Thanksgiving that year was celebrated at the Coulters'. Everyone brought a dish to share, and the house was full of laughter and friendship. The typical group was there: Nathan and Elizabeth, Colleen and Allie, Carson and Faith. Jesse and Clara were racing around, talking to anyone and everyone. Little Lucas was being passed from person to person, and he watched the proceedings with wide-eyed fascination.
Elizabeth stood with Colleen, who was holding Lucas. "How was your visit with Steve today?" Elizabeth asked.
Colleen smiled, her eyes bright. "He's remembering more and more all the time. He even knows who Nathan is now." She bounced Lucas up and down, eliciting baby giggles. "He still has a lot of gaps in his memory, but Fiona said his progress is encouraging. She's never seen someone recover this well from such a traumatic brain injury."
Elizabeth put a hand on Colleen's shoulder. "That's amazing, Colleen. I'm so glad he's remembering. Have they told you when he will be able to go home?"
Shaking her head, Colleen looked down at Lucas. "No, not yet. They need to keep monitoring him and helping him to fully recover. But we can visit him every day. Our visits have become the highlight of Allie's day. And mine." She smiled again. "We have so much to be thankful for this year. Steve is recovering, you're going to be my sister-in-law in a month, and my little girl is healthy. Life doesn't get much better than this."
"It has been a pretty good year," Elizabeth agreed. Faith came up to them, a serious look on her face. Colleen excused herself to go see what Allie was up to, and Faith gripped Elizabeth's arm.
"What's going on?" Elizabeth asked, wondering what would have her friend so solemn.
"Nothing," Faith said, smiling a little. She glanced around, then lowered her voice. "I was just wondering if you've heard anything from your family."
A pang went through Elizabeth as she thought of the silence from her parents. "Not yet," she said with a sigh. "At least not from Mom, Dad, and Viola. Julie said she would come."
Faith slid an arm around her. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I know how hard it was for you to send those invitations to them."
"I didn't expect a reply," Elizabeth said softly. "And yet, somehow it still hurts that there hasn't been one." Looking across the room, her eyes locked with Nathan's. His eyes were calm and gentle, and he gave her the heart-melting smile she loved so much. She smiled back, then looked at Faith. "But I have Nathan, and that's what matters. He's been so supportive, and if my family doesn't want to accept or acknowledge him, they're missing out on knowing a wonderful man."
"That they are," Faith agreed. "You and Nathan couldn't be more perfect for each other. I think you're going to have a very happy life together."
Elizabeth smiled. "I think so too." She looked up to see the object of her affection walking toward her. Faith grinned and excused herself, going to find Carson. Nathan took his place next to Elizabeth, wrapping an arm around her waist. "How's my favorite fiancée?" he asked, kissing her cheek.
"Favorite?" Elizabeth teased. "You have another fiancée hiding somewhere?"
Nathan chuckled. "No, ma'am. You are my one and only."
"Good," Elizabeth said, leaning her head on his shoulder.
They stood together for a moment in their own little world, then Nathan broke the silence. "This is the largest Thanksgiving gathering we've been to in a while," he commented, looking around the room. "The past several years it's just been me, Colleen, Allie, and Steve." He smiled as he surveyed those around them. "This is a nice change."
"Says the man who normally doesn't like crowds," Elizabeth said, grinning.
Nathan shrugged, smiling down at her. "This is just like our game nights. Except instead of games, it's Thanksgiving."
As if on cue, Rosemary announced dinner, and everyone sat around the large table filled with food. After grace there was a lot of chatter and laughter as everyone began passing around the food. Once they were all served and began eating, Lee tapped his wine glass with a fork to get everyone's attention. He stood, beaming at his friends and family.
"Thank you so much for coming today," he said. "There's nothing better than being surrounded by such wonderful people on a holiday celebrating gratitude." He looked around, smiling at each individual. "Rosemary and I are thankful for each and every one of you. And now, as is tradition in the Coulter house, we will go around the table and say the one thing we are most grateful for in the last year."
Rosemary said she was thankful for Lucas joining their family; Jesse and Clara were both thankful for their new baby brother; Lee was thankful for his family's health; Carson and Faith were thankful for each other; Colleen was thankful for Steve being alive and well; Allie was thankful her daddy came back to them.
When Nathan's turn came, he looked at Elizabeth with a smile that spoke volumes. "I'm thankful that I get to marry the love of my life in less than a month."
Elizabeth smiled back, getting lost in his deep blue eyes. "And I'm so thankful I found love again, when I thought it was impossible. Nathan has been the greatest blessing of my life."
Rosemary raised her glass, smiling at them and then at everyone else around the table. "To love and friendship!"
"To love and friendship!" came the chorus from everyone else.
As the meal continued, Elizabeth took a moment to count her blessings. Every single person in this room was dear to her. She loved them fiercely, as though they were her own family. They had helped shape her into the woman she was today, and she would be forever grateful because of that.
She looked at Nathan, beyond thankful for him. After Jack died, she thought she had lost her chance at love. Then Nathan had come along and proven her wrong. She loved him more deeply than she had thought it possible for a woman to love a man. And in four short weeks, they would finally be able to say their vows and be joined together in marriage.
She couldn't wait.
Nathan sat with Elizabeth on her porch swing, using his foot to gently rock them back and forth. Elizabeth had her head on his shoulder, and both of them were silent, watching the sun setting slowly over the ocean. A cool breeze blew over them, and Nathan thought it would be nearly impossible to imagine a more perfect evening.
Not moving her head from his shoulder, Elizabeth let out a small sigh of contentment. "It's so beautiful," she murmured. "Today has been wonderful. Good food, good friends, good conversation. And now ending the day with you. I couldn't have asked for a better Thanksgiving."
"It's the best Thanksgiving I can remember having ever had," Nathan said honestly. "They've always been good, but there was something about tonight that seemed special."
Elizabeth nodded, and they fell back into a comfortable silence. As the sun sank into the ocean, she looked up at him. "We haven't talked about where we're going to live after we're married."
"True," he said slowly, thinking. "What are your thoughts on that?"
"Honestly?" Elizabeth said, her blue eyes meeting his. "It doesn't matter to me where we live. All that matters is that we're together."
Nathan smiled, kissing her gently. "That's all that matters to me as well," he said softly. He leaned back, his mind working. "If we live at my house, we'll be living with Allie and Colleen. If we live at your house, it'll just be the two of us."
Elizabeth's lips curled into a smile. "Well, there's something to be said for starting our marriage off with just each other."
Nathan's heart beat double time at her words and at the sweet look on her face. He smiled. "Yes, there is." He ran a hand over her hair, twirling the strands through his fingers. "And I was thinking, since Steve is probably going to be able to come home in a few months, it might be best for Allie and Colleen to have that time with him together, without me in the way."
"So then, we'll live here?" Elizabeth asked.
Nathan nodded. "I think that would be best. For all of us."
Elizabeth smiled, a look of excitement on her face. "This is really happening!" she exclaimed, sheer joy radiating from her eyes. "I'm less than a month, we'll be married!" A giggle escaped her. "I don't think I've ever been this excited."
"Me neither," Nathan said, grinning. He brought his lips to hers again, this time kissing her deeply, drawing strength from her sweetness and love. She responded to his kiss with an equal depth, wrapping her arms around him and drawing him close. Finally, Nathan broke away, breathing deeply. He looked into her eyes, cupping a hand to her cheek. "I should go," he whispered.
Elizabeth's lips formed a pretty pout, but she nodded. "That's probably a good idea," she whispered back. Raising her brow in a sassy manner, she smiled at him. "But I look forward to the day when we don't have to say goodnight and leave each other."
"Four more weeks," Nathan said, unable to resist kissing her once more. "Goodnight, Elizabeth." Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he stood, giving her hand a squeeze. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow," she echoed, watching him head to his car. He gave her a wave as he pulled out of the drive, then headed back home. All he could think was that he couldn't wait for the day when they would no longer be separated either.
Elizabeth sat in Coffee and Books, sipping a peppermint mocha and reading A Christmas Carol. Christmas music was playing in the background, and Faith had decorated the cafe beautifully. It looked like something straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Since it was the day after Thanksgiving, most people were ordering their coffee and food to go, so Elizabeth was nearly alone with her book. She got lost in the story, enjoying the tale she read every year on the day after Thanksgiving. Halfway through reading about Marley's ghost warning Scrooge about the three coming spirits, Faith pulled out a chair and sat across from her. Elizabeth took one look at her friend and put the book on the table. Faith looked as if she was about to burst with excitement.
"Alright, something's going on," Elizabeth observed, leaning forward and smiling at Faith. "Out with it."
Faith reached her left hand out, displaying a sparkling diamond ring on her finger. "Carson proposed last night!" she exclaimed with a squeal. "We're getting married!"
"What?" Elizabeth said, jaw dropping. "Faith, this ring is beautiful! Tell me everything! How did he propose?"
Faith sighed happily, a grin plastered to her face. "He took me to the beach, and we went for a walk. It's something we do almost every evening, and last night was so beautiful we walked longer than normal. I didn't suspect a thing. As the sun was setting, he simply turned to me, got down on one knee, and asked me to be his wife. And of course I said yes!"
"Oh Faith!" Elizabeth said, clasping her hands together under her chin. "This is wonderful! I'm so happy for you and Carson!"
"Thank you, Elizabeth. You've been so supportive of our relationship." Her eyes twinkled. "Will you be my maid of honor?"
"Of course!" Elizabeth exclaimed, standing and going around the table to hug her friend. "When's the wedding?"
"We don't know yet," Faith said. She chuckled. "We'll probably be engaged longer than you and Nathan. Maybe a summer wedding." She sighed again, a faraway look in her eyes. "Carson wants to take me to Paris for our honeymoon."
"Paris! Wow," Elizabeth said, her smile wide. "Does he know that we spent time there as teenagers?"
Faith nodded. "That's part of the reason we said we should go. We can see the city of love together as adults. It sounds so romantic," she said, eyes twinkling. She tilted her head as she looked at Elizabeth. "Have you and Nathan decided where you're going on your honeymoon?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Nathan said he's planned the whole thing, but he won't tell me where we're going. He wants it to be a surprise."
Faith laughed. "Nathan Grant wants to make something a surprise! This ought to be good." She raised a brow. "Does he know you tend to prefer simple?"
"He does," Elizabeth said, smiling. "I have a feeling whatever he's planned is going to be perfect. And he did tell me to pack winter clothes, so we're obviously going somewhere cold."
Faith stifled another laugh. "Do you even have winter clothes?" she asked.
Elizabeth nodded. "I've got them somewhere in my garage," she said. "I'm really excited. I hope this means we get to see snow. That's the one thing I miss about the mainland. I always loved snow."
"I remember," Faith said, shuddering lightly. "I never liked the cold." She put her chin in her hands, her smile still firmly fixed in place. "Who would have thought you and I would get married within a year of each other? All our childhood dreams are coming true!"
"That they are," Elizabeth agreed, feeling thankfulness well up inside. "Life has not turned out the way I thought it would. And I'm grateful for that. It's been even better than I could have imagined."
