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Chapter Eighty-five

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Answering the Door

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While Elizabeth stirred and then poured two mugs of hot chocolate, Allie set the table with her mother's best linens and china in preparation for Mrs. Thatcher's arrival for dinner. She placed her floral arrangement as a centerpiece, but had trimmed an evergreen branch, collected a couple pine cones and pulled out one sprig of holly to set around the base of the vase. Currently, Allie was busy in her bedroom, creating special place cards for their meal. Allie Grant loved the extra artistic touches.

Elizabeth set the mugs on the coffee table and when there was a knock on the door, Elizabeth called to Allie offering to answer it since she was expecting her mother.

Surprised to see a young woman at the door, Elizabeth exclaimed. "Oh! Hello. May I help you?"

Having stopped at the main house and learned she would find Elizabeth Thornton here in the Cottage, Claire Collins was expecting to see her. What she wasn't expecting was Elizabeth Thornton's beauty and poise.

"Hello. Mrs. Thornton? Could you step out for a moment?" As she explained that she was Allie's teacher and the Collins's niece, Claire retrieved an envelope from her book tote. As she saw recognition, relief and fear cross the teacher's face, she didn't need to ask for the ownership of the journal pages. "Mrs. Thornton? I believe these are yours?"

Elizabeth accepted the envelope from Claire's hand and held it against her chest, whispering, "How did you come to have them?"

"I was the one, the only one, to sort through Allie's transcripts and when I discovered these personal pages, I withheld them and kept them safe until I could return them to you. The only other person that knows of their existence is the headmistress, but I assure you I am the only one to have read them. I am sorry to have done so, Mrs. Thornton, but I was trying to figure out why they were included with Allie's records. I am still uncertain, but wanted to return them to you as soon as I was able to do so." Claire smiled with compassion. "Aunt Carol mentioned that Allie's former teacher was visiting, so I assumed it was you. By your expression, I believe my assumption was correct?"

With tears filling her eyes, Elizabeth nodded, whispering her thanks. "You have no idea how I have prayed for God to protect these and keep them safe. I was so afraid they might cause distress to Nathan or to Allie." Elizabeth opened her arm to hug Claire. "You are an answer to prayer, Miss Collins. Thank you. Thank you so much."

"You are welcome. May I be bold to say I think God has given you a second chance? Make the best of it, please? I haven't previously seen Allie as happy as she has been these last couple days." Claire kept her hand on Elizabeth's arm. "I'll let you get in from the cold, but I'll pray for God's will to be done."

"Oh, yes! Please!" Elizabeth turned to open the door. "God bless you!"

As she entered the Cottage, Elizabeth saw Allie watching her carefully, so she quickly tucked the envelope behind the coatrack and proceeded to the sofa. "Are you ready for our hot chocolate?"

Deciding not to ask questions, Allie headed to the sofa and sat next to her teacher. "I just put the pie in the oven. Did you like Dad's office? Did you like my mother's painting?"

Grateful for a distracting conversation, Elizabeth shared about meeting Wes and enjoying coffee and cinnamon rolls and watching the drills from the office window. She also mentioned the many compliments that Nathan received and that Allie should be proud of her Dad.

"Your father's office is a far cry from Hope Valley's dark jail, isn't it? I always thought they should paint that a light, bright color, but I guess the somber wood paneling served a purpose for the prisoners!" Laughing, she continued. "I love your mother's painting, Allie, and the photos on your Dad's desk are lovely too." Elizabeth pointed to the photo of Archie and Ruth. "That is a lovely photo of your grandparents, Sweetheart. Your grandmother is beautiful."

"Isn't she? I just wish I had her, and Dad's, blue eyes but she is very tall and elegant. Maybe someday I will be like her." Allie sipped her beverage. "Did you see Dad's books and his toy soldiers? It's hard to imagine him young enough to play with those, but I guess he once was. I always think that Jack would love to play with those."

"Oh! Let me show you what I bought this afternoon!" Elizabeth rose to get her tote and sat, unwrapping some small objects. "when he was here, my father bought a Mountie, a horse, a car and some cows for Jack's train set, so I figured I could add some more items from my trip here."

Another light knock sounded, but before Allie could answer it, the door opened to reveal Mrs. Thatcher escorted by Nathan. "Hello there. I stopped at the house, just in case Mrs. Thatcher was still there! Please come in, Grace?" Nathan motioned for her to let him take her coat and scarf. "Welcome to our humble home!"

"Thank you, Nathan. Hello, Allie!" Grace accepted Allie's welcoming hug. "Something smells delicious! Is that your cooking, Sweetheart?"

Giggling, Allie moved to hug her father. "Not tonight. Dad made the pot pie this morning. I only put it in the oven!" She hugged her Dad. "Hi Dad."

Tweaking her nose, Nathan said. "Hi Sweet girl. Would you like to give Mrs. Thatcher a tour? Maybe start with your room while I get changed, okay?"

As they headed to the hallway, Nathan stopped to pat Elizabeth's shoulder. "Hello again, Lisbeth."

Breathlessly, she responded. "Hello, Nathan."

As Allie continued her detailed tour, Nathan returned to the front room. "Is everything ready you think?" He nodded to the kitchen.

Elizabeth stood and followed him in as he donned a denim apron. She looked him over, admiringly. "That's a good look on you, Sergeant. Multi-talented!"

"Let's see how it tastes before you decide that! Would you help me fix a quick Waldorf salad? We need something besides the pot pie and biscuits." Nathan began to collect the fruit, nuts and jar of mayonnaise he kept in the icebox.

"Sure!" Elizabeth relished the comfortable atmosphere in Nathan's home and loved the idea of cooking together. "How was the rest of your day? Did you get anything 'Mountie' accomplished?"

"Only with the utmost concentration and I will have to proofread tomorrow as I'm not sure if I spelled anything correctly." He grinned as he watched her don Allie's apron, admiring her beauty in the midst of a domestic scene. "Will you cut these apples after I wash them?"

Grace admired everything, Allie's room, the paintings and quilts, the carved boxes and she also commented on the stacks of books. "Mr. Thatcher told me about those!" She pointed and laughed. "I see what he meant. You and your Dad love to read!" Lifting the needlepoint pillow on Nathan's chair, she inquired. "What is the significance of this, Allie? Is it a family crest?"

"It is. The Grant family is from Inverness, Scotland and they traveled to Ireland and then to Nova Scotia." Allie explained. "My grandfather knows a lot of that family history, but that is the crest."

"The needlepoint is beautifully executed. Who stitched this?" Grace held it admiringly. "I've done some needlepoint so I understand the talent!"

"My grandmother originally made it for my grandfather, but eventually she gave it to Dad to keep." Allie was afraid to say any more for fear of telling family secrets about her grandfather not being around a lot when her father was young.

"Well it is a beautiful heirloom." She patted Allie's shoulder. "Thank you for the tour, Allie. Shall we join your father and Mrs. Thornton in the front room?"

Stopping in at the kitchen, Nathan assured them the meal was almost ready and they could be seated at the table.

Taking in the table settings, floral arrangement and pretty place tags, Grace admired the setting. "Allie is this your handiwork? The table looks lovely." As Elizabeth entered with the bowl of salad, Grace continued to comment. "I remember when you and your sisters used to make origninal place cards. Do you, Elizabeth?"

"I haven't thought about that is ages, but now that you mention it, we did. Julie's were always the most beautiful though! Allie, these are very pretty and very thoughtful. Thank you!" Elizabeth glanced at Nathan as he pulled out her chair.

Removing his apron, Nathan folded it quickly and sat on top of it! Grinning, he said, "No one saw that!" Reaching out his hands, he took Elizabeth's and Grace's and gave thanks. As he said 'Amen,' he squeezed Elizabeth's hand, then looked at Allie across from himself and winked.

As Nathan escorted Elizabeth and Grace back to the main house after their dinner and evening, he held one on each arm.

Grace complimented him. "Your home is lovely and cozy, Nathan. It reminds me of the carriage house that William and I lived in when we were first married. Those are good memories and your home is a place of love and peace like that was for me. Thank you for including me and for the delicious meal."

"You are very welcome." Nathan chuckled. "Glad the pie turned out okay! You never know, you know?"

"Unfortunately I do. I will only cook for William and even that with some trepidation!"

"I am sure you are a fine cook, Grace." Nathan commented. "Elizabeth must have learned from someone."

"William and my one and only specialty is chicken stew, Nathan, and no, Elizabeth didn't even learn how to boil water from me!"

The three laughed as they approached the door. "I'll say goodnight and let you and Elizabeth chat for a bit." Grace bowed slightly. "See you tomorrow, Nathan, and thank you again!"

"Till tomorrow, Grace." Turning to Elizabeth, he patted her gloved hand, still holding his arm. "No letter for me tonight, Elizabeth?"

Smiling shyly, Elizabeth responded. "Not tonight! You get to sleep uninterrupted by remembrances of Hope Valley."

"Well, I will remember today then! Have sweet dreams, Elizabeth, and remember tomorrow you tour St. Anne's with a very excited Allie!"

"I am looking forward to that, Nathan. Sweet sleep and sweet dreams yourself."

Once again singing the hymn he had sung before breakfast this morning, Nathan returned to the Cottage to say goodnight to Allie.

Nathan sat in the chair beside the fire, sipping peppermint tea and reflecting on the day. It had been so rewarding to share his life at Depot and the many friends he had made with Elizabeth. He was proud to introduce her, although he knew he might face a significant amount of teasing from his colleagues in the coming days. It was worth it and he loved seeing the admiration so many had for Elizabeth, not just as Jack Thornton's widow, but as a beautiful and gracious woman who was with him.

Other than appreciation for Allie, Nathan had never experienced the proud moments of standing beside someone who was with him, and in this case who had chosen to be with him and to love him. His heart was filled with thankfulness.

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