. And he held her hand right over his heart.
When he gazed down at her, and their eyes connected, he was suddenly lost. Lost in her eyes, and in the moment. There was so much that needed to be said between them, but there were not two words that would cooperate.
Elizabeth was stuck too, the way he gazed down at her made every attempt to speak impossible. She could only feel, and feel she did. She felt safe and secure, and wonderful, and deeply, deeply loved. How could he make her feel this way, after all the harm she'd done?
But suddenly, "Nathan." She so desperately needed to clear the air. Like a lion's roar bubbling up from inside of her, the words came. "I'm sorry. For all the pain I caused you. For all the hurtful things I've said and done. I'm…so sorry." Her voice cracked, but she kept going. "I yelled at you, and lectured you, and pushed you away, and oh, how I lied to you…"
She seemed ready to go on for a long time, but he didn't need the list. He knew, he had lived it. But from the moment she was in his arms, forgiveness had been on the tip of his tongue. So he cut her off, plain and simple. "I forgive you." His expression was final and so very matter of fact, it scared her.
"Nathan, I wasn't done." She objected.
"Lizbeth, I accept your apology. You're forgiven." One side of his smile turned up. "Water under the bridge."
"You can't. I mean." Again with the fumbled words. Ugh! "You can't just…forgive me."
"Oh, yes I can." He smiled on both sides of his mouth now. This woman was so stubborn. "And I did long before you asked."
Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears as they swayed slow to the music. "But…everything I did to you. All the lies. The hurt I caused." Her eyes glanced around the room. "And Allie. Oh, Allie." A tear went down one cheek. He wiped it as quickly as it appeared.
Nathan pursed his lips. He hated to think about Allie, and what she'd been through. Nathan was no fool, he knew Allie had suffered. But today was a new day. Allie had gotten married, and she was happy. She was tough as nails, and had survived. "She forgives you, too."
Elizabeth's mouth fell open. What right did he have? How could she get through to him? She had gone too far, done too much, and hurt him too bad. Hadn't she? But all of a sudden, she realized what she was doing. She was putting up that wall of impossibility between them again. Wasn't the goal here to apologize and take it down? Maybe one day be friends?
"Nathan." There she went with his name again. "I truly am sorry. Deeply sorry." The tears were thick and wet in her eyes. "And I would really like it if…one day…perhaps, maybe, we could try...to be friends again." A lone tear made its long solo voyage down her cheek. "I really miss my friend." She finished in a broken, tearful whisper.
Nathan's eyes filled with tears, as he reached and wiped her cheek. Then he placed his hand on her's again, held it right over his heart, that was racing now. "I would like that too. How about we start over? Clean slate. Begin again." He paused and searched her face. "As friends."
Elizabeth couldn't hide her smile, even though her eyes were still full of tears. "Okay. Friends." She promised. "That's a real good start."
"Okay." He rasped, softly.
And in the span of the very next second, they were once again caught up in each other. Nathan leaned down close, so close, that Elizabeth thought he might kiss her. In fact, his lips were so dangerously close, her eyes kept going right to them. What would it be like to be kissed by Nathan Grant? How many times had she secretly wondered? Now she was convinced the question was written on her face. And the way he looked at her, it seemed as though he just might show her. Oh, how she wanted it.
But they were in a roomful of people, and today was about Allie. So Nathan slowly pulled back. Why did she look so disappointed? Had she wanted to be kissed? And by him?
As the music ended, and she realized their dance was over, Elizabeth looked even more disappointed. He repeated, wanted it clear between them. "Friends, then."
"Friends." Elizabeth repeated in a rasp, her hand still in his.
Somewhere in a far off place he heard an announcement being made, about seeing the bride and groom off.
Bill pulled them out of their honest moment. "Hey you two, didn't you hear the announcement?"
A step back and Nathan finally tore his eyes away, brought them round to Bill. "It's time?"
Bill nodded. Nathan kept ahold of Elizabeth's hand as he searched out Allie. It was time to see her off on her honeymoon. A few long strides towards her, and she met him halfway. Nathan dropped Elizabeth's hand, only right then, and only in order to wrap his arms around his daughter.
"I'll miss you, Dad." She told him close to his ear.
"Not as much as I'll miss you." He told her with a fatherly smile. "But don't worry about me. Just have a great time, okay?"
"Okay, Dad."
Nathan extended his hand to Robert. The boy was a man now, and Nathan prayed he would take good care of her. "Have fun, Robert."
"We will." Robert shook hands and made the promise, as if he'd heard Nathan's thoughts. "I'll take good care of her."
"I know you will, son."
Nathan glanced to his right, realized Allie was hugging Elizabeth, and they were whispering to each other.
Now, the room was mostly empty. Everyone had filed outside to line the street, in anticipation of the bride and groom.
As they walked toward the door, Nathan reminded the groom. "Don't forget the choke sticks sometimes."
Robert told Nathan, again. "I won't forget." Nathan had showed him three times already. "Thanks for letting me use your car, sir."
Nathan replied. "It's no problem, Robert. I'm glad you guys can use it."
And Nathan and Elizabeth took their places, next to each other. Then the bride and groom moved down the line, hugging and saying good bye to everyone, on the way to Nathan's car.
When they got there, Robert opened the door, and helped his beautiful bride inside. When she was all comfortable and set, he carefully closed the door.
And then he waved at everyone one more time, gave the biggest Robert smile you can imagine, before he got in the car.
Then the newlyweds drove out of Hope Valley, disappeared down the lane, and off on honeymoon.
