CHOOSE LOVE
Chapter 9
Thursday October 30, 1919, just after school
"Good afternoon, Ned." Elizabeth greeted as she entered Yost's Mercantile.
"Good afternoon, Elizabeth." Ned returned the pleasantry. "And a good afternoon to you too young man." Ned greeted Jack as he came from behind the counter to offer the boy a piece of candy. Feeling a little bit presumptuous Ned searched Elizabeth's face for approval. Elizabeth nodded her head and gave a warm smile of assurance. "What can I help you with today?" Ned asked next.
"I need to buy some pencils, some chalk, and some tablets of paper. I'm starting to run low."
"I'll get those items gathered up for you Elizabeth. Is there anything else I can get for you?"
"I think I'm just going to look around on the shelves for now Ned, thank you."
Elizabeth had busied herself looking at all the goods available around the store when she heard the bell over the door ring, signaling to Ned that he had another customer. Out of curiosity Elizabeth looked toward the door and saw that it was Nathan and Allie coming in. Elizabeth felt the butterflies return to her stomach once again. Seeing Nathan caught her off guard for some reason. She could only assume it was because she hadn't seen him since the day they took the pictures at school. Elizabeth had tried to put that day out of her mind for the time being. With Lucas just home from another out-of-town business meeting Elizabeth felt she should give Lucas her full attention. There was so little time left until their Christmas nuptials and thinking about another man at this time was not fair to Lucas. Even though Nathan's gesture had been one of kindness and concern she knew dwelling on its meaning was not what she should be doing. She was still concerned about the bond that continued to be lacking between Little Jack and Lucas.
"Elizabeth, I have your order together. It will be here on the counter when you're ready."
"Thank You Ned I'll be right up,"
"Hi." Nathan greeted simply.
"Hi." Elizabeth returned
"Hi Jack." Allie greeted the happy little boy at Elizabeth's side.
"Allie!" Jack exclaimed and rushed forward to hug Allie around her hips. Allie squeezed him back as Nathan looked on with a smile and a giggle. Although the scene warmed his heart it also made him feel a bit Melancholy. It reminded him of what could have been. The family that he longed for. The life he felt he could have had with Elizabeth. He had fallen in love with her. He hadn't come to Hope Valley to marry Jack Thornton's widow. In fact, that was the furthest thing from his mind. Not only had he fallen for Elizabeth but he fell in love with her little boy too. The last year had presented him with one of the biggest challenges of his life. Getting over losing Elizabeth to another man. It was a loss almost as devastating as the loss of his sister. It took time to grieve her passing, and it would take time to grieve the loss of Elizabeth too. Nathan was trying but seeing them almost every day was not helping his cause. At least now Nathan could say that he wanted to get over Elizabeth. He wanted to move on. He still longed for a wife and family of his own. He prayed God would soon intervene.
When Jack finally let go of his friend his gazed naturally trailed upward to look at the tall man he was so enamored with. Nathan bent down and balanced himself on his haunches. Smiling , Nathan opened his arms wide, and Jack ran into his warm embrace. Elizabeth was touched by the gesture, but sadness also washed over her. She longed for Jack to bond with Lucas in the same way.
Allie made her way over to the counter to place their order with Mr. Yost.
"Allie and I are just heading over to the Olsen farm to pick out some pumpkins for tomorrow." Nathan spoke first. "I promised her we could come in here and get some popcorn and candy as a treat tonight."
"Yum, popcorn!" Jack exclaimed as he licked his lips and rubbed his tummy.
Nathan laughed out heartily. Elizabeth blushed with embarrassment before joining Nathan in the laughter.
"What's so funny? Allie asked as she returned from the counter,
"We were just laughing at something Jack said. Seems he has an affinity for popcorn." Nathan explained.
"Don't we all!" Allie agreed. "Are you ready?" Allie asked her Dad." I think Mr. Yost just about has our popcorn weighed out." Nathan smiled at Allie and then at Elizabeth. Before Nathan could answer her, Allie asked Elizabeth if her Dad had told her they were headed to the Olsen farm to pick out pumpkins. Elizabeth confirmed that he had.
"I want to go to see punkins too, Mommy" Little Jack whined.
"Jack...you have a big pumpkin at home. Elizabeth reminded. "Remember Lucas was going to help you carve it?"
Jack frowned. "But I want to go with Allie and Natan. Pweese?" The boy begged.
Elizabeth took a deep a breath in and wondered how to tell her son no. She hated to disappoint him but he needed to learn that he couldn't just invite himself to go places and do things with Allie and Nathan. Especially right now when it was so important for him to cultivate a relationship with Lucas.
"Mrs. Thornton, it's ok if he wants to come with us. Some of the other kids are going to be there too. You should let him come; it's going to be fun."
"Yeah, it's fine with me if he wants to tag along, Elizabeth'
How sweet! Elizabeth thought to herself. But not exactly what she was hoping to hear. Now it would be nearly impossible to tell her son no.
"Can I go Mommy?" Jack searched his Mommy's face for that one little magic word.
"Yes Jack. You can go. This time!" Elizabeth knelt down and buttoned up Jack's coat tight. and pulled down his toboggan securely over his ears. She kissed him on the cheek and made him promise to hold Allie's hand and to listen to Nathan. Elizabeth stood and watched as Jack took Allie's out stretched hand. Nathan gave Elizabeth a reassuring smile and the trio headed for the door.
Elizabeth sighed. Her baby was growing up. She was happy that Jack was becoming his own person now but it made her a little woe some to think that he didn't need her all the time anymore. He had made his own friends and Allie and Nathan were probably his favorites. As she watched her son leave with them, she realized something. There was no other person she trusted little Jack with more than Nathan. Not even Lucas. Jack was her whole world. Jack was all she had left of her late husband. He was the most important thing in her life and she trusted Nathan with him. She trusted Nathan with her life.
"Gutten Nachmittag" Frederick Olsen greeted Nathan as he, Allie, and Jack approached the Olsen farm. Nathan stretched out a hand and greeted Frederick with a hearty handshake.
"Welcome constable Grant. Hallo Allie. Who do you have with you there?" Frederick asked in his signature German / Dutch brogue. The son of a German mother and a Dutch father his accent was unique. He leaned down and greeted the little boy holding Allie's hand. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out two pieces of rock candy. "One for my kleiner freund, and one for fraulein Allie.
"Thank you, Mr. Olsen." Allie said to express her gratitude.
"Thank you." Little Jack mimicked.
"You have quite the set up her Frederick." Nathan complimented the farmer.
"Ya, my wife she loves the kinder. My daughter and her husband they love to help too."
Nathan smiled and looked out over the pumpkin patch where the Olsen family had set up some games and hay bales for the children to play on. There was a lot of fun to be had and even more treats from Frau Olsen.
"So, what are you two waiting for?" Nathan asked Allie and Jack in an incredulous voice. "Go on." Nathan permitted. "I see a lot of your friends are already out there."
" Come on Jack lets go." Allie said with a wave of her hand
With Nathan's permission secured the two took out running towards the fun.
"Hey you two slow down. Jack hold Allie's hand. Allie stay close to him, okay?" Nathan yelled out.
"Ha ha." Frederick laughed out heartily in amusement as he and Nathan followed them to the pumpkin patch.
Nathan sat his kitchen table knife in hand. "Okay Jack what kind of face do you want for your Jack O'Lantern?"
"I want a scary Jack O'Ltern." Jack confirmed with confidence. "Just like Allie's but different."
"Just like Allie's but different?" Nathan repeated to himself.
Nathan began carving and tried to come up with something Jack would approve of. When he thought he had something he turned the pumpkin towards Jack and received a vigorous nod yes from the boy.
Allie had just announced that she was going to start popping the popcorn when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Nathan shouted as he continued his work on the pumpkin's face. Jack sat enthralled with every stroke of Nathan's knife. He never even looked up when the knock on the door came and his mother walked in.
Elizabeth walked up behind her son who was sitting on his knees in a kitchen chair next to Nathan.
"Jack." She said in a quiet voice. Jack and Nathan both remained completely focused on the task at hand.
"JACK." Elizabeth raised her voice and repeated.
The little boy finally turned around and acknowledged his mother.
"Hi mommy." Jack returned. "Nathan is making a scary face on my punpkin!"
Nathan looked up at Elizabeth and smiled sweetly.
"I see that. Did you talk Nathan into buying you a pumpkin? You know you have a pumpkin at home Jack." Elizabeth chided her son.
"No, he didn't ask for anything, Elizabeth." Nathan informed her. "I told him he could pick out a pumpkin. It's not as big as the one he has at home." Nathan turned the orange gourd around so she could see it better. "See?" Nathan added. He still has the large one to carve with Lucas."
"Well thank you Nathan. That was very considerate of you. Jack tell Nathan thank you for taking you to the farm and for the pumpkin."
"Thank you, Natan."
"Awe, you're welcome, Jack." Did you have fun?" Nathan asked.
"YES!" Little jack cried.
"Good. We all had fun. Right Allie?"
"Popcorn's done." Allie answered
"YAY, popcorn! " Little Jack yelled.
Oh no, Elizabeth thought to herself. She knew how much Jack had wanted to stay and eat popcorn with them but it was getting late. And she had school in the morning.
Elizabeth bent down to look into her dear little boy's face. "Jack I'm afraid it's gotten late and mommy has school in the morning."
Jack didn't say anything but began to cry. Nathan could see how distraught Jack's tears were making Elizabeth.
Nathan too lowered himself to the boy's eye level. "Hey there buddy. It's going to be okay. We can have popcorn some other time, right?" Little Jack nodded his head in the affirmative and rubbed his eyes. "You're a big boy now Jack. You do what your mommy tells you okay. She loves you.
Elizabeth stood and grabbed Jack's coat and hat. "Alright Jack tell Allie and Nathan goodbye and thank you again." Jack did what he was told and squeezed Allie goodbye. He then wrapped his arms around Nathan's neck and whispered thank you into Nathan's ear.
"You're very welcome, Jack." Nathan said as he pulled back from the embrace enough to look Jack in the face. " I'm proud of you Jack. Nathan praised and placed a sweet little kiss on the boy's cheek.
Nathan stood and looked at Elizabeth and winked. "Thank you." Elizabeth mouthed to Nathan. She couldn't seem to make the words come out of her throat.
Elizabeth made her way to the door and knelt down to help Jack get his coat and hat on.
"You know what?" Elizabeth asked the assembled. "I just remembered tomorrow is Friday and I have everything done for Friday's lessons. So, I guess we could stay for popcorn." Elizabeth announced. "Would you like that Jack? Or, would you just rather go home now?" Elizabeth teased.
Jack began jumping up and down, chanting popcorn, popcorn, popcorn.
Allie placed a bowl of popcorn in front of each person at the table. Elizabeth was glad she had chosen to stay. The popcorn and apple cider were a real treat, and so was the company.
Nathan excused himself from the table when he realized he hadn't yet put away the carving knives still lying on the table.
"Can I have some more popcorn, please?" Little Jack asked politely.
Elizabeth smiled and said, "It's okay with me if it's ok with Allie."
"Sure." Allie replied but didn't offer to get up.
Elizabeth stood and made her way to the kitchen counter where Nathan was just finishing up washing the knives. He had just placed them in the butcher's block when Elizabeth approached. Suddenly Nathan caught a glimpse of the white fluffy stuff flying through air and Elizabeth seemed to be falling straight into his arms. He caught her just before she hit the floor. Looking deep into her eyes Nathan replied, "Pumpkin guts."
Fighting for her composer Elizabeth couldn't help but noticed the sparkle in Nathan's laughing blue eyes.
"What?" Elizabeth spoke stupidly as Nathan continued his grip on her.
"The pumpkins." He answered. "We must have missed cleaning up a spot on the floor. I think that's what you slipped in."
"Oh right." Elizabeth agreed.
*Gutten Nachmittag = Good Afternoon, Dutch
*kleiner freund = little friend, German
*fraulein = Miss, young woman,
*Frau = Mrs. , German