Chapter 14: Back to Life

With school starting the next day, the town figured it was time to start up Sunday services once again. So, it was planned that not only was the town going to have church that Sunday but that they would have an all-church potluck afterwards. Although there was a slight hesitation about gathering socially from some, for the most part, there was an overall excitement in the air. Hope Valley longed to find the joy that they always had when coming together to celebrate. And in fact, this was a celebration of sorts. A celebration of healing and new beginnings

Nathan and Allie sat at the table, finishing breakfast and discussing the day's events. Although Nathan didn't like crowds very much, he was looking forward to the service and festivities. He truly believed that Hope Valley, in a sense, needed this event after the last 5 months. Allie was chatting away about being excited to see all her friends again at church and school. As they finished up with their meal and then the dishes, Nathan realized that time had escaped them and they needed to head towards town for church, otherwise they would be late.

As they walked in, they saw that the church pews were full with families such as the Montgomerys and Ellen Weise with Opal; Henry Gowen with the Averys, Laura with the Thorntons, the Yosts, Rosemary, Mary and Sarah Wolf next to Wilma and Maggie Lawson with Anna; Fiona, Faith and Mei; and the Canfield family. Standing in the back were Richard and Robert Wolf, Kurt and Timmy Lawson, Kevin Townsend, Bruce Weise, and Paul Blakeley. Elizabeth turned around just as the Grants walked in and motioned for Allie to sit next to her and Jack. Allie looked up at Nathan to make sure it was OK, and he smiled and nodded to her. As Allie walked over to sit with Laura and the Thorntons on the last pew, Nathan's and Elizabeth's eyes met, and they smiled at one another. Nathan remained in the back, standing next to Lee and Mike. Hope Valley's newest member, Judge Bleakney, was in the back as well with the other men. Another one who stood in the back was Dr. McGuffin, who was invited since he had been an integral part of the Hope Valley community over the past several months, helping out.

When Joseph came to the podium, he looked at his community and smiled. He was happy to see everyone back together in one place once again. He spoke passionately about how in the darkness of grief, one can find hope. By the time that he was done, there was not a dry eye in the room. Yet, despite the tears that flowed, there was a spirit of peace in not only the room but in the hearts of his beloved community. Joseph thanked God for the healing that was beginning to take place, the fellowship and food that they were about to have, and he spoke a prayer of blessing for the rest of the day.

As church ended, the community transitioned outside to where tables and chairs had been set up prior. Families and friends sat together and visited with one another. The schoolchildren sat at a table together, excitedly talking about their return to the classroom the next day. Laura and Anna took the smaller children like Donny and Marshall Montgomery, Rena Bickley, Avery, and Little Jack to the schoolyard to play and run around. Some of the women surrounded Molly to find out all the details of her and Bill's wedding from the previous month. As the men sat together and talked about what was going on in town as it opened up in the near future,

Rosemary seemed like a bundle of energy as the picnic was drawing to an end. She was one of the leaders who jumped in to help clean up. Lee just watched her and shook his head, figuring that this burst of energy was because she had been cooped up for so long in the rowhouse that she missed the action of the Hope Valley community.

As things wrapped up, the school children hugged each other and promised to see one another the next day. Then, they came and did the same to Elizabeth as well. Elizabeth smiled and soaked all the love that she received in. She had truly missed this, her students, and how it felt to be with and loved by them.

Faith chatted with James as they walked over to his car. He shared that he would be back on Thursday to help out with patients and asked if she would like to have dinner at the Hope Valley Inn after the workday ended. Faith thought for a moment, wondering if this invitation was anything more than a professional collaboration. Either way, she enjoyed James' company, so she smiled and agreed.

Henry drove the Averys home, and the Coulters offered to drive Elizabeth and Little Jack back to the rowhouse, but Elizabeth politely declined. It was a beautiful day, and she wanted to savor it. As the Thorntons were walking, Nathan and Allie caught up with them. Allie asked Elizabeth if she could walk Jack on ahead, and Elizabeth agreed with a smile. So Nathan and Elizabeth chatted as they walked back to their homes. It was simple, but it felt so familiar to both of them too. When they got to the Thorntons rowhouse, Allie hugged Little Jack and Elizabeth, waved goodbye and started walking back towards the Grant home. Nathan tousled Little Jack's hair and smiled at Elizabeth and said goodbye to them both. Elizabeth watched the Grants for a moment as they walked back to their rowhouse and sighed thoughtfully. Then, she redirected her thoughts to what she needed to do for the next day to prepare for returning to school.

Next door at the Coulters, it seemed that Rosemary was still functioning at full steam. She straightened up the living room. Once she completed that task, she showed signs of favoring the lower part of her back by rubbing it. Knowing she should probably slow down, she sat down at the table with a pad of paper and a pen. If she couldn't do the work, at least she could make lists of the things that still needed to be done. Rosemary just kept working as if she had a time limit on the task at hand. Lee came over to check on her and massaged her shoulders and lower back. After a few moments, Lee let her be and moved himself to the settee with a copy of the Valley Voice.

Night fell on Hope Valley and all was quiet and calm. Slowly, it was becoming what it used to be. The town that they all knew and loved.