Chapter 7

Elizabeth heard a knock at her door and went to go open it. She had no idea who could possibly be knocking so early in the morning. Upon opening she watched as the blond on the other side made her way in through the door talking a hundred miles a minute. Elizabeth was listening intently as she closed the door, trying to make sense of all the words Rosemary was throwing her way, but her mind was still focused on the events that happened the day before. She couldn't stop thinking about how wonderful that day had been. She had been so close to Nathan and had felt so comfortable being in his arms, like she had found her home for the first time in months. Without thinking about it a soft laugh escaped her as she thought about the scene they have must have created trying to reel that fish in.

Rosemary turned when she heard her and looked straight at Elizabeth and exasperatedly said, "Elizabeth, have you not heard a word I've said? It's like you're completely somewhere else."

Elizabeth pursed her lips and diverted her eyes sideways, "I'm sorry Rosemary, my mind was thinking about something else."

Rosemary shook her head, "Well clearly."

"Was there something you needed?"

"Well yes," Rosemary responded, "I'm not sure how to put this and I don't want to upset you, but I thought as your friend I am obligated to tell you."

"Rosemary, tell me what," asked Elizabeth suddenly concerned.

Rosemary sighed, "Well it appears that you and Nathan are the talk of the town and I thought you should know before we head to church this morning."

Elizabeth stared at her, "What do you mean?"

"Well, when two people embrace in front of the whole town the way the two of you did then people will always start talking. I had to set more than one or two of them straight that you two are friends and that you were relieved that he was alive." Rosemary looked at the sheepish look on Elizabeth's face, the raised eyebrows and wide eyes darting back and forth, "Elizabeth…..why are you looking at me like that. You are just friends, right? You haven't made any decisions? I mean you and Lucas….."

"Are just friends and nothing more," interrupted Elizabeth.

"….and you and Nathan are…"

Elizabeth took in a deep breath and looked everywhere around the room except at Rosemary and didn't say a word.

"Oh Elizabeth," she paused and studied her for a few seconds more, "You have it bad don't you."

All Elizabeth could do was shake her head yes slowly. She knew she couldn't keep anything from Rosemary, Rosemary could read her like a book. A small smile spread across her face and she gave Rosemary a you caught me shrug.

Rosemary's jaw dropped opened and then she let out a shriek, "Elizabeth, this is wonderful news! I knew you would know when the time was right who to choose," she moved across the room to hug her friend, "I'm so happy for you." She let her go and took a step back, "wait a minute when did all this happen. I tried to come see you yesterday to talk to you and you were gone all day."

"I was with Nathan and Allie. We all went fishing together and then had dinner had Nathan's house."

"Well that explains a few of the rumors," said Rosemary under her breath. "Tell me when this all happened," she asked while moving Elizabeth over to the couch. "Did he ask you out finally?"

They both sat down before Elizabeth spoke. "Well," she began, "We had a pretty intense conversation after the shooting. I cornered him at his house while he was chopping wood the other night because I knew if I waited for him we would never talk."

"Wait," Rosemary interrupted, "he was chopping wood….like with an ax…" She began to laugh.

Elizabeth looked appalled, "What's so funny?"

"Elizabeth, everyone knows that you have a thing for men who chop wood."

The image of him standing there with the ax in his hand and hair wildly being blown around by the wind wearing his undershirt came up in her head. "Oh, he did look….," she snapped back to reality, "Rosemary I do not, that is beside the point."

Rosemary gave her an all-knowing look and then became serious again, "sorry, keep going."

"Anyways we had a bit of a heated conversation and then later that night he was out walking and I couldn't sleep so I was sitting on the steps of the house, he saw me, and then stopped to talk. This time it was different and I could tell he had really been thinking about things and we talked about exploring these feelings that we have been having for one another. That's when he invited me to go fishing with him and Allie."

"Fishing," she questioned with a smirk, "that is exactly how bad I know you have it. You would never voluntarily go fishing."

"Rosemary, it was amazing. I had such a wonderful time and I haven't laughed that hard in ages." She looked off into the distance and sighed, "I thought he was going to kiss me. We were so close and then a fish caught the line and we both wound up falling backwards."

"Wait, you fell? While fishing?"

"That's kind of a long story. Maybe for another day. The short story is yes, but we were fine. Then we had dinner together at his place. It felt so…..so…..right, like we were finally home with each other. I'm falling for him, Rosemary. He is so adorable with how flustered he gets sometimes and his blue eyes…..and that crooked smile when he flashes it at me…there are times when I have to remind myself to breathe." She had a far off look on her face.

Rosemary waved her hand in the air and rolled her eyes upward while swirling her head around, "So romance is in the air."

Elizabeth started giggling, "Oh Rosemary….."

They were brought out of their thoughts when they heard a knock at the door. "Are you expecting someone else before church this morning," asked Rosemary.

Elizabeth shook her head, "No, not that I know of."

"Seems you're pretty popular these days."

Elizabeth got up and crossed the room to open the door and was met by a tall, smiling, handsome man in red serge on the other side, "Good morning Elizabeth."

"Good morning, Nathan," she said with a happy surprised look, "what brings you here this morning? Is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing wrong. I thought if you were going to church today that maybe I could walk you there. Truth is I was headed there and I really just wanted to see you again." She frowned at him and lost a little of his smile, "or not, I guess if you have other plans." He looked down and played with the brim of his hat.

"No," she said hurriedly, "It's not that, it's just that I usually walk to church with Rosemary and Lee."

Rosemary, still sitting on the couch, popped up and walked towards Elizabeth, "Oh no, it's fine you two love birds should go on." She smiled coyly at both of them and Elizabeth could see Nathan squirming out of the corner of her eyes.

Elizabeth cleared her throat. She could feel her cheeks reddening, "I'll uh….I'll go get Little Jack." She turned and grabbed him from his highchair and returned to the door. They all stepped outside and Rosemary scooted back to her house. She opened her door and called to Lee as she watched Nathan take Jack from Elizabeth, place his campaign hat on Little Jacks head playfully, and then begin to walk towards the church holding onto Elizabeth's hand.

"Lee!" She called him again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." He came out of the house, looking around, "Is Elizabeth coming?"

"She already left," she said smiling and nodding off in the distance.

Lee looked up towards the couple, taking notice of how close they were walking and then he noticed their hands and that Nathan was carrying Little Jack. "Rosemary," he questioned, "What's that all about?"

"Love, Lee Coulter! It's in the air."

"When did this happen," he looked at her suspiciously, "you didn't have anything to do with this did you?"

"No, of course not silly," she dismissed him quickly playfully hitting his shoulder, "I think it's been building for a while, but they finally started to admit it this past week. I think Elizabeth finally made her choice and this much is obvious she is letting herself finally open her heart to love again. Isn't it wonderful, Lee?"

He shook his head slowly and then turned to look his wife in the eyes and put his arms around her, "Well, I think it's about time." He bent down and captured her lips with a quick kiss before offering her his arm and escorting his wife to church behind Nathan and Elizabeth.

TBC