Chapter 12
Nathan and Elizabeth continued in a comfortable conversation, throughout the rest of their dinner.
Once they were finished eating, Nathan got up, from the table, and took their dirty dishes to the kitchen. He wanted to personally thank Bill, for his help, and then pay for their meal.
Although Bill had offered to give them a free dinner, Nathan insisted that he would pay for it. He told Bill, the day before, that it wouldn't feel like a real date, unless he payed for it himself. Bill understood and he abided by Nathan's wishes, allowing him to pay the full price, for their meal.
Making his way back to the table, Nathan grabbed Elizabeth's coat, and then he asked her, "Are you ready to go?"
Looking up at him, with a small smile, Elizabeth responded "Yes!"
Moving to stand behind her chair, Nathan pulled it out for her, as she stood up. Then he held her coat out and helped her to get into it.
"Thank you, Nathan!" Elizabeth said, with slightly blushed cheeks.
"You're welcome! Shall we?" Nathan offered his arm and motioned towards the door.
Taking her arm in his, once again, Nathan led her out the door and onto the street.
"Are you warm enough?" Nathan asked her, as he realized how cold it was.
The sky had turned completely dark, and there was a chill in the night air.
Nathan regretted not taking his warmer coat.
"I'm a little cold," Elizabeth answered honestly, "But, I have my coat, and it keeps me pretty warm."
Suddenly, remembering that he was wearing a suit, Nathan stopped walking and dropped her arm. Then, taking his suit jacket off, he handed it over to Elizabeth.
"Nathan, you don't have to do that!" Elizabeth protested, "Aren't you going to be cold?"
Shaking his head, at her concern, Nathan insisted.
"I'll be alright! Besides, I don't want Allie to start blaming me, if she finds out that her teacher almost froze on the way home from our date. I'd never live it down," Nathan responded, with a grin and a hint of humor in his tone.
At that comment, Elizabeth smiled back at him and playfully said "Oh, we wouldn't want that would we?"
"No, we wouldn't!"
Nathan smiled back at her, as he helped her to slip the jacket on over her coat.
Once she had it on, Nathan took her arm again and they headed back, towards her house.
During their short walk to Elizabeth's house, Nathan kept thinking about their conversation over dinner.
He still couldn't believe how easy it had been for him to talk to her about his life growing up.
Nathan didn't usually open up about his childhood to anyone. However, he knew that Elizabeth wasn't just anyone.
She was different.
Elizabeth understood him in a way that no one ever had. When he shared his family's struggles with her, he had felt calm and relaxed. He didn't have to worry about her pitying him, because he knew that she sympathized with him and understood the pain of his experiences.
Elizabeth never judged! When his father showed up in Hope Valley, a couple of months ago, she had been the one to convince him to give Archie a second chance. Even after he told her what his father had done, Elizabeth still believed that he could change.
Nathan was so grateful for her determination and gentle way of encouraging him to not give up. If it weren't for her doing that, then he might have never found out that his father was innocent or have found the courage to forgive him.
Turning his attention back to the present, Nathan realized that they were nearing Elizabeth's front porch.
As they got closer, he heard Elizabeth say something.
"I'm sorry! What was that?"
Elizabeth chuckled.
"That's alright! I was just thanking you for your jacket. It definitely helped!"
"I'm glad to hear it," Nathan responded, as they approached Elizabeth's porch.
"Nathan, thank you so much for everything tonight! The dinner was perfect, and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations."
Nathan smiled at her, gleefully.
"It was my pleasure, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I had a wonderful time, with you, as well."
As soon as they were standing in front of her door, Nathan turned to face Elizabeth.
Not wanting the night to end, he stared into her eyes, for a brief minuet, before regaining his senses.
"Well, I suppose I should let you go..." He said hesitantly, as he turned to leave.
"Nathan, wait! I'm thinking about making some tea, and I was wondering if maybe you'd like to join me, before heading home? I know it's late, but it'll only take a few minuets."
At that question, Nathan's face betrayed him, as his mouth broke into a wide grin.
He had been hoping that she'd ask him to stay a little longer.
"I'd like that! Thank you," Nathan said, as he stepped into her living room.
Once they were inside, Elizabeth took off Nathan's jacket, as well as her coat, and she hung them on the coat rack. Then she told him to have a seat, while she went to put the kettle on.
Nathan watched her, from his position on the couch, as she filled the kettle with hot water and turned it to a boil. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was.
Then noticing her wood pile, next to the stove, he realized that it was getting kind of low.
"Elizabeth, I see that your wood pile is getting low... Would you mind if I went outside, while you're fixing the tea, and chopped some more for you?"
Elizabeth looked down at her wood pile, and then back up at him, with pleasant surprise.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Elizabeth asked him.
"Not at all! Since it's getting colder outside, I wouldn't want you to have to go out and do it yourself. I'd be happy to do it!"
"That's really kind of you! Thank you, Nathan!"
With that, Nathan nodded and headed outside.
He was grateful for the chance to help her out.
While Nathan was outside, chopping wood, Elizabeth stood by her stove and waited for the water boil.
She was amazed at Nathan's thoughtfulness! It hadn't even occurred to her that she might need more wood to help keep her warm tonight. The weather hadn't been too bad lately, but it was starting to get colder outside.
Elizabeth was grateful to have a few minuets alone with her thoughts.
She couldn't believe how wonderfully their dinner, at the cafe, had gone. Everything about it was perfect! Nathan was wonderful, and the food was delicious, as always.
All of the built up fear and anxiety that she had prior to their date had suddenly vanished away.
Elizabeth loved being with Nathan! There was just something about him that made her feel safe and content, whenever she was around him. His thoughtfulness made her heart melt, and his humor made her feel happy and carefree. She couldn't remember the last time that she had felt so good and at peace.
Then, suddenly remembering what had gotten them to this point, Elizabeth realized that they had yet to discuss the incident, or their shared embrace. They had been having such a nice time together, that she hadn't wanted to kill the mood, by bringing it up.
Elizabeth knew that they needed to talk about it, sooner or later, and she made a mental note to bring it up once they had their tea. She wasn't sure if tonight was the right time to do it, but she knew that she couldn't keep it in any longer.
They needed to at least acknowledge what had happened, and then find a time to talk about it.
After about five minuets had passed, Elizabeth was pouring their tea, when Nathan came through the back door, carrying a pile of wood in his arms.
"That's all of it," Nathan said, as he dropped several pieces of wood, in the bucket, near her stove. "I chopped the rest of your wood and left it near the door outside. I hope that's alright!"
"That's perfect! Thank you so much, Nathan! I really appreciate it!" Elizabeth said, giving him a sincere smile.
"My pleasure!"
Then motioning towards the kitchen table, Elizabeth placed their tea cups in front of two chairs and asked if he'd like to sit down.
When Nathan obliged, Elizabeth asked "How do you like your tea? I usually add a little bit of honey to mine. Would you like some?"
"I drink mine plain, but thank you for offering! Being a mountie, I don't have much time to sweeten my beverages."
Elizabeth smiled, in understanding.
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense! You don't know what you're missing though," she said, with a hint of playfulness in her tone.
Nathan simply smiled at her, as he took a sip of his tea.
Breathing in slowly, Elizabeth decided to share her thoughts.
"Nathan, about the incident... I don't know if now is a good time to bring it up, or not, but I feel like we should talk about it. I know we've been tiptoeing around the issue, ever since you got back, and I feel like we should probably talk about what happened in the street."
At that statement, Nathan put his cup down.
Then turning to look at her in the eyes, Nathan responded honestly.
"I know you're right. We do need to talk about it, but the truth is, Elizabeth, I don't think I'm quite ready to discuss it just yet. Would it be alright, with you, if we saved that topic for another night?"
Elizabeth looked back at him, and nodded in agreement.
"Alright!" Elizabeth answered simply.
"It's not that I don't want to talk about with you," Nathan jumped in.
"I know, and I completely understand that. If I'm being totally honest, I don't think I'm ready to discuss it tonight anyways. I just felt like it was important to at least acknowledge it. We don't have to discuss it, just yet."
Nathan gave her a grateful look.
"Thank you for understanding, Elizabeth! And, I promise that we will talk about it soon... I just need a little more time to process everything."
Elizabeth nodded and gave him a small smile
"I can wait!"
Nathan smiled back, as he finished sipping his tea.
Once the tea was all gone, Nathan said, "That hit the spot. Thank you!. It warmed me right up."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it! And, thank you for chopping my wood!"
"Anytime," Nathan responded back, before handing her his empty tea cup.
Elizabeth thanked him, and then she stood up to take it to the sink.
Looking at the time, Nathan stood up.
"Well, it's getting late, so I should probably go check on Allie. I told her to be in bed by eight thirty, but I just never know with that girl. I doubt she actually went to sleep. "
Elizabeth laughed and shook her head.
"Don't worry, it's just a faze. She'll grow out of it."
"I sure hope you're right!" Nathan responded back.
As they reached the front door, Nathan turned to her and asked "If it's not too soon, I was wondering if you'd be interested in walking to church with Allie and I tomorrow?"
At that question, Elizabeth's face broke into a smile.
"Yes, I would love that! Thank you!"
"Great," Nathan responded back. "What time would you like us to meet you here?"
Elizabeth looked thoughtful for a moment.
"How does nine o'clock sound?"
"That sounds great!" Nathan said, as he turned to open her front door.
Then turning to face her again, Nathan stared into Elizabeth's eyes.
"I had a wonderful time with you tonight!"
"So did I! Thank you so much for inviting me, Nathan! It was a lovely evening."
Giving her a shy smile, Nathan wrapped his arms around her, in a hug.
As Elizabeth found herself wrapped in his arms, she allowed herself to melt into his embrace.
Although this wasn't their first embrace, it felt more real to her than before. This time she was fully aware of his closeness. She could feel his heart beating fast, as she rested her head against his chest.
After staying in each others arms, for moment, Nathan gave her a gentle squeeze, before pulling away.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Nathan said, as he opened the front door.
"See you tomorrow," Elizabeth responded back.
Once Nathan had closed the door behind him, Elizabeth turned and walked blissfully over to her desk.
She had a lot of writing to do.
Elizabeth's date, with Nathan, had gone better than she ever imaged it to go, and she couldn't wait to write everything down.
Nathan walked home, from Elizabeth's house, feeling happier than he had in a very long time.
Their dinner date had gone so much better than he had anticipated it to go, and he couldn't be more grateful.
Nathan loved being around Elizabeth!
The way she had made him feel, was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. The more he thought about their time together, that night, the more excited he was for what was next.
Although he hadn't expected Elizabeth to bring up the incident, Nathan was glad that she did. They needed to acknowledge it, and he needed her to know that it was just as important to him, that they discuss it, as it was to her.
Nathan understood that he would have to confront his true feelings, now that he promised her that they would talk about it. He knew that he couldn't hide from the fear of hurting her any longer. After their date tonight, Nathan knew that he couldn't pretend anymore.
No matter how much he wanted to hide from it, Nathan knew that he was falling in love with Elizabeth, and that thought terrified him, almost as much as it energized him.
He knew that night, when he told her that she mattered to him, that he loved her. Although it wasn't the right time to say it, Nathan had felt it in his heart.
His love for her had been growing over the past year, and it had finally come to the surface.
That's why Nathan had hugged her, before leaving her house.
Although Nathan had tried his best to refrain from taking her into his arms, he couldn't help it. Elizabeth's presence had caused him to lose his sense of judgment, and before he knew it, she was in his arms.
Nearing the front steps of his row house, Nathan shifted his thoughts back to reality.
He had seen the light coming through Allie's bedroom window, in the front of their house, and he knew that she wasn't asleep.
Stepping through the front door, Nathan walked into his living room and headed straight upstairs, to his niece's room.
Knocking lightly on her door, Nathan asked, "May I come in?"
Nathan heard Allie's footsteps, as she went to open the door.
"Uncle Nathan, how did you know that I was still awake?"
Giving her a skeptical look, Nathan answered.
"I know you. Besides, if you really wanted to fool me, then you should have turned off your light. I could see it, through the window, as I was coming up the path."
Turning her head slightly to the side, Allie shrugged her shoulders.
"I guess that makes sense... I'm sorry that I didn't go to sleep, but there was no way that I was going to bed without hearing about how your date went first. So, how did it go?"
Shaking his head, Nathan responded.
"It was very nice, thank you! By the way, Mrs. Thornton loved the flowers that we picked for her."
"See? I knew she would," Allie responded back. "Are are you going to tell me anything else that happened?"
"Like what?" Nathan asked.
"Well for starters," Allie motioned towards Nathan's shirt, "Where is your jacket? I hope you didn't wear that shirt by itself, on your date."
Suddenly looking down at his shirt, Nathan realized that he had forgotten his suit jacket, at Elizabeth's house.
"Well, aren't we observant tonight. It was chilly on the way home, so I lent Mrs. Thornton my jacket. And, I guess I forgot to ask for it back."
Looking at him, with wide eyes, Allie responded.
"That's so sweet! I'm glad you didn't choose to dress like that intentionally. I'm sure Mrs. Thornton really appreciated you offering her your jacket. So, when are you going out with her again?"
Ignoring the comment about his appearance, Nathan told her about their plan to walk together to church tomorrow.
"We're going to meet her at nine, so you better get some sleep."
"I will. This is so exciting, Uncle Nathan! I'm really happy for you both."
Smiling at his niece, Nathan said "Thank you! Now get some sleep."
Closing Allie's door behind him, Nathan smiled to himself.
It brought him joy knowing how much Allie had supported him, in taking Elizabeth out for a date. He knew how much his niece loved her teacher, and it did his heart good knowing that she was in favor of them all spending some time together.
Nathan couldn't wait to see what tomorrow would bring.
