Chapter 42: A Fine Summer Day
At church the following Sunday, once the Thorntons and Grants had returned to Hope Valley, they sat together in the back. Elizabeth was at the end closest to the window with Nathan in the middle, Jack right next to him, and Allie closer to the center aisle. As he sat with his right arm draped around the back of the children and his left hand holding Elizabeth's delicate hand, Nathan couldn't think of any other place that he would rather be. This was their first time officially being in public as a couple with the community, despite the fact that they had been together for a month.
Granted, they had their typical shocked glances when they first walked into the building hand in hand, but then the shock turned into smiles and approving nods. The Coulters sat in the row in front of them, each with a twin on their laps, and Rosemary turned to Elizabeth and winked as Elizabeth smiled back in return.
Pastor Joseph stood at the pulpit and spoke about how God is in control of the seasons of life and the importance of placing our trust in God despite our seasonal circumstances. He made the connection to the upcoming autumn season: that change can be a beautiful thing if we are willing to let go. He quoted Ecclesiastes 3:11, sharing that it is in His time that God makes all things beautiful. Nathan squeezed Elizabeth's hand a little and glanced over at her with a smirk. She smiled back and nodded her head, knowing that this journey that they were on hadn't been the easiest, but God was taking them through it and, in the process, creating something beautiful between their two families.
Afterwards, the family walked back home together, changed clothes, and met up once again at the Thornton home. Allie was carrying her cigar box that she had gotten from Archie. Nathan was carrying the fishing poles over his shoulder, but immediately came over and took the picnic basket from Elizabeth as she stepped out of the rowhouse. Allie offered Little Jack her free hand, and the little boy squealed with delight and grabbed her hand. This left Elizabeth to carry the rolled-up blanket under one arm and tuck her other arm into Nathan's arm as they walked to the Grant's favorite fishing spot.
Once they got to their favorite spot, Allie and Jack helped Elizabeth lay out the blanket under the large tree that provided shade. Nathan handed her the picnic basket, and he went to prop the fishing poles up against the opposite side of the tree. Allie placed her cigar box in the corner of the blanket and helped Elizabeth with passing out lunch. Each of them got a half of a sandwich to start, along with some apple slices. Anxious to share her items, Allie finished her lunch quickly, got her cigar box from the corner of the blanket, and placed it in her lap. She was ready to share her Rock Creek treasures.
The first item she pulled out of the box was a horseshoe. "This represents our time going to Rock Creek and back home with Newton and Sergeant, Allie told the three of them. Elizabeth smiled, and Little Jack sat there on the blanket in awe as he munched his apple slice. Next, Allie pulled out a pressed wildflower. "These flowers grew all around Grandma's and Grandpa's house, and I just thought that they would be a good memory of our time there." Allie explained, twirling the flower stem between her fingers as she stared at the bloom at the end.
Then, Allie pulled out a photograph and gazed at it for a long moment before she shared it with the others. Before she spoke, Elizabeth could already see the girl in the photograph bore a strong resemblance to Allie, who was about the same age, and next to her stood a young boy about the age of 10–11, looking up at his older sister with great pride. Elizabeth glanced over at Nathan, and their eyes met. Nathan had also been looking down at the photograph and knew what Elizabeth was thinking. He smiled and nodded at her, and then Allie began to speak. "Grandma gave this to me before we left. It's of my mom at my age, and my dad was just a few years younger than her. Grandma says I look just like my mom here, and I really do think I see that too. My mom was so beautiful, so the fact that I look like her even a little bit is a big compliment. Grandma says Dad was looking at Colleen because she had just won some kind of special award at school and he was proud of her. "I really love this picture," Allie said as she stared a little bit longer at it.
Elizabeth continued to look as well and agreed with Allie. She commented to the young girl that she was beautiful, just like her mama, as she brushed aside the hair from her face. The two exchanged a tender smile between them before Allie put her attention and focus back on the box.
Allie pulled out an index card with a recipe written out on it. This is one of my Grandma's favorite recipes. She wrote it out especially for me, so I would have it specifically in her writing. I'd love to make it sometime with you, Mrs. Thornton, if you're interested," Allie said, glancing shyly over at Elizabeth. Elizabeth reached over and squeezed Allie's hand, smiled, and said in return, "I'd like that very much, Allie."
Allie pulled out a small envelope and glanced over at Nathan. "Dad, I kept some of the seeds from when we planted Grandma's and Grandpa's garden. I was hoping that maybe we could make a smaller version in our backyard," she stated as she looked at Nathan with puppy-dog eyes, silently pleading her case.
Nathan chuckled, but thought for a moment as he stretched his legs out on the blanket. "You know, Allie, I think that could be very possible. Let's check it out sometime this week after I get off of work," he responded with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. Allie leaned over and gave him a big hug, then placed the small envelope back into the box.
Allie reached into the box and extracted a well-worn set of pencils and crayons. "These represent my time spent writing to the two of you. It is one of my best memories as well." Allie looked at both Elizabeth and Jack, smiling proudly as she held up the writing tools.
As she placed the writing tools back into the box, she pulled out a piece of tissue paper and unwrapped whatever it held inside of it. She picked up the small piece of fabric inside and revealed the beauty of it. It was a white handkerchief with delicate white lace attached and a small floral design embroidered onto it, along with the initials ET under it. Allie handed it to Elizabeth and said, "Grandma taught me to sew also. We worked on this together." "She sewed the lace on, and I did the embroidery." Elizabeth was speechless as she took the handkerchief from Allie, but she held it close to her heart and mouthed a thank you. Allie simply nodded and reached inside the box for the next item.
She pulled out a small, flat, carved wooden cross with the Scripture Proverbs 3:5–6 engraved on it. "Dad and Grandpa taught me a little bit about wood carving this summer. We used some of the old wood from things around their house that we fixed to make things. I made this cross for you with their help. Dad wrote the verse on there for me because it is my favorite. It kind of goes along with what Pastor Joseph said today, that we need to trust God fully and He will see us through. Then, we put a hole in it, and I put a ribbon through it so that you could hang it wherever you wanted. Allie handed the wooden cross to Elizabeth. She studied it for a few moments and finally spoke. "Between you and your father, I have some precious tokens myself from Rock Creek," she said as she smiled sweetly at Allie and placed the cross in her lap next to the handkerchief.
Next, Allie pulled out a small journal. She stroked the cover before explaining the meaning behind it. As she opened it, she shuffled through the pages, displaying all that she had written there in her own handwriting. "My grandparents and dad have shared so many great stories about my mom this summer. I decided to start writing them down to record them for myself to remember. "I love that between this and the photograph, I'll always have her with me in a more physical way than ever before," Allie shared as she looked at her father and Elizabeth. Nathan and Elizabeth smiled at Allie. "Allie, I'd love for you to share those memories with me one of the times that we are together. I want to know all about your mom too." Elizabeth said in response. Allie smiled brightly and said, "I would love to share her with you too, Mrs. Thornton."
The last thing that Allie pulled out of the box was four small pebbles. She held them out in the palm of her hand. "These, I found when we were fishing one day in Rock Creek. They are for Jack. "Jack, I'd like to think that these rocks represent us," Allie stated as she handed the four pebbles to the young boy.
Jack took the rocks from Allie and examined each one very closely. Then he held them up and said, "Mama, look!" "Allie brought back Rock Creek for me."
The three older ones laughed at that comment. Elizabeth stroked her son's blonde hair and replied, "Yes Jack, Allie did bring Rock Creek back for all of us. That is so special, isn't it? What should we say to her?" Elizabeth asked Jack.
Jack looked over at Allie, and then he ran over and wrapped himself up in her arms. "Thank you, Allie, for bringing me Rock Creek and for coming home to us. I missed you so much. "I love you, Allie," Jack proclaimed as he grabbed her cheeks and looked at her intently.
Allie, thrown off by the sweet and innocent words spoken by her little companion, began to tear up. "Aw, Jack, I missed you very much too and I love you too. How would you like it if my dad and I taught you to fish a little?" Allie asked as she wiped away the tears that had trickled down her face during the last encounter.
Jack's face lit up, and he looked at his mother and Nathan. "Can I, Mama?" "Can I go fishing with Allie and Mountie Nathan?" Little Jack eagerly asked.
Elizabeth looked between the three and shook her head. Allie grabbed Little Jack's hand and went over to grab two fishing poles, while Nathan stood to his feet. "Are you going to be good here?" he asked.
Elizabeth smiled and gestured for him to go on ahead. "I'll be fine, Nathan. I brought my journal just in case, anyway. "Go, go enjoy our children."
Elizabeth said in response.
Nathan gave her his crooked smile before walking away and saying, "Our children, huh? That does have a nice ring to it." Nathan looked over at Elizabeth, his eyes twinkling, and he winked at her. Elizabeth smirked, simply shook her head, and made a shooing-like gesture at him.
The Thorntons and Grants spent the rest of the day there enjoying one another's company. On the way back, Nathan carried a sleeping Jack home along with the picnic basket. Elizabeth, once again, clung to his arm and the blanket, and Allie carried the cigar box and fishing poles.
When they got back, Jack had woken from his nap. They decided to do a small bonfire in the Grants' backyard and cook up the fish that they caught that day for dinner. Once dinner was done, they sat around simply chatting and enjoying the starlit night.
Allie and Nathan walked the Thorntons back to their house and hugged each one before leaving. As Elizabeth picked up her tired son, she turned to look at the father-daughter duo that was walking back down the path to their own home. "What a blessing they were, and what a blessing today had been with them," Elizabeth thought to herself. Then she turned, walked inside her rowhouse and shut the door behind her.