Eva sighed happily, sliding an arm around Allie and Jack in the backseat of their borrowed car. "Tonight was a dream come true," she said, joy evident in her voice. "My son finally watched a play with me. And he brought his whole family too."

Nathan chuckled from his spot in the driver's seat. Eva had been stunned to learn her son could drive, but they all appreciated being able to drive to Calgary from High River rather than take the train. They had gone to see Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, and Nathan had to admit it was one of the most enjoyable evenings he could remember ever having. It helped that they had enjoyed it as a family.

"So?" Elizabeth asked, nudging him from her spot in the passenger seat beside him. "What did you think of the play?"

Nathan grinned at her, raising a brow. "What do you think I thought of the play?"

Eva and Elizabeth looked at each other and then said in unison, "He loved it."

Laughing, Nathan asked, "How do you figure that?" He got identical eyebrow raises from his wife and his mother.

"Nathan, you always answer a question with a question when you don't want to answer something directly," Eva stated. "And since you didn't come right out and say you hated it, that means you loved it."

"That, and you were laughing a lot throughout the show," Elizabeth said, nudging him with her shoulder. "Which means you enjoyed it."

Not bothering to deny it, Nathan nodded. "You're both right. I had a lot of fun. This evening was wonderful. And the play was fantastic."

Eva's grin was sporting an "I-told-you-so" look. "Glad to hear it, son," she said smugly.

Nathan couldn't help laughing at the look on her face. He glanced at her in the rearview mirror with a smile of his own. "You were right, Mom, and I was wrong."

The good-natured teasing and banter took place for the rest of the ride home. Jack fell asleep in Eva's arms, and by the time Nathan pulled up to his mother's house, she looked like she was in heaven. Cuddling Jack to her chest, she sighed. "I don't know how I'm going to bear it when you all leave in a week."

Nathan glanced at Elizabeth, who nodded almost imperceptibly. He helped his mother out of the car as she held her grandson, then said, "Mom, after we put the kids to bed, can we talk?"

Eva looked at him, her shrewd eyes picking up on something. "Of course, sweetie," she said. "I'll just go put Jack in his bed and then read another chapter of Emma with Allie." She kissed his cheek. "You and Elizabeth make yourselves comfortable in the living room. I'll be back in a bit."

Nathan sat on the settee, patting the spot next to him. Elizabeth curled up beside him, resting her head on his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her. She glanced up at him. "Do you think she's going to agree to come live with us?"

Absently tracing circles on her upper arm, Nathan shook his head. "I don't know. I thought I'd have a better sense of it by now, but she alternates saying how much she loves her independence and how much she misses her family. This could really go either way."

Elizabeth nodded. "That's the same sense I got."

Nathan's hand moved to Elizabeth's hair, gently playing with her curls as he spoke. "I think she's so used to being on her own. Ever since my father was in jail, I joined the Mounties, and Colleen got married, my mom was on her own. She's stubborn, Elizabeth."

A teasing smile lifted Elizabeth's lips. "Kind of like her only son," she said mischievously.

Nathan blinked. "Me? Stubborn? Nonsense."

His wife stared at him, her blue eyes sparkling and brows raised in challenge. Conceding by raising one hand, Nathan chuckled. "Fine, I might have a small stubborn streak."

"Small, my foot," Elizabeth laughed. She sighed as Nathan continued to run his hand through her hair. "That feels wonderful."

Nathan eyed her hair as he played with it. "I've never understood why women say they like having their hair played with, but I'm happy to do so for you," he said with a smile.

"Oh, you have no idea," Elizabeth said. "There are few things in life that feel better."

"Few, huh?" Nathan said with a smile, curling his hand against the back of her head. "And where does this rank?" He leaned forward, kissing her deeply. When he pulled back, Elizabeth's eyes were still closed, and she was wearing a sweet smile. Opening her eyes, she put a hand on his cheek. "That's pretty high on the list," she whispered, her gaze glued to his lips. Nathan smiled and pressed his lips to hers again, kissing her with abandon. Neither one knew how long they sat there lost in each other, but eventually they heard the distinct sound of someone clearing her throat.

"A-hem!"

Nathan and Elizabeth broke apart as if they were teenagers instead of a newly married couple. Eva stood at the foot of the stairs with a contented smile on her face. As she walked toward them, she said, "It does my heart good to see my little boy so much in love."

"Mo-o-m!" Nathan said, half groaning and half laughing. "I'm hardly a little boy."

Elizabeth and Eva laughed in unison. "A son is always his mama's little boy," Eva said firmly. "Isn't that right, Elizabeth?"

"Oh yes!" Elizabeth agreed with an emphatic nod. "Jack is always going to be my little boy. I don't care how big he gets or how old he gets."

Outnumbered, Nathan surrendered once more. "Alright," he said chuckling, wrapping an arm around Elizabeth and pulling her close a second time. He heard her light sigh as he began running his fingers through her hair again. She melted into him, leaning a head on his shoulder.

Eva watched the scene in front of her with obvious joy. "I love seeing the two of you together," she said softly. "Your love radiates."

Nathan smiled, sensing that the time was right. "Mom...how would you like to see us together all the time?" He held his breath as his mother's blue eyes studied him, knowing exactly what he meant by it. Elizabeth's breathing slowed as well, and she watched her mother-in-law, trying to gauge her reaction.

Eva looked between them. "I had a feeling you were going to bring this up," she said, primly crossing her legs as she leaned back in her seat. She eyed Nathan with a tilt of her head. "You don't think I can live on my own?"

"Not at all, Mom," he said sincerely. "I just know how much you love being around your family, and I thought maybe you'd want to experience that all the time."

Eva nodded. "I can't deny that I would love to live near family again," she admitted. "But I have a good life here, Nathan. I'm happy. I have good friends and neighbors. And most importantly, your father doesn't know where I am." That last sentence was punctuated by a piercing look.

Nathan studied his mother. "I know that, Mom. But Dad is changing."

"Do you know how many times I've heard that before, Nathan?" Eva asked quietly. "He always insisted he would change, but he never did." She sighed, her eyes taking on a distant look. "Believe me, I want to believe that he's changed. But trust once lost is not easily restored."

"I know," Nathan said, remembering how he had felt when his father first came to town all those months ago. He couldn't blame his mother for being wary.

She nodded. "I don't know if I want to be in a town where he is likely to visit again, son. The hurt is still too deep."

Elizabeth sat up, leaning forward to look Eva in the eyes. "I know he hurt you, Eva. But Nathan is right; Archie is trying to change. He's held down a job for nearly a year now, and he writes to Allie every week. He's trying to do what's best for his family."

Eva's eyes watered slightly, and she looked down, blinking rapidly. "Maybe someday I'll be able to forgive him," she said. "I pray every night for the grace to do so, and some days I think I have." Her eyes took on a steely determination. "But I still don't want to see him or for him to know where I am."

Nathan looked at his mother, watching her for several long moments. "So...is that a no?" he asked gently.

Eva pursed her lips. "It's not a definitive no, Nathan. It's a let's wait and see." She smiled slyly. "Once you two tell me another grandchild is on the way, I promise I will come out for a visit around the time the baby is born. And during that visit, I will decide whether or not I want to move to Hope Valley. Deal?"

Nathan breathed out a sigh of relief at the compromise. "Deal." He stood and pulled Eva into a hug. "I love you, Mom. You know we just want you nearby because we love you, right? I have no desire to make you give up your independence."

Eva raised a brow at him. "Good to know, son. Because if I do move to Hope Valley eventually, I'll be living in my own house. Not with you." She held up her hand as Nathan began to protest. "You have your own family, Nathan, and you don't need me in the way. Besides, I want to maintain some independence while I still can."

While I still can. Those words chilled Nathan, and he didn't know why. Elizabeth slid an arm around him; he could tell she shared his concern. "Eva," Elizabeth said slowly. "How's your health?"

His mother looked genuinely surprised. "Just fine, as far as I know. Why?"

"Uh…" Nathan suddenly felt the need to backpedal, but he decided to be honest. "You just seem a lot more tired than the last time I saw you."

Eva chuckled. "I'm in my seventies, Nathan. Of course I'm slowing down." Her eyes twinkled while also managing to look serious. "I may not have been able to take care of a growing girl full time all those years ago, and I've slowed down even more since then, but I assure you that I'm fit as a fiddle."

Nathan wasn't sure if he fully believed her. She had seemed too tired throughout their stay, but she had assured him that the neighbors checked in regularly. A sudden inspiration hit him. "Mom, can we get you a phone?"

She blinked at the change in topic. "What on earth for? You know I hate phones."

"For my peace of mind," Nathan said. "I'd like to be able to call you regularly, just to see how you're doing."

Eva eyed him. "To check up on me, you mean."

Nathan blushed, feeling a little like a boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar, but his mother came toward him and wrapped her arms around him. "I love you, Nathan, and I'm glad you care so much." She leaned up, kissing his cheek. "If it will give you peace of mind, I'll agree to having a phone installed."

Feeling a rush of relief, Nathan smiled, brushing some hair back from her face. "Thank you, Mom."

"I can't believe we're going home tomorrow," Elizabeth said softly, cocooned tightly in Nathan's arms. "This has been a wonderful trip."

Her husband shifted slightly in their bed, nestling her closer and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "It has," he agreed. "It made me realize how much I miss Mom."

Elizabeth looked up at him, tracing the worry lines that had suddenly creased his forehead. "You're disappointed that she's not going to be living with us, aren't you?" she asked.

She could see him blinking back tears. "Yes," he said quietly. "I knew there was a 50/50 chance either way, but somehow I thought she would end up coming home with us." He sighed. "I'm going to miss her."

Feeling a little coy, Elizabeth smiled at him, batting her eyes. "Well, there is one sure way to get her to Hope Valley for a visit," she said, reaching up to kiss him.

He looked momentarily confused, then a light dawned in his eyes and a slow smile spread across his face. "A baby?"

She nodded with a little giggle. "We could always work on making that happen."

Nathan answered her with a long, passionate kiss. "You'll get no argument from me, Mrs. Grant."

The next morning, they stood at the train station with their children and Eva. Allie and Jack were holding onto their grandmother tightly, not wanting to leave her. Eva was kissing them, promising to visit as soon as she could, looking over at Nathan and Elizabeth with a twinkle in her eyes. "Hopefully very soon," she said, winking at them.

Elizabeth felt her cheeks flame while Nathan laughed. "She really wants a grandbaby," he said, smiling down at Elizabeth.

She looped her arm through his, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I can't blame her. I know I said we should wait a while, but lately I've been finding myself really wanting to have another baby." She smiled, holding his arm tighter. "And when it does happen, I'll have you there to experience it with me," she said softly. "You have no idea how much that means to me."

Nathan cupped her cheek in his hand, giving her a tender smile. "I can't wait to start on that journey with you."

Eva came over to the two of them, throwing her arms first around Nathan, then around Elizabeth. "I'm going to miss you," she whispered. "But I know we'll see each other again." A sly smile formed on her face. "Soon."

"Mom!" Nathan said. Eva ignored that and gave him another tight hug. "I love you, son. Have a safe trip home."

"Thanks, Mom," he said. Elizabeth could tell he was fighting back his emotions. Her sweet husband was going to miss his mother something awful.

Another round of hugs later, the four Grants were on the train, waving goodbye to Eva. Allie and Jack waved from the window until their grandmother was out of sight, and then Allie slumped against her seat. "I miss her already," she said. Looking at her parents, her eyes were wide and pleading. "Can you two hurry up and have a baby so that grandma will come visit?"

"There seems to be a theme going on here," Elizabeth said with a laugh, wrapping an arm around her daughter. "Allie, having a baby takes time. Nine months, to be exact. And that's after a pregnancy starts. Your father and I have no idea when that might be."

Allie sighed loudly. "Just as long as it's soon," she insisted.

Nathan smiled as he pulled Jack onto his lap. "We'll do our best," he said, and Elizabeth could swear he was trying not to laugh.

As the miles rolled on, Elizabeth reflected on their trip. Eva was a sweet, wonderful mother-in-law, and Elizabeth truly couldn't wait to see her again. She was generous and gracious, and she reminded Elizabeth so much of Nathan, from her looks to her demeanor to her way of speaking. It had been a wonderful two weeks in High River.

But as wonderful as their time there had been, Elizabeth knew she would be glad to get back to Hope Valley. She missed it whenever she was away. Hope Valley was home, and the saying really was true: there's no place like home.