Nathan heard his phone ringing but he had no intention of getting up. It was their last morning of their honeymoon and he didn't want it to end a moment sooner than planned.
"Honey, your phone."
"It can wait."
"What if it's King or some emergency?"
"What if it's not and then we lose this perfect moment?"
"We will have a lifetime of perfect moments, honey. I love that you are so romantic though."
He sighed and rolled away from her, heading to the kitchen. He had missed a few phone calls from his sister. That was strange. They had basically zero contact in the past few years.
"Nathan, it's Colleen. I just thought you should know, Mom passed away last night." He sat down on the counter stool and let it sink in. "Um, can you please call me? I need some input on her service and…I want to give you enough time to get here from England. Okay, well, call me."
"Nate?"
He looked up, his eyes full of tears. "That was my sister."
"Okay." She stepped up close and put her hand on his back. "What happened?"
"My mom. She's gone."
"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry."
"I need to call my sister."
"Alright. I'll leave you be."
"No," he said, pulling her closer. "Please stay. I need you."
She gave him a hug. "I'll stay right here."
He dialed his sister and Elizabeth stayed. "Colleen? It's Nathan." Her heart hurt as he cried into the phone. "Are you alright?"
"I'm kind of just going through the motions. Are you alright?"
"Not really."
"I really need some help here. I can't afford her burial. Times are hard, Nathan. Jim lost his job and…he hasn't found another one yet."
"I'll pay for it. I'll hop on the internet and book some tickets."
"I'll do it, sweetie," Elizabeth told him.
"Thank you, Bess."
"Sweetie? Bess? Who is that?"
"Bess is my wife."
"Your wife?"
"Yeah."
"Wow."
"Wow what?"
"I can't believe you didn't tell me."
"Are you being serious? I haven't spoken with you in over two years and telephones work both ways, you know."
Elizabeth could see him getting more agitated. She wanted to calm him but she didn't know all that much about their relationship. She didn't want to have the opposite effect.
"Colleen, the three of us will be there tomorrow. I will pay for the funeral."
He hung up and walked outside. He needed air. The frustration that always bubbled when he talked to his sister was still there. Now his mom was gone?
"Sweetheart?" Elizabeth whispered, coming outside a moment later. "I'll leave you be…"
"I don't want you to, Bess. I need you. Please."
She walked into his arms. "Nate, I just wanted you to know that our flight is at noon tomorrow and I cancelled our flight back to England. We can figure out when to return after things with your mom are settled."
"Thank you."
"What else do you need?"
"Just you. Right now, that's all I need."
After they had some coffee and toast, they packed up their things and headed to Rosie and Lee's house where King was staying. As they drove, Allie called.
He pulled over and parked so they could chat for a minute. "I can't believe she's gone, Uncle Nathan."
"I know, sweetie. Me either."
"I really think I need to be at her funeral. For Mom and to say goodbye."
"I think so too. How many guests are set up for this coming week?"
"One. He won't show up until after you get back so it shouldn't be a problem to close up."
"I might not be back in time. Will you call and see if he can reschedule? Let him know we had a family emergency."
"Sure. I can do that."
"Will I finally get to meet Robert?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah. He said he would be there."
"That's good."
"I miss you Uncle Nathan. How is it being married?"
"Wonderful. When you and Robert get married, it will be just as amazing."
"Will you walk me down the aisle?" She loved Jim but he was her step-dad. They weren't as close as she was to Uncle Nathan.
"I wouldn't miss it."
"Okay, love you."
"Love you too. See you soon."
Elizabeth said goodbye to her kids and grandson, her sister and her parents the next morning and then they were off to the airport. Nathan was really quiet and she knew he was struggling with going home again, seeing Colleen again and saying goodbye to his mom.
She tried to put herself in his shoes. She worried that as elderly as her parents were, that they would pass when she was in England. She didn't want it to be the last time she saw them and she hoped it wouldn't be.
She slipped her fingers into Nathan's and just held his hand, knowing if he wanted to talk, he would.
"Mum?" King whispered as they waited at the gate.
"Yes, hon."
"Can I get a snack?"
"If you get me and your dad some coffee too."
"Okay." She looked up and there was a coffee shop just across the way. "Just get us a latte, alright?"
He nodded as he accepted her money and then walked away.
"Honey?"
"I'm okay, Bess. I'm just thinking."
"When you're ready, I'd love to listen to whatever is hurting you."
He gave her a gentle smile, let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulders. "I love you so much."
"I love you too."
"I really don't know how to say goodbye to her."
"Just say whatever is in your heart. Ultimately it's to help you heal, right?"
"Yeah. I guess that's what I did when Faith died. I had a few times where I just poured my heart out. It did help."
"I did that when Jack died too. One time Jake walked in while I was chatting with my memories. He didn't understand but it was helping me feel better."
King walked back over with a bag of pastries and their lattes.
"Dad, I got you a cake donut. I know that's your favorite."
Nathan stood and hugged him, squishing the treats between them. "Thank you, son."
"Dad, they are going to be just crumbs!"
Elizabeth laughed and then laughed a little more when she noticed a bright red jelly stain oozing through the bag. "Um, did you get napkins, King?"
"Yeah but they are in the bag." All three of them laughed this time.
King stuck his hand in the bag and pulled out the oozing donut, licking his fingers. "Yum!"
He passed the bag to her and she pulled out what she could only assume was for her, a mangled looking glazed. Glaze and jelly didn't taste half bad.
"I miss Maverick," he told them out of the blue.
"I bet you do. He's like your best friend," Nathan told him.
"I miss my cottage," Elizabeth admitted. "It's home and I've been gone for a long time now."
"Aren't you going to live with us, Mum?"
"Yes, we are going to live together, of course, but at my cottage."
"Oh. Can Maverick come too?"
"Of course, son. Maverick is a part of our family too."
"Okay. I'm good with it then."
After work, Gracie went to Jude's house to make dinner and watch Kylie until he was finished at Kate's House.
"Aunt Rosie, thanks for watching Kylie."
"Of course. Glad to help."
Rosie made a show out of checking out Gracie's ring finger. "Nothing yet, huh?"
"Aunt Rosie, we are taking our time. I'm only…"
"I know how old you are, dear. I was there when you were born. I also know that you and Jude love each other and take it from me, waiting a long time makes it hard."
"It does and we've talked about it. Last weekend in fact. He promised he would propose soon."
"How very vague."
Gracie giggled. "I love you. Now scoot."
"Are you kicking me out of Jude's house?"
"Yes. I need to cook dinner and I don't want to talk about when he is going to propose."
Rosie winked and kissed her cheek. "See you soon, Gracie."
"Love you."
Kylie climbed up on the stool by the counter and smiled. "Gracie?"
"Yes, sweet pea."
"What does…popose mean?"
"Propose means to ask someone to marry you."
"Oh! Awesome! Is Uncle Jude gonna marry you?"
"I hope so."
"Yay!"
"So, Kylie…how does mac and cheese with hot dogs sound?"
"Yummy. Let's make it."
Jude arrived home after the leftovers had been put away. Gracie and Kylie were reading a stack of books on the couch.
"How are my girls this evening?" he asked.
"Uncle Jude!" Kylie stood up on the couch and raised her arms to hug him. "Guess what!"
"What?"
"Auntie Rosie stayed with me and she's so fun! Then Gracie came and made a yummy supper and now we are reading! When are you gonna...popose?"
"Kylie!" Gracie moaned, her face turning red.
Jude laughed and put Kylie down. "Soon, sweetie. Very soon." Gracie dared to look at him. His eyes held amusement but also a bit of determination and a lot of love.
He bent down and gave her two kisses. "Hi. I like coming home and having you here."
"I like being here when you come home too."
Gracie stood up to get his food. "What about my stories?" Kylie asked, pouting.
"I'll be right back. Promise."
Jude followed her into the kitchen and watched as she pulled out food for him. "You don't have to do this."
"I want to."
He stepped closer and as soon as she put his plate in the microwave, he wrapped his arms around her.
"How was your day?" he asked as they held each other.
"Fine."
"Just fine?"
"Well, my boss won't send me on the good stories so I'm limited in what I can do. Without good stories, no good pictures. Without good pictures, I have very little."
"I'm sure that's frustrating."
"I went to school and got my degree...he's holding me back. I'm considering applying for a job in the city."
He nodded and stepped back.
"Jude? What do you think?"
"I think it's your decision."
"I'd like your feedback. We are going to be building a life together and I don't want to do something you don't agree with."
"I'm good with whatever will make you happy."
"What do you know," she said, pulling his dish from the microwave.
"What?"
"I found something that annoys me about you."
She handed him a fork. "Thank you. What annoys you about me?"
"I want your opinion here," she told him, hands on her hips. "Instead you just say what you think I want to hear."
"I'm not your husband. I don't get a say, Gracie."
"You're wrong. You are my boyfriend. My serious boyfriend. We've talked about marriage. You just told that little girl in there that you are proposing very soon. You get a say, Jude Wyatt."
"Is this our first fight?" he asked, humor in his eyes.
"Call it what you want."
"Fine, I'll tell you what I think."
"Great."
"I think you are new at the paper and fresh out of college. He's probably not quite trusting that you are good at what you do. Personally I know you are, but his opinion is what counts. That being said, I think you should stick it out. Prove to him that you are worth him taking a chance on."
She smiled and kissed his lips. "Was that so hard, babe?" She slipped her arms up and over his neck. "Thank you for telling me your feelings."
"I didn't want to overstep any lines, Gracie. I just want you to be happy."
"It makes me happy to know where you stand. It let's me know that you care."
"I care a lot."
"Gracie!" Kylie called from the living room.
"Coming, sweet pea!"
He caught her hand and kissed her again. "Thank you for making dinner and for watching Kylie and thank you for being stubborn."
"I'm not stubborn. I'm opinionated," she said, winking and walking away.
Either way, he loved her and that ring in his top drawer was begging to be put on her left hand.