Chapter 54: The Package

Early the next day, before the sun came up, Nathan walked into town with his travel bag over his shoulder. He needed to stop in the office to leave things in order for Bill, who would be acting as an in-office Mountie substitute during his time away, but if anything else needed to be done outside, the Mountie headquarters was on alert to have someone available immediately. The worst-case scenario was that Lee would be acting sheriff if the town was in true danger. As he got into the office and turned on the lights, he went to his desk. While sitting there, he remembered that he had received the package from his mother the day before. He wouldn't have an opportunity to open it again until he returned.

He debated what he should do for a moment and decided to take the time to open the package. He unlocked the drawer, took out the package, and examined it once more. Then, Nathan took off the brown packaging and found a box. Once he opened the box, he found a note and an envelope. Since the note was on top, he chose to read it first. It was written in his mother's impeccable handwriting.

Dear Nathan,

After our last conversation, I got to thinking about what you had shared with me. I know that the time is growing closer when you will propose to Elizabeth. I wanted to find something special for you to share with her. In my search for that something special, I remembered something that your Grandpa had given me shortly before he passed to give to both you and Colleen before you were to get married. The letter that I've included is from him to you. Take time to read it before you open the box. Take care of yourself, son. I'm looking forward to hearing good news from you very soon.

With all my love,

Mom

Nathan smiled to himself as he folded the note and placed it aside on his desk. He reached back into the box and got out the envelope that had his name on it. He could tell that the letter was older based on the discoloration and feel of the envelope. He ran his finger over his name scrawled in his grandfather's handwriting. His grandfather had passed nearly twenty years ago, when he was a teen. They had always had a close relationship, and he loved the way that his grandparents loved one another. As a youth, it was his best example of what true and lasting love was, especially when he hadn't seen it in his own parents. His grandmother passed a couple years before his grandfather. Nathan's eyes began to fill with tears at the simple memory of his grandparents. After a moment of tearful reflection, he turned the envelope over and carefully opened it, removed the older letter, and began to read it.

Dear Nathan,

If you are reading this letter, it is because you have come to a point in your life where you have found the woman that you want to spend the rest of your life with. If you would allow it, I would like your grandmother and I to be a part of that union as well. I loved your grandmother with every fiber of my being. I believe that you are a lot like me, Nathan, and that the woman who will have captured your heart in the future, will be loved by you as deeply and wholeheartedly as I did your grandmother. I am giving you a ring that I gave your grandmother on our 19th wedding anniversary. The blue topaz stone stands for love, loyalty, and communication. Your grandmother was my best friend, someone I knew I could always open my heart to on a daily basis. Nathan, I hope your wife will be that for you one day.

We love you, Nathan, and know that even though we are no longer with you in the earthly realm, your grandmother and I are very proud of the man that you have become. We pray that God will bless your life and your love richly.

Love always,

Grandpa

Nathan sat there, tears streaming down his cheeks, staring at the letter. He was truly touched by how his grandfather encouraged him. Even after his passing, he wanted to be included in Nathan's relationship, to share in a special way. Nathan loved what his grandparents shared with one another, and he believed that he and Elizabeth had a similar foundation. He sighed, ran his hand over his face, and then replaced the letter back in the envelope. Next, he reached over and grabbed the small ring box from deeper inside the larger box that his mother had sent. When he opened it, there was a delicate silver ring shaped like a flower with a blue topaz inside and hearts with delicate diamonds on each side. He took the ring out of its box and held it up to the light. Nathan took a deep breath and exhaled as he could feel his eyes filling with tears once more.

"How perfect is this ring?!" Nathan thought to himself as he looked at its features closely. His mother and grandfather could not have given him a better gift at a better time! Nathan bowed his head and said a silent prayer of thanks for his family and this gift. It just confirmed to him that his plan to ask Elizabeth to marry him was the right thing to do. "All the more reason to get home quickly and safely," he thought to himself once again. He stared at the ring for a while longer and then carefully placed it back into its box.

Nathan placed all three things back into the original box that his mother sent and opened the drawer from which he had retrieved the package not long before. Once it was settled in the back part of the drawer, Nathan placed some items in front of it, then closed the drawer and locked it. He smiled to himself as he thought about the ring. He couldn't wait until he proposed to Elizabeth. "Now, to get through this assignment and get back to my family as soon as possible!", he said out loud to himself as he pulled out paper and a pen.

He wrote a quick note for Bill about important details to be aware of and left it in the middle of his desk. When he was finished, he stood up and walked over to the office light, which he turned off. Then he stepped out onto the quiet, darkened boardwalk of Hope Valley and mounted Newton. As the town slept soundly that November morning, the two made their way out.