On Friday evening, Elizabeth sat on her settee, feeling blessed to have such wonderful friends. They all regaled each other with laughter and stories, just enjoying uninterrupted time together. Elizabeth provided the tea, while Abigail brought blueberry scones and Rosemary baked petit fours.
"We really should find time to do this more often," Abigail said, taking a bite of her scone.
"I agree," Elizabeth said. "There's something wonderful about getting together for a little girl time."
"It's also a good time for sharing news," Rosemary said, an undeniable happiness in her voice. Elizabeth and Abigail turned to look at her. Their friend was glowing. "You both know I went to see Carson earlier this week."
Realization began to dawn on Elizabeth. She gasped, sitting on the edge of her seat. "Go on," she encouraged, her eyes lighting up.
Rosemary smiled beatifically. "Lee and I are going to have a baby!" she squealed. "I'm pregnant!"
The three women cheered and embraced, happiness for Rosemary radiating in the small house. "Rosemary! That's wonderful!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Congratulations!" Abigail echoed. "When's the baby due?"
The smile on Rosemary's face grew wider. "Carson said I'm three months along. The baby should come in December." Her eyes softened. "Right around Christmas."
"Oooh!" Elizabeth sighed happily. "A Christmas baby! That would be such a beautiful gift."
"How did Lee take the news?" Abigail asked.
"He was over the moon," Rosemary said with a chuckle. "I don't think I've ever seen him quite that happy. He actually lifted me and spun me around in circles across our living room."
They shared another laugh, then finally sat once more. "This is the best news we've had in a while," Elizabeth said, a smile on her face. "I'm so happy for you and Lee, Rosemary." As she said the words, the tiniest tinge of sadness swept over her, knowing that she would never share that joy with Jack as they had hoped. She pushed the thought away, determined to focus on her friend. This was about Rosemary, not herself.
"It explains why I've been so emotionally charged lately," Rosemary said, shaking her head. She looked at Elizabeth. "I'm still mortified about my outburst over you and Nathan," she said, looking abashed.
Abigail honed in on her words immediately. "You and Nathan?" she repeated, looking between Elizabeth and Rosemary. "Did I miss something?"
Elizabeth felt a blush creeping over her cheeks. "No," she said. "Nathan and I have just been forming a friendship based on mutual grief and understanding. That's all there is between us." Her blush deepened unintentionally. "Rosemary caught us hugging a few nights ago. We had just shared some very personal details with each other, and Nathan looked like he was in emotional pain. I didn't stop to think – I just hugged him."
Rosemary and Abigail exchanged glances. Elizabeth eyed them. "What?" she asked, knowing they were communicating wordlessly.
"Nothing," Rosemary said innocently.
Elizabeth raised a skeptical brow.
Abigail smiled. "It's just we've noticed certain…looks…between the two of you when you pass in the streets. There's a softness in your smiles toward him, Elizabeth, almost like you harbor tenderness for him. And the way he looks at you…" She shook her head, the smile growing. "He is clearly smitten, even with such a short acquaintance."
Elizabeth didn't think it possible, but her blush grew in intensity. "It's not…we're not…that's not the case!" she protested. "We've only interacted a few times! Even if I was looking for a relationship, this would be too soon. As it is, I'm not looking for a relationship. Jack hasn't been gone long. It would be a disservice to my love for him if I let an attraction to another man grow so soon after his death."
"Not necessarily," Abigail said quietly. "I was married to my Noah for twenty years, Elizabeth, yet six months after his death I found myself falling for another man. That didn't mean I loved Noah any less. It simply meant my heart had room for someone else in addition to my late husband." She leaned forward, clasping one of Elizabeth's hands in hers. "Jack wouldn't want you to grieve him forever," she said softly. "He wouldn't want you to put a timeline on that grief, either. He would simply want you to be happy. I guarantee he would tell you to be open to love again. Whenever it might come."
Elizabeth's breath caught. "Who said anything about love?" she gasped, appalled at the very thought. "Attraction is one thing, but…love? I can't even begin to fathom falling in love with someone else." Tears pricked her eyes. "Jack was my one great love. I doubt I'll find anything like that again."
Rosemary took Elizabeth's other hand. "Elizabeth," she said, her voice gentle and serious. "People come into our lives – some for a season, some for a reason, and some for a lifetime." She squeezed her hand. "Jack was a season. A beautiful, glorious season that taught you many things, how to love chief among them. He might be gone now, but he left you a beautiful gift. He showed you what it was to be loved and loved well. You know what it looks like to be cherished." She smiled gently. "That also means you'll be able to recognize that great love when it comes again. Just think – there might be a man out there who will share a lifetime love with you, a love that will be just as great as the love you had with Jack. And Jack will be watching from heaven, guarding you both."
Elizabeth blinked back tears. Rosemary's words struck a chord deep inside. It filled her with hope in a secret place she didn't dare acknowledge. Not yet. She felt a deep grief along with the hope, knowing Jack would never be her lifetime love. Rosemary was right. Jack had been a season. It hurt, but it was the truth.
As if sensing Elizabeth's grief, Abigail squeezed her hand in a silent show of support. "Whenever you're ready, Elizabeth," she said softly. "There's no rush. There's no timeline. You know your heart best. When the time is right with the right man, you'll know."
Elizabeth exhaled quietly, wrapping an arm around each friend. "Have I told you ladies lately how much I love you?" she asked, her voice choked with emotion. "I don't know how I would have gotten through these dark months without you."
They hugged her in return. "We're family," Abigail said. "We're always there for each other."
"And we always will be," Rosemary said.
That assurance had been enough to give Elizabeth the strength to continue on after Jack's death. The support and encouragement of her family of friends had slowly helped her to heal. She had a long way to go, but she had the tools to get there because she had the love of those around her.
That was the greatest blessing she could ask for.
Nathan put the finishing touches on his sign, then sat back and looked at his work with a critical eye. He blew the sawdust off the wood and surveyed it again.
Valley Furniture and Crafts
The words were clear and legible, large enough to be read easily from anywhere on the street. Nathan gave a nod of satisfaction. He carried the sign to another table, where it would await a fresh coat of decorative paint. Walking back to his workbench, he got out the necessary tools to continue carving the chairs he'd started yesterday.
As was always the case, Nathan became completely absorbed in his work. The feel of the wood beneath his hands was familiar and soothing. Watching the wood become a beautiful piece of furniture filled him with a strong sense of pride and gratification. Knowing he could create things that would be both practical and aesthetically pleasing gave him joy.
It felt good to finally be living out his dream.
He worked for hours, the chairs taking shape easily. The lumber Lee provided was strong yet pliable. His new friend clearly had an eye for quality. Nathan appreciated that. Before he knew it, the clock was chiming four o'clock. Normally he would continue working until five, but since he still needed to buy paint from the mercantile, he laid down his tools and cleaned up his work area. Feeling a sense of accomplishment with everything he'd completed during the day, Nathan walked with a slight skip to his step.
"Nathan!"
It was his heart's turn to skip slightly as he heard Elizabeth's voice call his name. He turned, watching as she made her way toward him with a basket on her arm. Just before she reached him, she tripped over a hole in the road. Eyes wide, she pitched forward with a little cry.
Nathan reacted quickly, catching her in his arms and holding her upright. "Are you okay?" he asked, glancing up and down her body to determine whether she had sustained an injury.
She was wincing, pain radiating from her face. "My ankle," she said, pointing at the foot that had gotten caught in the hole.
"Can you put any weight on it?" Nathan asked, his practical side taking over. His not-so-practical side was flustered at having a beautiful woman in his arms, despite the circumstances. He saw the glances they were receiving from people in the street. He tried to move back a little to put a more respectable distance between them.
Elizabeth didn't seem to notice. She tested her weight on her injured ankle, immediately grimacing and holding it off the ground again. The tight line of her lips indicated that she was indeed in a lot of pain.
"We need to get you to the doctor," Nathan said. He glanced down the street. The infirmary wasn't too far away, but it was far enough that it would take Elizabeth a while to limp there, even with him supporting her. By then her ankle might swell even more. With no other solution, Nathan put one arm around her back, then bent to put his other arm at her knees. In one smooth motion, he hoisted her into his arms and settled her as comfortably as possible against his chest.
Elizabeth gasped in surprise. She looped an arm around his neck for support while clutching her basket in her lap. He waited until she relaxed against him, then smiled. "Sorry about this," he said matter-of-factly, beginning to walk toward the infirmary. "But your comfort and safety are more important to me than propriety."
"That's fine," Elizabeth murmured, gazing up at him with a look that hitched his breath. They didn't say anything else on the short walk, but Nathan was intensely aware of Elizabeth in his arms. His nose was again assaulted by the smell of lavender. She was lighter than he expected, her body soft against his chest. His protective instincts kicked into high gear, and he pulled her slightly closer, wanting to take away her pain.
When they reached the infirmary, Carson glanced up from his desk. Eyes widening, he stood and motioned toward the bed. "Place her there," he instructed Nathan. Carefully, Nathan laid his precious cargo on the bed, then stepped back so Carson could examine her.
As the doctor removed Elizabeth's boot, she let out a whimper of pain. Nathan automatically reached out to take her hand, letting her hold onto him. She gave him a grateful look before squeezing his hand tightly as Carson prodded her foot. Inhaling sharply, she grit her teeth and closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth," Carson said gently. "I know this is painful."
She nodded, keeping her eyes tightly shut. The examination didn't take more than five minutes, but by the end of it Nathan could no longer feel his fingers. Elizabeth had a death grip on him, telling him just how much she was hurting.
When Carson finished, he walked to the sink to wash his hands. "Your ankle is sprained," he said. "I'll give you some aspirin for the pain and swelling. You'll need to ice it regularly for fifteen minutes at a time. Rest will be the most important thing you can do. Elevate your foot on some pillows and stay off it for a week or so."
"But…my students!" Elizabeth protested. "How am I going to teach them with this injury?"
Carson leveled a look at her. "You're not," he said pointedly. "You need to rest, Elizabeth. Once you're healed, you can go back to teaching." He glanced out the window. "I'll have Faith ask Florence if she can be your substitute for the next week." He frowned. "Now, how are we going to get you home?"
Nathan gently squeezed Elizabeth's hand before setting it on the bed. "I might have a solution to that," he said. "I'll be right back."
Carson nodded while Elizabeth looked at him curiously. Nathan made his way out of the infirmary and down the road, soon reaching the stables. He found Newton in one of the back stalls. His horse neighed in greeting, stomping the ground and whinnying loudly. Nathan chuckled, reaching out to rub Newton's nose. "Hey, boy. Do you mind letting me ride double with someone today? A friend of mine hurt her ankle, and we need to get her home."
Newton snorted, bobbing his head. Nathan grinned. "I'll take that as a yes." He quickly saddled the horse, then made his way back to the infirmary. Carson had helped Elizabeth to the bench outside the door, and the two of them were sitting together as Elizabeth received more instructions on caring for her injured ankle. Her jaw dropped when she saw him riding Newton. "Is that how I'm getting home?" she asked.
Nathan nodded. "He's a wonderful horse," he said, dismounting expertly. "Rides smooth and is good about not jostling his rider." He climbed the steps, then held out his hand. "Are you comfortable riding double?"
There was a slight hesitancy in Elizabeth's eyes, but it quickly disappeared. She nodded. "I can ride double."
Carson and Nathan worked together to help her stand and then to mount the horse. Once she was settled, Nathan swung up behind her in one fluid motion. He settled one arm around her waist while his other hand took the reins. "Ready?"
She nodded again. As they rode, she leaned against him, showing a trust that made Nathan's heart leap. He tried to ignore the way she made him feel. It was too soon. Her heart was still with Jack. His heart was irrevocably wounded as well.
The thought brought Sarah's face to mind. Nathan's heart lurched. He desperately tried to shove the it away, unwilling to feel the pain and guilt that would inevitably come. He had a feeling keeping everything inside was going to backfire on him someday, but he just couldn't bring himself to talk about what happened. Not with Colleen. Not with Gabe. No one. To talk about her would be to remember what happened, and he couldn't do that.
He let out a shuddering breath. Elizabeth glanced at him over her shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Nodding quickly, he smiled as widely as he could. "Fine," he said brightly. Inwardly, he winced at his chipper tone. Elizabeth would see straight through that.
She was regarding him curiously, but to his relief, she didn't push him. When they came to her rowhouse, Nathan dismounted first, then reached up to help Elizabeth down. Placing his hands around her small waist, he lifted her from the saddle and carefully set her on the ground. She kept her foot lifted to avoid putting weight on it. Nathan realized immediately she wouldn't be able to climb the porch steps, so he lifted her into his arms again and carried her inside. Setting her on the couch, he glanced around. "Is there anything I can do for you before I go?" he asked, wanting her to be comfortable.
Elizabeth nodded. "Can you ask Rosemary to come over, please?" she requested. "She can help me with Carson's list."
"Of course," Nathan agreed. He gently lifted her leg, placing a pillow beneath it to elevate it. Touching a hand to her shoulder, he smiled. "I'll get Rosemary and then head back into town," he said. "Are you sure you're alright?"
She smiled at him. "I'm fine." She paused, then reached up to cover his hand with her own. "Thank you for everything, Nathan."
Her words, her expression, her smile – they all did funny things to his heart. He swallowed hard, stepping back to naturally break their contact. "My pleasure, Elizabeth."
He said goodbye, then went next door to get Rosemary. She immediately hurried to Elizabeth's house, sending a rush of relief through Nathan. He knew she would be well cared for with her friend nearby.
Mounting Newton once more, he headed back to town, his thoughts full of the pretty schoolteacher who was coming to mean too much to him.