Choose Love
Chapter 8
"Oh, my goodness Lee, it's almost 11:30! We really need to be heading over to the school for that picture. The children will be out for lunch and recess soon." Lee let out a low growl without looking up from the papers he was studying on his desk.
"Lee Coulter you promised!" Rosemary admonished.
"I know I did honey; it's just I have a lot of paperwork to read through today." Lee complained.
"You know I can't carry all that camera equipment by myself!" Rosemary reminded her husband.
"Isn't there anyone else you could ask to help?" Lee asked as he tried to find a way out of the chore.
"Well, no I don't think so. Not at the last minute like this."
Lee drew in a deep breath before speaking next. " You're right honey. It's too late to ask anyone else now."
Anticipating her husband's surrender, Rosemary made her way over to Lee's desk and lowered herself onto his lap. Wrapping her arms around her husband's neck she ask "So does that mean you're coming with me?"
"You bet it does! I would do anything in the world for my Rosie."
"Oh Lee." Rosemary quietly responded and placed a sweet short kiss on Lee's lips.
Elizabeth sat at her desk as the children quietly finished up a quiz. Soon she would announce that time was up and to hand in their papers. Then she could dismiss them for lunch and recess. She almost missed when Rosemary came in, she had entered so quietly. Elizabeth gave her friend a warm smile and began instructing her students to hand in their quizes. She also explained that Mrs. Coulter would be taking their picture after lunch. The children were very excited to hear that the pictured would be in the paper.
As Lee began to set up the camera outside Rosemary joined Elizabeth inside for a quick visit.
"How are you doing today? Rosemary asked her friend with a warm caring smile."
"I'd like to say that today I have more clarity, and that I have everything figured out. But I don't." Elizabeth admitted to her friend.
"Oh, Elizabeth I don't like seeing you so upset and confused. There is, however one thing I do know about you." Rosemary tried to comfort her friend. "And that is the fact that would not be having these feelings for no reason."
"Oh Rosemary, I wish I could figure out why I'm having these feelings."
"You will. Elizabeth you will. It will all make sense soon, I'm sure. If there is one bit of advice I could give you today, it's to go back. Go back to the beginning. Go back to when you first met Lucas and Nathan. Go back to Jack. Think hard Elizabeth. What's one thing Jack left you with that could help you figure this out?
"Mrs. Thornton, we finished our lunch. Can we come in and talk to Mrs. Coulter?" Emily's sweet voice sliced through the silence in the air and Elizabeth's state of consciencness.
Emily and the group of girls with her gave Rosemary so much useful information that she decided to go talk to some of the other students while they waited on Laura, Robert, and Nathan to arrive. Elizbeth stood and began to follow Rosemary outside.
"Are you sure?" Rosemary asked. "It's okay if you need a few more minutes."
"Yes." Elizabeth answered. "In fact, I think I could use the air."
Rosemary smiled and took her friend's hand and gave it a soothing pat.
Elizabeth and Rosemary sat on the steps of the school talking with some of the children, who were regaling Rosemary with all kinds of stories from their trip. Rosemary's favorite one was when Nathan scared everyone with his "fish monster". She wished she could have been there to see Elizabeth wailing on Nathan. They all laughed heartily at the memory. After the laughter subsided Rosemary turned to Elizabeth and ask, "I wonder what's keeping everyone?" Even Lee had finished setting up everything and had taken up a game of baseball with some of the children.
"Don't worry Rosemary I'm sure everyone will be here. I know Laura and Robert won't let you down. They were much too excited about having their picture in the paper not to show up. As for Nathan I'm sure he will do his best to be here. Maybe it's just Mountie business holding him up."
"You're so right Elizabeth, I'm sure that's all it is."
By the time anyone showed up most of children were either playing ball with the others or watching the game. Elizabeth and Rosemary were enjoying the game too when they saw the flash of red enter the school yard. Seeing Allie leave her place on the field to give the visitor a quick hug made it official. Nathan was here!
"Oh dear." Elizabeth mumbled under her breath but Rosemary heard her loud and clear.
"It's ok." Rosemary returned.
"I'm so nervous. Why am I so nervous to be around Nathan?" Elizabeth questioned out loud.
"You can do this." Rosemary stated firmly and gave Elizabeth's hand a tight squeeze.
Rosemary made short work of arranging everyone just the way she wanted them. The children were arranged on the steps with the smallest ones down in front. Laura and Robert were placed on either side of the children so that they were on the ground level next to the posts of the steps. Elizabeth and Nathan stood in the back on the top step.
"Ok listen up everyone." Rosemary instructed. I'm going to need everyone to be on their best behavior for the next few minutes. No talking and I need for everyone to stand very still. We will take a few pictures so everyone needs to stay in their spot until I tell you can move. Okay, sound good?
"Yes Mrs. Coulter." The children answered in unison.
"Okay Let's begin!"
Rosemary was so excited that this was actually happening. When everyone looked perfect, she gave the command for everyone to smile and signaled to Lee to take the first shot. A cloud of smoke from the bright light Lee held in his hand billowed into the chilly air.
Nathan could feel the tension building inside Elizabeth. He thought he could actually hear her heartbeat as it grew faster and harder. Nathan looked down for a moment and saw Elizabeth's hand as she clenched and unclenched it in an attempt to stop the shaking. Without a thought or a moment's hesitation Nathan reached down and gently grasp her hand in his. He gave her hand a sure but respectful squeeze. To her surprise Elizabeth took comfort in Nathan's gesture. When she felt brave enough, she turned her gaze to Nathan's. A warm reassuring smile meet her there. Suddenly the chilly Autumn air felt like a warm spring breeze to Elizabeth
After a few more shots Rosemary ordered the adults to leave their spots so she could get a few with just the children. She then took some photographs of Laura and Robert and a few of Laura, Robert, Elizabeth and Nathan. When those pictures had been taken Nathan placed his hat back on his head in anticipation of their dismissal.
"Did you get everything you needed?" Elizabeth asked.
"Actually, no I didn't."
"Oh no Rosmary. What else do you need? How can I help?"
Rosemary bent her body to the left and gave Elizabeth a look that said..."I don't think you are going to like this!"
"Well..." Rosemary squeaked out. I'd like to get a few shots of you Nathan.
Rosemary waited for Elizabeth's refusal but she didn't get one. Instead, Elizabeth agreed to ten minutes. Ten more minutes to get the shots if Nathan was agreeable.
Nathan obliged Rosemary's request and once again joined Elizabeth in front of the school house.
Rosemary directed the two into their places and stepped back. "Not bad." Rosemary judged. "But something doesn't seem quite right." she surmised. Nathan if you would please remove your hat. Elizabeth if you could turn to the right, please. Now Nathan tak e a step closer to Elizabeth and just behind her." Nathan removed his hat, lowering it down in front of him and took a step a closer to Elizabeth. "Beautiful. Rosemary remarked. "Almost perfect. Nathan, can you hold your hat off to the side just a little and take about half a step closer." Nathan did as he was told and Elizabeth could feel that the gap between them had grown smaller. A cold chill passed through Elizabeth and she could feel Nathan's hot breath behind her ear sending shivers throughout her body. Although her body shivered Elizabeth no longer felt cold. The proximity of Nathan's body and his continued hot breath on her neck and behind her ear had made her feel downright feverish. It was a pleasant, yet disturbing feeling.
"Did I miss all the fun?" Lucas's loud voice echoed as he entered the school yard.