Elizabeth and Little Jack were in the middle of playing with blocks when there was a knock at the door.

"Oh," Elizabeth whispered. "Here we go, don't we my precious boy?!"

Elizabeth answered the door. As she did, Elizabeth realized her heart was racing. She was getting flushed cheeks. All in all, she was acting like a school girl.

Standing on the other side of the door was Nathan and Ally.

"Hi Mrs. Thornton," Ally smiled, peering in the door and seeing Jack. "Hi Jack!"

"Come on in," Elizabeth encouraged them inside. "I think Little Jack is very glad that you are here."

Nathan held out a bouquet of flowers. "These are for you."

Elizabeth smiled. Nathan had given her a bouquet once before. So had Lucas. And she had been confused and tossed them both in the garbage. She definitely wasn't going to do that this time. The bouquet of sunflowers, late blooming red roses, and various grasses was truly beautiful.

"Thank you," Elizabeth said. As she took the bouquet from Nathan, their fingers touched once more. There was the electricity again.

"Ally and I saw them while out fishing and I thought you would like them." Nathan struggled to talk. The sparks between him and Elizabeth were very real.

"Well, you thought right," Elizabeth said. Her body swished from side to side, indicating a little flirty behavior. "Would you mind helping me get dinner dished up?"

"Not at all," Nathan remarked.

"What is for dinner Mrs. Thornton?" Ally asked as she was contently building a tower for Little Jack.

"I seem to remember that you like spaghetti."

"YES!" Ally nodded. "It's one of my absolute favorites."

"And for dessert, I thought we could do taffy apples. Emily's mother brought over some more for me this afternoon." Elizabeth turned towards Ally. "What do you think?"

"I think that sounds wonderful!" Ally smiled as she went back to playing with Jack. "What do you think Jack? Spaghetti and taffy apples!"

"How can I help," Nathan spoke up.

"Grab the plate from that cabinet and I'll dish up the spaghetti." Elizabeth stood over the stove, very much aware of Nathan's proximity to her. The other time he had been this close to her, aside from the hug, was at Christmas last year—decorating the tree.

Once again, their eyes met and spoke volumes. This time, neither of them broke the gaze of the other. They both just smiled.

"Uh, Mrs. Thornton," the spell was broken by Ally. "I recognize I have terribly bad timing…but I smell something burning."

"Ack!" Elizabeth frantically reached for a pot holder to open the oven. "The bread! I forgot!"

As soon as Elizabeth opened the oven door, smoke filled the room. The bread was definitely NOT salvageable. And the house was all smokey.

"Well," Elizabeth coughed. "So much for that plan."

"What about…" Nathan reached for the plates once more. "I have an idea."

He looked around Elizabeth's house, not fully knowing why. He didn't know where anything was. "Lizabeth, do you have a blanket?"

"A blanket?" Elizabeth tried not to look stunned. She also tried to not melt with how Nathan said her name. She really loved how he dropped the "E." He was the only one who did that.

"Yes, a blanket." Nathan kept dishing up spaghetti. "What about a picnic outside?"

"That is a great idea," Elizabeth smiled. Nathan suggesting a picnic. She had a feeling there was a lot she was going to discover about Constable Nathan Grant.

"Jack and I think so too," Ally said, holding Jack's hand.

"Well that settles it," Nathan said. "Lead the way, Mrs. Thornton," he said.

Dinner proved to be an absolute delight. And not too much of a messy one. Little Jack hadn't gotten too much on himself. Elizabeth made a mental note to write Abigail and thank her yet again for the spaghetti recipe. And the spaghetti making lessons. Thankfully her cooking had vastly improved.

"Mrs. Thornton, that was really good," Allie said.

"Why thank you Ally," Elizabeth smiled.

"Do you mind if Little Jack and I run around a little bit before we make taffy apples? I promise I'll keep an eye on him."

Elizabeth thought for a moment. Letting Ally take care of Jack would do a couple of things. It would show Ally that Elizabeth trusted her. It would also let her and Nathan have a few more moments alone. Lastly it would also get Little Jack tired enough for bed so Ally could have special taffy apple making time.

"Ally," Nathan spoke up first. "You can't let him leave your sight. You got that?"

"I got it, Uncle Nathan." Ally nodded. She knew this was not the moment to get feisty of sassy. "Mrs. Thornton?"

"Of course, Ally," Elizabeth agreed.

"Alright!" Ally stood up and reached for Little Jack's hand. Like an older sister taking care of her baby brother. "Come on Little Jack!"

Elizabeth watched as Jack giggled with glee by Ally's side. She honestly could get used to this picture. But it was too soon to start thinking that….wasn't it?

Elizabeth stood up. "Care to help me with the dishes?" Elizabeth knew that Rosemary would be flipping out if she heard her. Having a date help with dishes wasn't exactly the most romantic play! But for some reason, living life like this just made sense.

Nathan smiled. "I'll have you know I am an excellent dish washer and dryer."

"Good!" Elizabeth giggled.

The two of them gathered up plates and headed inside. "Tell you what," Nathan remarked. "I will wash and you dry…since you know where everything goes."

"Sounds like an excellent plan," Elizabeth grabbed a dish cloth.

For a little while, silence reigned.

"Honestly, Elizabeth," Nathan spoke again, busying himself with the dish in his hand. "you have no idea how often I thought about nights like this."

"You did," Elizabeth questioned. Nathan had only recently begun to show his heart to her.

"I did." Nathan stopped for a moment to look at Elizabeth. He reached for her hands.

Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat.

"Lizabeth," Nathan spoke softly. "What are you thinking?"

Elizabeth thought for a moment.

"I'm thinking I'm happy. You are safe. I don't feel undecided anymore. Truthfully, Nathan, I've been scared of leaping."

"You know," Nathan tenderly rubbed her hand with his thumb. The connection he felt with Elizabeth was undeniable. "Bill told me that you were looking before you were leaping."

Elizabeth looked incredulous. "Bill said that!"

"Yeah, he did," Nathan nodded.

"Well," Elizabeth looked up at Nathan into his blue eyes. "I'm at peace with leaping now. Slowly leaping. But leaping nonetheless."

Nathan took her in his arms and gave her a hug. "We both are."

Elizabeth and Nathan turned back to the dishes. Conversation ranged from the burnt bread to making taffy apples with Ally.

"I want to ask you," Elizabeth looked around. It was getting time for Little Jack's bedtime. "How do you feel if I talk with Ally about calling me Elizabeth when it's just us? Mrs. Thornton is too formal for nights like tonight."

Nathan grinned "So you are saying you want more dinners like this?"

Elizabeth playfully hit Nathan on the shoulder. "Hey!"

Nathan laughed. "Just as you and I came to a place where Constable Grant and Mrs. Thornton were too formal for us, I trust you knowing when it's too formal for you and Ally."

"Thank you," Elizabeth remarked. She motioned for Ally and Little Jack to come in. "Ally! Taffy apple time!"

There was a flurry of excitement as Ally and Jack came inside. Little Jack definitely looked happy and worn out, ready for sleep.

"I'm going to get this guy ready for bed," Elizabeth scooped Little Jack up into her arms. "Say goodnight Little Jack."

"Night Night!" Jack rubbed his eyes and put his head on his momma's shoulder.

"Goodnight little buddy," Nathan said.

Elizabeth returned a few minutes later. "He was so tired, he didn't even want a bedtime story."

"He was having so much fun, Mrs. Thornton."

"Ally," Elizabeth spoke up as she got the apples together. "I don't think you should call me Mrs. Thornton."

Ally looked to Uncle Nathan, but he was giving nothing away. This was Elizabeth and Ally's conversation.

"You don't?"

"No," Elizabeth reiterated. "At least not when we are having dinners like this. I think we will be spending a lot of time together. And Mrs. Thornton sounds too formal."

"So should I call you Miss Elizabeth?"

"I like that," Elizabeth smiled. "If you do."

"Honestly, Miss Elizabeth, I think I like it a lot. But at school I will call you Mrs. Thornton still, right? What about at town?"

"Yes," Nathan spoke up. "I think calling Mrs…Miss Elizabeth Mrs. Thornton out in public is best. It's respectful. And it keeps all of this newness between us for now."

"I get it, Uncle Nathan. Even though the whole town saw Mrs. Thornton, I mean, Miss Elizabeth, hug you…

"Getting to know someone is an exciting and scary time," Nathan replied. "We are all going to figure it out together."

"And Ally," Elizabeth looked Ally in the eye, "You will play a part in all of this."

Ally gave Elizabeth a hug. "Thank you for that, Miss Elizabeth."

"Now," Elizabeth motioned towards the apples. "Taffy apple time?"

"Taffy apple time!"