Chapter 14

Elizabeth watched Nathan, as he carried little Jack, on their walk to the Coulter's home.

The way that he had taken her son, into his arms, caused her heart to melt.

Although she always knew that he was kindhearted, Elizabeth never expected Nathan to be so thoughtful and sentimental. Watching him carry little Jack stirred something inside of her that she never expected to feel. For the first time, since she started developing feelings for Nathan, Elizabeth could clearly picture a real future with him. She wanted her son to have a father, and she had no doubts that Nathan could fit that role.

Turning her attention back to the present, Elizabeth smiled contently.

"You look happy," Nathan observed, as he looked over Jack's head.

"I am! Nathan, thank you so much for offering to take Jack with us. I know we're not going very far, but it really means a lot to have him here with me."

Giving her a smile, and then looking down at little Jack, Nathan responded.

"It was my pleasure! I could tell how much you were missing him, and I welcomed the chance to spend some time with him myself."

Staring at him, with awe in her eyes, Elizabeth smiled even bigger.

"That's really sweet of you!"

Nathan nodded, before replying.

"It's the truth! Besides, how could anyone resist this little guy?"

Then looking down, at Jack, Nathan began making funny faces again. It didn't take long for Jack to notice and start giggling.

Before long, Elizabeth was giggling too.

As she watched Nathan and little Jack interacting, Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh at how adorable they were together.

When Elizabeth noticed that Nathan was eyeing her, as giggles escaped from her mouth, she shrugged.

"What can I say? Jack's giggles are infectious, and your silly faces are quite the comedy act."

At that comment, Nathan's face turned smug, as they stopped walking, and he gave her a raised eyebrow.

"So you think I'm funny, huh?"

Raising her eyebrows, back at him, Elizabeth responded playfully, "More or less."

Keeping up with the playful banter, Nathan asked, "Is that right?"

"Yes! That's right!"

"Good to know," Nathan responded, "I guess I'll just have to keeping practicing then, because if that's how you react when your prompted by another's laugher, then I can't wait to see what it sounds like when you're the one who's actually doing the laughing."

Giving him another playful expression, Elizabeth said, "Yes, I guess you will."

With that, they resumed their walk to the Coulter's house.

It was turning out to be a beautiful day, and Elizabeth's heart was filled with joy.


Once they got to the Coulter's house, Rosemary pulled Elizabeth aside.

"You must tell me everything," Rosemary whispered loudly, as she prepared lunch in the kitchen. "Starting with the way that Nathan spoke up for you, by offering to carry little Jack. Elizabeth, what man does that? It was adorable! He's so protective of the two of you... It was as if you were his wife and little Jack was his son."

Lowering her voice to a soft whisper, and looking around the room, Elizabeth said, "Rosemary, please keep your voice down."

Although Nathan and Lee were engaged in a lively conversation, in the living room, while Allie was playing with little Jack, Elizabeth didn't want them to overhear their conversation.

"You're right! I'm sorry," Rosemary said apologetically, "I just really want to know how everything went."

Elizabeth nodded, as a smile threatened to cross her lips.

"Oh Rosemary, it was so wonderful! Everything from our dinner last night to our walks this morning... it was all just perfect!"

"And?" Rosemary ventured.

"And... I'll tell you about it later," Elizabeth promised, as she motioned, with her head, towards Nathan and Lee, who were coming into the kitchen.

"Everything smells terrific, Sweetheart," Lee said, as he came over to give Rosemary a kiss on the cheek.

Then turning back to Nathan he said, "My wife makes the best potato soup in town."

Nathan smiled at Lee's comment, before stealing a glance at Elizabeth.

"It does smell really good... Thanks again for inviting Allie and I! We really don't get that many opportunities to enjoy lunch with other people, so this is quite a treat."

Rosemary smiled.

"It's our pleasure! We love having guests over to our home, especially when one of them is interested in getting to know our dear Elizabeth better."

At that comment, Lee almost spit out the soup that he was trying. He had a habit of taste testing food, before it was served, and Elizabeth knew that that was one of Rosemary's biggest pet peeves.

"Sweetheart, can I talk to you upstairs for a moment?" Lee asked Rosemary.

Looking flustered, Rosemary asked, "Right now?"

"Yes, right now!" Lee answered back, as he turned the stove off, grabbed his wife's hand, and pulled her towards the stairs.

Then turning around, to face Nathan and Elizabeth, he said, "We'll be right back."

As Elizabeth watched them mount the stairs, she thought about what Rosemary had just said. Her friend sure knew how to keep things interesting.

"I'm sorry about that," Elizabeth turned to Nathan. "I love Rosemary, but she can be pretty blunt at times."

Nathan chuckled.

"There's no need to apologize. In fact, I thought it was kind of funny, especially since she was right."

"Really?" Elizabeth asked, pleasantly surprised by his revelation.

"Really!" Nathan responded back, with a smile reaching to his eyes.

Just then, Allie called over to them and asked if they wanted join her, in playing blocks with little Jack.

"Duty calls," Nathan said, directing a smile at her.

Smiling back at him, Elizabeth followed Nathan to the living room.


Once they were upstairs, Lee closed the bedroom door behind them.

"Rosie, I love you, but you need to stop meddling. I know you want to encourage them, but Elizabeth and Nathan seem to be doing just fine on their own."

Rosemary looked at him, with her arms crossed over her middle.

"Lee, it's not like that..."

Lee raised his eyebrows and looked at her, knowingly.

Rosemary sighed and let out a small breath of air.

"Alright... I can see your point, Lee. I know they can take care of themselves, but I didn't think it would hurt to encourage them a little bit."

Lee raised his eyebrow, again.

"If you call inviting them over here for lunch, as an excuse to watch and analyze their interactions, a form of encouragement, then yes I'd say that you accomplished just that."

Rosemary gave him a surprised look.

"Lee, I..."

Lee held up his hands and looked at her sympathetically.

"Rosemary, sweetheart, I know it hasn't been the easiest thing for you watching Elizabeth go through so much, over the past few years... And now that something good is finally happening to her, I know you want to be there to help and support her, which is completely understandable. However, I think it's important to realize that there are boundaries to the support that you can give. While it's perfectly acceptable for you to share in their happiness, I don't think it's your place to push them. After all, they've only been on one date and everything is still very new to them. As Elizabeth's friend, I think you need to give her and Nathan some time to figure things out on their own. If Elizabeth asks you for input, then you can give it, but now is not the time to comment openly on their relationship."

Rosemary looked thoughtful, for a moment, as she pondered what Lee was saying.

"I know you're right... It's just really difficult for me to sit back and say nothing, when I see how perfect the two of them are for each other. I'm just so happy for Elizabeth, and I want to support her, in any way that I can."

"I know you do,"Lee nodded in understanding.

"Lee, I don't know what I would have done if I had never allowed myself to open my heart up to you. I remember how scared I was to let you in, before I finally realized how much I needed you in my life. Saying "yes" to you, and getting married, was the best decision that I ever made. You are the greatest blessing of my life, Lee, and I thank God for you everyday. When you almost died in that windstorm, however, my whole world came crashing down. I don't think I could have gone on, if I had lost you... Watching Elizabeth go through a much more painful experience, of actually losing her husband and fighting to open her heart up again, has caused me to go a little overboard, when it comes to my support. I just don't want to see her be sad anymore, or miss out on another opportunity to find love."

At that comment, Lee took Rosemary in his arms and rubbed her head, softly with his hand.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart! I know it's been a rough year for all of us... But through it all, you've remained a loyal friend to Elizabeth and have supported her in all of her experiences."

Then pulling away, just enough, to look Rosemary in the eyes, Lee continued.

"I think you've done a remarkable job of letting Elizabeth figure out what's best for her. Never once have I seen you push her to make a decision. Instead, you've supported her and encouraged her to follow her own heart. Rosie, I know that couldn't have been easy for you to do, and I want you to know that I'm really proud of you for doing that."

Looking at him with wide eyes, Rosemary asked, "Do you really mean it?"

"Yes, I really do," Lee responded back.

With that, they shared a quick kiss, before Rosemary remembered that they hadn't eaten lunch yet.

"I still need to serve the soup. I don't want them to think that we invited them here, for lunch, and forgot to feed them," Rosemary exclaimed.

Lee nodded, in agreement.

"Yeah, we should probably go downstairs and serve them."

As Rosemary turned to leave, Lee stopped her, by grabbing her hand.

"Rosie, I love you!"

Smiling back at him, Rosemary responded.

"I love you too, Lee Coulter!"

As they left their room, and descended the stairs together, they stopped on the landing and took in the scene before them.

There, in the middle of their living room floor, sat Nathan and Elizabeth laughing with Allie, as they all played blocks with little Jack.

Turning to whisper in her husbands ear, Rosemary smiled and said, "You were right!"

"What's that?" Lee questioned her, playfully, with a hint of a glimmer in his eyes.

"You were right," Rosemary whispered back, "As long as they listen to their hearts, they're going to be just fine."