Elizabeth giggled in delight as a tiny gray kitten climbed up her dress and began licking her chin. "Oh, Colleen, these little ones are adorable!" she enthused, petting the tabby and cooing at her gently.
Colleen chuckled, watching Elizabeth with the tabby and Allie with the calico and tortoiseshell. Daisy was in her mother's arms, sleeping contentedly. Elizabeth loved visiting the Kinslow home. Allie and Daisy were precious, and the addition of the kittens was a special treat. To top it off, she and Colleen were forming a fast friendship.
"Do you want a kitten?" Colleen asked, shifting Daisy slightly. "We haven't found a home for any of them yet." She glanced at her toddler and lowered her voice. "Allie won't hear of it any time Gabe or I say we need to find homes for these little ones."
Considering it, Elizabeth let her fingers run softly through the tabby's gray fur. The kitten was purring away, and all at once she fell asleep, nestled in Elizabeth's neck. Melting, Elizabeth let out a little exclamation of happiness.
Colleen grinned. "Is that a yes?"
How could she refuse? Burying her nose in the kitten's downy coat, Elizabeth nodded. "Mm-hmm."
Allie perked up at that. "You take kitty?" she asked, her eyes wide and curious.
Elizabeth nodded. "Yes, I'll be taking a kitty home with me."
A light pout formed on Allie's face. Before she could react, Elizabeth quickly spoke. "You can come visit the kitten anytime, okay? I'm sure she would love to see you."
Allie smiled and nodded. Colleen smiled too. "You're good with children," she said quietly.
Elizabeth chuckled. "It's simply a trick of the trade," she replied.
Colleen's smile became mischievous. "I take it you want some of your own?"
"Oh yes," Elizabeth breathed. "I've always wanted a big family."
The smile turned to a grin. "If you marry my brother, you two would have adorable children."
"Colleen!" Elizabeth exclaimed, blushing crimson.
The other woman blinked back at her innocently. "What? You know it's true."
Her blush deepening, Elizabeth brushed her flaming cheek against her new pet's fur, trying to regain a semblance of control. Before she could respond, the front door opened and Gabe walked in.
An immediate hush fell over the room. It was not time for him to be home, and he wore a resigned look on his face. Elizabeth glanced over at Colleen to see her cheeks turning pale. She rose from her spot on the settee, looking at her husband.
"What is it?" she asked. Elizabeth didn't miss the hint of fear in her voice.
Gabe came forward, taking her shoulders in his hands. "I'm sorry, Colleen," he said heavily. "I've been called by the Mounties to help in a search and rescue effort a few towns over." He paused, his throat working. "I don't know when I'll be back."
She let out a small cry. The sudden noise woke Daisy, who began crying earnestly. Elizabeth set her kitten on the floor, then reached out to take the baby from her friend. Colleen barely noticed. Her eyes were locked on Gabe. "When do you leave?"
He hesitated. "As soon as I can pack a bag."
Tears fell from Colleen's eyes, but she nodded. Gabe kissed her forehead, nodded a greeting to Elizabeth, then headed up the stairs with Allie at his side.
Elizabeth could feel Colleen shaking. She took her arm and guided her to the settee. "Sit," she instructed. Colleen did so without argument.
Daisy had calmed in Elizabeth's arms, soon falling back asleep. Elizabeth sat beside Colleen, knowing exactly how her friend felt. The times Jack had been called away unexpectedly had been hard on her. She knew it was the same for Colleen. Words were useless in times like this. She simply slipped an arm around Colleen's shoulders, making sure Daisy was snug in her other arm. They sat together quietly until Gabe came back downstairs, a bag slung over his shoulder and Allie in his arms.
He gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek, then set her on the floor. Colleen stood as Gabe bent down to kiss Daisy's cheek as well. He looked at Elizabeth. "Watch out for them for me?" he asked softly.
Elizabeth recognized sadness in his eyes. He didn't want to go. She nodded, giving him what comfort she could. "I will."
"Thank you."
He stood, turning to his wife. They walked to the door together. Elizabeth knew she should look away, but she couldn't. She watched as they exchanged some soft words, and she distinctly made out Gabe saying "I love you" to Colleen. That prompted tears from her friend, who threw herself into Gabe's arms and held on tight.
"I don't want you to go," she said, the words whispered yet still reaching Elizabeth's ears.
"I know," he replied, holding her tighter. "I'll come home as soon as I can."
Colleen nodded. Gabe pressed his lips against hers in a goodbye kiss. Elizabeth felt a flash of surprise that he managed to keep it tame, but she quickly averted her eyes, letting them have a moment of privacy. She heard Gabe tell his wife goodbye, then heard the unmistakable sound of the door shutting as he left.
All was quiet for a few moments. Eventually, Colleen made her way back to the settee, sitting beside Elizabeth. She wore a look of stunned disbelief. When she finally spoke, Elizabeth heard echoes of her own past in Colleen's words.
"We've never been parted like this," Colleen said, her voice shaking. "I knew it was possible, but I kept hoping this day wouldn't come." She looked at Elizabeth, desperation in her eyes. Once again, Elizabeth was struck by the strong emotion shining there, a tell-tale sign that Colleen Kinslow was deeply in love with her husband, whether she realized it or not. She wondered what it would take for Nathan's sister to figure out her own heart. Colleen clutched her hand, her eyes pleading. "How did you get through it, Elizabeth? How did you get through the days with Jack being gone on Mountie business?"
Remembering Abigail's words to her from so long ago, Elizabeth squeezed Colleen's hand with a sympathetic smile. "One day at a time," she said softly. "You'll get through this, Colleen. I will be here for you, and so will Nathan. Rosemary would be happy to help in any way she can. You have friends here. You won't be alone. And hopefully Gabe will be back before you know it."
Throat working, Colleen sniffed slightly. "Tell me he's going to come home safely."
Elizabeth froze. Her eyes teared up, and she slowly shook her head. "I can't," she whispered. "Coming home is never a guarantee." Life had taught her that painful lesson. She couldn't lie to her friend.
Colleen sniffed again, but she seemed to get a better handle on her emotions. "Thank you, Elizabeth," she said.
Elizabeth frowned, slightly confused. "For what?"
A small smile tugged at Colleen's lips. "For being honest. Most people would have told me what I wanted to hear. But you told me the truth. Somehow, that makes me feel better than a false promise that Gabe would be sure to come home."
Elizabeth slid an arm around Colleen's shoulders again. "You're welcome."
The two women sat in a companionable silence, watching Allie with the kittens until Daisy woke up and demanded to be fed. Elizabeth left with a promise to bring dinner over soon for the little family. Colleen accepted, on the condition that she take part in the meal as well. Elizabeth agreed. They parted for a time, and as Elizabeth walked to her row house, she prayed that Colleen would have the strength to bear Gabe's absence with grace and peace.
Nathan unintentionally hovered over his sister and nieces while his best friend was away. He saw the worry on Colleen's face, heard the confusion in Allie's voice as she asked constantly where her daddy went. He wanted to move back in with them while Gabe was away, but Colleen refused.
On the fourth day, as he was starting down the path to his sister's house, Elizabeth caught up with him. She smiled, linking her arm through his. "Hello there, love."
He warmed inside at the endearment. "Hello to you," he said, leaning down to give her temple a kiss. "How was your day?"
"Good," she replied. "My students were a little wild, but otherwise fine." She shivered as the cold wind blew around them. "Brrr. It's very cold today."
Nathan nodded. Elizabeth smiled up at him. "I made a hearty soup that's been simmering on the stove while I was at work. Would you like to have dinner with me?"
Regret filled him. "I can't," he said. "I'm having dinner with Colleen."
Elizabeth's brow rose. "Colleen told me she wanted to be alone this evening."
"I know," Nathan began. "But…"
She stopped walking, turning so that they faced each other. She wore a serious look that he'd never seen before. "Nathan," she said somberly. "If Colleen wants to be alone, she needs to be alone."
Every bone in his body protested. "But she's hated being alone ever since we were children," he countered. "She would say she wanted to be alone, but she really didn't."
Elizabeth shook her head, her eyes locked on his. "Trust me on this. Colleen needs to know she can survive an evening on her own, Nathan. She needs to know she has the strength to go on even when Gabe is out of town. She needs to know she can do this."
Nathan stared at her, slow comprehension dawning. "That's what you went through with Jack."
She paused, then nodded. "Yes. It is." Letting out a breath, she began walking again. He fell into step with her. "When Jack left on various missions, well-meaning friends would stay with me constantly. They just wanted what was best for me, but soon their attention became smothering. I longed for even an hour alone." She looked up at him. "I had to know if I was strong enough to love a Mountie, Nathan. Colleen is now facing the same thing. She meant it when she said she wanted to be alone."
Though his mind still objected, Nathan knew he had to honor his sister's wish. "Alright," he said. Pressing his lips together, he glanced down at Elizabeth. "Do you think she would mind if I checked on her tomorrow morning?"
Elizabeth's smile was soft. "Yes." She reached up to pat his cheek. "Colleen is blessed to have you as her brother." They walked for a few more minutes before Elizabeth continued. "She's hopelessly in love with him, you know."
He chuckled. "I do. She denies it constantly, but I think she just needs a push to recognize her love for him."
Elizabeth was quiet for a moment. "Maybe this mission is a blessing in disguise," she commented.
Nathan tilted his head. "How so?"
She smiled up at him. "Maybe with Gabe being gone, Colleen will realize just how much he's come to mean to her. If she stops to think about it, she may just figure out that Gabe holds her heart like she holds his."
"That's beautiful imagery," Nathan said. "It fits them." He reflected on her words. "I hope you're right, Elizabeth. I want nothing more than for my sister to be happily in love with my best friend." He cringed slightly. "Even if that's one of the strangest sentences I can utter."
Elizabeth's tinkling laugh filled the air. She squeezed his arm. "Perhaps, but at least you know they're well suited to each other."
He nodded fervently. "That I do."
Colleen paced restlessly in her bedroom. The girls were both asleep for the night. She kept glancing out the window, hoping the full moon would illuminate her sweet, dependable Gabe coming back to her. But the light revealed no one. All was quiet, calm, and Gabe-less.
She missed him, missed him with an ache that she felt physically in both her heart and stomach. All she wanted was for him to come home. She missed his laughter and jokes. She missed his kisses. She missed watching him play with their daughters. She even missed his infernal serge hanging over the couch where it didn't belong. She missed him.
Wrapping her arms around herself, Colleen glanced at the bed. She knew she should sleep, but she found she didn't like sleeping in a cold bed all by herself. She wanted the comforting presence of her best friend beside her.
She blinked. Best friend? When had she begun to consider him as her best friend? Yes, they'd always been friends, good friends, but never had she thought of him as a best friend. Yet as she thought it over, she realized it was true. Gabe was the one she confided in, shared her life with, and laughed with. He was her rock, a solid presence in her life. He loved her faithfully even when she couldn't return his love.
Not yet.
She was beginning to suspect that love wasn't far off. The intensity with which she missed her husband shocked her. Gabe was everything she ever needed, but more than that, she was coming to realize that he was everything she'd ever wanted.
Looking out the window one more time, Colleen started when the clock gently chimed midnight. When had it gotten that late? She sighed, giving up hope that he would be home tonight. She trudged to their bed, slipping into his side. Burying her face in his pillow, she inhaled Gabe's scent. The familiar smell comforted her slightly. She pulled the covers over her head and closed her eyes.
That night, she dreamed she was in a field of daisies, laughing as she and Gabe ran hand in hand through it. His eyes sparkled with warm humor and love, his hold on her hand both firm and tender. Colleen felt so safe with him, so loved. They had not a care in the world. When they stopped running, Gabe drew her into his arms. His brown eyes gazed into hers as he told her that he loved her.
And in that beautiful dream, she said the words back.