The next couple of months before summer were busy for both Elizabeth and Jack Jr. Elizabeth was finishing up teaching for the semester. Jack Jr. and his crew made progress on his mother's house and were putting on some finishing touches. He would be able to reveal the house soon.
One day before the semester was over, Nathan and Elizabeth were on a walk. For the last couple of months, they had been spending more time together. Nathan has really helped Elizabeth through grieving Jack. Elizabeth had thought she had grieved Jack, but to her surprise, she still had some healing to do. She and Nathan figured out that she was able to grieve Lucas was because his death wasn't a sudden death. They were able to spend years together and dreams weren't broken. With Jack, his death was sudden and their dreams were broken and that is why she didn't grieve Jack. Elizabeth journaled about Jack and came to the realization that she shouldn't have been courting with neither Nathan nor Lucas until she was fully ready. And if either of those men wouldn't wait for her, then they weren't the one for her. Elizabeth wished she had realized this back when she was courting.
As they were walking, they walked by the cemetery where Jack is buried. Nathan stopped.
"Why are we stopping?" Elizabeth asked Nathan.
Nathan turned to Elizabeth "When was the last time you visited Jack's grave?" he asked her.
Elizabeth thought for a moment "Not since Bill's funeral. Jack Jr. visited his grave while I stood from afar. I guess I didn't want to experience those feelings of loss again." Elizabeth answered
"I think it would be good for you to visit Jack" Nathan said
Elizabeth's stomach fell. She wasn't sure if she could do it. Nathan noticed her face and grabbed her hand.
"We'll go together" Nathan said
Elizabeth nodded. They walked through the cemetery. As they got closer to his grave, Elizabeth saw that Jack's headstone had been replaced.
"This is new" Elizabeth said as they got to the grave.
"I made a few inquiries to the Mountie's on getting his headstone replaced. It was falling apart and fading. They finally replaced it a few years back." Nathan said
"Thank you Nathan" Elizabeth said
"And of course, you know this guy" Nathan said pointing to the grave next to Jack's. It was Bill's grave.
Elizabeth smiled "The two of them back together again"
There was silence for a minute.
"I'm going to leave you and Jack alone. Sarah is on the other side. I think I'll go say hello. Come find me when you are ready" Nathan said
Elizabeth nodded her head and Nathan walked away.
Elizabeth closed her eyes. She remembered the funeral. All the kids singing Oh Danny boy. The Mountie's giving their gun salute. Elizabeth opened up her eyes filled with tears. Elizabeth reached out to Jack's headstone.
"Oh Jack. I remember your funeral like it just happened. But, I soldiered on like you taught me. Jack Jr. and I moved back to Hope Valley. He is an amazing young man which shouldn't surprise because you are his father. We have a grandchild. Her name is Sophie. I know you would have spoiled her. Jack Jr. is building a house for me and he is building the house you wanted to build for us. It is going to beautiful." Elizabeth paused for a moment. She started crying.
"Your death caused my heart so much pain. I was afraid of losing someone like you again that I ran away to the safe choice. Nathan called my heart to him. But my heart was hurt from losing you that I protected it. I hurt people along the way that didn't deserve it. Over the years, I looked in the mirror and wondered if you were to meet me, would you still love me. I had doubts during my life with Lucas. There were times I didn't recognize myself. But when I looked at Jack Jr., I knew who I was and tried to get back to that" Elizabeth stopped talking. She wiped the tears off her cheeks.
"I wish you would give me a signal to let me know if I'm doing the right thing by letting Nathan in." Elizabeth stopped talking and was hoping for a sign. There wasn't a voice or even a bird that flew by to give Elizabeth a signal.
Elizabeth signed. She kissed Jack's headstone and went to find Nathan. She found Nathan sitting on a bench by the entrance of the cemetery. He had down and was praying. Elizabeth looked at Nathan and for the first time, her heart skipped for Nathan.
Nathan looked up from his prayer and saw Elizabeth. He walked over to her.
"Did you say all you needed to say?" Nathan asked
"For now, yes" Elizabeth answered.
Elizabeth hooked her arm with Nathan and asked him a question.
"Where should we have dinner tonight?" Elizabeth asked
Nathan's face lit up. They had gone to dinner. He always asked her to dinner, but this time Elizabeth had asked him.
"There is a great Italian place just outside of town" Nathan said
"Sounds delicious" Elizabeth said. And they walked arm and arm together.
