Two weeks later

Julie headed to Rosie's Café to pick up food and then she walked over to the bank to see Charles. The last two weeks had been good. They talked every evening when he came by Jack and Elizabeth's to pick up Charlie. He had also taken her to dinner twice and made dinner twice at the apartment.

Now, she decided she was going to make an effort too and take him lunch as a surprise.

She walked in and the bell above the door jingled.

"Hey," he said with a smile from behind the counter. "This is a nice surprise."

"I thought maybe we could have lunch." She lifted the small basket.

"Okay. I need to wait until Luke is back from his lunch and then I can sit for a few moments."

"Great." She sat down in one of the chairs to wait as Charles helped a few customers. She watched him greet people and count out money, smiling his handsome smile and shaking people's hand. He was certainly charming and it made her insides feel all gooey.

"Julie?" She looked up. Charles was standing there. Somehow Luke had come back from lunch and she hadn't noticed. "I can take thirty minutes," Charles told her, leading her into his office.

She took roast beef sandwiches and apple pie out of the basket, setting them on his desk.

"Mm. Roast beef from the café? One of my favorites," he said, his dimples out in full view.

She gulped and gave him a shy smile. Courting Charles Kensington was proving to be a test to her. Yes, she already had deep feelings for him, but she forced herself not to push him for affection. Honestly, she felt if he didn't hold her hand or hug her soon, she might go crazy.

But for him, it had only been two weeks. For her, the feelings had grown over months. She had to remind herself of that whenever she caught a whiff of his cologne or aftershave.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, pulling her out of her musings.

"Nothing much."

"Very well. How was Charlie today?"

"An angel. Like always," she said with a big grin. She couldn't help herself. The little three year old had her heart.

"That's good. Beth doesn't mind watching all four kids?"

"No, but Charlotte is visiting so they told me to get some fresh air."

"I'm glad."

Julie looked into his eyes. He seemed genuinely happy she was there.

"What's on your mind, Julie?"

"I…um…I'm glad I'm here. That….we are together…here," she stammered.

He reached over and covered her hand with his. "Will you take a walk with me tonight, Julie?"

"Yes."

"Good."

The rest of the day Charles was preoccupied with thoughts of Julie. He had no specific plans for their walk but he was looking forward to being alone, without Charlie in the room or Jack and Elizabeth nearby.

After they ate dinner with everyone, they excused themselves and headed outdoors. It was a warm early June evening with clear skies, a few stars making their appearance as the sun set.

"Julie, how do you feel about what we are doing?"

"Taking a walk? Fine."

Charles chuckled. "No, not the walk part. You and me. Courting."

"Oh. Good."

"Are you enjoying it?"

"For the most part." She could feel him trying to get to the real reason behind her stammering earlier. She wasn't sure how much she should divulge.

"Which parts aren't working?"

He paused and offered his hand. She slipped her fingers inside his grasp. "I…."

"Please, you can tell me anything."

"I want this," she said, squeezing his hand. "I'm so impatient, Charles. It's one of my biggest faults, I know. And I know how I'm feeling about you and I am trying really hard to go slow."

"I appreciate that you're taking it slow. But, I'll try to be more affectionate, if that's what you're referring to."

"It is. But if you're not comfortable, I understand. I don't want to push you or dishonor Vi and I don't want you to be affectionate if you don't feel like you should." She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I ramble when I get nervous. Yet another fault."

"I have faults too, Julie."

"Name one." She didn't know of very many.

"I'm impatient too. Especially when I'm tired, and Vi said I snore."

Julie giggled. "Snoring isn't something you can control. I wouldn't say it's a fault."

"I'm uptight. I know that I am but that's just my personality, I guess," he said, shrugging.

"I guess maybe you could loosen up a bit, but I don't mind it too much."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"I'll help." She started walking faster, pulling him toward the small lake behind the orphanage.

"Julie, where are we going?"

"To the lake."

"Why?"

"Trust me."

He sighed, allowing her to pull him along. When they arrived at the edge of the water, he watched her removing her shoes and knee socks.

"What are you doing?"

"Wading." She lifted her skirt to her knees and walked into the cold water. "Whoa! It's cold!"

"Yes! It's not summer yet, Julie. Come out of there before you catch pneumonia."

"I'm fine. Now take off your shoes and socks and come in."

"Julie, my pants will get…."

She stood staring, raising her eyebrows. "Trust me."

He sighed and untied his shoes, placing his socks very carefully inside. Julie giggled. "What?"

"I guess you are uptight. Even the way you put your socks in your shoes…"

"Told you." He rolled his pants up to his knees and walked in, gasping at the water. "Good heavens, Julie. How are your feet not freezing?"

"They are, but that's okay." She lifted her foot and kicked a small wave of water at him.

"Hey!"

She laughed and did it again. This time, his eyes lit up and he returned the gesture, making her shriek.

Before they knew what was happening, they were both soaked and laughing. As she continued splashing around, he stopped and watched her. "Charles?"

"Why don't we build a fire to warm up?" he suggested.

"Do you know how to build one?" she asked, a gleam in her eyes.

"No, I don't but I can figure it out. Let's gather some wood."

Before long, thanks to the matches she happened to have in her pocket that were miraculously dry, they sat by a small fire, drying their clothes and warming up.

"Thanks, Julie."

"For what?"

"Tonight. It's been a long time since I laughed that much."

She leaned against his shoulder and wiggled her toes at the warmth from the fire. "Glad to help."

….

Jack walked out of the livery and headed for the mercantile. Elizabeth needed some things for dinner and he wanted to get her some more lavender soap.

As he pulled the items from the shelves, he smelled the soap and smiled. Yep, that was her. "Jack! May I speak with you?" Jesse wondered.

"Sure. What about?"

"I have some news. You owned the store in Aberdeen, right?"

"Yes I did."

"Well, I'm looking to expand this one, basically double the size. The town is growing a lot and I think if we expanded, it would be helpful to a lot of people."

"That makes sense."

"What I am wondering is if you would like to be my partner. Help me expand by investing and help me run the place. I figure, since I'm seeing Clara now and you and Mrs. Thornton have three little ones, we both could benefit from having more time on our hands."

"I could definitely benefit from that. Between you and me, I never saw myself as a person working in a livery. I do it because I need to support a family but I would much rather be here every day. Let me talk with Elizabeth and I will get back to you. Give me until tomorrow, okay?"

"You got it."

"Great. Now, I need to buy these things."

That evening, after the kids were in bed, Charles and Julie offered to watch the children while Jack and Elizabeth took a walk.

"It's a warm night," Elizabeth commented as Jack took her hand and they walked toward the pond.

"It is." He kissed the back of her hand and smiled. "I have some news."

"I thought maybe something was on your mind. You were awfully quiet during dinner."

"I talked to Jesse today and he told me about an opportunity."

"What kind of opportunity?"

"Well, he wants to expand the store, basically double it, and he wondered if I would be interested in investing and helping him run it."

"Is that something you want to do?"

"If I am being honest, yes. I was hoping something would come along like this. Help me get out of the livery."

She knew Jack didn't exactly enjoy the livery work but he never complained. She didn't complain about the plethora of muscles he had since acquired either.

Jack told her the amount that he would be investing and she raised her eyebrows. "You have that much?"

"We and yes. I sold the store in Aberdeen and I haven't used any of it. I think this would be good for us, Elizabeth. Good for all of us. I wouldn't be working every day after we get it up and running. Jesse and I would split the work."

"I think if it would make you happy, you should do it."

"Are you sure? I mean we are doing just fine with me working at the livery so if you have any reservations…"

She squeezed his hand and turned toward him. "I think you should do it, Jack."

"Alright. I will tell Jesse tomorrow after work then."

…..

Back at the house….

Charles watched Julie cuddle baby Vi, talking quietly to her, gently massaging her arms and legs to soothe her. Almost immediately after Jack and Elizabeth left, Vi started crying as if she was aware that they weren't there. Now, she had quieted and she was looking up at Julie with her big blue eyes, kicking her legs and moving her arms.

"That's right, sweet Vi. Auntie's here."

"You are good with her, Julie," he told her. "You are good with all of them."

"I love them very much. Especially Charlie," she told him. She definitely loved him like he was her own.

"I know." He took her hand in his and intertwined their fingers. "I received a telegram from your father today, Julie."

"He wants me to come home," she said, not questioning it. She knew that eventually the request would be coming. She had been in Hope Valley about seven weeks and William Thatcher didn't do well when his children weren't nearby.

"Yes."

"I'm not going back, Charles. At least not right now. This is where I need to be."

"Why is that?"

"Beside the fact that Vi is only a month old and Elizabeth still needs help, this is where you and Charlie are. I don't want to leave any of you."

"Do you want me to wire him back and let him know you'll be staying?"

"No, I will do it tomorrow."

"You do realize that knowing your father, he will probably show up here at some point to "talk some sense" into you."

"Yes. I do. By then, I hope to have a job and a place to live so that I can show him I am independent."

"What type of job?"

"I don't know. Maybe I will see if they have a place for me at the Hope Home."

"Or the restaurant?"

"Maybe."

"Or maybe I can pay you to care for Charlie?"

"No. I won't take money for that. He is my….I just….I take care of him because I love him. I don't want money for that." She knew that her voice betrayed her emotion on the subject. She took offense to his suggestion. How could he possibly think that she of all people would be willing to take money to watch Charlie?

"Alright. I didn't meant to upset you. I just wanted to help you out."

"I need to put Vi down."

"Julie…"

"Goodnight, Charles."

"Wait, please. We can't go to bed angry. That's one thing I will not give in on."

She stared at him for a moment and then nodded. "I will be back in a moment."

By the time she came out, Jack and Elizabeth were arriving. They saw the look on both Julie and Charles' faces and excused themselves to their room for the night.

Charles, gestured to the cushion next to him. "Please," he said gently. She sat down and sighed when he took her hand again. "Tell me why what I said upset you."

"I love him, Charles. Like he was my own. How could you suggest that I take money for watching him?"

"I had no intention of offending you. He loves you like you are his mother as well. I have come to terms with that and I am fully aware of how you feel. I only wanted to help you. That's all." She wiped a tear and stood up, but he kept hold of her hand. "Julie."

"What?" she asked through her tears.

"Forgive me?" he asked, standing close.

She nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder. "I love you," she whispered, almost too quiet for him to hear. But he did.

She looked up at him, hoping for a kiss. Oh how she wanted that kiss. She could see his hesitation though. He just wasn't ready. She felt his soft lips caress her forehead and decided to accept that for now.