Feeling more easily winded at nearly eight months pregnant, Kathryn was relieved when the soon-to-be-completed Grant Family Home came into view. She stopped under the shade of a tree and admired her extremely attractive husband working with the wood he knew so well. Sweat was dripping from his dark curls down his neck and back, soaking his short-sleeved Henley that was currently unbuttoned as he tried to get some relief from the summer heat. Her stomach grumbled with hunger as she remembered the reason for her trip, clutching a picnic basket she had packed with lunch they could share. Kathryn tried to sneak without being noticed, but failed miserably with her clumsy and swollen pregnant feet.
Familiar footsteps brought a smile to Nathan's face as he turned to see his growing and glowing bride approach. Her blonde locks were pinned up off her neck, and her loose fitting green dress was shrinking in her midsection as their baby got closer to arrival. "Hey there, beautiful," Nathan greeted his wife. "I was just thinking about how I needed to take a break for lunch." He took her basket and set it on his workbench before pulling her into his arms. "Sorry, I'm a little dirty and sweaty."
Kathryn wiped the sweat from his forehead and ran her fingers through his damp hair. "You know I never cared about that," she reminded him, thinking back to another time he was dirty and sweaty from chopping wood and they shared their first kiss. That memory, mixed with pregnancy hormones, made her hungry for him; so she pulled his head down and met his lips with hers.
A little surprised at her forwardness, but not sad about it, Nathan responded just as fervently as he pulled her as close to him as he could with her ever-expanding belly in the way. Really beginning to enjoy himself, it was brought to a halt by a strong kick they both felt and jolted them apart. With a snicker, Nathan leaned down and put his lips against the rounded bump that held their precious little one, and after giving it a kiss he spoke sweetly, "Baby, were you feeling a little crowded? You be nice to your momma now. I love you, little nugget." He placed his ear next to where he had spoken and got a swift kick.
Love swelled in Kathryn each time she heard her big, strong Mountie Inspector husband talk to their child still growing inside of her. She didn't think it was possible to fall more in love with him, but as they embarked on this parenting journey together, she could feel her heart expanding in ways she never thought possible. Her favorite time of day was when he got his guitar out and sang so their baby would appreciate music as much as the rest of them. Kathryn knew she had chosen the right man to share her life with, and couldn't wait for August to finally arrive so they could meet their new little son or daughter.
"Let me get this picnic all set up for us, my dear," Nathan suggested. "Do you want to go eat inside of our house, or near the river?" He casually picked up a blanket he used for just such occasions.
Grabbing the basket of food with one hand and his hand in her other, Kathryn led him near the river where he had proposed and they had said their wedding vows. He spread out the blanket and helped her unpack their lunch, making sure she was comfortable before saying a quick blessing on the food. No conversation was necessary as they let the sounds and smells of nature fill their senses while eating. As they let their food settle a bit before dessert, Kathryn leaned back and let her body rest against Nathan's chest. He wrapped his arms around her nuzzling her exposed neck.
Giggles erupted and she exclaimed, "Nathan, that tickles!" He settled for one more kiss to her neck and began rubbing her shoulders instead. "Mmmmmm," she murmured with pleasure. "That's much better, thank you. It's been hard to get comfortable these days, since I can't sleep the way I'm used to anymore. So tell me what progress you've been able to make on the house so far today."
Nathan groaned, "It's not going as fast as I would like, especially working alone. I appreciated all the help I got from your family and others to get the structure up and enclosed, but the finish work always takes the most time. I'm really hoping to move in before the baby gets here, but I can't promise anything. Maybe once your brother gets back from the city he can help."
"I won't be upset if we get in later than that. Please don't feel like you have to work yourself into the ground to make that happen. We are going to spend a lot of happy years there, so just make sure it is built the way you want." She reached for the basket and pulled out two pieces of apple pie left over from the night before.
Giving her a suspicious look, Nathan teased: "Are you trying to butter me up for something by bringing my favorite dessert?" He took a bite and made a satisfied noise. "This is definitely going to give me the energy I need to get some more work done this afternoon. Then, I plan on spending the entire evening romancing you, my gorgeous wife. Have you heard from Allie yet today?"
"Not yet. I think she was going to try and call later when she knows you'll be home." Kathryn stopped putting things away in the basket and kissed Nathan's cheek. "And by the way, I'll take any romance you want to give me tonight."
Allie had gone to Union City with Thomas and Anne for a couple of weeks to visit friends and also watch Elsie when the two Bradshaw adults had plans. Thomas had a Mountie training at headquarters, and Anne's parents wanted to spend more time with their barely one year old granddaughter. Even though the Grants were settling into a routine and getting used to all living together, sometimes Kathryn felt the need for some alone time with her husband, since they were still newlyweds and soon to have another child to care for.
Nathan helped his wife to her feet, then gathered up the blanket and folded it before offering her his hand. "Do you want me to show you what I've been working on today before you go back home to put your feet up?" She nodded excitedly as they made their way to the entrance of their partially built dream home.
Completing his last rounds before Thomas would be back, Nathan also took Newton on a longer ride to get him a little exercise. He felt like his partner had been a little neglected since all of his extra time was taken up either working on the house or spending time with Kathryn to make sure she wasn't overdoing it with the baby coming in just a matter of weeks. At the livery, he ran into Bill who had gone for a morning ride on Hero and was just returning him to his stall.
"It's always nice to see you up bright and early, Inspector," Bill taunted. "Are we ever getting our constable back so you don't have to do grunt work anymore?"
Rolling his eyes, Nathan shot back, "Well, Judge Avery; if you must know, Constable Bradshaw will be back with his family and Allie on the 4:00 train. I never had a problem with what you call "grunt work" anyway. But, if you'll excuse me, I do need to go check and see if the love of my life has woken up yet."
Bill wrinkled up his face. "Ewww, I forgot you are still in the honeymoon phase of your relationship. Go on, and tell Kathryn hello for me. I am available tomorrow to work on your house, if you and Thomas wanted to make a plan later and let me know."
He nearly burst out laughing, but gratitude also swelled inside of Nathan for the blessing of great friends who might just help him pull off a miracle and actually finish their house before Baby Grant made his or her arrival. "I appreciate that so much, Bill. I will let you know what we decide. I have a lot to do in a short amount of time." Slapping Nathan on the back, Bill walked away heading in the direction of his office.
After hurrying home, Nathan cleaned up; then he made some tea and toast, which he put on a tray and took upstairs. Kathryn was snoring softly, surrounded by pillows and her feet were sticking out of the covers. He set the tray on the nightstand and suppressed a chuckle at how adorable she looked. He slid off his shoes and climbed into bed, gently moving her blonde curls out of her face before leaning down and pressing light kisses to her jawline and down her neck and shoulder. He felt her hand begin stroking his hair and looked up to see her beautiful emerald eyes blurrily staring at him.
"Good morning, handsome," she muttered with a yawn. "Are you back from rounds already? Sorry, I had a hard time falling asleep last night; but once I got comfortable, I crashed." Sitting up, she noticed the tray and grabbed the rose that sat next to her mug of tea. "I see some of these finally bloomed after the rain and sunshine we've had over the past few weeks." She put it to her nose and drank in the scent. "I hope to plant a beautiful flower garden in our new yard with a variety of roses to keep your mother's tradition alive. Now hand me that mug and plate of toast. I'm starving!"
After a peaceful breakfast in bed, they got up and prepared for Allie's homecoming that afternoon. Kathryn had planned a big meal for both the Grant and Bradshaw families to eat together after the train arrived and they got back home. She began making some preparations in advance while Nathan went to the office to make sure everything was in order before his brother-in-law returned.
Allie didn't stop talking for at least two hours after she got home. She was most excited to show her parents Elsie's latest achievement of walking a few steps unassisted. When everyone cheered for her, the little girl clapped her hands and babbled excitedly. Nathan played airplane with her like he had with Allie when she was a toddler, and Kathryn was once again reminded why she chose to marry her tall, dark, and handsome kid magnet. When her other nieces and nephews had come to visit while her brothers all helped get the house framed, Nathan was the favorite uncle sought out by each child. He took them all fishing and let them take turns riding with him on Newton.
Taking a seat next to his little sister, Thomas smiled. "It goes by fast, Katie. It seems like just yesterday I held Elsie for the first time and now she's about to start running around and really giving me a run for my money. Do you think you and Nathan are ready for all of this?"
Kathryn sighed wearily. "Time must go faster once they are out, because the past few months have dragged on forever," she complained. "But the end result is pretty spectacular, so what's nine months of misery on my part? I just hope I can be as good of a parent as Nathan is; I have very little experience taking care of a newborn."
Anne sat across from the Bradshaw siblings and reassured Kathryn. "No one knows what they are doing with their first baby, but I've learned that mother's intuition is a real thing and you'll be just fine. I am willing to help you and answer any questions you might have, though I am not even close to an expert. We just can't wait for Elsie to get a little cousin!"
Joining the other adults and placing a worn out Elsie in Kate's arms, Nathan's mind imagined how he might feel when his own flesh and blood was placed in their arms sometime in the next month. "I think she missed her Uncle Nathan while in the city," he insisted. "Who told her she could start walking already? She seems far too small for that. But I didn't give Allie permission to grow up either." Elsie snuggled into her aunt, patting her belly and trying to say baby, but it came out like "bee". In no time she was fast asleep.
Thomas moved so Nathan could sit next to his wife, and began gathering their things so they could go home and finally get a good night's sleep after a long trip. "Thank you so much for dinner. Boss, what time are we working on your house tomorrow?"
"I am heading out at 7:00, but you and Bill can join me then or whenever you are ready," Nathan answered. "I really appreciate the help. I think we could be ready to move in by Elizabeth and Mike's wedding if we can work all day on Saturdays and a few other evenings during the week."
Scooping his little sleeping daughter off his sister's lap and covering her with a blanket, Thomas answered, "I'll do my rounds at 6:00 and come over right after. Bill's an early riser, so I'm sure that time works for him. Let's get your family in as soon as possible." Everyone hugged each other before saying goodnight and leaving to get ready for bed.
Nathan spent some time with their daughter, while an exhausted Kate went straight to bed after a long day. Even as she got older, Allie never tired of her dad reading to her. She told him all about her adventures in Union City, spending time with friends he had made at the Advanced Learning Academy, as well as shopping with Anne and babysitting Elsie for the Bradshaws. Nathan was glad she had such a wonderful trip, and hoped once their baby was big enough they could take a trip there as a family. After saying goodnight and kissing her on the head, he made his way to his own bedroom where Kate was tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable.
"I should have known it was useless to go to bed," Kathryn moaned. "I can't get comfortable and this child is all of a sudden hyper and ready to play. I hope you enjoyed your time with Allie."
After undressing, Nathan climbed into bed and began rubbing all of his wife's tight muscles as he spoke. "I'm so glad she had a good time, but I did miss her while she was away. At least she's home in time to meet her little sibling." By the time he stopped talking, Kate's breathing indicated she was fast asleep. With a little laugh, Nathan smiled and snuggled her close as he also drifted off into a peaceful slumber.
Two weeks had passed with Kathryn and Allie barely seeing Nathan at all as he furiously put finishing touches on their house as much as he could with his work schedule. Kathryn was getting down to the wire with only about two weeks to the expected delivery date. Faith didn't see any immediate movement on that front, but projected that it wouldn't be long. Both Grant ladies were invited to a very casual bridal shower for Elizabeth, to be held at the school Friday evening. Hickam had requested that in lieu of his bachelor party, the men would help move most of Nathan's cabinetry and furniture into place in their new home so they could hopefully move in before Kathryn went into labor.
Per her mom's instructions, Allie had bought Elizabeth a gift from them both while she was in Union City. They carefully wrapped it in beautiful paper also bought in the city and brought home in Allie's suitcase. They both dressed up in some of their nicest dresses, and Kathryn had baked her famous chocolate cake to supply for the occasion. Her feet and legs were swelling from the heat of summer, and she felt like a duck waddling around; but she tried to only look forward to holding a little piece of heaven in her arms, which kept her in better spirits.
All of the men gathered to begin work at 5:30, while the women met at the school with their spread of sandwiches, vegetables, punch, and various desserts. Anne and Elsie also joined in the fun with many of Elizabeth's other friends and students. Rosemary, who was the matron of honor, took charge of the all-girls party. They visited as they ate, then played a couple of games. Elizabeth opened all of her gifts, stopping to admire each one as she opened them and giving a hug to each person individually.
When she got to the gift from the Grants, she admired the store-bought paper and tried to keep it intact without ripping as she opened it. Inside was a jewelry box with an inscribed plate that read: Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton Hickam. Inside was a locket with a picture of Elizabeth and Jack on one side and little Jack on the other. Kathryn expounded: "We know Jack will forever be in your heart and this locket allows you to keep him close to it, especially since he will always live through your son. This gift was actually an idea given to us from Mike, because he wants you to never forget your past as you build a future together with him." Tears were in the eyes of nearly everyone at the party, and Elizabeth hugged Allie and Kathryn with gratitude in her heart that she had such beautiful and strong women in her life.
When all the gifts had been opened and it was time for dessert, Fiona burst in and apologized for being late. As she grabbed a plate of cake, Faith squealed. "Is that an engagement ring? You and Lucas?" All eyes landed on Fiona, and she turned a dark shade of crimson.
"Oh, alright. I just got back into town, which is why I'm late," she explained. "Lucas told me we were going on a business trip to San Francisco, but it was a cover for going to see my family, He proposed to me after asking my father's permission. I really didn't want to steal Elizabeth's spotlight though, because today is about her."
Elizabeth stood and hugged Fiona, grabbing her hand to admire the large sparkling diamond on her ring finger. "You aren't stealing anything from me," she assured her. "I'm so glad both you and Lucas have worked through things and have found you are the right fit for one another. There is room to celebrate everyone's happiness here in Hope Valley. Sometimes in love we have to try out the wrong thing. Often, that eventually leads us to the right one. We can appreciate all of life's experiences that helped get us to where we are finally settled and happy. If that makes any sense at all."
"Of course it does," Rosemary concurred. "I think we all know exactly what you are talking about." Everyone nodded in agreement.
As the women continued to chat while eating their dessert, Kathryn went to her piano and began playing some background music, knowing she wouldn't have much time in the near future to play her prized instrument. Her baby always moved in a way that felt like it was dancing every time she played, just like when Nathan played his guitar. Everything began winding down, and Allie asked to go be with her friends until her Friday night curfew.
Kathryn walked back to the row houses with Anne and Elsie. Once inside the house, she suddenly felt more tired than usual and went to rest on the bed with her feet elevated. Without meaning to, she fell asleep and didn't wake up until she heard Allie come in a while later. When she tried to open her eyes, her head hurt all over. At first she thought maybe it was a regular migraine, but it felt different and wasn't just focused on one side. When she got up to try and go downstairs to make some tea, the tightening of her abdomen nearly took her breath away. She determined she must have called out louder than she thought when Allie came and knocked on her bedroom door.
"Mom, are you ok?" she asked through the door. "Can I get you anything?"
Trying to get comfortable again on her bed, Kathryn yelped, "Come in sweetie. I could use some help."
Allie rushed inside and looked scared. "Is everything ok?" She grabbed all of Kathryn's pillows and helped her get situated. "What do you need me to do? Should I run out to the new house and get Dad?"
"No, if you could just make me some tea for my headache I would appreciate it," she requested. After Allie went back downstairs, Kathryn realized she was starting to have regular pains and hoped it wasn't a sign of impending labor. She really wanted to have the baby after the house was finished and the wedding was over with. As she drank the tea Allie brought to her, Kathryn felt calmer with less pain; but she longed for Nathan to get home and assure her everything was going to be alright.
By the time Nathan returned, he figured his girls would be fast asleep. At first it was quiet as he cleaned up after several hours of intense work with the other men at their house. But as he was pouring himself a glass of water, he heard his wife cry out in pain and never had he made it up the stairs so fast in his life.
"What's wrong?" he nearly shouted as he rushed to Kate doubled over in pain on the bed. "Is the baby coming? Should I go get Faith?"
Kathryn leaned against him in tears. "I thought they would go away after resting and drinking the tea. My head is getting better, but I've had normal contractions for the past few hours. Maybe I should see Faith and make sure it isn't the real thing."
Jumping up and putting the shoes back on that he had taken off before climbing onto bed with her, he rushed out of the house and into town to find Dr. Faith Carter. Once they returned to the house, she asked Nathan to stay downstairs while she checked out Kathryn. When the examination was over, she called him back up to discuss her findings to both of them.
"Although you are getting close to delivery anytime in the next couple weeks, the contractions you are having don't seem to be causing much movement in the way of progressing labor. I think you have just tried to do too much, especially in this summer heat. I don't like the look of all the swelling, and your headache has me concerned when combined with your slightly elevated blood pressure. I'm putting you on strict bed rest for the next week, and hopefully that will solve a lot of the issues you are having. Nathan, make sure she has people to help her while you are working and both of you try to not worry too much. For the most part, everything looks normal."
After the reassurance they received from the doctor, exhaustion hit Kathryn and she was able to relax enough that all pain from both her head and her abdomen went away, allowing her to sleep soundly. Nathan walked Faith home since it was late and dark, peppering her with questions about his wife's upcoming delivery. When he was satisfied, he had all of the information he needed, Nathan went home and also crashed hard after a long week.
After a week of being in bed, Kathryn was tired of looking at the same four walls. She had read many books, finished a few sewing projects, and made lists of what she needed to do before moving into their completed home that Nathan promised would be ready soon…trying to beat the other clock that was ticking. Faith was happy that Kathryn's blood pressure remained normal, the headaches had mostly subsided, and she was only having sporadic contractions. She was given permission to only get up when absolutely necessary, and to attend Elizabeth and Mike's wedding the next day. Nathan decided to ask Bill if he could use his carriage to take his wife to and from the festivities so she didn't have to walk.
Allie had gone ahead Saturday afternoon with her friends to help finish putting flowers throughout the church for the wedding. Kathryn dressed in one of the only nice gowns she had that would still barely fit her, and Nathan wore his blue suit that still made Kathryn weak in the knees. Bill dropped the carriage off to them early, so they had it when they were ready. Since they had a little time to spare, Kathryn insisted on seeing the almost-complete home before they went to the wedding. Nathan didn't think it would hurt anything, until they arrived and she wanted to go inside and walk around. As she climbed the stairs, Kate suddenly stopped and gasped. She immediately sat down on one of the steps and Nathan saw evidence of what was causing the problem.
"Your water broke!" he nearly screamed. "Ok, let's get you to the Infirmary and I will find Faith. Can you walk? I can just carry you out to the carriage." Frantically, Nathan tried to scoop Kate into his arms but she stopped him and squeezed his arm so hard he had to bite his lip to avoid vocalizing any reaction.
"I don't think you can move me," she screeched, moaning with each painful contraction. Nathan had received limited training on delivering a baby as part of his first response training as a Mountie; he just never expected to use it, especially not on his own wife and child. He carefully moved her to a more comfortable room that already had some furnishings, and gathered some water to boil on the kitchen stove that had already been installed and tested to work. He had a few clean towels and blankets already at the house, so he got them ready to use as well. Getting Kathryn situated, he carefully helped her undress so she wouldn't ruin her beautiful dress. He took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and found an apron he could use to protect the rest of his suit.
Nathan was shocked that when he finally checked, the baby was closer to coming than he realized. Taking a deep breath, he allowed his calm Mountie demeanor to take over as he patiently guided Kate through the worst part of labor and delivery with gentle encouragement. He prayed everything would turn out ok, but also hoped that someone would discover they were missing and try to find them soon. After pushing for less than an hour, their precious firstborn child entered the world at precisely 5:25 p.m. on August 14, 1920. Both Nathan and Kathryn were overcome with emotion when they heard their child's first cry.
"Is it a boy or girl?" Kathryn insisted on knowing.
Nearly choking on his words, his voice cracking, Nathan declared: "It's a girl, Kate; we have another daughter!"
Nathan wrapped her in a towel to clean her off as much as he could, then tied off and cut the umbilical cord before placing their baby on Kate's chest. All three of them were crying together for a minute, but the baby was able to quickly find sustenance from her mother and began eagerly eating like she already knew what she was doing. Nathan marveled at the miracle he had just witnessed and the natural way both mother and daughter were already figuring out what to do. His heart swelled with more love than he ever imagined was possible. When Allie had come into his life, he gained a father's heart. Kate coming into his life allowed him to feel love like he had never experienced before. But helping bring a child of his own, a product of the love he shared with his wife, into the world, gave him a sense of meaning he couldn't even quite understand.
All of the pain Kathryn had been in suddenly turned into the most intense feelings of affection for her little family, the minute Nathan placed their baby girl in her arms. She was surprised how natural nursing felt, not to mention how focusing on that was a nice distraction from thinking about the entire birthing process. She realized that the regular back pain she was having for over the past 24 hours was most likely labor pains. Once she strained herself trying to climb the stairs in their new house, her water broke and she was in the final stages. She gained a new appreciation for all of the women who ever risked their lives to bring children into the world, and for the Mountie training Nathan had received so he could keep them all calm under a stressful situation. It certainly did not go as planned, but they thanked God he had helped them through it together.
"You were amazing," Nathan murmured against his wife's ear as he placed kisses on both her head and their baby's tiny head. When she seemed content and full, Kate handed her over to Nathan. They sat in the aura of new life for just a few precious moments, so they could always remember what they felt on this very special day.
When her parents didn't show up to the wedding at 5:00, Allie began to worry something was wrong. Once the Hickams left the church following the ceremony, she grabbed Faith and asked her to come check and see what was happening; but to their surprise, the carriage was missing, along with both Nathan and Kathryn. Their new house was the only other place they could think of to look. As they made their way to the Grant's land, all sorts of bad outcomes went through Faith's mind. She prayed to find them safe and sound together. To their relief, the carriage was just outside, and Faith thought maybe they had just lost track of time. As they approached the house, they heard the sweet sound of a baby crying and Allie burst inside ahead of Faith.
When they reached them, Nathan was cradling the tiny infant in his large arms. Relief flooded his face when he saw Faith, and he quickly gave her an overview of what had transpired. Allie walked over with her eyes wide, staring at her new little sibling. "Meet your new baby sister," he announced. "Why don't we take her and go find some warm water on the stove to get her nice and clean and wrapped up in a warm blanket until we can get home to dress her in clothes, while Faith finishes up with Kate."
Before leaving the room, Allie went and gave her new mom a kiss on the cheek. In the kitchen they were able to clean a screaming tiny girl, then swaddled her in a soft quilt. When Allie held her little sister for the first time, Nathan wrapped his arms around both of his beautiful daughters. Once she was comfy, the baby fell right to sleep. "Do you have a name for her yet?" Allie wondered out loud.
"Not yet, but once we get back home we can talk about it and decide." Just then, Faith came in and motioned for Nathan to speak with her out of earshot.
Almost whispering, Faith concluded, "Kathryn was lucky to have you with her. I'm a little disappointed to have missed the main event, but everything looks just fine. I had to do a little bit of stitching, which will make her quite sore for a bit. I think it would be best for you to take her home where she can rest more comfortably in her own bed and you can get her whatever she needs. I will come check on her again in a while after the wedding reception. I'll take Allie back with me so you three can bond a bit and try to sleep. Why don't you help your wife outside now, and then she can hold the baby while you drive them the short distance to the row house. I'll have Bill come take care of putting the horse and carriage away. Congratulations daddy, that is one beautiful little girl you have there."
Thanking Faith for everything, he did what she suggested and in no time he had Kate settled in their bed. Nathan diapered and dressed their new little bundle of joy and laid her in the cradle he had made soon after finding out he was going to be a father. Soon, all three of them succumbed to exhaustion and slept.
"So that's it then," Kathryn confirmed. "We have a name for you, little one."
Nathan pressed a kiss to his wife's lips in agreement, then kissed the top of their infant's head. "Olivia Rose Grant: Welcome to the world and to our family!" Both names were on their girl list and held such special meaning, that they decided to use them both. Olivia was Kate's maternal grandmother's name, and roses had become a symbol of their love. It felt fitting that their baby was able to embody both. They were grateful Olivia quickly figured out how to nurse and was eating like a pro right away.
Elizabeth and Mike Hickam's wedding reception was a success, and the two of them were set to leave for Hamilton the next morning. Little Jack Thornton would be staying with his grandparents for two weeks while the newlyweds traveled further East to Montreal for their honeymoon. They sent a note of congratulations to Nathan and Kathryn on the birth of their baby, and said they couldn't wait to see her when they got home. Faith instructed Nathan on Kate's postpartum care, and was satisfied that things were good and should result in a swift, full recovery. Allie had decided to sleep at Opal's house for a few days to give her parents space to learn the ins and outs of a newborn, but stopped in to kiss them all goodnight while grabbing her things.
Nathan hoped to have them in their new house by the time school started a month later, but didn't see how rushing would help things with the way things stood and Olivia already being born. She was recorded as 7 lbs 11 oz and 20 inches long, a head full of dark hair like her dad and her mom's mouth and nose. It wasn't quite clear if she would get her father's bright blue eyes, or if they would eventually turn the same emerald color her mother had been blessed with.
Anne, Thomas, and Elsie stopped in on their way home from the wedding and promised to bring breakfast over first thing in the morning. They were smitten with their new little niece and cousin, and thought the name suited her perfectly. It had been a fruitful and blessed year for the Bradshaw and Grant families in Hope Valley.
It seemed the entire community had come out to help move the Grants into their new home at the end of September, just over 6 weeks after Nathan helped Kathryn give birth there. He had finally completed everything; and between him, Allie, Anne, and Thomas, they had packed up all of their belongings from the row house in just a few days. Kathryn was healed according to Faith, but it was still recommended that she not lift anything more than baby Olivia. After everything had been moved inside and everyone started going back home for the evening, Nathan carried Kathryn over the threshold and kissed her with a longing he felt from not being able to be intimate with her for so long, due to her advanced pregnancy and then recovery from delivery. But it was all worth it, as they settled comfortably into parenting both a newborn and a teenager with a great deal of gratitude and anticipation of the good things yet to come.
Allie immediately sat down with a sleeping Olivia in the living room, so Nathan continued carrying Kate to their bedroom where he gently placed her on their large bed that had been moved over and set up before they arrived. She eagerly pulled him closer and kissed him like she hadn't for quite a while, removing his jacket, pulling his suspenders down, and starting to unbutton his shirt. "Kate, we can't do this right now!" he protested. "Allie's out there with the baby, and I don't want to hurt you."
She looked into his eyes and countered, "I just saw Faith earlier today, and she says it's fine whenever I feel ready. Now, with two kids, we have to seize the opportunity when we have it and that means right now. But as they began kissing again, a cry rang out and Kate's blouse showed signs of needing to feed Olivia. "We'll resume this later," she promised Nathan, leaving him out of breath and partially undressed on their bed.
As promised, when both girls were soundly sleeping, Kathryn and Nathan were able to finish what they had started earlier. Wrapped in each other's arms and breathing in unison, they thought back to everything that had brought them to this point. When they met at a boarding house in Union City, they had no idea that building a life like this was even possible. Allie was now officially adopted by both of them, they had brought beautiful Olivia into the world together, and now they were fortunate enough to live in their dream home on their spot that held so many special memories for them. Kathryn had requested taking a year off from teaching, just as a certified teacher moved to Hope Valley and agreed to take over for the year. They decided to reassess in the spring and decide who would continue into the next school year. Nathan was thriving as Inspector, and all of the constables he had charge over were grateful for such a kind and noble superior. Life certainly wasn't perfect, but for The Grant Family it was as close as it could possibly get during that brief period of time.
