CHAPTER 65
Nathan poured himself a beer, he really should head to bed but he had so many thoughts spinning around tonight, he knew sleep would not come easy.
In less than 48 hours he would be a married man. Married to the most amazing person he had ever known, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, the kindest, sweetest person, the bravest, strongest person, the funniest, joyful person. He could list so many things he loved about her, well he loved everything about her. In less than two months she had become his world, she had turned his whole life around, she had saved him. He knew she loved him just as much, the love they felt for each other, as she always said, was a gift, it was far more than he ever imagined love to be. Seeing her this morning looking so weak had frightened him, the other day when she had spoken about why it would be best for him to have access to the bank accounts, just the thought of the reasoning behind that terrified him.
Three times, that is what Dr. Wilson's letter had said, she had fought death, two less than a year ago. When was the third? he must ask her about that, there again did he really want to know. He couldn't shake the thoughts of life without her now, even though he knew it was a stupid way to be thinking.
As he went to wash his glass he looked at the two heather plants that the florist had given her sat in their pots on the window ledge, Bea had added those to her "Things to do after Tuesday" list, which made him smile, she wanted to re-pot them, such a simple gift had brought her so much joy. A taste of home, a little reminder. She was going to be giving up so much and yet she was doing it so happily. Was he right asking her to do that?
Looking around before he went to turn the lights off he saw her sketch pad sitting beside the desk. He took it out and opened it, there was the "Please will you MARRY ME" drawing, he must make the frame for that, that he would add to the "After Tuesday "list. He had assumed that was the only drawing in there, she had bought the pad especially and he didn't think she would have had time to draw anything else but something made him turn the page. The tears came, there was the most breathtaking drawing of Path-Finder as he had seen him that first day sitting across from Bea at the stream. Written underneath were the words '' We too will find our path darling, don't ever question, don't ever doubt, I love you more than life itself, with you I am strong, please believe me when I say I am going nowhere for a very long time."
All his doubting stopped, all his fears vanished, and this drawing, his drawing would be framed too, it would be hung in their bedroom where he could see it last night at night and first thing in the morning. "I love you too Bea."
Surprisingly he had slept well but woke early. He lay for a while thinking about what they had planned to do then the thought hit him, tomorrow is the day. They were down to tomorrow, just one more day. He hoped it would fly.
They had arranged to meet for breakfast but he needed to see her, he just needed to. Luckily Bea had woken early too, she was looking at his watch again when he knocked on the door. She quickly threw it in the drawer.
She unlocked the door and before she could speak she was in his arms, "Well morning Constable, what a lovely way to wake up."
"Bea I needed a hug this morning, I just needed one."
"Are you OK darling, is something wrong?"
"No just the opposite, I was having lots of stupid thoughts last night and then I found your Path-Finder drawing. Bea, it was there when I needed it, it is so beautiful thank you, and I love you too. Have you been OK, no more cramps?"
She just smiled at him, "I was fine now, come here and kiss your wife to be." He didn't need asking twice.
"Now I feel fit to face the day, are the plans we made still the same? I should be able to turn everything over to Bill by 4ish then that is me done until Monday."
"Well Rosemary is coming over around 10 am to see things, but apart from that nothing has changed, although we should ask her and Lee to join us tonight with the others. I will do that when she comes."
"Colin will be here around lunchtime I think, did you sort a room here for him?"
"I did for a few nights then he won't have to rush back. He can have a good look at the forge, Lee said he would have the papers ready to sign. Hopefully, he will be up and running soon. When are you going to mention the best man thing.?"
"As soon as I can, if you could ask him to come over to the jail and I will ask him then. I am going to need him tomorrow, the nerves are kicking in already. Whose idea was it to wait until 2 pm?" he was laughing.
"Sorry that would be me, it will be worth it though, I promise."
"Bea don't you will have me crying again, not a very good image for a man in red serge."
"One more sleep, we can do it Constable, now here" she kissed him again, "will that keep you going for the day."
"Maybe another one should do it."
After breakfast, he picked up the books they had bought, dropped them in the jailhouse, and headed off to get his rounds done. Bea, who was under strict instructions not to do too much, was going to call in the livery to check on Hero and see Jed after Rosemary had been, to make sure they were alright for tomorrow. She also needed to call in at the mercantile and see if they had anything she could use as gift wrap. Oh, she knew exactly what she would do, plain brown paper but she would tie the wrapping with some of the tartan ribbons she had bought.
She was just having a look at the different colours she had when Rosemary knocked.
"Come in Rosemary, it is open."
"Morning Bea, did you sleep OK, I have been thinking about you all night?"
"I did thank you, another quiet day today and I should be fine for tomorrow. I won't have to rush around, I have plenty of time to get ready, mind poor Nathan is already a bag of nerves, he would have been happier to be on the doorstep waiting for Bill to open the office."
"Who can blame him, you have turned his life around, I am so glad you sorted everything, he was terrified you had gone but here we are now, it's so exciting. How long have you been planning this?"
"Just a week," she laughed. "We have everything we want though and that is all that matters to us."
"Have you thought of everything? the little things are the ones you tend to forget."
"I think so, I need to call at the livery this morning, then I have some gifts to wrap, I am going to pack my big suitcases and they can go over to the house. Tonight we are all meeting for dinner, oh you and Lee will come won't you? Then tomorrow apart from getting ready I just want to collect some wildflowers to go to Bill's office."
"Well leave the flowers, I can sort those, the less you do tomorrow the better. Now have you got all you need, you know I am itching to see this dress."
Bea went into the wardrobe and brought the dress bag out, even it was so classy Rosemary gasped. She unzipped the bag, "Rosemary please be honest, will it be too much for Hope Valley?"
Taking the dress out of the bag Rosemary's face said it all, "Oh Bea, oh my can I?" Taking the hanger she held it to the light, "Look at the way it sparkles it is like a shower of stars, and ohhhh Bea it is magnificent, I have never seen anything so beautiful."
Being the seamstress she was, it got a full inspection, "The corset work in it is amazing, and this back. You will be the bride of all brides in this Bea, we have seen some beautiful ones here over the last few years but this, this is exceptional."
"You don't think it is a step too far for Hope Valley?"
"I think it is like bringing a touch of Hollywood here, wait until Nathan sees you in, Colin will have to hold him up" she laughed. "Have you got all the other bits and pieces, underwear and the like?"
"I have, that is from Paris too, I found a lovely little lingerie shop when we were away and got all I needed. I have combs for my hair and longer hairpins, I have my shoes, I don't really do jewellery but I was gifted a necklace I will wear."
"Something old, new, borrowed, and blue?"
"Borrowed I haven't got but 3 out of 4 isn't bad."
"No, even if it is a handkerchief, there are going to be tears, I know, then I will loan you something. Your flowers are coming from Union City, you said?"
"They are, oh and there will be a corsage for you Rosemary, and a buttonhole for Lee."
"I think we have thought of everything we need."
"Well if you think of anything I will sort it, Lee and I are so excited about the photographs, we thought he could focus on the men and I will you, then we will go snap-happy if that is OK?"
"That sounds perfect, we don't want lots of formal ones, a couple maybe but just ones that capture the joy of the day. You really don't mind helping do you Rosemary?"
"I would have been upset if you hadn't asked, we are going to have as much fun as you, we really are. It is so exciting. I keep picturing you walking into the office, oh faces I need to capture faces." She inspected the dress again, "Oh my it truly is straight from Paris, and Hollywood, only someone with a figure like you could wear it Bea. You will look like a film star, or what was it Opal called you "A princess from a fairytale" yes that is what you will look like. I have a lovely lilac coloured dress I would like to wear to match your colours, is that OK.?
"Yes of course it is, we girls are going to be outnumbered by the boys but we can steal the show" she was laughing feeling so much better that Rosemary approved of the dress.
"There is no question of that Bea, none at all. Now what time tonight?"
"Around 7 pm, it is just so everyone knows what is happening, and then hopefully all will go to plan tomorrow."
"Right well I have things to do so I will see you later, let me know if you think of everything. Oh and Bea did someone say tomorrow is Nathan's birthday too?"
"It is yes, that is why he wanted it tomorrow, I am the best ever birthday present he says."
Rosemary could see the tears in her eyes and feel the love she felt for him, the connection between these two was just incredible, it was a joy to be so close to it, tomorrow as simple as it would be was going to be so special.
"Right, I will need to get him a card at least."
She gave Bea a hug, ``I will see you tonight and tomorrow Bea it is going to be one of the best days this sleepy little town has seen, that is down to you two, don't you worry about anything."
"Thank you Rosemary, see you later."