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Chapter 15

"How did it go?" Nathan asked. He slowed his pace to hers as they started their walk back into town.

"They promised not to elope," she said shortly.

"So you saved the day," he enthused. "I knew you would. You're very convincing."

His friendly smile faded when she looked at him with anguish. Or was it anger?

"Elizabeth, are you upset? Did the parents blame you, as you thought they might?"

"No, they didn't. But when Frannie and Albert made their case for why they wanted to be married, one of their reasons was because Jack and I had so little time as husband and wife before he died."

His heart sank. There was so much he could tell her, but the minute she'd thought he might be leading into that conversation weeks ago — even though he hadn't been — she shut him down.

"I'm sorry," he eventually said. "I truly am."

He figured she would see his apology as a confession that he was closely involved with her husband's death — something both Elizabeth and Rosemary already seemed to suspect.

I can't defend myself against something I can't explain.

He sighed.

At least we were friends for a time. If only for a short time.

They walked together without another word until he bid her good night at the Coulters' door, and took himself home with a heavy heart.

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With construction on the new house under way, Nathan had a lot to keep him busy in the weeks that followed their visit to the Grigg home.

As usual, he collected Betsy from Elizabeth's every evening and appreciated that she allowed him a few minutes with little Jack before sending them on their way. She seemed to have settled into a routine with him — able to smile when he and her son interacted — even though the humor never quite reached her eyes.

It haunted him that she seemed even more sad now than on the first day they'd met. For a brief moment, he'd considered requesting an assignment to a new post — for Elizabeth's sake. But he couldn't ask Betsy to start over when she was on the road to healing from her parents' deaths. She'd given her heart to Hope Valley, and was surrounded by everyone's love in return.

He was thankful a little of that affection continued to flow to him. It sustained him, now that he'd lost the first friend he'd made among the townsfolk. Elizabeth had been kind to him even before Betsy came to town and charmed her, along with everyone else.

His boots crunched on the gravel road leading to the row houses. Following his afternoon rounds, he'd spent a few hours hammering boards with Lee's crew at the construction site after changing from his uniform into a work shirt and pants.

He noticed that his clothes seemed to fit more snugly these days.

Either I've been eating better, or I'm building up some muscles, he considered, figuring it was the latter since he hadn't had much of an appetite lately.

He passed the Coulter home and was about to take the steps to Elizabeth's when Rosemary called to him.

"Nathan, we're at my place tonight." She waved him over. "I know it's last-minute, but you don't have plans for dinner, do you?"

He wanted to lie and say, "Sorry, we're busy." He truly believed Elizabeth would want him to lie.

But he couldn't. Instead, he said, "We're free as a bird," and tried his hardest to grin after catching a glimpse of Elizabeth and little Jack through the open doorway.

Rosemary smiled in return, and he saw a hint of sympathy in her eyes.

"I know you like beef, and somehow Ned gave me a much larger roast than I'd ordered. Please stay share it with us."

He opened his mouth to refuse, but again, he couldn't.

"Plus, Betsy's craving my peach cobbler for dessert, and she's picking flowers for the dinner table right now," she said, leaving him no option but to say yes.

"We would be delighted." He forced a smile and vowed to keep it on his face no matter what!

"Excellent!" She took his arm and just about pulled him through the door, as though he might change his mind. "Would you watch little Jack while Elizabeth helps me in the kitchen?" The youngster in question was a wiggly mass of energy in his mother's arms as he reached out to his friend. "Look at him — I don't think he's seen enough of you lately."

Also wearing a practiced smile, Elizabeth handed over her son. "Thank you," she said, before moving off to the kitchen area.

"Have a seat," Rosemary offered. "I know how hard you and the men are working on the house. Lee will be here soon. Take a minute and relax while you can."

He wasn't sure if relaxing would be possible, with Elizabeth glaring over her shoulder every few seconds and little Jack enthusiastically planting wet kisses on his cheek."

"I love you, too, little guy," Nathan whispered, pressing his lips against the child's forehead and earning a giggle in return. "I've missed you."

Nathan wasn't the only one whose muscles had gotten stronger. Holding little Jack was like wrestling a tiger cub. His tiny toes dug into Nathan's lap and tried to scale up his stomach. Nathan had to shift to one side and wrap his arms securely around him to keep his scar safe from the little fellow's antics.

In the comfort his friend's arms, the youngster began to settle down, as though he'd missed Nathan as much as Nathan missed him. It wasn't naptime, but the baby's eyes began to close as he reclined against Nathan's chest. Nathan locked his hands around him and closed his eyes, too, if for no other reason than to avoid Elizabeth's look of displeasure at having him there.

Although, at his last peek, she didn't appear quite as hostile as she'd seemed when he first arrived.

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"Aren't they adorable?" Rosemary gushed, keeping her voice down. "How can you keep them apart? They love each other."

"I'm doing it for my son's own good," Elizabeth defended. "The closer they get, the more disappointed he'll be once he knows what happened between his father and Nathan."

"We still don't know what happened."

"Nathan apologized. I'd say that's an admission."

"Really? What did he apologize for?"

"When we were coming home from Frannie's, I mentioned Jack's death, and he said he was sorry."

Rosemary frowned. "Elizabeth, that sounds like something any of us would say after someone speaks about a painful subject. How many times have we, your friends, said we're sorry, even though we weren't anywhere near as it happened."

"But, you said yourself you think he was there," Elizabeth said.

"Two men were saved, but many men were there," Rosemary pointed out. "Maybe you should talk to him about it."

"No." Elizabeth was adamant. "If there's any chance it's what I think, I don't want to know."

"But if you knew, you'd be free from the constant wondering. If Nathan's alive because Jack died, you could begin breaking ties with him. I'd be happy to watch Betsy after school, or act as your go-between when he picks her up. Little Jack is young enough that we can help him ease his attachment away from Nathan and toward Lee — I know my husband would love that." Rosemary gently took her friend by the shoulders. "I love you, Elizabeth, and I can see that ignorance is not bliss where Nathan is concerned."

Elizabeth turned her gaze to the little one cradled in the arms of her one-time friend, both of whom were now dozing.

"No, it hasn't been blissful at all," she agreed. "But I can't bring myself to ask him, Rosemary. I just can't."

"Maybe I can help," Rosemary said.

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See Chapter 16

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Thank you to all who have offered enthusiastic reviews of my story!

My heart goes out to those who prefer to read stories about Elizabeth and Jack.

I know that his loss will forever be felt.

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If you enjoyed this story, please check out my fan fiction about "Chesapeake Shores."

Search fanfiction . net for writer "Annette Zoaps."

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