AN: This story is part of the Common Starting Point Fanfic Challenge for October. As the name implies, all stories in this challenge will have the same beginning. This common beginning text is in bold. As such, the text in bold will appear in other stories. The bold text is used with permission of the original author and the text following the bold is the work of the author posting this story.
AN: If any of my readers are interested in participating in a WCTH Christmas Fic Exchange you can PM me for information. Must be willing to write a story of your own (hence the exchange part of it) based on someone else's wishes as well as receive one.
Standing at the window, Nathan took in the view outside. Brilliant leaves rustled softly in the breeze. The bright sunshine seemed only to enhance the red, yellow and oranges of the leaves. Not an artist himself, Nathan could still appreciate nature's artwork. To an artist eye, like Allie's, he was sure that joy would be much greater.
Yes, Allie, Nathan thought to himself. I understand now why you wanted to get married in this season.
Continuing to watch out the window, Nathan was glad mother nature was cooperating with more than just the colorful backdrop for the day. Instead of getting ready in town at the selected venue, Allie had insisted on getting ready at home and walking to the venue with him. Her reasoning was that she wanted one last walk with him while she was just his daughter and not his daughter as well as someone's wife. While he knew he would be thankful for these last precious moments with his daughter, Nathan had been worried about the autumn weather's cooperation. Rain would have dampened their plans, both now and if it had rained before hand. Walking in the mud could have spoiled the dress. If it had been too dry, the walk could have been dusty which still would not have done the dress any favors.
But mother nature had cooperated. The rain of a couple days ago had settled the dust while allowing time for the ground to dry to a nice walking surface. Only a few puffy white clouds marred the blue sky. They would have good weather to enjoy their walk into town. Nathan knew he would still be mindful of Allie's attire as they walked. As bittersweet as it was, he still wanted nothing to mar his little girl's day.
Ever aware of his surroundings since becoming a Mountie, Nathan heard footsteps in the upstairs hallway and turned from the window. Facing the stairs, Nathan was watching as Allie stepped onto the first step. On her head was a wreath of red, orange and yellow flowers that matched the leaves outside. Her cream-colored satin dress was the same one Colleen had worn for her wedding. The fitted bodice, covered in lace with a rose pattern on it, flared out to a full skirt in an U-shaped waistline. Allie looked every bit as pretty in it as his sister had. Nathan just hoped Allie's marriage was happier than Colleen's had turned out to be.
"You should probably breathe," Allie commented as she made her way down the steps, making Nathan realize he was holding his breath.
Nathan took a breath and gave a nervous chuckle. Allie was apparently more relaxed than he was today. He reached out a hand to her as Allie approached the bottom of the stairs. Slipping her hand in his, Allie allowed him to help her down the last few steps.
"You look so much like your mother," Nathan told her. "It seems like only yesterday I was walking her down the aisle. I wish she could be here with us."
Leaning in, Allie pressed a kiss to Nathan's cheek. "She is, in spirit," she told him.
Nathan simply nodded, not trusting his voice right then. Reaching for Allie's shawl, he carefully draped it over her shoulders before offering her his arm. Allie slipped her arm through his and Nathan led her from the house and toward her future.
Daughter and father were quiet as they walked toward the little building that had served as both schoolhouse and church until two years ago. By then, Hope Valley had expanded and a new, bigger building had been built along the main road. The students had been split into two groups. Katie Yost took the young students. Gabe Montgomery had been asked to come home to Hope Valley and teach the older students, Elizabeth having stopped teaching two years prior, before the birth of the twins, Nate and Colleen. Allie had been among the last group of children who graduated from the one room schoolhouse. Now, the building had become a dedicated church, still dedicated to the man who had been instrumental in getting it built for the woman that he loved.
"I am glad we settled here," Allie told her father, also looking around as they walked into town past the blacksmith. Nathan had bought land in the wooded area outside of town down that road. Lee happily had his men clear the area for the house and used the felled trees for lumber for the new home.
"So am I, though I really did not have much choice after the display of love and respect the town poured out after being shot," Nathan replied.
The incident had occurred four years after coming to Hope Valley. Lucas had gotten involved in a business deal with the wrong kind of people. When the deal went south, the men came searching for someone to hold accountable - namely one Lucas Bouchard. While tackling Lucas out of the way of a bullet, Nathan had taken said bullet to the upper thigh of his left leg. Having panicked after shooting a Mountie, Lucas' 'business partners' fled. Nathan thought Lucas was going too as well, but the saloon owner had merely run to the door to shout for help before returning to try slowing the bleeding. Things after that got fuzzy. He did remember Bill and Faith arriving before he lost consciousness due to blood loss. He had woken up in the Union City hospital two days later following two operations. Against all odds, Nathan not only survived but had gotten to the point where he could walk with only the slightest of limps. He often credited that to Elizabeth, who had been at his bedside when he woke up. "Loving you scared me, but I have finally faced that fear - forgive me," were the first words he heard. He remembered not being sure if he was dreaming or not, but Elizabeth had been at his side throughout the recovery process.
Upon returning to Hope Valley, they had gone on one date before he proposed to her at the same spot where he first told her he loved her. As he had been walking with crutches at the time, he had been sitting next to her on the log instead of down on one knee. Elizabeth had thrown her arms around him, surprising him and sending them both onto the ground. Not the most romantic of engagements, but neither of them had cared. Shortly after that, the Mounties sent him a letter saying due to his injury they felt it would be best if he either took a desk job in Union City or retired with a full pension. The doctors still were not sure if he would ever be able to walk without the crutches or a cane. Asking Elizabeth to move to Union City with him seemed a good way to bring the engagement to a quick end. Nathan had been planning on retirement but the town had other ideas. A petition, which Nathan felt was led by Bill though no one would confirm it, had been written and signed by every citizen of Hope Valley. In it, they had stated that due to the town's continuing growth, they were requesting two Mounties be posted to Hope Valley - one to be in the office during the day and one to do patrols. They requested that Nathan be the office Mountie due to the years of service already given to the town in difficult times. The Mountie brass was faced with either giving in and letting Nathan do an office job in Hope Valley or angering a whole town.
They had taken the first choice, and though several other Mounties had passed through Hope Valley, Nathan had remained a familiar face in the little town.
"I know you getting shot was a horrible thing, but I like how our lives turned out because of it," Allie told him. "You were around more following that injury. The desk job meant work did not take you away for an indefinite amount of time. More importantly, Mama came into our lives."
Nathan nodded. "All things work together for good*" he quoted softly.
Allie nodded her agreement but did not make a verbal response. Father and daughter continued their walk in companionable silence. They enjoyed the beauty that nature had provided for them on this happy day.
As they were walking past the office of the judge, Allie came to an abrupt stop. As she was now gripping Nathan's arm, he came to a stop as well. Glancing toward her, Nathan found that Allie was no longer smiling. The color had drained from her face.
"Allie, what is wrong?" Nathan asked, knowing that something was.
Allie's mouth moved but the words had no voice. Nathan followed his daughter's gaze in the hopes of figuring out what was going on. There, walking toward them from the church, was the groom - Craig Mathison.
Allie met Craig while in Hamilton taking courses at the college that Elizabeth had gone to. Unsure of what she wanted to do with her future, Nathan had suggested Allie spend some time with her grandparents in Hamilton and take some courses. He thought the exposure to different things under the watchful eye of her grandparents might help her figure out her future. What she had discovered was that she enjoyed journalism. Despite that, and the fact that she fell in love with Craig, Allie missed Hope Valley. She returned home after a year in Hamilton, continuing her journalism studies by correspondence while working with Rosemary at The Valley Voice. She kept her relationship with Craig, who was going to law school, going via letters and phone calls. After graduating law school in the spring, Craig had come to Hope Valley and asked Allie to marry him with the intention of opening a law office in Hope Valley. Allie said yes, and the wedding planning had begun.
Now, with Craig walking toward them, Nathan had a sinking feeling those plans were about to change. Slipping his arm from Allie's grasp, he instead put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to his side as Craig approached.
The fact that Craig was avoiding eye contact with him told Nathan all he needed to know. There was not going to be a wedding today. His heart ached for his little girl already.
"I thought it would be best to tell you this out here instead of in front of everyone," Craig said, his gaze focused on the ground.
"Tell me what?" Allie asked, though the tone of her voice indicated that she already knew what was coming.
"And be a man enough to look at her while you say it," Nathan instructed, his voice as cold as steel. It was the tone he reserved for criminals. Craig deserved no less. In Nathan's book, breaking his little girl's heart was a crime.
"Yes, sir," Craig murmured softly as he raised his gaze to find Allie's. Nathan saw remorse in the young man's eyes. At least the guy had the decency to feel bad, though Nathan didn't have much sympathy for him right then.
"Allie, I love you and I know you were not happy in Hamilton. I thought that being with you would be enough to let me be happy living in a small town, I have tried. While I know I can make enough money with the cases I have been getting here and in the surrounding towns, this is not the type of law I want to practice. I want to represent powerful men in cases that garner recognition like my father did. I kept trying to tell myself that I could learn to be happy, but I don't think I can. As horrible as it is to do this on the day we are supposed to say 'I do', I know I cannot say my vows with a clear conscience, so I should not say them at all. I do love you, but neither of us should have to sacrifice our peace of mind and happiness to be together."
"Perhaps I could learn to like the city," Allie protested half heartedly, not quite ready to give up on them.
Craig shook his head. "I have seen you in Hamilton and here. You are at home here. You would be no happier in a city than I am here. Eventually, you would resent me for making you make that choice."
"You couldn't have come to that conclusion earlier," Allie accused him before dissolving into tears.
Nathan wrapped both arms around Allie as he let her cry against him.
"I'll go pack so I can be on the first train east," Craig said, looking at the ground again.
"That is a good idea, but first you have a church full of people to tell that you are calling off the wedding," Nathan informed him.
"Can't you, sir?" Craig asked, his voice wavering.
"I could, but I am not going to. While I respect you calling this off now instead of just being resentful of the choice you made or leaving my daughter a year or more down the road, it is still your responsibility to tell the guests that you are calling off the wedding. I'll come with you to make sure you do so."
Craig looked like he wanted to make a run for it, but Nathan's icy blue stare froze him in his spot.
"I do not want to face anyone right now," Allie said through her sobs.
Nathan patted her back and kissed the top of her head. "You do not have to," Nathan assured her.
Ideally, he wanted to walk Allie back home but he was afraid Craig would flee if he did. Looking around, Nathan wondered if any of the buildings would be open so that Allie could wait there for either him or Elizabeth. As he did, a figure in red stepped out of the Mounted Police office down the road. Nathan raised one hand, trying to gain the attention of Hope Valley's current constable.
Spotting the movement, Constable Wolf headed in their direction. Though invited to the wedding, Robert had used the pretense of needing to be on duty to avoid it, though his parents and Sarah were attending. Nathan knew it was pretense because Robert himself had confessed his true feelings to Nathan. The young man had admitted to still loving Allie despite their time apart. Robert said that he had always hoped to win Allie's heart once she had graduated from Hope Valley's school. When she had gone to Hamilton, Robert had written to her but had not wanted to stop her from discovering what she wanted from life. When he had found out about Craig, Robert backed off. If Craig made Allie happy, then that was what he wanted for her, though Robert had told Nathan that Allie's engagement felt like a knife to the heart. Given his own experience with Elizabeth, Nathan knew exactly how the young man felt.
Nathan knew that Robert would walk Allie home now despite his own feelings because he himself had always been there for Elizabeth no matter how much it hurt him to do so when she had been with Lucas.
"Constable Wolf, would you escort Allie home for me while I make sure Craig does the honorable thing and tells the gathered guest why there will not be a wedding today?"
Robert cast his own icy glare, one he had picked up from the older Mounties he had worked with over the years, in Craig's direction. The young lawyer knelt down under the pretense of retying his shoelace.
"Of course, sir," Robert replied, the soft, compassionate tone a stark contrast to the look in his eye.
"Go with Robert, sweetheart," Nathan told Allie softly. "I will send your mother home shortly."
"I will never be able to show my face in town after this. Everyone will be whispering and wondering what I did to deserve to be stood up at the altar," Allie sobbed, not releasing her hold on her father.
"You did nothing wrong, Allie," Nathan told her, holding her tight and rubbing her back. "Everyone that matters is going to know that, and anyone who does any whispering doesn't matter. I know your heart is breaking right now, but it will be alright in time. I promise. Now, let Robert walk you home."
Allie finally released her hold on her father. Though she did not realize it, she let herself be passed from one set of loving arms to another pair of loving arms. Robert wrapped an arm around his old childhood friend, holding her close to his side. Nathan had no doubt the young man was feeling hopeful that perhaps he could win the heart of the girl of his dreams, but with the maturity serving with the Mounties had taught him, he knew Robert would simply be the friend Allie needed right then.
With his daughter taken care of for now, Nathan turned his attention to Craig.
"Let's go," Nathan told him, all compassion once again absent from his voice.
Craig voiced no other protest, instead turning and walking beside Nathan toward the little church.
As Nathan had predicted, there was an outpouring of support and sympathy for Allie from the townsfolk. Bill himself had seen to it that Craig and his family found their way out of Hope Valley. He even offered to help pack to speed the process up a little.
Lucas returned the money that he had received to host the reception. When Allie protested, he told her to save the money for the next time, especially as food on the house had been a big crowd draw when he had opened up the saloon for business instead of hosting the reception. When Allie informed him that there would not be a next time as she was never risking her heart again, Lucas' response had been to reach for her hand and place a kiss to the back of it.
"Time always heals a wounded heart, ma cherie," Lucas told her. "The love that was meant to be will always find a way to come true no matter how much time it takes. Look at your dad and your mom."
Allie had managed a smile then. "Or you and Jeanette," she added.
Lucas chuckled. "Or me and Jeanette," he agreed, thinking of the widow he had finally married after years of denying he had feelings for her. Feelings he denied because her husband had been his friend and died in a car accident while Lucas had been driving.
At first, Allie stuck close to her parents' home. She spent a lot of time with the two -year-old twins who adored their big sister. They had come along after Nathan and Elizabeth had accepted Jack and Allie would be their only children. Opal, who was running the caf now with Cody, who had returned to Hope Valley though Abigail and Henry had settled in Brookfield, came by as often as she could. Having married Cody two years prior, and giving birth to their first daughter in the spring, her free time was limited. At first, Robert started stopping by with Opal. Soon though, the young Mountie was stopping by on his own.
Allie returned to work for The Valley Voice and dove back into her correspondence journalism courses. Her first day back at the Voice office, Allie found a bouquet of wildflowers in the vase on her desk. Thinking they were from Rosemary, Allie thanked her.
"Those were not from me," Rosemary told her. "Those were from a young man in red."
Looking back at the flowers, Allie smiled. It was nice to know that someone cared enough about her to leave flowers. It was then that she realized how much she had missed Robert's friendship.
Allie returned the nice deed by baking cookies that night. Giving two to Jack and one each to the twins, Allie put the rest into two tins. Waiting until she had seen Robert leave for rounds, Allie made her way to the Mounted Police Office. There, she presented one tin of cookies to her father and placed the other tin on Robert's desk.
"That way you do not need to share," Allie told her dad as she put the tin, tied with a blue bow, down on the desk.
"Good, because I hate sharing my cookies," Nathan teased. "Do you have time for lunch with your old man?"
Allie agreed, slipping her arm through the one Nathan offered her.
A few days later, Robert showed up at The Valley Voice offering to walk Allie home. Before Allie could say anything, Rosemary accepted for her. The older woman handed Robert Allie's coat to help her into and then ushered the two young people out the door.
That first walk home turned into a routine. Any time work did not detain him, Robert would be there to escort Allie home. Eventually, Robert started having dinner with the Grants on occasion. When Jack's birthday came around, Robert was included in the festivities. The following day, though she spent the morning with her own family, Allie had Christmas dinner with the Wolfs. On the walk home, Robert presented her with a gift - a cameo necklace. That night, Nathan kissed the top of Allie's head goodnight as she gave him a hug and whispered, "I told him you would like it."
Shortly after the new year, Robert asked Nathan's advice about whether it would be too soon to ask Allie out on a date.
"When it comes to love, timing can be a tricky thing. You never know how the lady will react until you pose the question," Nathan told him. "What I will say is that you have put a smile on my little girl's face. You make her happy, and that is a good place to start."
The next day, as they stood on the Grants' front porch after Robert walked her home from work, he asked to take her to dinner the next day. Blushing, Allie said yes. The two stood there, smiling and gazing into each other's eyes. They were still standing there when Jack came home from school.
"If you are going to kiss her just do it already," Jack commented. In true little brother fashion, he added, "You are blocking the front door."
Blushing the same color as his serge, Robert told Allie he would see her tomorrow and made a hasty retreat.
Allie glared at her little brother. "You can be a real pest. You know that?"
Jack shrugged. "So you have said," he commented indifferently as he headed inside, leaving Allie on the front porch staring after Robert.
Robert paced the interior of the Mounted Police Office, muttering his practice speech under his breath. He had not felt this nervous since being given the order to take the posting in his hometown working with Corporal Grant. Though he had been happy about coming home, the prospect of working with one of the men who had inspired him to be a Mountie had been intimidating. Yes, all of the boys had looked up to Constable Thornton but for himself, watching Constable Grant stand tall despite the town's reaction to his arrival following Constable Thornton's death struck a chord with Robert. That was what had made him decide to be a Mountie.
Despite the intimidation he felt, Robert followed orders. He had come home to serve his hometown. Corporal Grant had greeted him as a fellow Mountie and not somebody he had known as a kid. A kid who had done a few stupid things. Despite the injury that limited his duties, Corporal Grant had been a great source of support and information. Robert had continued to learn serving with him and he knew he was a better Mountie because of it.
Now he was about to ask the older Mountie for his blessing on asking Allie to marry him.
In a few days, it would be a year since Craig left Allie at the altar. Robert knew how heartbroken Allie had been that day, having sat with her until her mother got home. In the days and weeks that followed, he had simply been the old chum that she needed him to be. As her smile had returned, Robert ventured to start showing Allie a little of his heart. They had been courting for eight months now. Robert knew Allie was the one he wanted to share his life with. He had known that since the day he had graduated from the Jack Thornton School. However, Allie had still had a few more years of school to finish. Revealing his feelings then would have been the wrong time.
Then Craig came into the picture. Robert thought he had lost his chance, though he was happy for Allie. She deserved to be happy and loved. Craig had promised to do that but then had turned what should have been one of the happiest days of Allie's life into one of the saddest.
Robert intended to give Allie a new happy memory for that day by proposing to her on what should have been her wedding day. He intended to ask her with or without Corporal Grant's blessing, though the later option would inevitably lead to uncomfortable days at work.
The young Mountie was still pacing when Corporal Grant came into the office. Stopping just inside the door, Nathan asked, "Is something going on?"
"Not that I am aware of," Robert replied as he continued to pace.
Robert missed the smile that came to Nathan's face as the older Mountie headed toward his desk.
"Then why don't you stop pacing and ask me for my blessing to ask Allie to marry you?" Nathan instructed.
Those words brought Robert up short. "How did you know?" he asked, staring at his superior.
Nathan chuckled. "It was the injury to my leg that limited what I could do. My observation skills are as keen as ever," he told Robert as he sat behind his desk. He gazed easily at the young man. "So, are you going to ask?"
Robert's entire speech had flown out of his head. As he gazed back at Nathan though, Robert realized that it didn't matter. Corporal Grant did not care about the speech. All the man cared about was his daughter's happiness. That was something that Robert cared about as well.
"Courting Allie these last eight months have been the happiest days of my life, whether we go out on a special dinner or are just fishing at the river. I would like your blessing to ask her to become my wife."
"That wasn't so hard now, was it?" Nathan told him easily. "I will happily give my blessing to such a union. But I promise you, if you pull what the last guy did, I will make sure you get transferred as far away from Hope Valley as the Mounties can send you."
Robert nodded, having no doubt that Corporal Grant would do just that.
"I promise you, sir, I will never intentionally make Allie cry," Robert told him.
"And that is a realistic promise at least," Nathan replied. "Do you know when you are going to ask her?"
Robert told him his plans, and Nathan asked him and Allie to join the family for dinner after the proposal. Knowing that Allie would enjoy celebrating with her family, Robert easily agreed.
With the biscuits cut from the dough, Elizabeth slipped the pan into the oven. A few of them were going to have a strange shape, but that was just the result of having a two-year-old helper.
A little distance from the hot stove, Nate clapped his hands as the oven door shut.
"Me cook!" the little boy said, beaming up at his mother.
Elizabeth smiled. Though cooking dinner was easier without him, the extra trouble was so worth the time she got to spend with her little boy.
"You did," Elizabeth told him. "Would you like to help me mash the potatoes?"
Nate nodded his head happily. Taking a peek into the next room where Colleen had been napping in the playpen, Elizabeth saw her daughter was awake. Jack was leaning over the edge of the playpen with her teddy bear making the bear talk. Though she had a smile on her face, Colleen was quiet. The little girl had always been the quieter of the twins, barely crying even as an infant. Archie had joked that Colleen didn't need to cry because Nate did enough crying and now talking for the both of them. When Elizabeth confessed worry at the little girl's quiet demeanor despite Carson assuring her things seemed fine, Archie had told her not to worry as Colleen reminded him of Nathan when he was a baby.
"He turned out just fine," Archie had said, smiling proudly at his son.
Elizabeth could not argue that point. It actually seemed fitting that Colleen would take after the father she idolized already. Seeing Nathan was in the room but not the one holding her was one of the things Colleen had cried about. Now, she would reach her arms out to her father the moment she saw him.
Satisfied that her other two children were fine, Elizabeth turned back to Nate who was struggling to pull a chair toward the counter. Elizabeth laughed. Nate was definitely the go getter of the twins. Nathan said he took after his mother, and Elizabeth could not argue that point. Giving Nate a hand with the chair, Elizabeth soon had the boy standing on it at the counter with a small bowl of potatoes to mash as she cut the carrots to go with the biscuits, potatoes, and pork chops. Robert and his family were joining them for dinner tonight. Something was going on and her husband was in on it but was purposely keeping details scarce. She thought perhaps Nathan was simply trying to do something special to take Allie's mind off what day it was. There had been tears this morning at breakfast as Allie remembered that a year ago she had been preparing to get married. Nathan managed to comfort and soothe his oldest daughter's tears before the two of them headed off for work that morning.
By the time the front door opened, the potatoes were sufficiently mashed, creamy and properly seasoned. The biscuits and pork chops were finished as were some creamed peas. Everything was ready as soon as everyone arrived.
"Da!"
Colleen's happy cry told Elizabeth that Nathan was home. Jack's greeting soon followed and was followed by a "Hi, Sarah," telling Elizabeth that Nathan had met the Wolfs at some point on his way home. Clambering down from the chair, Nate dashed toward the other room so as not to be left out. Elizabeth shook her head. As fun as cooking with mom was, it did not hold a candle to Nathan coming home.
Glancing around the kitchen, Elizabeth made sure everything was in a place where it could stay warm without burning. Satisfied that things were in a good position, she followed her son. Elizabeth walked into the room to see Mary taking a covered dish from Nathan who had Colleen in one arm and Nate now hugging his leg. With Mary now holding the dish, Nathan reached down and lifted Nate into his arms.
"I help wit' dinner," Nate announced.
"Did you?" Nathan replied. "I bet it will taste good."
"Mama diner a'ways good," Nate replied seriously.
Nathan grinned, his gaze going from his son to his wife. "That it is," he agreed.
Elizabeth blushed a little with her son and husband's compliment. Neither of them had been subjected to her first attempts at cooking. A quick glance revealed that Jack was showing Sarah the latest creation he had made with his building set. The collection was a mixture of blocks, logs, and other items - some store bought and some made by Nathan over the years that allowed Jack to be imaginative in his creations. Elizabeth hoped it would lead him to want to build things rather than become a Mountie.
"What did you bring home?" Elizabeth asked, nodding toward the covered dish that Mary held.
"Dessert," Nathan replied. "No one is allowed to take the cover off until after dinner," he instructed. "It will ruin the surprise. Bill baked it for me so there is no need to be concerned about how it will taste."
"I suppose you are in on this surprise with Allie and Robert," Elizabeth commented, stepping close enough to give Nathan a quick kiss. With her head resting on Nathan's shoulder, Colleen reached out and patted her mother's cheek. After kissing her husband, Elizabeth gave each of the twins a kiss as well.
"Perhaps," Nathan said in a noncommittal way.
Elizabeth left it at that before turning to her guests. She greeted them and took the covered dessert from Mary. The two women then headed into the kitchen with it.
Nathan put Nate down on the ground. "Go make sure your Mama does not peek at the surprise," he instructed the boy quietly.
Quick footsteps told Elizabeth Nate was doing just that. She shook her head and then asked Mary about her day.
With Mary and Nate's help, Elizabeth got the dining room table set for dinner. They were just finishing when the front door opened.
"Mama, come quick!" Allie called moments later, her voice filled with both impatience and excitement.
"We're being summoned," Elizabeth joked quietly with Mary even as she led Nate and Mary toward the living room and the front door.
Walking into the room, Elizabeth spotted her older daughter and former student standing next to one another, arms wrapped around one another's waists. The proud look on Robert's face told Elizabeth what the surprise was even before Allie spoke.
"We are engaged," Allie said, holding her left hand up in the air. The small diamond there sparkled in the afternoon light coming through the window.
The room broke out in commotion. Allie and Robert took a step apart from one another as each hugged their respective mothers.
"You were right. This day did get better," Allie said quietly to Elizabeth, repeating the words the latter had told her daughter this morning. "Now I have a happy memory to replace the bad."
"I am so happy for you, sweetheart," Elizabeth told her.
As soon as Elizabeth released Allie, the young woman looked for her father. Nathan was not far, little Colleen in one arm. He pulled Allie close with his free arm, holding her tight as he placed a kiss on top of her head.
"I know what you meant now, Dad, about patiently waiting for the love that was meant to be. Robert and I were always meant to be together. We just had to wait for life to make that possible. Just like you waited for Mama."
"The love that is meant to be will always find a way," Nathan told her. He glanced at Colleen, who was watching the exchange between her father and sister intently. "I just hope you go through less heartache than me and your sister had to get through, Colleen."
"Me too," Allie said, taking a step back from her father. She reached out and smoothed her little sister's hair. "But if you don't, you have a family who will always be in your corner, Colleen, so you will get through it. Just like I did."
"Love you, Allie," Colleen told her sister.
"I love you too, Colleen," Allie told her before turning to receive congratulations from her soon to be in-laws.
Allie and Robert chose not to wait long to get married. Though she did not say so, Nathan got the impression that Allie was afraid that if given the time, Robert might change his mind about marrying her. Given her first experience, Nathan supposed he couldn't blame her.
The wedding was set for New Year's Day. With it being a holiday and Allie wanting to keep things simple this time around, the guest list was small. As the Queen of Hearts would already be closed for the day, Lucas and Jeanette Bouchard hosted the celebration. Jeanette draped red, green, and white lace from anything she could manage to do so. The tables were draped with cream-colored tablecloths. While Gustav cooked foods for a luncheon following the noon vow exchange, Bill was in charge of the cake as well as leading them through their vows. Cody and Opal were there to be the best man and matron of honor. Clara was watching the Stanton's daughter. Lee and Rosemary finished out the non-family member guest list.
While the others gathered downstairs, Elizabeth and Nathan were in one of the rooms upstairs helping Allie finish getting ready. She had chosen to wear her birth mother's wedding gown again, though Rosemary had added green lace over the skirt so that it felt slightly different. Elizabeth was weaving stems of holly into the French braid she was doing Allie's hair in.
"All done," Elizabeth announced, securing the end of the braid with a green ribbon. "You look lovely."
"Thanks, Mama," Allie said.
From Nathan's arms, Colleen reached out and patted Allie's head. "Pretty Allie," the little girl said.
Nate and Jack were downstairs with the Coulters. Elizabeth hoped her two sons were not giving their guardians too much trouble.
"Allie is very pretty," Nathan agreed looking at Colleen. Changing his gaze to Allie, Nathan asked, "are you ready, honey?"
"I suppose so," Allie said. "What if Robert changes his mind?"
"He will not," Nathan told her confidently. "Robert looks at you the same way I look at your mama. You are, and have been, the only woman for him for a while now."
Allie nodded as she got to her feet.
"Now you, little one, need to go with your Mama so I can walk your sister down the steps to her groom," Nathan told Colleen.
The now three-year-old girl burst into tears, and grabbed fistfuls of Nathan's dress uniform. "Stay with Da!" Colleen insisted, still not having relinquished her baby name for her father.
Before either parent could try to soothe the girl's tears, Allie spoke up.
"Colleen, would you like to help Dad walk me down the stairs and give me away?" she asked, laying a hand on her sister's back.
The girl's tears ended as quickly as they began. She looked at her sister and nodded her head.
The situation smoothed over, Elizabeth gave Allie a final hug. She then gave Nathan a quick kiss. "If this keeps up, you may never have to give that one away," she teased, nodding toward Colleen.
Nathan smiled, placing a kiss to Colleen's brown curls. "I would be fine with that, but I plan on enjoying this phase as long as I can, because I know how little girls change once they reach about ten or so," he teased, giving Allie a wink. His response was Allie rolling her eyes at him, which caused both Nathan and Elizabeth to laugh.
Elizabeth left the room to join the others waiting downstairs. After giving her a few minutes, Nathan held his arm out to Allie, who slipped her arm through his.
"All things work for good*," Nathan told his daughter, quoting the passage that had special meaning to the two of them. "Always remember that in the years to come, because as much as I would like to tell you otherwise, there will be trials. But if you lean on God and family, you will make it through, Allie."
"If nothing else, this past year has taught me the truth of that. If Craig had not changed his mind, Robert would have never found his way back into my life, and he makes me happier than Craig ever did. I think we were meant to be."
"I know you were, because despite your fears, you were happier planning this wedding than I ever saw you planning the first one. You are going to make Robert a lovely wife. If he ever doesn't treat you right, just let me know. I will handle that."
Allie laughed. "Robert makes me feel like a princess," she confessed. "He says if he doesn't, he would not be able to face you at work the next day."
"Good," Nathan replied, a content smile on his face as he led Allie out of the room and toward the stairs. Once again, Nathan was leading his daughter to her future. He had a feeling her future with Robert would be a happy one.
As they walked down the hallway, Colleen kissed his cheek. Nathan glanced over at his younger daughter to be greeted with a happy smile.
Yes, one day, he would be giving Colleen away as well, but that day would not be coming any time soon. Until then he would cherish having this second daughter close and prepare her to handle life challenges just like he had Allie.
*Romans 8:28
