Chapter 16

Elizabeth was busy working at her desk during her lunch break, trying to hurriedly eat her lunch while grading math tests, hoping to make more time later for Little Jack after school. She absolutely loved being a teacher in Hope Valley and couldn't imagine teaching anywhere else, but it was not always an easy job and sometimes the hours were long, especially when you had students who were all at different levels academically. Creating assignments that met the needs of all the students was not always easy and Elizabeth admitted that it was a struggle when she first came to Hope Valley seven years ago. Quickly learned that she had to grab their attention with what sometimes felt like unconventional teaching methods, but they had worked and she had found her place in Hope Valley, eventually winning the hearts of not only the children, but the community as well.

A lot had changed in those seven years and in some ways, she felt like she had lived an entire life in them. She had loved and lost, had the gift of her son from that love, and after heartbreak and sorrow had found a new love, something she thought would never happen again. On top of all of that she had finished her first novel and it was getting published. She knew she owed two men for making that a reality. Lucas had helped her and encouraged her with it, being there to read through it as she wrote it and Nathan had given her the inspiration for the novel, but she had yet to allow him to read it. Not that he had asked, but she knew that he wouldn't ask either because he didn't want to interfere with what he had wrongly thought were growing feelings between her and Lucas. All of that had changed though and she had finally come to terms with her love for Nathan and now felt comfortable with him reading her work.

The other reason he had yet to read it was because she had been afraid that the story itself would reveal her true feelings for him and she had not been ready to share that until recently. By now though it was apparent, at least to her, that her future was wrapped up in Nathan's and she could see them blending their families together and adding to it. She tried to imagine Nathan as a doting husband. She had no doubt that if she ever did get pregnant that he would be a nervous wreck, never leaving her side. The thought of it made her chuckle out loud.

She suddenly heard the creaking sound of footsteps hitting the wood floor and knew it was too heavy to be one of the children. She looked up with a smile on her face, which quickly faded when she noticed he was not the subject of her musings. Lucas stood before her, immaculately dressed as usual, "Lucas," she addressed him with surprise in her voice.

She had not talked to him since their last conversation when she ended things with him and his presence in the schoolhouse made her slightly uneasy. "Elizabeth," he responded. He looked slightly uncharacteristically nervous.

"Lucas, I don't have much time left before I need to call the students back in from lunch. Is there something I can help you with?"

Lucas stood there for a moment before speaking. He still realized how drawn he was to her and it had been difficult to admit that all of his efforts to try and advance their relationship had never really been reciprocated by her. Watching her run into Nathan's arms had shocked him into an awareness that she never had been his despite his efforts to make it so. "I received a call today from my mother. The publisher of your book wants to set up an unveiling event for the first published copies of your book in New York City. It would mean a month-long trip to promote the book. I would of course accompany you and we would meet my parents in New York City."

Elizabeth looked at him blankly. She blinked at him and then spoke. "Lucas," she shook her head, "I just don't know if I can do that. A whole month away from Hope Valley. I mean there is so much to consider about that. I just don't know if I can be away from my life here for that long."

"Look," he said looking down and then back up, "you don't have to decide today, but think about it. It will be an incredible opportunity for you to promote your book and get your name out there. Just think about it and let me know within the next few days. We would leave in a few weeks after school lets out for the summer and be back before you start school again and you can bring Little Jack with you."

She nodded, "Ok, I'll need to talk it over with Nathan. I'll let you know soon."

He put his hands together and bowed, "Thank you, that's all that I ask. You've worked hard for this and are so close to it becoming a reality."

He then turned and headed out of the schoolhouse and past Allie who was walking up the aisle towards Elizabeth with a troubled expression on her face. She wondered how much Allie had heard of their conversation, but if she did hear any of it she didn't indicate that she had to Elizabeth, "Mrs. Thornton, can I ring the bell for you?"

"Um, yes." Allie turned with the bell in hand and then Elizabeth stopped her before she could even take two steps toward the door. "Allie," she called out to her, "how much of that did you hear?"

Allie slowly turned back around and looked down at her feet as she shifted back and forth on them, "I heard enough. I mean….," she looked conflicted, "I want your book to be successful, but we would miss you something terrible and I know Uncle Nathan would for sure. I'm not sure how he would react to you leaving on a trip with Mr. Bouchard, but I don't think he would be very happy about it."

"Allie, please don't say anything to your uncle. Let me be the one to talk to him and Allie, I love your Uncle very much and would never want to do anything to hurt him."

"I know, Mrs. Thornton."

"Promise me, Allie, that you won't say anything. I will talk to him as soon as I can, but promise me."

Allie finally looked up at Elizabeth and nodding with a sigh said, "I promise."

Allie walked to the schoolhouse step and rang the bell. As the students filed back into the schoolhouse the knot in the pit of Elizabeth's stomach continued to grow. The timing of all of this was almost laughable and she felt torn. She did not want to hurt Nathan, but at the same time she had worked so hard to have this book published. She decided the best thing to do was to talk to Nathan as soon as possible and not leave it hanging over her head. She knew the rest of the school day was going to go slow, but at least it might afford her the time she needed to think about how she was going to approach the subject with Nathan.

To Be Continued….