Chapter 17
The morning was crisp, and the leaves were just starting to turn into what would be an amazing autumn in a few weeks. Elise sat on her steps and deeply breathed, calming the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach. She wanted to remember everything from this day. It was the day she would become Mrs. Nathan Grant.
Nathan and Elise wanted the ceremony and following reception to be simple, but full of love and emotion, just like them. They felt no need to make pretenses or grand gestures, much to Rosemary's disappointment. Elise had planned on just buying a new dress off the rack from the dress shop, something that suited her, but Rosemary was able to talk her into having a dress made for her and Allie. The dress was simple and stylish, yet stunning and timeless. She could not wait for Nathan to see her in it, but then she wanted to relish the day.
She took a sip of her coffee and thought about the last month. When the citizens of Hope Valley found out about their engagement, they were ecstatic. Then they found out it was a little over a month away, and the town was disappointed that their beloved Mountie would not get the wedding they thought he deserved. Elise and Nathan were insistent that this was what they wanted, and the town stepped up to help in any way that they could. Rosemary came out of retirement from designing dresses and designed Elise's, and Allie's, dresses, and both her and Clara spent hours sewing them. Fiona volunteered to do their hair, and she spent a great deal of time going through Bridal magazines from San Francisco to find just the right hairstyles for both Elise and Allie.
Lucas insisted that Queen of the Valley, the new name of the hotel and restaurant, would handle the reception as repayment for everything that Elise had done for him. His business was slowly starting to take off, and with Elise and Nathan's agreement, he would use their wedding in his new marketing campaign. Because the wedding and reception were being held outdoors, Lucas contacted a company in Calgary and inquired on purchasing one of the new "party tents" that were becoming popular in the larger cities and brought it to Hope Valley. With any luck, the new services he wanted to add to the hotel and restaurant would pay off in the end.
Both Nathan and Elise were surprised when Elizabeth approached them and asked that she read a poem at the ceremony. Nathan was skeptical, but Elise silently nodded her head. She felt she was starting to know the woman and felt she could trust her. Nathan trusted Elise - the day was theirs, and nothing was going to spoil it.
As always, Nathan was up bright and early. When he woke up and felt the sun on his face, he smiled knowing that this was the last morning he would wake up alone. Tomorrow he would wake up and see Elise's face next to him, he would brush her lips with his and whisper "Good Morning". He was not nervous. He was ready. He was ready for this next chapter with her, and he wanted to make sure everything was perfect for her. She had told him it did not matter, that they were all that mattered, but he still wanted it to be as perfect as possible.
He quickly got out of bed and put out the clothes that he laid out last night. He slid his feet into his boots, tied them then headed downstairs. Allie was already in the kitchen, fresh and ready for the day. It was not just his and Elise's day, it was Allie's too. It was the day they became a family, and both him and Elise wanted to make sure she knew that.
"Good morning Dad.". She brought him a thermos of coffee, knowing where he was heading. "Are you ready for today?"
"Are you ready?" Nathan asked, already knowing the answer.
"I've been ready since that first night at the cafe".
He chuckled and kissed her on the forehead. "I won't see you again until the ceremony. I'll be the one in the monkey suit at the end of the aisle."
"It's not a monkey suit, just a new suit that you look very handsome in. Elise is going to melt when she sees you in it."
He chuckled again, "If you say so kiddo." He hugged her and told her he needed to go. He needed to make sure everything was as perfect as he could make it for the woman who held his heart.
Nathan made his way to the livery, saddled up Newton and headed for their land. When he got there, he was amazed at the transformation that had occurred since yesterday. The tent that Lucas had ordered was larger than he thought it would be. He was surprised that a dance floor was being installed in the center, and the tables were covered by crisp, white linens. It was more than him or Elise had expected. Lucas was there with his clipboard, making sure each detail was taken care of. His employees were buzzing around, putting together the centerpieces for the tables, and starting to lay out the tableware. Lucas must have emptied the restaurant of all of its table settings. It was going to be beautiful. Simple, and not over the "Lucas" top, and Elise was going to love it.
Lucas walked up to him. "Does it pass inspection?"
Nathan nodded, "It's perfect".
"Well, I think it needs lots of candles, roses…. But I think she might drop me as her client if I did that, and I would never be able to do this without her in my corner. That is one magnificent woman you have there. You're a very lucky man."
"That I am. That I am." The two men shook hands, and Lucas got back to work while Nathan left the tent and walked to the location of the ceremony. As he walked through the woods and reentered the sunlight, the view in front of him never ceased to amaze him. It would be the first time most of the citizens of Hope Valley will ever see this magnificent view.
The arch he had made with Bill was standing there, simple and fit the feel of the view. They had taken fallen tree branches, tied them with twine to create the rustic beauty. For seating, they brought in logs that Coulter lumber had recently fallen from one of their logging sites, and when the ceremony was over, they would be taken away and used to make lumber. It was simple, but the view was what made the venue what it was. Nothing else was needed for it to be spectacular. No, that was not true. Seeing Elise walk towards him was all that it needed.
Allie was sitting at the kitchen table, her hair being done by Fiona, and Elise took in how mature she looked. She was not Nathan's little girl anymore. She was becoming a woman before their eyes. She knew Allie was going to do great things in her life and she was happy that she was there to witness it.
"I think that's it, beautiful girl. Here, look in the mirror and tell me what you think?" Allie peered in the handheld mirror that Fiona held out to her, and her mouth dropped. Her hair was up in a Double Gibson, with small tendrils down on one side.
"I look pretty".
Elise walked over to her and peered in the mirror with her. "You look more than pretty. You look beautiful, and very grown up. Your dad is going to have to fight the boys off." Allie chuckled.
"I hate to bust this moment up, but we need to get the bride ready", Fiona reminded them. "Are you ready?"
Elise turned and nodded. "Let's do this".
"You know Lucas, you really didn't need to drive us up here. We could have ridden our horses," Nathan told Lucas as he maneuvered his car along the road.
"Nathan, you and Bill are in suits. You should never ride a horse in a suit.".
"Just let Bouchard do this one thing for you. You know he's doing the rest for Elise, let him do this for you."
Nathan's eyes looked ahead at Lucas, and Lucas sensed his glare, and turned around slightly. "You don't have to worry about me. I am sure Elise would have some not so lady like words for me if I ever did something like that. You've got her wrapped around your finger."
Bill chucked and said, "I think it's the other way around."
"Is it so bad that we are both wrapped around each other's finger?"
Both men said "Nope" at the same time.
Lucas pulled off the road and into the meadow to find cars, horses and wagons filling the side away from the tent.
"That's a lot of people…" Nathan whispered.
"That's a lot of people who love and care about you. They all want to be here to celebrate in your joy," Bill stated.
Nathan opened the door to the back of the car and unfolded himself from the space. Nathan told Elise that he did not want to wear his serge in the ceremony, and she readily agreed. She was marrying him, the man, not the Mountie. So, Nathan decided on a medium grey pinstripe suit that brought out the blue in his eyes even more than normal. The pinstripes seem to add even more height to his build, which in turn made him look even more handsome. The suit defined his features, and he was by far the most handsome man in Hope Valley that day, as he should be. Just as Nathan and Bill were walking towards the path into the woods, Minnie and Rosemary were walking towards them.
Both ladies were taken back by Nathan. They knew he was handsome, but his appearance today definitely dialed it up a notch. "Nathan, it's a good thing I am a happily married woman, or Elise may have a run for her money" Rosemary stated. Nathan blushed.
"What am I, chop liver?" Bill jested.
"Oh Bill, you are always so handsome, but you wear suits a lot. It's different to see Nathan in one of them."
"Rosemary are you sure I look alright?", Nathan question. "I just want to make sure today is perfect for her".
"Nathan, that woman would marry you if you were in holey clothes. She loves you, not what you are wearing. You are both one in a million, and you're both extremely lucky to have found each other." He bent over to give her a hug, and then she swatted his arm. "You need to get to the overlook before she gets here. No seeing the bride before the ceremony!"
Rosemary and Minnie moved on as more people were arriving. Nathan and Bill headed through the path in the woods, and when they got to the other side, Nathan immediately noticed a surprise Rosemary must have been working on, for in the corner near the front but slightly hidden was a wagon and a team of horses, and on it was Angela Canfield and her piano.
"I think the entire town is on their way out here", Lee stated from the driver seat of his car. Fiona sat up front with him, and Allie and Elise were situated in the back. There were cars, wagons and horses filling the road in front of them. "At least they can't start without us".
Allie looked at Elise. "You look so beautiful. Dad is going to melt when he sees you. Do you feel ok?" Allie noticed that Elise had she hand to her stomach.
"Just butterflies. I don't feel nervous, I just want to see your dad." Elise grabbed Allie's hand. "And knowing your dad, he is feeling the same way!"
"Oh yeah!" Allie agreed.
Soon they pulled into the meadow, and Lee guided the car towards the path through the woods. They stopped at the opening, and Elise took a deep breathe. Standing there was Rosemary and Minnie ushering the guests through the wooded opening so that Allie and Elise could come out of the car. Finally, Fiona hopped out of the car, and opened the back door for Elise and Allie. Allie came out first, and Fiona quickly touched up her hair. Minnie and Rosemary gushed over how beautiful and grownup Allie looked. Then all four of them turned back to the car as Lee helped Elise from the vehicle.
All the ladies sighed. "It looks even better than it did at the fitting. Elise, that dress was made to fit you. Literally!" Rosemary exclaimed.
Minnie looked at her. "Are you ready?"
Elise nodded her head. Fiona collected the two bouquets that were sitting on the front seat of the car. She handed the small one to Allie, and the larger one to Elise. Both were identical except in size, and consisted of goldenrod, daisies, yarrow, Alberta wild rose and Forget Me Nots. It was an interesting assortment, but Elise wanted to use what grew on their land.
Lee offered Rosemary his arm, and the two of them headed down the path. Fiona and Minnie gave Elise a moment, and then they turned and walked down the path. Allie reached for Elise's hand, and the two of them made their way into the woods. About halfway through, Elise heard the strains of "Claire De Lune" being played on a piano. Surprised, Elise looked at Allie, and Allie said "Surprise!".
Minnie and Fiona had stopped and turned around. "Angela wanted to do something nice for you, and her and Allie decided you needed music to walk down the aisle too."
Elise looked back at Allie and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, sweet girl,".
"This is where we leave you. Allie, count out four measures then start walking. Elise, leave six measures after Allie," Fiona instructed, and then her and Minnie made their way into the sun to their seats.
Together they counted four measures, then Elise released Allies hand, and Allie made her way into the sun. Elise stood there, wishing her parents were there, that her father was there to give her away. She counted six measures, then made her way through the rest of the woods and stepped into the sun.
