Chapter 38: Talking with the Parents

Elizabeth had just gotten done hanging Jack's latest drawing from Allie onto the wall by his bedside. This time Allie had drawn her and her Grandma Nellie in the kitchen making the goulash. Elizabeth smiled at the drawing, knowing that she had some part in that drawing. Jack smiled big and clapped his hands at the drawing on the wall. Julie was taking Jack to the park for a rock collecting adventure and then to lunch. This would allow Elizabeth to respond to the Grants and simply have some time to herself and possibly time with her parents later.

As Julie and Little Jack left for the park, Elizabeth brought out the Grant letters to read during her alone time. Allie shared all about her fun making the goulash recipe with her grandma and sharing it with the family there. She told Elizabeth as well that she had discovered something about her dad that she had never known before and how good he was at it, and she couldn't wait for him to show Elizabeth himself. She wrote about how she'd like to continue to discover new recipes once they returned home and eventually make her grandma a homemade cookbook of her favorites for Christmas since her birthday had already passed. This would allow her time too, to cook the meals to find out which she liked best. As Allie wrapped up the note, she asked if Elizabeth would help her in this process of finding and making just the right recipes.

Elizabeth smiled to herself. As she and Allie had corresponded throughout this summer, they had already mapped out the times that they were scheduled for a girls' day, with things like a shopping trip, a library trip, and tea time set aside for book reflections and, now, recipe discoveries. The more time went on, the more Elizabeth grew to love this young woman more and more. Additionally, she loved the relationship that Jack and Allie had with one another. It was such a special little bond, and you could tell that they adored one another.

She placed Allie's letter back in its envelope, put it in the desk drawer, and closed it. Elizabeth looked over at Nathan's envelope and wondered what little treasure she'd find in it this time. The second letter that he had sent her to Hamilton with was actually an invitation to dinner with just him. The destination and specific date would be determined once they all returned to Hope Valley. Elizabeth laughed to herself, remembering how many times Nathan tried to ask her out and she had tried to encourage him as well years before. But then, she had a sad moment when she remembered the times she hesitated before the prisoner transfer when he finally asked her or the time she bowed out of the family date when Helen Bouchard came to town. She couldn't dwell on the past, but for that brief moment she had a glimpse of why Nathan would be so hesitant to try this courtship this time.

As she went to open the letter that had come in the mail, Elizabeth noticed that the envelope was quite a bit thicker than usual. She opened the envelope and pulled out its contents. The letter was simply read.

Dear Elizabeth,

While we are apart.

You are always in my heart.

So, here's a token from me to you.

We're celebrating our love, brand new.

Within the folded note was a small wooden circle slice with a small twine attached. Etched on one side of the slice were two hearts intertwined. On the other side, there was a quote by Emerson, "Give all to love; obey thy heart." Elizabeth held the slice up to take a closer look as it circled around for a moment. This man continued to amaze her each time. She clutched the slice to her heart and closed her eyes, which were filled with tears.

She put the letter back in its envelope and then placed it in the drawer. Then, she hung the wooden slice from the lamp switch, which hung next to the now framed picture of Allie and Nathan. She grabbed some paper and her pen and proceeded to go out to the sitting room to write her responses there. It was too beautiful of a day to simply be cooped up in the bedroom.

Elizabeth sat in the sitting room at the desk writing her responses to Nathan's and Allie's letters when her parents walked into the room. William sat in his chair across from the desk, whereas Grace chose to sit on the sofa by the entrance. Her mother called her and patted the place next to her for Elizabeth to join her there. Elizabeth put the paper and pen away in the drawer and joined her mother on the sofa. She glanced over at her mother and then her father with a questioning look on her face.

Elizabeth, dear, your father and I wanted to sit down and talk with you to see how you were really doing after everything that you've been through this past year," Grace said, as she wore a concerned look on her face.

Elizabeth smiled and reached for her mother's delicate hand and gave it a little squeeze. "Oh mother, I truly appreciate yours and father's concern, but I am doing well. To be honest, it was a little rough at first, but with the help of Faith (Dr. Carter), Pastor Joseph, and the Hope Valley community, I believe that I have recovered well.", Elizabeth answered.

William cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. Grace and Elizabeth diverted their attention over to him and waited patiently as he thought about the words he was about to speak. "Elizabeth, we've noticed that you've been corresponding a lot while you've been here. What is that all about?" he asked in a matter-of-fact demeanor.

Elizabeth looked down for a moment and blushed as she thought about the letter correspondence with the Grants that she had during this trip. When she looked up, her father was staring at her with a look of curiosity. "Father, mother, I have been corresponding with Nathan and Allie Grant." she responded simply. She knew that they'd have questions, so she figured that she'd start with the basics.

William studied his daughter for a moment, formulating his thoughts on what to ask next. "And why is it that you are corresponding with these two specifically? Do they not have a telephone?" he asked.

"No, Father, where they are staying in Rock Creek, it doesn't have a phone yet. Besides, we were given this letter correspondence project by Pastor Joseph to do during our time apart. ", Elizabeth responded. She let go of her mother's hand and turned her body so that she was facing her father completely. Elizabeth knew that more questions were about to come and she wanted to be ready for them.

"Why did Pastor Joseph give you this project? Why this specific family?", William inquired.

Elizabeth sighed and thought about how she could go about explaining what had occurred since Lucas' passing thoroughly enough that nothing would be misconstrued. Her parents were never completely fond of Jack, but eventually changed their minds, knowing that she had chosen to be with him and that he made her happy. With Lucas, they had approved of him immediately because he fit in with their old life there in Hamilton. She wasn't sure how they would receive the idea of Nathan.

Grace took hold of her daughter's hand once more and placed her other hand on top of the clasped hands. "Elizabeth, it's OK, you can talk to us. We want to know everything," Grace said. Elizabeth looked back over at her mother, placed her other hand on the three already together, and smiled earnestly at her mother.

Elizabeth prayed a silent prayer asking God for wisdom and direction as to what to say next and a welcome reception to what she was about to tell them. She took a breath and exhaled slowly, then shared. "As you know, Nathan is the constable who took Jack's place four years ago. His daughter Allie goes to the school. I've always had a special bond with the two of them. Just recently, while counseling with Pastor Joseph, I realized that the feelings I had for Nathan were pretty deeply rooted. It winds up being that Nathan also has feelings for me as well. However, because of the last four years and the turn of events, Nathan and I decided along with courting that we would see Pastor Joseph for couples/family counseling to work through some of those issues.", Elizabeth said as she looked between both of her parents, trying to get a feel of what their reaction would be.

Her father got up from his chair and walked to the window, gazing out for the longest time before responding. When he turned around, he answered Elizabeth. "We knew from your letters over the past few years that you cared deeply for the constable and his daughter. That was only obvious. To be quite frank, we were a bit surprised when you reached out before coming here last year during your book tour that you and Lucas were the ones courting. We genuinely believed that your choice would be with the Grants. When Lucas contacted us about proposing last fall, we supported it because we only wanted to see you and Jack happy. And when he passed this winter, our hearts ached not only for you but with you. We couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose not only one significant other but also a second just years apart from one another. "

He sat back down in his chair and looked intently at Elizabeth. He continued, "Yet being here this trip, your mother and I have noticed a difference in you. There is a peace and joy in you that we haven't seen in you for a very long time, Elizabeth. And the thing is, we saw that you were especially joyful when you had either gotten a letter or were writing one. So, we wanted to know more. "

Elizabeth was the one who got up this time and started to walk around the room this time. She thought about what her father had said. Allie's and Nathan's letters were one of her favorite parts of this trip. Elizabeth smiled to herself as she thought of the two of them, and her father responded by saying, "You see, that's what I mean. That smile there, you wear it quite often lately. " William and Grace looked at one another, smiled, and then glanced over at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth stood there with her hands on her cheeks, feeling the blush that she was wearing on her cheeks. She looked at each of them, smiling shyly, and then answered, "Oh Mother, Father, I am so very happy. I know that it probably sounds odd considering the loss that happened just over six months ago. But I'm finding a new joy as I've allowed myself to mourn both Jack and Lucas and discover my true feelings that I've been fighting over the past few years for Nathan. This letter project has actually been really fun for both Jack and me. "

Grace smiled at her daughter as she asked, "Elizabeth, where do you think you and the constable are going in your courtship?" Elizabeth looked at her mother and answered confidently, "Mother, my hope is that Nathan and I will marry and blend our two families together. I believe that he is, and always has been, my lifetime love. The thing is, because of my distraction with Lucas and fear about how I felt about Nathan, he has his own concerns and hurts from the past several years that need to be put to ease. I'm hoping that the counseling does just that."

Grace got up from her spot and went to stand in front of her daughter. "Then you have our full support, my dear!" Grace said as she kissed both of her cheeks and gave her a hug. "Now, let me go check on that grandson of mine!" Grace said as she walked out of the room.

William walked up to Elizabeth, put his hands on Elizabeth's shoulders, and looked down into his daughter's eyes as he said, "Your mother is right, you have our full support. Give the man some time; he will come around. Just love him the way that you do and keep talking with him. Nathan and Allie will always be welcome here in Hamilton and into our lives."

Elizabeth eyes filled with tears and she thanked her father for their love and support. After her father left the room, Elizabeth let out a big sigh, chuckled to herself, and thought, "Well, that was unexpected, but I'm glad it was done too."

She went back to the desk, pulled out the paper and pen, and began writing her return letters once more to Allie and Nathan.