CHAPTER 52
Bea felt as if she floated through the day, never in her life had she felt like she did right now.
Ned and Flo, like everyone else, welcomed her back with hugs and expressions of joy. There were several letters and telegrams, Bea thanked Ned for alerting Nathan to Uncle Charles' worry, she had a telegram to send him today saying she was back, all was perfect and big news was coming soon. She picked up groceries for dinner and the biggest sketch pad that Ned had.
"Do you paint and draw?" asked Florence's
"I sketch rather than paint but yes I have since I was a child. I have a couple of memories I really would like to sketch from the last few days and they deserve a big canvas, this is perfect."
Having paid for everything she went back to the saloon and changed. Tonight was going to be a special night. She wanted to make an effort. Picking up the folder from the dresser and her pencils she gathered everything together and headed off to meet Rosemary for lunch.
Having left everything in the office they made their way to Abigail's. Bea didn't want to eat much if they were having dinner tonight she wanted to enjoy it. Rosemary was so pleased to see her in high spirits, "You seem much better today Bea."
"I am Rosemary, I think I just needed time to readjust again. Now tell me what has been going on, what have I missed?"
To be truthful Bea knew from Colin that nothing much had happened at all, it was a way of avoiding questions being aimed at herself. She was that excited she was worried she may let the cat out of the bag.
As they walked back to collect her things Rosemary told her what a wonderful response there had been to the Midsummer festival, everyone was wanting to know when the next event would be, " so Bea if you have any other great ideas don't keep them to yourself. We normally have a dance in September to coincide with harvest but it would be wonderful to do something in late July or early August, it doesn't have to be a dance, just an event to bring everyone together again."
"I shall have a think, am sure we could come up with something, organising was fun."
"I said the same to Lee, so we must do something else."
"Well leave that with me, now I must get on, I need to write a few letters and then get this dinner on the go. Thank you for lunch and being a good friend Rosemary."
"Away with you, go and have fun, I will see you tomorrow no doubt."
As she closed the door of the Row House behind her the tears came again. Just to be in his home, surrounded by his things she could feel his presence, she felt so safe, so loved, never in her wildest dreams had she envisaged feeling this way or finding a man who loved her the way Nathan did.
Having prepared dinner, it was just to switch everything on in an hour or so, she sat and wrote letters to Uncle Charles and Ethel but also one to Hugh, he would laugh at her antics. When they went back next year she was going to make a point of taking Nathan to meet him. Although the thought of Constable Grant meeting poacher Hugh was funny.
Once Nathan and she had made plans she would write and tell everyone. The thought of going back as Mrs. Grant and the tears came again. "Get a grip Bea," she thought.
Having switched everything on to start cooking she took the sketch pad out and her pencils. This memory she needed to capture and hopefully frame. Never to be forgotten. It came so easy one of those where Bea felt someone was guiding her fingers. It didn't take long at all, she stood back to look at it and yes tears again. It was the entrance to the livery and the chalkboard with the message as she had seen it this morning "Bea please will you MARRY ME". It was good enough to frame and it would hang in their home forever.
She had set the table, he would be home soon. With the heat from the stove, it was getting really warm so she opened the back door and sat on the step singing to herself. As he had rounded the corner of the row he heard her, that's my princess he thought.
She was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't hear the door open at first, he just stood watching her. Memory stored he thought.
"Hello Princess, where are you?"
She jumped, "Nathan, I didn't hear you, I was miles away I have to admit."
He went and helped her up, "I can't wait until this is how every working day ends."
Wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him she said "Me either, the sooner the better. Have you been busy?"
"Just catching up on stuff really, the first day back is always the same. No news still about the factories, I am going to head out that way in the morning, see if we have had more new arrivals. That is my main concern but enough about that. Have I got time to have a wash and get out of this lot before dinner?"
"Yes it will be ready in 20 minutes or so, do you want a drink or anything?"
"I will have one when I have changed, and dinner smells wonderful I have to say."
He went running up the stairs, Bea just watched him, this she thought is all I want.
She was mashing the potatoes when he came back down, slipping his arms around her waist, he kissed her neck, "Can I do anything ?"
"No I don't think so, well I would love a drink, I made some fresh lemonade, it should be nice and cold now."
"Think I will have a beer if that is OK?"
She gave him a look, " Sorry I forgot I don't have to ask" he laughed.
Remembering she liked to say a silent thank you before she ate he beat her to it " Tonight let me say thank you for the gift you have given me, for the wonderful meal we are about to eat and the love that surrounds this table tonight."
Bea was away again, "I honestly must have cried more happy tears today than my whole life, I can't switch them off."
"As long as they are happy ones."
She blew him a kiss across the table.
They ate a wonderful meal, she had excelled herself, Ethel had taught her well. Together they did the dishes.
"Now come sit Princess now we talk. Do you want another drink or anything?"
"Nathan, could I have a whisky, I really feel like one tonight?"
He poured himself one too. She was sitting on the sofa and he came and knelt on the floor beside her.
"I know you didn't want me to do this this morning Bea but let me please."
Taking her hand he looked into those big blue eyes, "Bea I love you with every ounce of my being, I can't imagine life without you, I know we have only known each other weeks but what I feel just grows stronger by the day, I don't want to wait, so if you feel the same please will you marry me?"
More tears, she pulled him up and looking straight into his soul she said " Yes Nathan, and the sooner the better please."
He sat beside her "Bea I have something for you."
He took a ring box from his pocket, her heart skipped a beat. "There is a story to this Bea, I only hope you like it and it fits. When I was in the jewellers in Union City, where I bought Allie's charms and Mums locket as I was paying, I noticed this sitting on a plinth in a cabinet. I thought of you as soon as I saw it but there was a note under the display stand, I actually have it, it read
"Until the day the lady this ring was made for appears then here I sit. Like Cinderella's slipper, many will try me but I will fit only one, feel free to ask to try me but I will fit only one lady's finger."
"I actually left the shop and then went back in and asked if I could have a closer look at it, the sales lady smiled and told me that many had admired it, the jeweller who made it had felt that he was making it to someone's description, he had never made anything like it before and never would again, it was a one-off. She said everyone in the shop got excited when someone asked to try it. I know that your ring finger is about the same size as my little finger, so I slipped it on. She was shocked when I said I knew the lady it was made for. So Bea if you like it and it fits we have to call in the shop when we are in Union City."
Her heart was racing, his was too, he hoped he had been right, that this was made for his Princess.
"Bea it isn't diamonds or rubies or the like, but if you prefer one like that then please say"
He opened the box and her heart almost stopped, then the tears did come. She had never seen anything so beautiful in all her life.
"Oh Nathan it is incredible, oh Nathan I love you."
He cuddled her in, "Bea this is supposed to be a happy moment" he laughed
"It is just happy tears, if I have had to design something for myself this would have been it,"
"Well let's see if you are the chosen one, if it fits." Taking it out of the box he slipped it on her ring finger, it was made for her he knew it. A band of white gold it had solid edges but the centre was all filigree work, Celtic knots and thistles, it was unique and beautiful just as she was. On her long thin fingers it looked perfect, yes she was this rings lady.
Bea couldn't take her eyes off it, it truly was magnificent, and the thought that he had known it was meant for her made her love it all the more.
"Did I choose right princess?"
That was answered with a passionate tear-soaked kiss.
He moved up and sat behind her on the sofa, she swung her legs up and laid her head on his chest. "Nathan, how did you know my finger was the same size as your little finger?"
"Remember our first date when you took hold of my hand, I thought then what beautiful long thin fingers you had, when we locked fingers I just noticed that my little finger entwined with your ring finger were the same size."
"There are actually two more bands for it Bea, it is a trio of rings, they are both thin bands that you wear either side of this one, I thought we could use those as your wedding band."
She buried her head into his chest, he just kissed the top of her head.
Eventually, she felt composed enough to say something, "Will you wear a wedding band if we get you one, I know not all men like them?"
"I want one Bea, I want the world to see I am a married man, that I am yours, so yes, when we go into the jewellers to show them you are the lady then hopefully I can get one in there."
She raised herself up and turned to kiss him. If eyes are the windows to the soul then the souls were talking tonight, the love they could see in each other's eyes was electric.
Have you thought about how you would like to actually do this princess, what you would like? I know they say it is the biggest day of any lady's life, I want it to be yours.
"It will be a big day for you too, do you have any thoughts?"
"Honestly Bea I am not bothered how we do it, as long as at the end of the day you are Mrs. Grant I will be the happiest man alive."
"How quickly could we do it?"
"Are you as eager as me ?" he grinned that lopsided grin.
"Nathan, if we could go and do it now I would. I never ever saw myself married so have never dreamt of big white weddings and receptions. Even when I was with Grant and everyone thought we were heading that way I never did. Let's face it, I am a lot for anyone to take on."
She seemed to drift off at that point, just for a few seconds, Nathan was learning she was having a Bea moment.
" I have just had the strangest recollection, I remember it happening but have never thought about it since until now. I didn't know at the time but my Gran was nearing the end of her life. I was looking for Dad or Uncle Harry but couldn't find either of them. I must have been about 5 I think. I eventually heard them all talking, they were in her bedroom. I stood outside listening to her telling them that if I truly was a special one then the chances were I would never marry and not to push me in that direction. That the old stories said if someone like me fell in love it was too much for any but a chosen soul to handle, that the love itself would destroy me. I remember Dad saying something to her along the lines of " so our little angel will never know true love?". No Douglas what I am saying is that the chances of our Bea actually finding the chosen soul are few, if she is lucky, if their souls somehow do connect then there will be no love to compare to it, finding that soul hardly ever happens."
"You are my chosen soul, I just know it and we have been so lucky but I don't want any fuss Nathan, I have no family anyway here or back in England, I want it to be our day, so can we just do it as soon as we can."
"Well I'm not even sure how it works as you are not a Canadian Citizen, we will have to check that. Bill will know, if there are no problems then he can actually issue the licence and marry us too. I would be happy with that, this will be our day. Mum and Allie will understand I am sure. That is the next step then, to check if we need special permission. I can ask him tomorrow. Mind that means he will know Bea, are we going to tell anyone?"
"I feel like shouting it from the rooftops but if we do then you know what will happen, it will snowball and before we know it there will be churches and receptions booked. I would rather it just be you and I then maybe after we can drop the bombshell." She was laughing, "Rosemary was just telling me today they wanted an excuse to have another dance."
"I agree, let's just do it that way, you and I, truly that will be our day. Then as you say I will look forward to introducing my new wife to everyone." They both laughed and then said at the same time "Colin, we must tell Colin."
"There is a thing Bea if we aren't telling people yet do you want to keep your ring on or shall I keep it here for now?"
She pulled a face, "Well with eagle-eyed ladies about I think you are right, I don't want to take it off though, well not just yet, I will leave it when I go."
"I guess we should think about getting you back soon, I really can't wait until we don't have to do this. Did you sleep last night?"
"Not at first, the bed felt awful big and empty, I got up in the end, but then I sat reading my notebook and the picture I drew of you with that wonderful five a clock shadow smiled at me, so am sorry but I tucked you under my pillow, then I slept. Oh, I almost forgot I drew something for us today, I think it is good enough to frame, let me get it."
"I will get it, you sit still, where is it?"
"The big sketch pad, I slipped it down the side of your desk."
He placed it on the table and opened it to the first page, now he could feel happy tears. Bea got up and wrapped her arms around his waist, "That is a memory that needs to be shown not just stored. Will it be good enough to have it framed?"
He turned in her arms and ran his fingers through her hair. "You are a lady of many talents, I will frame it, we will find the right place to hang it, and you are right, it is one not just to be stored away."
"Did you sleep?"
"No," he laughed. " I was worried about this, and I too found the bed very empty."
"Maybe tonight we will sleep better, mind just to warn you, you're under my pillow until the day I can move in here sorry." she smiled that cheeky smile, he half expected a wink.
"That is a day that can't come quick enough. As much as I hate to say it Princess, let's get you back."
She took her ring off and he placed it back in the box, hopefully just for a couple of days.
As they walked back she remembered the papers from Uncle Charles, "Nathan you have a look-see if you can spot anything you think may help, they may as well stay in the house now."
"Are you sure, there might be personal stuff in there you don't want me seeing?"
"No secrets, remember?"
"No secrets, I will cast an eye over them. Oh remember we have the town meeting tomorrow night, I almost forgot."
"I am ready for that I think, it won't take any sorting and I am more than willing to undertake the task. Will give me something to do."
As they kissed Good Night they both hung on to the thought that it wouldn't be for much longer, that soon Constable and Mrs. Grant would just lock the door and climb the stairs.