CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Elizabeth ran to her front door with a huge expectant smile on her face as soon as she heard his knock.
She felt so much lighter, and she was filled with joy! She had made mistakes before she knew she could move on, but they were in her "'new' past along with her old," and she and Nathan would now move forward, with her poor decisions no longer haunting her.
Nathan's love letter she had accidentally stumbled upon from last Christmas, allowed her to consciously see a whole new perspective to their love. And it touched the core of her being in a way nothing had ever done before. Nathan's deep love had always been there for her and now, she realized it had sustained her, in spite of herself. On a subconscious level, she had known it was there all along, but she had not allowed her conscious self to fully recognize it. Now she could clearly see that over time, it was Nathan's love that had propelled her to finally open her heart.
Thankfully, Nathan now looked rested and refreshed And Elizabeth couldn't help but also think, 'How can one man be so handsome?'
She pulled him inside and wrapped her arms around him, then she stood on her tiptoes to lavish him with kisses on his neck and his face, till finally, she rested her lips on his, breathing slowly, caressing his lips from one side to the other and then back again. She placed her hands on his warm cheeks, drawing him closer to her, Then she slid her fingers to the sides of his face, tenderly grazing the edges of his dark hair, losing herself in him.
His breathing became heavy and he allowed himself to succumb to her touch, finally kissing her back with abandon.
They stood, transported to a place that only the two shared, and neither wanted ever to leave that place. They shared a collective gasp, and then both heard the children's voices from upstairs.
Nathan's voice was deep, yet soft...
"This is to be continued, Darling. When we're alone," he whispered, then gave her the broadest smile.
"When we're alone..." her face was radiant and they both struggled to regain their normal breathing.
"I love you, Nathan Alexander Grant, with all my heart I love you!"
And he bent to kiss her firmly once more on the lips.
They parted from kissing, only because of the children, but not their embrace.
"I did it again, didn't I?"
"What did you do?" she asked.
"I fell asleep again!"
"Well, my Love, that was the plan! Come, the children are dying to see you. Are we proper again?"
"I think barely, but, yes..." he still had his arms around her waist, and oh how he hated to let her go.
She laughed, a coy laugh that gave him the promise that this would indeed continue.
He bit his lip to refrain from kissing her all over again.
They both were already dreaming of a time when they would truly be alone together.
"Allie, your Dad's here!" called Elizabeth, but she couldn't take her eyes away from Nathan's face, nor he hers!
Instantly, Allie came down the stairs, but very carefully for her, since she was carrying Little Jack in her arms.
"Dad, I've got all my homework done!"
"That's great, Allie Bean. Come, give me a kiss! Hi, Big Guy, do I get a kiss from you, too?"
Both eagerly obliged.
"How was school, Allie?"
"Well, not as fun as when Mrs. Thornton's there, but Laura did a really good job. The boys kind of gave her a hard time, but she got them settled down, by telling them she would be happy to stay with them after school so they could write sentences together. They straightened up real fast after that!"
Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh.
"Sounds like she got them under control! How did you do on your Math test?" asked Nathan.
"We didn't have it. Laura thought Mrs. Thornton would want to give it tomorrow, so Laura just gave us a review today. And I've already studied for it. I think I'm ready!"
"Good Girl! Jack, how's your day been?"
And in answer, Jack quickly ran to grab his toy horse and brought it to Nathan!
"I know, horses take a lot of care! In fact, a lot of work, but they're worth every little bit of it! Your big horse is doing much better, Jack. Elizabeth, I talked to Chuck. He's let me give Sargent a little more water this evening. And says I can start solid food tomorrow if there are no setbacks. I don't think there will be. But Chuck does want to come back Wednesday evening and give Sargent the once over again, hopefully, to clear him of any restrictions."
"Nathan, that's great. Is he bringing Tess?" asked Elizabeth expectantly.
"Yes, my Darling, I reminded him to bring her with him!"
"Perfect! I'll tell Bill to get a really nice dinner ready for all of us. Rosemary will be so excited! Are you hungry?"
He laughed, "I shouldn't be after that lunch we had, but after getting some sleep, I think I'm ravenous!"
"Great, that's what I like to hear! Dinner's almost ready. Allie, would you like to set the table while I finish up?"
"Love to, Mrs. Thornton! We'll leave the guys together for some quality guy time," she added knowingly.
Nathan just smiled at them both as they left the room. "That child is growing up much too fast!" he muttered as he got down on the floor to play with Jack.
The two of them played 'Horsies' till Jack finally got bored, and Nathan decided Jack needed a little more action. So, he stood up and held Jack on his back. Jack immediately put his little arms around Nathan's back and yelled, "Go, Horsey, go!"
It was hard to tell who was laughing more, or which 'boy' was having more fun, Nathan or Jack!
"Can you two gentlemen tear yourselves away from your playing long enough to eat? If so, Dinner's ready!"
"Yes, Ma'am! It's hard, but we can do it for the beautiful Lady and for Dinner, can't we, Jack?"
He gave Elizabeth a kiss on the cheek with a sly wink and carried Jack to the table.
"How did you know I've been craving Fried Chicken? It looks absolutely delicious!"
"I told her, Dad!"
"Allie!" he exclaimed in a chiding voice.
"No, it was my fault. I asked!" intervened Elizabeth.
"Well, thank you to both my Girls!"
They all sat, with Little Jack insisting to stay on Nathan's lap.
"Nathan, will you lead us in prayer?"
They all took each other's hand, and Nathan began:
"We thank You, Dear Heavenly Father, for this wonderful day You have given us. We thank You for the delicious food set before us and for Elizabeth and Allie, who so lovingly prepared it! We thank You for the many blessings of this day. We are so very thankful Sargent is recovering for Elizabeth and Little Jack. We pray that he will be completely back to his normal self as soon as possible. We thank You for Nathaniel Helmsley, the newest member of our family. And we thank You from the bottom of our hearts for the most generous blessings he has already given us. We pray You will show us his needs and help us to fill them. All these things we ask in Your Almighty Name! Amen!"
Elizabeth looked into his eyes as she said Amen with Allie.
And then it happened, Little Jack looked around at all of them first, and then loudly shouted, "Men!"
"Oh, that's wonderful, Jack!" Elizabeth said through tears that came sprinting to her eyes. And she reached to kiss him!
Nathan also bent to kiss him on the top of his head, "Good job, Jack! That's your first Amen!"
Allie was beaming, and none of them would have missed that particular 'Amen' for the world!
The little tyke was so proud of himself, he was all smiles, and now that he had everyone's attention, he happily clapped his little hands together!
The others couldn't help but join in, as this was indeed a momentous occasion for Little Jack!
"You know it's going to be a wonderful meal when it starts with an ovation, isn't that right Jack?"
Obviously, Jack had no idea what that meant, but he decided it warranted a hug for Nathan anyway, so he drew his little head tight to Nathan's chest and stretched his arm out as far as he could. Nathan reached down to give him a second kiss and tousle his hair, which made Jack burst into giggles.
"Here, Nathan, what's your favorite piece, so I can fix your plate?" asked Elizabeth lovingly, though she could have just watched Nathan and Jack together and been perfectly happy.
"White meat for me, please, Darling!"
She gave him the Breast meat, then split his Biscuit to put Gravy on it. She then scooped out some Mashed Potatoes and Greens for him.
"Here you go. Hope you like it."
"Looks wonderful, Elizabeth! Thank you!"
She then fixed a smaller plate for Little Jack, who preferred the Leg with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. And although she tried, he had never touched the Greens.
"Allie, you may have to work your magic on the Greens. He never touches them for me!"
Elizabeth was so sure he wouldn't eat the greens, that she just left them off his plate entirely.
"Look, Little Jack! I'm having Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, and Greens! You want some? They're pretty yummy!"
Jack watched Allie closely as she took a bite of her Chicken, then her Mashed Potatoes, and at last her Greens! "Yummy!" she declared.
He looked down at his plate and realized he didn't have any on his plate, so he'd have to fix that. If Allie had Greens, then he should have Greens!
And just like before, with the Oatmeal, Jack reached for Allie's Greens. She gave him a bite, he chewed them with a funny look on his face, then brightened up and yelled "Yummy! More, more..."
Allie patiently kept giving him more, and each bite was followed by a loud "Yummy!"
Until finally, Little Jack had eaten all of Allie's Greens!
Elizabeth was astonished. "Allie, you're amazing! Jack's all yours in the food department! I have begged and cajoled, time and again, with zero success!"
"Great job, Allie," said Nathan, smiling with pride. "You know, I think this is the first time, just the four of us have sat at one of our own tables for Dinner!"
"You're right, Nathan! It is, and it feels wonderful!"
"Is this how it's going to feel when we're officially a family?" asked Allie wistfully.
"I think so, Sweet Allie. I think it will feel exactly like this, only better!" Elizabeth reached to give her a kiss on the cheek, which delighted Allie.
Nathan smiled with wonder at how close the two of them already were, and he bent to give Jack a quick kiss.
"Elizabeth, this is the best Fried Chicken I've ever had! And my Mother makes a fantastic Fried Chicken. Allie, don't you dare tell your Grandmother I said that. She would be crushed!"
"Thank you, Darling. That is a very high compliment, indeed!"
Nathan smiled back at her with a smile, only she could interpret.
"Everything is delicious, Elizabeth. Thank you!"
"Allie, Mrs. Thornton, and I have a really big surprise for you. In fact, it's a huge surprise for you!"
"Is it here, Dad? Is it on the porch? Do I get hints, Mrs. Thornton?"
"Well, it's very, very, very big and you're going to love it! I'm afraid it wouldn't begin to fit on the porch, even if that were possible! But, I think your Dad should be the one to tell you," glancing at Nathan with a huge smile.
"Dad, I'm about to burst. Please, please, please tell me!"
"Allie, we are the proud new owners of our very own lake, and Mr. Helmsley says it's massive and very well stocked with every kind of fish you can imagine!"
She shrieked in delight!
"Allie, Sweetheart, mind your manners, you're still at the table," cautioned Nathan.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sorry! But that's just incredible, so much better than anything I could ever imagine! Is it really true?"
"It's really true, Allie! Mr. Helmsley is going to take us to see it, himself. And he promised me he'll show us all his best fishing spots!"
"Oh, Dad, when will we get to see it? I can't wait! The kids aren't going to believe this!"
"Well, that will depend on Mr. Helmsley's schedule and how we can coordinate it with ours. But the lake's been there for a very long time, Allie Bean, and it's not going anywhere!"
"Little Jack, we have our very own lake! And I'll teach you to fish!" promised Allie.
"Beesh!"
"Yes, Little Jack, fish!"
"Beesh!"
It was so adorable, Nathan and Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh!
"How about Dessert, everyone?"
"Dessert? You're spoiling us, Elizabeth. May I help?"
"You are helping!" and she winked at Little Jack.
"I'll help, Mrs. Thornton!"
"Thank you, Allie!"
'So, this is what being a family feels like! Pretty extraordinary and pretty wonderful, all at the same time!' thought Nathan. 'How could one man be so blessed?'
Elizabeth and Allie returned with a platter of Chocolate Cupcakes with Cherry Icing!
"Wow! They look delicious! I may have to eat two. But let's get one for Jack first," laughed Nathan because Jack was already reaching for them and with both hands.
"Here, Son. Let's put a fresh bib on, then you can eat till your heart's content!" Elizabeth finally got the clean bib tied around his neck, but Little Jack refused to be budged from Nathan's lap.
"I'm sorry, Nathan!"
"Nothing to be sorry about. I told you, we men have to stick together!"
"Well, I think the two of you are permanently stuck together!" observed Elizabeth.
"That's okay by us, isn't it, Jack?"
Little Jack reached up to Nathan and gave him a big, sloppy kiss to show his agreement!
It was so sweet that Elizabeth and Allie were about to cry, but were trying hard not to!
Elizabeth couldn't help but realize that somehow Little Jack had instinctively missed a Father figure in his life, which surprised her that he would understand that at such a young age. But Little Jack had understood it, and he had definitely latched on to Nathan for that role as though it were the most natural thing in the world, as though Nathan was truly Little Jack's Father.
Elizabeth looked at Nathan and was overwhelmed with his love for Little Jack. Her heart was filled with an overpowering love for this man holding and loving her son. And their bond was real. Nathan and Jack's relationship was authentic. It wasn't something put on to impress her. It was just their relationship, apart from her. And she was so very grateful for it!
God was truly blessing her life, and her son's life in more ways than she could have imagined.
"Dad, we added Cherries to the Icing, can you taste them?"
"I most certainly can, Allie!" he answered while giving Elizabeth an adoring look, remembering her Crepes with Cherries.
"Are we going to have Cherries with all our Desserts?" he teased.
"Probably so," Elizabeth answered without missing a beat.
"Can't imagine anything better!" By this time, Nathan was grinning at her with his most flirtatious of grins.
'A grin like that one shouldn't even be allowed,' thought Elizabeth, staring at him with a frown. 'How in the world am I ever going to say no to that?'
And as if he had read her mind, he answered out loud, looking directly at her, "You can't, my Darling!"
She burst out laughing, hid a Cupcake behind her back, and went over to kiss him. But as soon as she had finished the kiss, she drew her finger through the Icing and placed it lovingly down the center of his nose! Just like the first time, but with a whole lot more Icing!
"We're going to be the most fun family ever!" exclaimed Allie. Even Little Jack was laughing.
But Nathan was not about to let Elizabeth off that easy. He motioned for another kiss and had the Icing for her nose at the ready. Down the entire length of her nose, it went!
"Why, Nathan Grant!"
The Children weren't about to be left out, so Allie walked over to put her Icing on Little Jack's nose, and he laughed and laughed. Elizabeth caught Allie while she was decorating Little Jack, and covered Allie's nose completely with Icing!
Allie couldn't stop laughing. She had gotten the most icing of all, and she loved it!
Elizabeth's Etiquette School back in Hamilton most certainly would not have approved at all. In fact, the Headmistress would have been aghast!
But the room exploded with laughter and giggles, and it held four people who couldn't be happier to eventually become a real family.
That is if they already weren't one!
The soon to be created Grant Home was indeed going to be a very happy place...