Chapter 29: Cautious Hearts
The conversation with Allie had to wait until Monday night. Nathan didn't get a chance to speak with her that Sunday night because she didn't get home until late and went straight to bed. Nathan knew that after staying overnight with both Emily and Opal, she mostly didn't get much sleep the night before. He knew, though, that he would need to talk to her soon about the discussion that he and Elizabeth had the previous day.
Nathan walked into the rowhouse that evening, slightly nervous. He didn't know what to expect from the conversation that he was about to have, but it was one that was necessary. Any movement regarding his possible future needed to include Allie, first and foremost.
He walked over to where Allie was preparing dinner and put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her head. "Hey there, Allie girl! Mmm, dinner smells good. What are you making tonight?" he asked as he stole a piece of carrot off of the cutting board. "Dad! Stop stealing food! We're having pork chops and a salad.", Allie responded. Want to help?", she asked and gestured to the vegetables for the salad. "Sure, just let me take off my serge and hang it up.", Nathan answered as he snatched up another carrot, and Allie rolled her eyes.
The Grants prepared their dinner together while chatting about Allie's time at Opal's over the weekend. When they sat down to dinner, they continued to talk about their plans to go to Allie's grandparents the following week. Additionally, Allie brought up how Judge Bleakney offered her a job in his office once school had started. Nathan and she discussed how she was excited about the new opportunity and that she needed to communicate to the Yosts that they would need to fill her positions at the switchboard and pharmacy. She agreed that she would have that discussion within the next week with them so they could settle on her last day with them. Nathan approved of the change as long as she continued to stay up on her studies. Allie squealed, got out of her seat, and hugged her father tightly.
After dinner, they cleared the table and washed and dried the dishes. Once they were done, Nathan held out his hand to Allie and said, "Come sit with me for a bit. I want to talk with you." Nathan and Allie sat down on the couch, and Nathan turned and faced Allie. "You know that you are the single most important person in this world to me, right?" he asked, looking intently at his teen daughter. Allie smiled at her father and nodded. Nathan continued, "And you know that anything that might affect my future, I would always include you in that decision, right?"
"Dad, what is it that you want to tell me? You're kind of worrying me." Allie said, with a perplexed look on her face.
Nathan took a deep breath and looked Allie directly in the eyes and answered, "Allie, I ran into the Thorntons yesterday while out on a ride. Mrs. Thornton and I had a very long talk, and she told me some things. Some things that I believe that you need to know about."
She considered for a moment what her dad had said and tried to figure out the line of questions that would follow. Allie decided to start basic first and said, "What did she tell you that you felt I should know?"
Nathan continued, "Allie, Mrs. Thornton, apologized for everything that happened before she chose Mr. Bouchard. And then, she said she was in love with me and realized that she had been for a long time. There's more, but that's the gist of it."
Allie sat stunned at her father's words. This, Mrs. Thornton's loving her dad, was something she had dreamed about for years, but now that she was hearing about it being true, it seemed unreal. She desperately wanted it to be true, but a part of her heart was wary of what her father was telling her. She looked at Nathan and said, "Dad, to be honest, normally I'd be thrilled with this news." Don't get me wrong, I do want Mrs. Thornton to be in love with you, but I'm concerned too. Is that wrong of me? "
Nathan grabbed Allie's hands and stared into her hazel eyes, then responded, "No Allie, it's not wrong. If I'm being honest with myself, I am, too. In a way, I am thankful that Little Jack woke up when he did and asked to go home. It gave me time to think and pray. It also gave me time to speak to you and get your thoughts and feelings about it. I want to move forward with a response to her that is right for everyone, including me. I know how badly it hurt both of us two years ago.
Allie thoughtfully considered what her father said and said, "Dad, I'm not saying don't pursue this, I just want you to be careful. I do love and care for Mrs. Thornton and Little Jack greatly, and I want them to be part of our family. And I know you do too, but we can't go through the same hurt that we did. What do you want to do with this information?"
Nathan took his hands off of Allie's and covered his face with them. He let out a heavy sigh and glanced over at her. "Oh Allie, I don't know. A part of me wants to go all in, and yet another part is hesitant. I hear what you are saying and I feel it too.", he said.
Allie pondered for a moment and then spoke, "Dad, I appreciate you coming to me about this and including me. I remember a time last year when I was so anxious about you finding someone to marry that I actually asked Mrs. Thornton about it, and she told me to trust that you'd tell me when you were ready to marry someone because of how important I was to you and that you'd want to include me. This conversation just confirms that she was right about that. "
She sat deep in thought and eventually continued, "There's no rush here, is there? Could you simply court one another on the basis of seeing where it might possibly go, not necessarily with the intent to marry? Yes, you both have feelings of love, but a lot has happened. Maybe just court each other and even possibly counsel together with Pastor Canfield, or maybe, we all could."
Nathan contemplated what Allie said. It wasn't a bad idea to court and even have counsel, as Allie mentioned. "Allie, I have an idea and I want to make sure that you're OK with it before I pursue it further. How about if we have the Thorntons over soon and present these ideas to Mrs. Thornton? Of course, I would need to speak to her a little bit prior to presenting this concept to her, however. Does that sound like a plan? ", Nathan asked while he studied Allie's face for her reaction.
Allie nodded and then said, "I think that would work, Dad. I can take Little Jack for a walk or something while you speak to one another, and then we can have a family chat after dinner if she is up for it."
Nathan smiled, hugged his daughter, and said to her, "Allie, thank you for listening and responding to this in such a mature way. Have I told you lately how proud I am of you and how thankful I am that you are my daughter? "
Allie glanced up at Nathan and said, "You always do, Dad, and I'm thankful too!"
She got up and held out her hand to Nathan. He looked puzzled, and she said to him in response, "We have a dinner invitation to make." Let's go do it before it's too late." Nathan smiled, stood up, and took Allie's hand.
The Grants went down the path to the Thorntons' rowhouse hand in hand. They climbed the stairs, both took a deep breath, and knocked on the door. Little Jack answered the door with Elizabeth right behind him. "Allie! Mountie Nathan! Hi!" , he excitedly greeted them, smiling from ear to ear.
Allie bent down to Jack's level and said, "Hey there, Jack! We thought we would come by to say hello and see if you and your mama would like to come to dinner tomorrow at our house. Would you like that? " After she spoke, she glanced up at Elizabeth.
Jack looked at his mother and hugged onto her skirt and pleaded, "Can we go, Mama?" Can we have dinner tomorrow?" Elizabeth stroked his blonde hair and then looked down at Allie and finally up at Nathan. Nathan smiled at her, nodded, and added, "We'd really love to have you over. We thought it would be a good chance to have some quality time and good conversation."
Elizabeth and Nathan held their gaze while she considered the offer and Nathan's comment. She smiled, looked down at Allie and Jack, and answered, "I think dinner and conversation sounds like just the thing to do tomorrow! Now, is there anything that we can bring? "
Allie thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you bring some kind of dessert?" Dinner will be at 6 o'clock. Bye, Mrs. Thornton! Bye Jack! See you then!" She bounded down the stairs and headed back to her own home.
Elizabeth bent down and picked up Little Jack, who was waving bye to Allie still. Nathan tousled Little Jack's hair and smiled at him. Then, he looked at Elizabeth and said, "So, dinner tomorrow. We will talk then. " She smiled in return and said, "I look forward to that. Thank you for the invitation. It means a lot to me." Once more, the two of them held their gaze as they stood in the doorway. Little Jack's restlessness broke the spell. They said goodnight to one another, and Elizabeth shut the door behind her. She put Little Jack down to go play with his toys, and she stood there smiling. She hoped this was a good sign, and she spoke a silent prayer of thanksgiving and continued guidance.
Just outside, at the bottom of the stairs, Nathan stood for a moment and looked up at the Thorntons' door. He too, spoke prayers of thanksgiving and guidance.