Elizabeth watched from the window as Eva played with Allie and Jack in the backyard. The sun was setting, but they were taking advantage of the cool of the evening to be outdoors. Elizabeth was feeling a little tired from the trip, so she had opted to stay indoors.

She felt Nathan's strong arms slide around her, and she looked back to see him smiling over her shoulder as he watched his mother play with their children. "She loves kids," he observed. "She always has."

Elizabeth smiled. "She is good with them. She's already got Jack wrapped around her finger, and it's clear Allie adores her." She frowned slightly, watching as Eva paused in the game they were playing, taking in several long breaths. "Nathan, is Eva okay? Health wise, I mean?"

She could feel him take a shuddering breath. "I don't know, Elizabeth. She was too old and frail to care for Allie eight years ago, and she looks worse now than she did then. I wonder if there's something she hasn't told me." Elizabeth could hear the slight fear in Nathan's voice. She knew he would take it hard if anything were to happen to his mother.

"It kills you that you can't be here for her, doesn't it?" she asked.

Nathan nodded, resting his chin lightly against her head. He didn't say anything, and Elizabeth knew he was thinking. She turned, wrapping her arms around her husband. There was something she wanted to mention to him after having interacted with Eva all day, but she wasn't sure how he would respond. "Nathan," she said slowly, before stopping. What would he think?

"What is it, sweetheart?" he asked, looking down at her with gentle eyes, giving her the courage to carry on.

"What if you could be there for her?" she asked, her eyes locked on his. "What if we all were?"

Nathan's breathing slowed, and his eyes were filled with something Elizabeth couldn't quite decipher. "What do you mean?" he asked quietly.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and forged on. "What if we asked Eva to come live with us?" Once the words were spoken, the rest came flowing out. "You said yourself that you wanted her to visit, and that she could stay as long as she wanted, and that a room in our new home will have her name on it. What if she just stayed with us permanently? She would be close to us, able to watch her grandchildren grow up. And…"

Nathan's lips found hers, effectively silencing her. When he pulled back, tears were shining in his eyes. "I love you," he whispered. "One of the things I've always loved about you is that you think of others all the time." A tear actually broke free, and Elizabeth reached up to wipe it away. Nathan kissed her again, then pressed her to his chest with a small laugh. "I was planning on asking you tonight how you would feel about Mom possibly coming to live with us. I wasn't sure how you would react."

Elizabeth chuckled against his chest. "And here I was wondering how you would take the suggestion!" She looked up at him. "Do you think she would accept?"

Nathan looked thoughtful. "I honestly don't know. I think she would love to be around family, but she also has an independent streak the size of Canada. I suppose it depends on whether she's ready to give up being on her own. And she does love High River." He smiled. "But I think her having the option would make her day, whether she agrees to live with us or not." He looked at her, framing her face in his hands. "But do you really want this, Elizabeth? If she does say yes, that will be one more person living in our home. There would be five of us, plus any children that might come in the future."

Elizabeth looked straight into his eyes, wanting him to see her sincerity. "Nathan, she's family. Nothing is more important than family. Yes, I'm sure. If your mom wants to come live with us, I want her to live with us."

Nathan held her close, stroking her hair and letting out a long breath. "Elizabeth, you are the most amazing woman I know. Thank you, love."

She smiled. "Now we just have to ask your mom. Should we do it tonight?"

Nathan shook his head. "Let's wait about a week. Once she's had time to get to know all of us better as a family, she would have a better idea of what she would be experiencing every day."

"Oh, I didn't think of that. Good idea," Elizabeth responded.

Nathan smoothed her hair. "I'm going to go out there and play with them. Do you want to come?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "I'd love to, but I feel pretty tired. I think I'm going to just write for a bit, if that's okay."

Kissing her head, Nathan nodded. "Of course, sweetheart. Enjoy your writing." He winked. "Our soon-to-be-published author needs to start working on a follow up book."

Elizabeth pushed him toward the door, laughing. "If there's a follow up. I meant I wanted to write in my journal."

Nathan laughed, walking out the door. "Just as long as you're writing, my dear. I know how much you love it."

Elizabeth got her journal and pen from the room Eva had put her and Nathan in, and brought them to the living room. Curling up in a large, overstuffed chair, she began writing. She wrote about the end of school and her mixed emotions being on break. She wrote about their trip to High River and meeting Eva. And she wrote about the day they all had together.

Writing always helped her to process her feelings. And right now, she knew she was one of the happiest women alive.

Lucas looked at Lee as they brought the last of the lumber to the spot of Nathan and Elizabeth's future home. "Is that everything?" he asked.

Lee nodded, a pleased look on his face. The two men surveyed the progress on the house. Lucas had to admit he had been surprised and excited when Lee had told him he was getting some men together to start construction on the Grant house as a surprise for Nathan and Elizabeth. Nathan had given Lee the blueprints for the house so Lee could calculate how much lumber would be needed. They had settled on a price before Nathan left for High River, and Lee had kept the blueprints for safekeeping. The day after the Grants left town, Lee had called everyone together and asked who would be willing to help build the home. There wasn't an able-bodied man in town who hadn't volunteered to help. A week had passed, and the framing was already fully in place.

Lucas shook his head, amazed. "I can't believe how quickly this came together, Lee. Nathan and Elizabeth are going to be thrilled."

Bill walked by, carrying some lumber. "At this rate, their house will be ready by the time they get home."

"That's the idea," Lee said, giving his good-natured chuckle. "Those two have done so much for the town, it's high time the town does something for them. Besides, that rowhouse has got to feel cramped with four people living there."

Lucas looked from the house to the lake. "This is the perfect place for those two to raise a family. Beautiful, seemingly secluded, yet right outside of town. Nathan chose a good spot."

Lee nodded. "Rosie isn't thrilled that Elizabeth is no longer going to be living right next door. She's already informed me that we have to buy some land close to theirs and build a home. Though she said she doesn't want to live in the trees. She wants to live out in the open." He laughed. "I said it might be hard to find a spot close to Elizabeth and Nathan that meets those requirements." A thoughtful look crossed his face. "Though I heard a rumor that a piece of land in a clearing will be going up for sale soon, and it's fairly close to their house. That could work."

Laughing to himself, Lucas watched as the wheels turned in Lee's mind. "I'll leave you to your strategizing," he said. "I'm going to go talk to Mike for a bit."

Hickam was nowhere to be found, so Lucas rolled up his sleeves and helped Bill with more building, allowing the older man to tell him what to do without complaint. Lucas knew he wasn't as handy as the other men, but he could follow directions, and so far Bill approved of his work.

As he worked, his mind drifted to Fiona. He saw how happy the Coulters, Grants, and Flynns were. Something about marriage brought a whole new level of joy to their lives. Carson and Faith had been nearly giddy lately, and he had a feeling another wedding was going to take place in the near future.

Was he ready to take that step?

He had told Nathan he had no intention of rushing things, and he still didn't, but he had to wonder how long was appropriate to wait. He knew he loved Fiona, and she loved him. He even knew he wanted to marry her someday. But when was someday? Was he ready to settle down? Was Fiona ready to settle down?

Lucas didn't have the answers. He wasn't sure if he was ready. Marriage hadn't exactly been on his mind until very recently. Even when he'd been trying to woo Elizabeth, he hadn't had marriage at the forefront of his mind. He'd always been the romantic type, but real commitment sometimes scared him. He had never been in one place long enough to form the kinds of friendships and relationships he had here. There was something very appealing about continuing on in the single life, but there was also something about marriage that was calling to him. He knew it was because of the happiness of his friends.

He also knew marriage wasn't easy. All the couples in Hope Valley had their struggles and hard times. It wasn't easy blending two lives, two personalities, two separate hopes and dreams into one. But he'd also seen how love brought his friends through their struggles, and he admired them for it.

Lucas felt his heart soften as he thought of Fiona again. He knew he didn't need to make up his mind right now. When the time was right, he would know it.

"Hi, Lucas." Fiona's voice broke into his thoughts, and he blinked to find her standing beside him, holding a tray with a pitcher of lemonade and several cups. She smiled at him. "Want something to drink?"

Suddenly realizing how thirsty he was, Lucas nodded. "Yes, please. That sounds wonderful."

Fiona poured him a glass, then handed it over. Hickam suddenly appeared, offering to take the tray around to the other men. Fiona thanked him and handed him the tray, and Mike disappeared as quickly as he'd come. She smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "Well, that takes care of my job for the moment. Rosemary made the lemonade and asked me to bring it out here to you guys." She looked at the house, hands on her hips. "Looks like serious progress has been made."

Lucas eyed Fiona as he sipped on his lemonade. He gestured to the house. "Would you want to live somewhere like this someday?" he asked.

"Oh, no!" Fiona answered immediately. "I like living in the heart of town. I've always been a city girl, and though Hope Valley doesn't qualify as a city, I do like living close to everything." She smiled up at him. "What about you?"

Lucas felt a rush of relief at her words. "I'm the same way. I love being close to all the action." He looked around. "This is a very peaceful place, and it's perfect for Nathan and Elizabeth." He chuckled. "But I don't think I could live here. Too quiet."

"So we're on the same page," Fiona said quietly, almost to herself. Lucas studied her, wondering if he should voice his thoughts.

"Fiona?"

She looked up at him with her big brown eyes, waiting for him to continue. Lucas tried for several moments to figure out just what to say, and decided that the direct line of communication was the best. "Do you think about getting married?"

Her eyes widened. Taking some time to think first, she pursed her lips. "Of course I think about it, Lucas. I've always known I want to get married. Someday."

"What is someday?" Lucas asked softly. "I was just thinking the same thing, and realizing how ambiguous it sounds."

Fiona nodded thoughtfully. "It is ambiguous, but I think that's the point. There shouldn't be a timeline on marriage. I think a person just knows when the time is right."

Lucas hid a smile at that. Their thoughts were very similar. He took her hand. "So you're not in a rush?"

"Not at all!" Fiona exclaimed. A small smile formed on her lips. "Though that's not to say I'm not open to it in the near future. Just for reference."

"Noted," Lucas said with a laugh.

Fiona kissed his cheek before turning to head back to town. She suddenly turned. "Oh, and Lucas? I like to be surprised," she said with a wink before sauntering off down the lane, taking the empty lemonade pitcher from Hickam as she went.

Lucas felt someone clap him on the shoulder, and he turned to see Henry there smirking at him. "You know what that means, right?" he asked.

Raising a brow, Lucas put a hand on his hip. "Just how much did you hear?" he asked.

Henry laughed. "A lot. A word of advice? When you do get around to proposing to the young lady, make sure she has no idea it's coming."