Chapter 147: A Promise Kept

The morning sun streamed through the large windows of Nathan and Elizabeth's bedroom sneaking through a slight split in the heavy velvet drapes, reflecting the beautiful blues in a torrent of shimmering highlights.

Nathan had been in the process of closing those same drapes last night when Elizabeth very naughtily distracted him.

Remembering, he couldn't help smiling down at his sleeping wife who was always surprising him, placing his thumb to hold his place in his book.

He was such an early riser, whereas Elizabeth was not. So, he had learned to keep a book on his nightstand to read in the early morning hours. Besides, it gave him the pleasure of cuddling with his wife longer and watching her sleep.

There was a thought in the back of his mind that he tried his best not to dwell on that he had been fighting for some time, but as their book tour was drawing closer, he was concerned that Elizabeth was going to be subjected to negative press because Nathan knew from experience no matter how great the author, the press could still be brutal.

And there was always a negative contingent of some sort to deal with!

That was to be expected, but it was still very difficult to experience for a new author.

He prayed with all his might that his previous experience with the press would help him intercept and protect her from hurtful comments.

Her book was excellent, he had no doubt about that, he had read it and re-read it.

She was articulate and she was going to do very well in her presentations.

After all, she was a professional!

Still, she was so innocent in this new world. And now with a pregnancy, hormones were going to be all over the place, because in ways they already were.

He had noticed little things but hadn't commented, instead, insisting on loving her through her sudden outbursts.

He was sure there would be accolades for her book, but it was the negative that all writers have to deal with that he was wishing away.

Nathan just kept falling more and more in love with his wife each and every day, as Elizabeth was falling more and more in love each day with him as well.

This shocked both of them in that their love was so strong and so vast, and they had gone through so much to get to their marriage, that they hadn't been able to truly imagine that their magnificent love could end up growing even more!

But it was…

With his wife still sleeping, Nathan slipped out of bed to tend to his morning toiletries. As he shaved, he realized this was the day they were going to see Dr. Jenkins about their pregnancy. The day of Elizabeth's promised appointment.

Elizabeth had tried to tell him fathers didn't attend these visits to the Doctor, but that hadn't phased him.

"Oh, but this father does!"

And so, it was settled.

They were in this together, and truthfully having been so alone in her first pregnancy, Elizabeth didn't want it any other way.

She needed Nathan by her side, every single step of this journey, no matter what came.

Thankfully, he had just finished shaving and had deposited his razor back in its case when Elizabeth came rushing into the bathroom, flying right past him, accidentally knocking him out of the way.

By now he knew the drill, swiftly reaching her side and holding her from the back around her waist while she retched the entire contents of her previous meal, trying to also keep her hair held back and out of harm's way!

"Elizabeth, I worry that you're not getting any nutrients. Literally, everything you eat comes back up!"

"You know that how?" she asked weakly.

He just gave her a look and helped her back to bed, but he grabbed his little black notebook and made a notation before settling back into bed to hold his wife.

"What was that?"

"What was what?" he asked innocently.

"What is that book and what did you write?" she asked a little more sharply than she had intended.

"Just important things related to our pregnancy," he deadpanned.

"Like what? Nathan Grant, I'm not an invalid!"

Oh no, another mood swing coming on.

"No, you are not an invalid, Darling. I'm just keeping a record of everything consequential so the doctor can better help us!"

"This is my body, Nathan. I'll know what to tell my doctor, thank you very much!"

"But I'm a Mountie and I've done lots of triage. Even delivered more than my share of babies. I know what I'm doing, Elizabeth."

'Well, that was a mistake,' he realized, but alas, much too late.

"You know what YOU'RE doing? Nathan Grant, YOU are not having these babies, I am!" she shouted and turned away from him, leaving him nonplussed.

Should he say something, do something, or should he just ignore her mood?

What was a man to do?

Mounties were used to Manuals!

Why wasn't there an instruction manual for husbands on how to handle things like this?

Maybe he'd write one as a possible saving grace for men everywhere!

But that wasn't going to help him.

She solved the conundrum for him by turning back around and lighting into him again!

"How dare you think you can tell me what I'm going through! I'll have you know I've been through this before, and I know what I'm doing whether you think so or not!"

"Whoa! No one said you don't know what you're doing. You're doing wonderfully, Lisbeth! And you look so beautiful doing it!"

That got him points.

"You think so?"

He gingerly reached to kiss her not knowing if she was about to bite his head off or not.

But as it turned out his kiss was exactly the prescription she needed.

She kissed him back, but much more passionately, and then he was really scared!

This could get ugly fast.

He gently laid her back down on her pillows, leaning over her, watching to try to determine what was coming next.

A huge mistake.

"You don't even think I'm attractive!" she cried.

"Ah, Babe, of course, I think you're attractive. I'm married to the most beautiful woman in the whole world."

She sniffled.

"Really?"

"Really!"

"Then why won't you kiss-kiss me?" she cried, with a scrunched-up face.

He might be a new husband, but even Nathan Grant knew this was a no-win situation.

"Because you need your rest!" he whispered as he kissed her forehead.

Biggest mistake of all!

She wailed.

"I'm not attractive. I'm just pregnant and my husband isn't even attracted to me!"

"Waa…waaa…wait! I am madly attracted to you. Let's not confuse things here!"

"Now you think I'm a mental case!" she wailed even louder.

"You are not a mental case! Here let me hold you!"

"No, don't touch me!" and she turned back on her side again, naturally away from him. "This is all your fault anyway!"

"Excuse me?"

Thankfully, she fell back to sleep before she could answer, leaving him more befuddled than ever.

"What just happened…"

By Breakfast, Elizabeth had dressed and was her normal pleasant self sans her earlier mood swings, looking quite beautiful in a new lavender outfit her mother had given her for her honeymoon.

Nathan, however, was looking rather haggard and lost, afraid his darling wife would turn on him at any moment in front of their entire family.

"Daddy!"

Bertie hadn't liked it at all, but Nathan had insisted the children take meals with Elizabeth and him.

"But it isn't proper, Sir!"

"But it's proper in our family, Bertie! Allie and Jack need to know their parents love them and they also need as much time with their grandparents as we can possibly squeeze in!"

"I suppose it might be okay, if I stand by Godfrey in case I'm needed, especially with Master Jack. Miss Allie's quite capable of having an adult meal."

"Yes, she is and Jack does quite well too. So see, Bertie, you can relax, Elizabeth and I will handle any emergencies."

"No, Sir, that's my job. I'll stand with Godfrey!"

And so, she did, and as Nathan had a soft spot for Bertie because she reminded him of his Aunt who happened to live in Hamilton, he acquiesced.

"Hey, Buddy! Come here," and Nathan lifted Little Jack up and gave him a big kiss, grateful for the distraction.

"Good morning, Allie! Did you sleep well?" he asked as he bent to kiss his daughter.

"The best, Dad! That's the best bed I've ever slept in!"

"We'll have it shipped to Hope Valley, Sweetheart," insisted Elizabeth.

"We will?" asked Nathan, which was another huge mistake.

"We will do exactly as your mother says, Allie!" he quickly corrected, which earned him a complacent smile from his wife and a joyful one from his daughter.

"Daddy, I want new bed too! Awee gets one!"

"Elizabeth?"

"You're the father, answer your son, Darling!"

"We'll talk it over with Mama a little later, Son, okay?" he whispered conspiratorially.

"Kay!"

"Nathan, whatever you think would have been alright!" insisted Elizabeth.

But Nathan, feeling like a lion caught in a cage, knew that was the furthest thing from the truth, although his wife didn't mean to deliberately plant a mistruth.

And of course, both sets of grandparents were watching this exchange with puzzled looks on their faces.

Naturally!

Why was their Son walking on eggshells? And why was Elizabeth suddenly moving her childhood bed to Hope Valley, when their granddaughter had a brand new canopy bed?

Grace gave Madelyne a knowing look, to which both ladies tentatively smiled, but didn't say a word…

Breakfast was divine, with every possible selection of food imaginable, and thoroughly enjoyed by the Grandparents, the Grants, Julie, and the Townsends.

Although Lady Viola was quite aghast at having to allow Arabella to sit at the main table with her cousins.

"It's simply not proper, Mother!"

"Viola, relax. This is not England!" Grace had replied.

Surprisingly family conversation was fluid at the grand table in the Observatory and the surroundings were a bit more relaxed although still very beautiful.

But Elizabeth had to excuse herself from the table in the middle of breakfast, although the problem was there had been no time to do so.

She simply jumped up and ran.

Nathan quickly passed Little Jack to Archie and ran after her to the nearest bathroom.

'My goodness, how many bathrooms does this place have?' marveled Nathan.

Sure enough, the few bites Elizabeth had eaten, came right up, along with the Orange Juice and Chamomile Tea she had drunk.

Nathan had even drunk the Tea too since the smell of Coffee being so close instantly made her sick!

He was holding her and rubbing her back at the same time.

"You know, our secret isn't going to be a secret if we keep this up!"

"And what do you propose I do, Mr. Know-it-all?"

"I didn't mean that, Darling. I really didn't. Of course, you can't help this. I just worry. That's all!"

"Then don't!" she ordered vociferously, then jubilantly wiped her face and literally pranced back to breakfast alone.

"Lisbeth!"

"May I be of assistance, Sir?"

"Oh, how I wish! But at this point, I think that's quite impossible, Godfrey!"

Godfrey looked after a retreating Nathan, shaking his head.

"Poor Man! You can't win in this scenario, if what I think is happening is actually happening, Sir!"

And so, the morning went…

Nathan had learned by now, short of shaking the doctor's hand and thanking him, that his comments were not going to be desired at all.

But then again, he had important information to share, and he had brought along his little black notebook just in case specific information was needed.

After all, Nathan was a Mountie and Mounties took very specific and thorough notes.

Should he make a separate appointment with the doctor? Although that might look a bit funny, as he already happened to be the only male in the large and very fancy waiting room.

At least this time he was accompanying a female patient who was thought to be pregnant.

Which was an important distinction as this was a specialist who delivered babies!

He was aware of the stares and the whispers, but he was not about to let those little things dissuade him from the task at hand.

'Who would have thought this father thing could be so hard?' he mused.

No one had told him, there might be times when he was despised by his own beloved wife.

"Mrs. Nathan Grant!" called out the Nurse in a rather loud voice.

"This way, please! Oh, no! Not you, Sir!" she put up her arms and crossed them as a physical barrier to entry. "We have a strict policy that Men aren't allowed!"

"I'm sorry, but we come together," Nathan insisted.

"Hmph!" she snorted, but Nathan persistently followed anyway.

She led them to what looked to be the Doctor's Office and had them sit across from his desk...

"Are you nervous?" asked Nathan rather timidly after the vicious Nurse had left.

"Not really! I've known Dr. Jenkins all my life. He delivered all of us girls! Even Viola. I bet that was a trip!"

Nathan grinned that crooked grin of his, surprised at his wife's less than kind implication of words.

"You do know I love you more than anything in this world?" he cautiously ventured.

"I do. And I love you exactly the same!"

"Good!" and he raised her nearest hand to his lips and kissed it so tenderly.

After this morning, he hadn't been quite sure where he stood.

"I am excited to be proven right, though!" smiled Elizabeth, and her staring at him with those beautiful blue eyes of hers was his undoing.

"I am too!" he answered dreamily while reaching to kiss her at the exact moment Dr. Lyle Jenkins entered his office and loudly cleared his throat.

They separated as quickly as if they'd been teenagers caught by both sets of parents in a stolen kiss.

The man was bald with a furry patch of white around the perimeter of his head, and he was quite rotund, getting up there in years.

But he was obviously delighted to see Elizabeth Thatcher once he adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses and could actually see who it was.

Jovially, he walked straight to the front of his desk to offer a welcoming embrace to her.

"I'll be, Elizabeth Thatcher! My, aren't you still a pretty thing!"

"It's Elizabeth Grant now, Dr. Jenkins and this is my husband Chief Inspector Nathan Grant!"

The Doctor cleared his throat again.

"Ah yes. Er, nice to meet you, Young Man! What can I do for the two of you?" he asked in a tone of consternation, obviously not at all used to having a couple as patients.

Still, Nathan was not going to be deterred!

"I believe I'm pregnant, Dr. Jenkins, and I was wondering if you could confirm that!"

"How long since your last period?"

"Five weeks, and you know, I'm very regular just like clockwork!"

"Yes, dear, I have that right here in your chart! Besides, I'm not senile yet! I would have remembered without records, I'll have you know!"

"Of course, Dr. Jenkins! We're concerned because twins run in both of our families. And we just want to do everything possible to have healthy babies!"

"That's what I'm here for. And what are you here for Young Man?"

He pushed his glasses down to the edge of his nose, so he could get a particularly good condescending look at this man who had dared to invade his most private inner sanctum.

"Well, I'm the father, and Elizabeth and I are in this together, Sir!"

"I see. Well, I'm not examining her with a man present. So, you can just forget that as an option!"

"With all due respect, I'm her husband, Sir!"

"Husband, Smusband! Alright, Mrs. Grant, have you had any morning sickness?"

"Yes, Sir over the last four or five days, Doctor."

"Is it mild, moderate, or severe?"

"Mild."

"Are you sure, Elizabeth? It looks pretty severe to me," noted her anxious husband.

"Is it part of what you eat or all of what you eat?" asked the Doctor.

"All," interjected Nathan perfunctorily.

"Yep, the Gentleman gets a point. That's severe Mrs. Grant. What time of day does it occur?"

"Well, it IS called morning sickness," smiled Elizabeth.

"Cute! Everything, Severe, Mornings, got it! Have you had any mood swings?"

"No, Doctor, can't say that I have!"

Nathan went into a choking fit, which he couldn't stop, no matter how hard he tried!

"Are you alright, Son? I'm afraid I'm a female doctor," he explained as Nathan kept choking in a spasm of a coughing fit. "Not gonna be much use to you at all, so you'd better not choke on me, you hear? Hit his back, Mrs. Grant!"

Elizabeth's eyes widened, but she did as she was instructed, hitting her husband's back a little more forcefully than was required.

When his coughing finally cleared, he managed a strangled, but emphatic "Yes…to…mood swings!"

"Would you say mild, moderate, or severe, Sir?"

"Severe," he whispered halfway behind his hand, and with his head down, worried he was going to get yelled at.

And off she went.

"You two men don't have a clue as to what you're talking about. Of course, I don't have mood swings," she vowed as she burst out crying for no reason at all. "I have never been so insulted in my life!"

And without doubt, her boohooing could be heard throughout the entire office clear out into the waiting area!

"There, there…that's what I'm here for! But let's be a little quieter, Dear, before you scare all my patients away!" chided the Doctor.

Then he turned to his chart.

"Yep, very severe mood swings! My sympathy to you, Son!"

"Well, am I pregnant or not?" she wailed.

"Follow me, although I should warn you physical exams at this stage aren't always conclusive! Come, Dear! You, Sir, stay right there and don't move!"

Nathan helped Elizabeth up from her chair, then she followed Dr. Jenkins like a little trained puppy.

Nathan didn't like being separated from her at all.

"Shouldn't I be holding her hand or something, Dr. Jenkins?" he called as they reached the door.

"There'll be plenty of time for that, Son! Hold your britches! We'll be right back!"

The door closed and Nathan got up from his chair and started pacing around and around the doctor's office.

The Chief Inspector was on a mission trying to find Dr. Jenkins' medical credentials so he could work backward from there because he wasn't at all sure this Doctor shouldn't be seeing a doctor for the elderly himself!

'What is he? A hundred?'

Having looked everywhere and finding no credentials to be had, Nathan then really became worried that his Elizabeth was in an exam room alone with this elderly man who was doing no telling what!

"Calm down, Nathan. He's a little old, which just means more experience. He delivered Elizabeth, so at least he's done something right! Be grateful!"

Nathan ran both hands through his hair as he paced some more.

He picked up a magazine from the end table to distract himself, but when he realized what it was, he threw it to the floor in disgust, then stooped to slide it under the rug.

"No mother should see this! Why this would just scare her to death!"

Satisfied he had eliminated at least one magazine of horror, he sat back down in his chair, thumping his thumbs and fingers in rhythm against the good doctor's desk waiting for the verdict.

He waited.

And waited.

And waited some more!

"Dear God! What is happening…"

Finally, a radiant Elizabeth walked into the room, followed by a pensive Dr. Jenkins!

She ran straight to Nathan as he rose and took her in his arms.

"You two sit! There's no time for that! We have a lot to discuss!" ordered the good Doctor.

Nathan and Elizabeth broke their embrace and did as they were instructed, but without breaking their hold on each other's hands.

"As I told you it's often too early to tell if a woman is pregnant or not at this stage. But that's not the case here. There are ten parameters that clue us in to make a positive diagnosis."

"Missed Period, Check!"

"Frequent Urination, Check!"

"Swollen or Tender Breasts, Check, Check!

"Fatigue, Our patient says no, but what do you say, Sir?

"Definitely Check! She sleeps late into the morning every day!" confirmed Nathan.

"I do not!" Elizabeth interjected.

"Fatigue, Check!"

"Nausea with or without Vomiting, but we have both nausea and vomiting, so Double Check!"

"Light Spotting and Cramping, Double Check!"

"Bloating, a Definite Check!"

"Dr. Jenkins, that's just cruel!" cried Elizabeth. "I don't look bloated."

"No my Dear! You're very beautiful, but I see you medically, and medically you meet all the criteria for being bloated! So bloated it is!"

"But..."

"Hush, Child! We have work to do!"

"Mood Swings, Check!"

Nathan rolled his eyes.

"Constipation, Check!"

"Really, Dr. Jenkins, is there no privacy?"

"You're the one who brought him! I sure didn't!"

"Food Aversions and Sensitivity to Smells, Check and Check!"

"So that's our ten, and I'd bet my career after that Physical Exam. We are definitely pregnant!"

Nathan wrapped his arms around a teary Elizabeth.

"Cut that stuff out you two! There's more!"

"I can't tell you about the possibility of twins, because it's much too early to hear one heartbeat, much less two, but…it has been my experience, where twins have been involved, the Nausea, the Vomiting, the Food Aversions, and Scent Aversions, as do the other symptoms, all tend to start a lot earlier than usual, and are usually more emphatic than single births! And that's what's happening here. So, yes, in my estimation, there is a strong possibility of twins, and with your family histories, it's even a strong probability."

"Told you so," shrieked a beaming Elizabeth.

Nathan couldn't resist stretching to kiss her, which earned a strong throat-clearing by the good Doctor.

"I'm not through. How long are you here in Hamilton?"

"For two weeks, then we travel on to New York!"

"If I say you can travel! You're under my care now, and what I say goes. Do you both understand?"

"Yes, Sir!" confirmed Nathan and Elizabeth in unison.

"We've made advances, and yes I know I'm old, but I do keep up with things! We've made quantitative advances in detecting pregnancies via urine samples, and Mrs. Grant has already supplied those."

"What kind of advances? What kind of tests, Dr. Jenkins?" asked a concerned Nathan.

"I'm glad you asked, Sir. None of my female patients ever want to know. So, I'm very happy to explain it to you. For the first test, we inject a bit of Mrs. Grant's urine into a young mouse. If she is not pregnant, Mrs. Grant I mean, which is pretty much an impossibility given my exam, the mouse will react as it always does. But if she is pregnant, the mouse will act as though it is in heat, due to the build-up of estrogen in your wife's body if she is indeed pregnant, which I'm banking on."

"Interesting. What is the other test?" asked a very intrigued Nathan.

"It's appalling if you ask me. The poor little mouse," cried Elizabeth.

"Another reason I never get to explain this to my Ladies, Sir! The second test was derived by the ancient Egyptians, but believe it or not, it's pretty effective! We'll pour a bit of Mrs. Grant's urine over a mixture of Barley and Wheat seeds and of course since she is pregnant as far as I'm concerned, the seeds will sprout! Both tests are just another way to confirm what we already know!"

"We're really pregnant!" declared Nathan taking both of Elizabeth's hands.

"Now maybe you'll believe me!" insisted Elizabeth contritely.

"I've always believed you, Darling!"

Dr. Jenkins cleared his throat again.

"Mrs. Grant and I suppose, Chief Inspector Grant, I wish to see you back here in the office the day before you plan to leave for New York. I will personally call you by the end of the week with the test results! I assume you're staying with your parents?"

"Yes, Sir! Thank you, Dr. Jenkins!" smiled Elizabeth.

"You are more than welcome. I'll admit I'm not used to having fathers present and wasn't at all keen on it at first, but you've been a help and obviously have some medical background. It's been a pleasure meeting you, Sir! Elizabeth, you have chosen your husband quite well. This one's a keeper!"

"Thank you, Sir! You've given us the best news possible!" enthused Nathan excitedly.

"Just take care of her, Son, and ride through those mood swings, another reason I won't be at all surprised if it's twins! My wife did the exact same thing with our twins, but not our single births, so you have my sympathy, Son! Afraid I've been through this myself and I'm here to tell you, there's nothing easy about it!"

Despite the warning, an ecstatic Nathan shook the Doctor's hand and gently led a very thrilled Elizabeth through the corridor.

But both were so elated, neither noticed the Doctor's rather impressive Harvard credentials that happened to be hanging in the hall…

"I'm so hungry!"

"Of course, you are Darling! You've lost everything you've eaten. I'm taking you to dinner at LaBelle's whenever you feel like it, but how does lunch there sound now? Are you up to it?"

"Really? Can we sit on the dock?"

"Perfect! But do you think you can stand the sea smells?"

"Oh, no, I forgot. Maybe we better sit inside!"

"To LaBelle's, Henry!"

"Yes, Sir! My pleasure. Sir, the Thatchers have an open reservation there, in case they are fully booked."

"Thank you, Henry. I appreciate that! But I don't think we'll need it!"

Henry shut the door and smiled.

He didn't doubt for a moment the handsome Gentleman could get a table on his own without much trouble at all…

"Does anything sound good to you?"

"Truthfully? All of it! Since Breakfast and Dinner are so bad, maybe I can replace them with Lunch!"

"I say it's worth a try! But go easy, Love!"

"Madame, Monsieur! Are you ready to order?"

"Yes, Sir! I believe we are."

"Would you like to hear the specials?"

"Elizabeth?"

"Yes, please!"

"We have a Chilled Seafood Tower, consisting of everything from fresh Lobster, to Clams, to Crabs, to Mussels, to Scallops to Shrimp. I highly suggest it. One order serves two!"

Nathan looked at Elizabeth to confirm her wishes.

"That sounds delightful! Thank you!"

"But can we have two, please?" begged Elizabeth.

"Madame," the Head Waiter started to patiently explain, but with one look from Nathan, he decided it best to not continue.

"Oui, Madame, avec Plaisir!" and he bowed politely.

"Oh, and can we have those extra huge salads please with your homemade Thousand Island Dressing and homemade Crackers?"

"But of course, Madame! I'll bring our hot French Loaves and homemade Butter as well."

"Perfect!"

"Elizabeth," and Nathan took her hands. "I never doubted you, not for a second. I just didn't want you to be disappointed. And perhaps it was me also being afraid."

"You, Nathan Grant aren't afraid of anything!"

"Where you're concerned and where our children are concerned, I am! I wish I could just always be there to shield you. Yet I know someday that will be impossible, especially with the children!"

"A good father and mother are there for their children no matter their age! But I know what you mean, I look at Allie, she's so tall. Then there's Jack who's so inquisitive, school can't be far behind! I want to keep them just like they are right now!"

"Me too, but I'm afraid that's not how parenting works. Elizabeth, are you afraid?"

"Of our babies?"

"Of delivering our babies," he clarified.

"Absolutely not! Jack was delivered in a deserted cabin in the middle of a snow storm. I can handle anything after that! We are so very blessed, Love. I've never been so excited. What an extraordinary gift this is!"

"Yes, it is that! The best gift possible. Do you realize how very happy you've made me? I never dreamed we could be pregnant so soon!"

"You're happy, aren't you?"

"I'm happier than I have ever been in my entire life. You make me so happy, Lisbeth. The children make me happy. Our new babies make me happy."

"What are we going to do? I'm afraid our mothers have already figured it out, and maybe even Viola and Julie."

"I don't know. I'd love for it to be just our secret, but I'm like you. Our mothers already know after this morning."

"I know, I had to go and spoil everything!"

"You listen to me. You can't possibly ever spoil anything! We're pregnant, Elizabeth! Without a doubt, we're pregnant, and it doesn't matter if it is one or two babies, we are pregnant. And that's the most wonderful news in the whole wide world!"

"But it's two, Love! I know it's two. Don't you believe me?"

"I do believe you, Darling! With all my heart. I just don't want you to be disappointed if for some reason there's one."

"I won't be. Because there are two. But I don't know if they are girls or boys," and she looked like she was about to cry again.

"Darling, it might be a girl and a boy. But none of that matters! What matters is that you and they are healthy through all of this."

"What did Dr. Jenkins mean when he said he might not let me travel? How dare he? I'm not missing our Book Tour!"

"Of course, you're not missing our Book Tour. Everything's going to be alright, Elizabeth, I promise! I plan to take very good care of you!"

"I loved having you there with me. Thank you, Nathan! I know that wasn't easy. I wasn't even very nice, but do I really have mood swings?"

"Why don't we not talk about that? I don't need 'easy.' I just need you, Babe! Always!"

The Head Waiter discreetly cleared his throat, as he and an assistant wheeled two laden carts overflowing with food to their table.

"Your Salad, Ma'am! Your Salad, Sir! And we thought you might like to munch on your Seafood Towers while eating on your Salads."

Nathan's eyes widened, as the amount of food was beyond belief, but Elizabeth was just perfectly happy.

"Wow! These are really huge!" noted Nathan.

"This is just the perfect amount of food, Darling!" insisted Elizabeth. "Why aren't you eating?"

Nathan was still speechless, there was no spot on the table left, and he could barely see his wife over the towers of Seafood.

People were staring, but Elizabeth was oblivious even though they had enough food for at least four if not eight!

"As long as you're happy, Darling! It all looks absolutely delicious!"

Nathan hadn't seen so much Seafood served at a 'Dinner for Four' much less at a 'Lunch for Two,' but Elizabeth was happily digging in…

The couple ate mostly in silence as there was just so much food.

Also, Elizabeth was happy, and Nathan was learning it was sometimes best to not rock the boat.

Till, finally, Nathan had to sit back, unable to eat another bite.

But his wife was still eating, and he was getting really concerned.

'If she gets sick again, it's going to be horrible,' he thought with dread.

"Elizabeth, are you sure you won't get sick? Seafood is so rich, Love!"

"Sick, what are you talking about Nathan? I'm absolutely starved! And yes, this is rich but so delicious!"

He didn't say another word, instead, he chose to smile warmly at her as he watched her continue to eat.

After every single edible bite of her salad and her tower had been eaten, she started on what was left of Nathan's, which was quite a bit.

Now he was really getting alarmed.

But she seemed happier and hungrier than she had been for a week, so he reluctantly said no more.

Suddenly, she sat back.

"There! Now I'm ready for Dessert! Did you see the Dessert Menu?"

"No, Love. They haven't shown us yet."

As if by magic the Head Waiter appeared.

"Oh, Sir, can you please box up the rest of my Husband's lunch?"

Then she prodded Nathan to ask about Dessert.

"Sir, I believe my wife and I are ready to see a Dessert Menu."

"But of course. Although, I highly recommend our complete assortment of mini desserts for two, that includes all of our desserts just in a more petite version."

"That will be perfect!" nodded Nathan.

"We'll take two," smiled Elizabeth sweetly.

Again, the Head Waiter started to explain, but after another look from Nathan, he thought better of it.

"Two Petite Dessert Trays coming right up!"

What he hadn't gotten to explain was that the Dessert Trays were very large. It was only the portions that were small, but there were an awful lot of portions per tray!

"Are you doing okay, Lisbeth?"

"Of course, I'm doing okay. I'm having a perfect romantic luncheon by the Sea with my handsome new husband! What could be better?"

"You're right, it's perfect, and look at that view. We most certainly don't get that in Hope Valley!"

"I love the harbor. Always have since I was a little girl. Julie thought it stank too much, and Viola said it was too dirty for a Lady even before she was an actual Lady!" explained Elizabeth.

Nathan couldn't help but laugh.

"I love you so very much!"

"I love you so very much, too!"

When the Head Waiter came back with the massive Dessert Trays, he once again required assistance as two carts were brought to the Grants.

The problem was the table was not large enough to place both trays on it, so the Head Waiter motioned for his assistant to move an extra table over to hold the second tray.

Nathan was mortified as people were staring, but he was trying his best not to show it, smiling at his wife the entire time.

"Enjoy! We'll come to serve the second tray when you are finished with the first, Sir!"

"Thank you!"

"This one first, please!"

Nathan grinned.

"You and your Cherries!" and sweetly lifted the small dessert to her mouth.

The poor man hadn't eaten a bite when he realized he had fed his wife the entire selection of desserts in record time.

And the shocked look on the normally staid Head Waiter confirmed his suspicions.

Still not having had a bite of a dessert, Nathan began feeding his wife the second tray, thinking she would slow down any minute, but that wasn't happening.

So, he started to eat a bite or two for himself, just to save Elizabeth from herself.

"Oh, I wanted that one!" she pouted, with his first bite mid-mouth.

"Do you still want it?"

"Yes, please, it's so delicious! But aren't you going to eat anything?"

"I'm fine, Darling! You enjoy!"

And she did, till he had fed her every last morsel!

"I'd better excuse myself to the Ladies' Room," she announced in a whisper.

"Will you be alright?"

"Of course, I'll be alright! Oh, Love, will you order a Dessert Tray to take home, please?"

Nathan was speechless with his mouth hanging open as she turned.

He had seen Mounties who couldn't have put away the incredible amount of food his tiny wife had just devoured.

"Sir? Is everything Satisfactory?"

"Apparently so! My wife would like a third Dessert Tray boxed for home, please?"

"Of course, Sir? Expecting?"

Nathan looked shocked.

"We get this all the time, Sir. There's always an expectant mother involved. So don't worry. We're quite used to this. Nothing out of the ordinary. I'll get your Dessert Tray boxed up, Sir, with an extra one for you to hide as soon as you get home!"

"Thank you," eeked a shocked Nathan.

"What in the world am I in for?" he mumbled aloud, not realizing the Head Waiter was still there.

"Speaking from personal experience, a lot, Sir! Good Luck. We fathers are with you!"

And with a pitiful look, he left to gather two more Dessert Trays!

Nathan jumped up to get Elizabeth's chair.

"Were you okay, Darling?"

"Of course, I was okay! Whatever do you mean, Love?"

"No…?"

"Oh, that! No, not at all. Did you order my Dessert Tray, Love?"

"Er, yes, I did! He's boxing it now!"

"Here you go, Ma'am! Good luck, Sir! It's been a pleasure!"

Having already paid a bill that was much larger than any lunch he had ever eaten before, Nathan, although loaded down with the remains of what should have been his lunch and two Dessert Trays, then assisted ushering Elizabeth from the restaurant as patrons marveled.

"That's the woman who ate two Seafood Towers!" said one.

"And two Dessert Trays," said another.

But Elizabeth was content, and oblivious to it all!

"Nathan, we have to come back here for Lunch again soon! That Seafood was to die for!"

"And looks like that poor man is loaded down with more food for her!" offered yet another stranger.

"I'd hate to be paying that bill…"

Outside, on the wharf, Elizabeth wanted to look over the water.

Nathan sat all their food on a bench and stood behind her, holding her as they looked out over the Sea together.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" cooed Elizabeth.

"You're more beautiful!"

"Nathan, you're a very good husband!"

"I hope to be."

"You are," and she cuddled to his chest.

"I love you so much!"

He bent to kiss her forehead.

"Lisbeth, I wouldn't even be able to exist without you!"

"Have I really been awful?"

"No one said you've been awful! You've been pregnant!"

"Dr. Jenkins implied it!"

"Don't worry about Dr. Jenkins!"

"Nathan, I don't want the children to hear our news from their Grandparents or their Aunties. Can we tell them this afternoon?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. If you're okay that is!"

"We're going to get a million questions, you know?"

"I know, but I'm just so happy! Can we tell everyone?"

"Is that what you want, Darling?"

"If you're okay with it, yes, it is what I want. I want to shout it from the rooftops. You see Nathan when I was pregnant with Jack, I was terrified, and now I'm just happy. I've never told anyone this, but at first, with Little Jack, I was ashamed. I think it was because I was a brand new newlywed and Jack wasn't there to share the experience with me. But I can tell you one thing. He wouldn't have gone to the doctor's with me today. But you did! Everything's just so different now! And it makes me want to share our wonderful news with everyone!"

"How about we make our announcement at the Dinner Table tonight? No scratch that! How about we make it in the Drawing Room, before Dinner tonight. That way, if you get sick everyone will already know!"

"That's perfect! Will you announce it for us?"

"You don't want to?"

"No, I want to hear your words. You have perfect words you know. You just don't use them as much as others!"

"For this, Lisbeth, above everything else, I think I can find the words!"

The early afternoon sun shone down on the young couple, resplendent together in their love, with Nathan's hand on her tummy and his other arm holding her tightly.

The gentle Sea breezes rustled through their tousled hair and as they stood there together by the beautiful Seaside, the couple could do nothing else but celebratorially and passionately find each other's lips.

It was an intimate kiss, a blending of two souls who had found this special moment of love in amongst the many tribulations, such as nausea and the turbulent mood swings of early pregnancy.

This pristine moment they latched onto, and held fast, holding the love that had created the miracle they were sharing.

Both knowing and reveling that this glorious blessing and dream was coming true much faster than they had ever imagined…