A/N: This chapter gave me a bit more writer's block than expected so hopefully, this all makes sense. My intention as always is to post these chapters with more frequency than once a month but, life seems to always get in the way. I do have some unexpected but good life changes happening this month but, I will do my best to get the next chapter posted sooner rather than later. Thank you all for the support!
The month of January seemed to fly by. Elizabeth finally went back to her full teaching and advising schedule at the university and she couldn't be happier. This semester she was teaching The History of Broadway, The Advanced History of Broadway, and The Business of Broadway. In addition, she had ten students to advise and also had another community theater class. Allie and most of her students from the previous semester had decided to continue so Elizabeth was working with lots of familiar faces. Lee still wanted to talk to her about an additional career opportunity but given how busy Elizabeth was, he wisely decided to hold off until after the wedding. The new opportunity wouldn't start until the Summer months anyhow.
Wedding plans had continued to come together easily. Elizabeth found an off the rack dress during her first dress shopping trip with Allie and Rosemary. It was off white with a v-neck surrounded by beautiful matching beads. The satin dress was covered with lace and the skirt flared out at the waist. The sleeves were three-quarter length which was Elizabeth's preferred length as the mother of a toddler. And they had bead encrusted ruffles at the wrists. The bridal shop had also been able to find a matching veil and shoes as well.
After long discussions with both Rosemary and Nathan, Elizabeth decided that the wedding colors would be red and gold. She wanted to honor Valentine's Day and also the fact that she had always dreamed of a Christmas wedding. Elizabeth was perfectly content to marry Nathan quickly but still wanted to honor that Christmas wedding dream since she also didn't have a Christmas wedding with Jack. The men would wear navy blue suits and red ties with Nathan wearing an off-white shirt to match Elizabeth and the groomsmen wearing light blue shirts.
Elizabeth was able to book an oceanfront Presidential suite at the Thatcher resort in Nassau, Bahamas for three nights and four long days so Nathan quickly secured first class plane tickets to go along with the suite. The plan was to fly down the morning after the wedding and then return on a late afternoon flight four days later. This way they'd get to enjoy some Caribbean sunshine while also being less than three hours away by plane should something happen with their children.
They were both stunned when William and Grace Thatcher offered to take care of the children at Elizabeth and Nathan's house while they were away. After some discussion, Nathan and Elizabeth had decided to accept the Thatcher offer as they wanted the children to have close relationships with both sets of their grandparents. Though he promised to take a few days off, Elizabeth was certain that her father would still be checking in at the office during that time. She planned to offer him the use of her home office just in case.
The engaged couple also spent time getting ready for Nathan and Allie to move into Elizabeth's house. Allie had decided to continue using her usual guest room as her permanent room. So over Martin Luther King Jr weekend in mid-January, Nathan and Gabe came over to paint the room the same shade of periwinkle blue that Allie had in her current room. However, Allie also decided that she really liked the existing bed and beechwood furniture in the guest room so she would keep her old room intact for overnight visits with her grandparents and just add her decorations and personal effects to the new room. Archie and Carole had easily decided to take Nathan up on his offer and move into his home. They had already given notice on their Queens apartment.
Allie and Nathan had slowly started moving their belongings over to Elizabeth's house during their visits. Elizabeth had been pleasantly surprised when Nathan showed up for dinner one night with a guitar case and a box of assorted sheet music, including some Broadway tunes.
"What can't you do, my love?" she asked.
"Oh there will be plenty of new things for us to explore together. I promise." Nathan replied and then kissed Elizabeth passionately.
Elizabeth was also surprised to learn that Allie had a ukulele as she wasn't quite comfortable holding the guitar.
"Well goodness, we might just be a regular Von Trapp family yet!" Elizabeth laughed.
Nathan raised his eyebrows at her and gave her a crooked grin. "Are you sure about that? You realize that will require five more children."
"I would not argue that but I also would not like to rush that, at least not immediately."
Elizabeth chuckled at Nathan's red face and pulled him into her arms again.
"I kid. We've talked about this already but I'll be happy with however many children we are blessed with. I just hope to enjoy some time with my new husband first."
Soon enough, it was the last Thursday in January and Elizabeth was coming home from work, expecting to pay Laura and spend a rare quiet night with Jack. Nathan was still hard at work on the robbery case and Allie was having dinner with her grandparents.
Elizabeth was pulling money out of her wallet as she walked through the garage door into the kitchen.
"Surprise!"
Elizabeth gasped and looked up with a start. Her friends were all standing around her kitchen holding champagne flutes. Elizabeth looked over to the kitchen table and saw a large spread of deli food set up as a buffet. The centerpiece said Elizabeth's Bridal Shower. Additional decorations around the kitchen and living room echoed the centerpiece. Elizabeth had tears in her eyes as she looked around the room slowly. Rosemary was now standing next to her with her arm around her and Abby was clinging to her mother's leg. Standing closer to the table she saw Faith, Maggie, Allie, Lillian, Laura, Clara from the gym, Nathan's neighbor Florence, Carole, Grace, Julie, Viola, and Victoria.
"Now Elizabeth, we know you wanted to keep things low key this time around but we still wanted to celebrate you and this new marriage. Since you and Nathan didn't want an engagement party, we figured an intimate shower would be ok. Hopefully, Nathan is enjoying his night too."
Elizabeth looked at Rosemary wide eyed.
"Rosie, Nathan has to work tonight."
"Don't you worry, we've taken care of that!" Rosemary said with a wink and then pulled Elizabeth into a hug.
Upon seeing the look on Elizabeth's face, Lillian chuckled and came over to give Elizabeth a glass of champagne.
"Yes, trust Rosemary. Gabe is making sure Nathan is well taken care of." Lillian said softly.
Elizabeth smiled and hugged her friend before taking the champagne from her.
"Compliments of Yost's!" Florence added proudly.
"Jack! Where is he?" Elizabeth asked Laura with a panic.
"He is fine. Lee came over to pick him up a little while ago and he's joining Nathan's party. The guys are all right next door so stop fussing and let us fuss over you!" Rosemary scolded.
Elizabeth blushed at the attention and then proceeded to walk around the room greeting her party guests. She was especially excited to have Viola there. She had finally moved back to the states two weeks prior and was temporarily staying at the Thatcher townhouse in the city until she could figure out where she wanted to live.
Once Elizabeth was done, Rosemary announced that dinner was served. The group proceeded to enjoy dinner and then settled in the living room so Elizabeth could open her many gifts.
"You all really didn't have to do this. I've been married already."
"Elizabeth dear, we love you and we wanted your marriage to Nathan to be celebrated just as equally as your marriage to Jack. Now stop fighting this and let us spoil you." Grace said.
Julie and Viola gave their sister knowing looks. Elizabeth finally acquiesced and proceeded to open and admire each gift. She received a new set of burgundy satin sheets from the Shepherds, a personalized wedding album from her mother and sisters, a first year of marriage journal from Nathan's mother, an off-white silk nightgown and matching robe from Rosemary, a red silk robe from Laura, a royal blue satin nightshirt with matching pajamas for Nathan from the Kinslows, and a massage gift card for the gym spa from Clara and her now boyfriend Jesse. Viola and Julie also gave their sister a bonus gift of a gift card to a local lingerie shop so she could stock up on whatever unmentionables she wanted for her honeymoon. By the time Elizabeth was done, she was crying and smiling at the same time. Once again, she worked her way around the room and thanked each guest personally with a long hug.
"Is this a safe space to enter?" Nathan's voice suddenly traveled through the room.
Elizabeth looked towards the patio door stunned and watched as Nathan walked in purposefully carrying a very sleepy Jack. Behind him were Gabe carrying an equally sleepy Spencer, Lee, William, Archie, Bill Avery, Carson and Joe, Charles, and to Elizabeth's surprise, Jesse Flynn.
Nathan made his way over to Elizabeth and Allie while the other men found their partners as well. He leaned down to kiss his fiancee and then kissed Allie on the head.
"Were you surprised, sweetheart?"
"You knew about this? I thought you were working on the robbery case!"
"Gabe and I both came in a little early today. I didn't know something was up until we got to Lee's house. Gabe told me he had to pick up a toy that Spencer had left there a few weeks ago and he told me to come in and say hello. Little did I know." Nathan chuckled.
"So we were both surprised. We really do have the sweetest family and extended family."
"That we do and I wouldn't have it any other way."
"How was your party, my love?"
"I wouldn't really say it was a party but it was a lot of fun. Lee actually barbequed some steaks and vegetables for us. And Gabe had sneakily brought over some side salads earlier today. So we had plenty of delicious food to eat. While we enjoyed our dinner, each attendee gave me a piece of marriage advice on a small index card. Lee then gave me a small plastic box to save the cards in. Since we had Jack and Spencer with us, Lee had mentioned early on that we'd be coming over here for dessert. I'm glad that your father was able to attend and Charles. Unfortunately, Ned had to stay at the restaurant but he did send over some champagne for all of us to enjoy."
"He did the same for us. I'm glad he and Florence will at least be able to come to the wedding. And I'm glad you're here and you're safe. That case of yours is starting to scare me."
"Elizabeth, you know I'll always do whatever it takes to come home safely to you and our children. No unnecessary risks. And Gabe is on the same page."
Nathan and Elizabeth kissed again until a cranky Jack protested. Elizabeth kissed her son and Nathan took the toddler upstairs and put him to bed. Gabe went with him to put Spencer down in Jack's playpen. Meanwhile, Elizabeth took her new nightclothes up to the bedroom to hide them from Nathan until the honeymoon. They had ordered a new bedroom set the week before but it was not arriving until the week before the wedding. Nathan would not need to spend any time in there until the new furniture arrived and then he'd slowly start moving some items of his in. The plan was to be as fully moved in as possible before the wedding so that they could focus on married life and blending their families when they returned from the Bahamas. Elizabeth quickly took the boxes with her new nightclothes and put them on a shelf inside her large walk-in closet.
When everyone returned downstairs, an elaborate dessert buffet had been laid out on the kitchen table. There were chocolate and vanilla cupcakes decorated with white icing and each topped with two bells made out of silver fondant, a marble sheet cake also decorated in white icing with Congratulations Elizabeth and Nathan written out in silver lettering, and a beautiful fruit bowl made up of berries and melons. There was also coffee, tea, and milk available.
"Oh my goodness! Rosemary!" Elizabeth squealed.
"You both deserve it! I won't take any arguments Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton soon to be Grant."
Elizabeth and Nathan laughed and then proceeded to each hug Rosemary. Lee then clinked his water glass with a spoon and called everyone's attention.
"Before we all enjoy this beautiful dessert display, I wanted to say a few words. I've known both Nathan and Elizabeth for a very long time. Nathan and I met in middle school so we've grown up together. We've seen one another through good times and bad. Likewise, I met Elizabeth during college and we've been friends for many years too. We've also seen one another through good times and bad. So now knowing that two of my closest friends have fallen in love and will be joining their lives together brings me great joy. Rosie and I cannot think of two people who are more suited for one another than Elizabeth and Nathan. May your marriage be blessed with much health, wealth, family, and of course lots and lots of love. We love you and we cannot wait to live next door to Mr. and Mrs. Grant."
There wasn't a dry eye in the room after Lee's speech. Elizabeth and Nathan each hugged Lee and then proceeded to mingle with their guests while they all enjoyed dessert. Nathan and Allie stayed a bit later after everyone had finally gone home. Allie was soon dozing off on the couch while Nathan and Elizabeth talked quietly over a cup of tea.
"My heart is so full. This was such a wonderful night. We truly are blessed to have such amazing friends and family." Elizabeth said.
"I agree sweetheart. And I'm also glad that Viola and Victoria were able to have a seamless move back to the states. It's been great to have them here tonight and for the rest of the wedding festivities."
"I'm really glad that the party went from being a bridal shower to more of an engagement party. I loved that everyone was together for dessert. It just felt so right. When we decided on a short engagement, I was so nervous that something would go wrong or we would run out of time. But so far everything has been just perfect. I hope it stays that way."
"I hope so too 'Lizbeth, but even if something does go wrong, I promise you we will get through it together. And if that's not enough, I know we have tons of support to help us."
"Nathan, I love you more than words can say. I cannot wait to be your wife."
"And I cannot wait to be your husband soon to be Mrs. Grant. I love the sound of that."
The engaged couple kissed one more time before Nathan carefully picked up a now sleeping Allie and took her home to bed. He was excited that in only a couple more weeks, he would no longer have to do that.