TWO DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS, HOPE VALLEY
Caleb and Amy allowed Mason a few moments with Marie before they left for the train station. They stood just inside the now empty home where the family had lived.
"Please don't cry," he told her, as her tears dampened his shirt.
"I can't help it. I'm losing my best friend."
"You are not losing me. I am coming back after I graduate and then we can be together. You and me." He kissed her forehead and stepped back a moment. "I have something for you."
She wiped her cheeks and looked at his hand. "Mason?"
He opened the little felt bag and pulled it out. "It's a promise ring." He slipped it on her right hand. "I will come back to you. This ring will remind you of that promise, ok?" He leaned down and kissed her soft lips. "Will you wait for me?"
"Yes." She nodded and hugged him once more. "Please write to me."
"Promise."
The door opened next to them. "Time to go, Mase," Caleb told him.
"Thanks, Dad." He kissed her once more and then they walked out of the house.
It killed him to leave her. She had lost so many people in her life that she felt unloved and unworthy and she needed to have someone keep their promise to her. He would be that person. His heart hurt as they pulled away from the station. He could see her standing there, waving, tears on her cheeks.
"I love you, Marie," he whispered.
…..
BUXTON
Amy finished cleaning the entire home with Meri's help. It had three bedrooms, instead of five, but it had running water and electricity so that almost made up for it.
Mason did not like the fact he had to share a bedroom with Logan and Joe but he just told himself it would only be for six months and that helped.
Meri didn't mind sharing with Lily. They had always been close, ever since she was born.
Caleb walked into the kitchen. "Ames? What do you think?"
"It's fine."
"I couldn't find anything bigger and this is paid for by the Mounties so…"
"It's fine, Caleb." She nodded, reassuring him.
"Do you want to go for a walk, Ames?"
"Yes. Meri, will you stay with the kids?"
"Sure."
"Thanks, sweetie. We will bring back some groceries. Lock the door behind us."
Amy wrapped her coat tighter around herself and shivered. It was cold. Caleb offered his hand and she took it. It was nice to be walking around town with just him. No kids.
"This is nice," he said, as if reading her mind. "You know, just us." She smiled and grabbed his arm with her free hand.
"It is." He led her away from town for a moment, down a tree-lined path. "Where are we headed?"
"Just toward the lake. It will be perfect in the summer to fish or swim. The kids will like it." They just walked for a bit and then he turned toward her. "You going to be ok here?"
"Yeah. It's new but it seems nice."
"How did I get so lucky?" He sighed and pulled her close. "You're wonderful, babe." All the stress he had put her through their whole marriage and she stuck by him and loved him. She moved with him, organizing everything and making them as comfortable as possible. "Thank you for everything you do. I couldn't do this without you by my side."
"That's a sweet thing to say, but could you do it for a week, maybe two?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the kids have school and I need to see my Dad. Sara sent me a telegram before we left Hope Valley. He's not doing well."
"Well, then you should go see him."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. Family is everything and it sounds like your Dad needs a good dose of it right now."
"Thank you, Caleb. I'll leave in a few weeks."
Not only did Kevin need her, but she needed time for herself. It would do her good to think about something other than not having another baby. Perhaps it would even help her have one in the long run.
…..
A WEEK LATER, HARRIS TOWN
Jay prepared to leave for school. The train was arriving in a few hours and he needed to say goodbye to his beautiful fiancé. He didn't want to, but he knew it was necessary.
He looked around his childhood room. It was pretty much the same, except now, it was only Charlie and Bradley sharing it. The girl's room only had Kiki and Lydie. He wondered if his parents would stay there once all the kids were grown or if they would have a smaller home. Then he laughed at himself. Of course they would keep the house. If everyone continued to come home for Christmas, they would need a place to stay.
"Jay?"
"Hey, Lyd."
"You leavin?"
"Yep. I need to go back to school." He sat down on his bed and looked at his little sister.
"I'm gonna miss you."
"I'll miss you too." She walked over and hugged him, laying her head on his shoulder. "I'll come home soon though."
"Then you'll be a doctor?"
"Yep, an animal doctor. It's called a veterinarian."
"I like animals," she said with a grin.
"And I like you, Lydie Thornton." He tickled her and was rewarded with a burst of giggles.
"I love you, Jay."
….
Jay and Sara sat by the fire at Kevin's house to say goodbye.
Sara was going to go crazy for six months until she saw him again, she was sure of it. Jay sighed. He could feel her sadness in the way she clung to him.
He didn't know how to make it better because he was sad too. He turned slightly and touched her cheek, gazing directly into her beautiful eyes. "I love you," he whispered. "The next time I see you, we will be getting married."
A tear escaped her eye, slowly running down her cheek. She pressed her lips to his, trying to hold on to him as long as she could. "This is so hard."
"I know. I wish you could come with me."
"I could, but I don't want to leave my dad right now."
He nodded, his lips softly caressing her forehead. "I really need to go. I need to see Carlie and I want to meet baby Faith."
"Ok." They stood and walked to the door. "Jay," she said, tears rolling down her face. "I love you." He hugged and kissed her once more and left.
…..
THE BOARDING HOUSE
Kiki straightened her skirt and blouse and then refastened her hair, checking her reflection in the mirror. Cam was coming back today. His train would be coming into town in about an hour.
"Kiki, are you going to help me sometime today?" Abbie asked from outside the door.
Kiki opened the door and glared a bit. "Hold your horses, Abbie. I was only in there like five minutes."
"Yeah well. I know Cam comes today, but you promised to help me."
"I have been helping you. Why so impatient?"
"I take this place seriously. Apparently it's my future and I want to make it the best I can."
"I thought it was your dream. You make it sound like you don't want it."
Abbie sighed. "Of course I do."
"But you want more."
"Yeah. I don't think anything is wrong with that."
"No, there isn't. "
Kiki worked hard for the next hour until they heard the train pull into town. Abbie looked at her sister. She was trying to pretend she didn't want to run out the door, but not doing a good job. "Are you going to go see him?"
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Kiki asked, glancing at the door.
"Go."
Kiki grinned, kissed Abbie's cheek, and ran out the door.
She hurried toward the stream. Once she got there, she sat on the log and waited, rather impatiently. She didn't understand the feelings she was having. She knew that Cam was her best friend, but thinking of him walking up to her any second made her feel more than just friend feelings. She, for some reason, wanted him to kiss her lips, not her forehead or her cheek. She wanted his arms around her.
"Kiki?"
She turned and smiled, forcing herself not to run to him. "Hi!" He rushed over and hugged her tight against him. She felt safe there. "I missed you," she said quietly, looking up at him.
"I missed you, too." He kissed her forehead and then her cheeks. "I brought you a gift. Merry Christmas, Kiki." He handed her a little box.
"I don't have a gift for you."
"You are my gift." The things that he said to her, made her stomach do flip flops. She hugged him again before taking a moment to open the box.
"Oh, it's beautiful, Cam." She held the heart shaped pendant to the sunlight, catching the red stone that hung inside. She turned and he fastened the back for her. "Thank you."
The whole time he was gone, he wanted to be home. She was in his heart and he knew she would be there forever. He just wished they were older. At this point, they would be playing the waiting game for about four years until he was done with college and they could get married. Four years. It might just drive him crazy.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked. "You seem like you are somewhere else."
"No, I am right here." He grabbed her hand and they started walking back to town slowly. "So what did you do last week?"
…
Jack sat at the table watching Elizabeth cook dinner. She kept looking over at him and smiling. "Jack, why are you watching me?"
"Because I can't keep my eyes off of you."
She felt her cheeks heat. "Oh, nonsense." It had been awhile since they had taken time for themselves, like gone away for a night, or had Charlotte watch the kids for a while. She hoped that he would bring it up, but he hadn't yet.
"Not nonsense. Truth. You are beautiful."
"You are silly, Jack Thornton." She had started seeing gray strands appearing in her hair and more wrinkles around her eyes. She certainly wasn't like she used to be. Not even five years before.
He stood and walked over, turned her gently and kissed her deeply, taking her breath. "Do you doubt how I feel?" he asked, leaning her back against the counter and touching her cheek.
"I suppose not, I just don't feel it sometimes. I'm old, Jack."
"No, you're not. You look the same to me as you did when I met you in Coal Valley."
She shook her head and kissed him again. "You need glasses, dear."
She turned back around and continued making her stew and biscuits.
"I can see just fine." He watched her again, aware that she knew he was watching. "Hon, what do you see when you look at me?"
"What do I see?"
"Yep. Just curious. I mean, I am older than you. I have more gray hair and…"
"And you have never given birth to nine children."
"No, but I use a cane and have a permanent limp."
"Jack, it's not the same."
"Yes it is." He turned her again to look at him. "Tell me. What do you see?"
"I see you. Jack Thornton. The same man I fell in love with almost thirty years ago."
"Because it is me and you are you. Love doesn't go away just because we get older, or get more gray hair, or walk with a limp, or have children. At least it hasn't for me."
"Me either, of course. Jack, I think we need to get Mom to stay with the kids for a few days. We need time to ourselves."
"Ok. I'll arrange it." He reached out and pulled her close. "You ok?"
"Yes, I just need to….I need something different."
"Elizabeth, what's going on?" She looked like she was about to cry. "What's making you upset?"
"I don't know."
Kiki wandered in to the kitchen, in a good mood, but then she saw her mom crying. "Mom?"
"Hey, sweetie." Elizabeth wiped her cheeks and smiled.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, babe. Did you see Cam?"
"Yes."
"How was he?"
"Good."
Elizabeth chuckled. "That necklace is new."
"Yes, it was a Christmas present." Kiki couldn't stop from smiling. She was happy. "Mama, are you sure that you are ok?"
"I'm sure." Kiki walked over and hugged her. "Thank you, sweetie. I needed that."
Elizabeth stirred her stew and started on the biscuits. "I can make the biscuits, Ma. You rest."
"Sweetie, I'm ok."
"I'll make them." Kiki kissed her cheek and assembled the ingredients.
Jack led Elizabeth to the living room so they could sit by the fire. "Babe, tell me."
"I don't want to be old, Jack. I just want us to be young and I want to still have babies and I want to still look like I did." She hated that she was complaining. Their life had been good and she honestly couldn't ask for more, she just felt like death was just around the corner. Charlotte was the only parent they had left and she was seventy one.
Jack could see her looking at the future as if their lives were almost over. The way he saw it, they were right where they should be. He didn't know how to convince her of that, though.
…..
A few days later, he took her out of town, hopefully to get her in a better frame of mind. Charlotte stayed with the kids at the house and they hopped on a train to Deer Falls.
As they sat in their compartment, he held her hand and she stared out the window. "What if we move, Jack?" she blurted.
"Move?"
"Yeah."
"Where?"
"I don't know. Vancouver?"
"Babe, you hate the city."
"I'm in a rut, Jack. I need a change."
"What happened? This is where our home is. Carlie and Drew are here. Some of our grandchildren and my Mom. You know Abbie won't leave and I am pretty sure Kiki won't want to go because of Cam."
"Jack, I am serious."
"Let's talk this through. What if we wait until Kiki and Cam are married? The way I figure it, they will need to wait at least four years for him to finish college."
"Four years."
"Yes, and then we can move."
"Promise?"
"Yes, if you still want to move when Kiki and Cam get married, we will move. You pick the place."
He figured it was only fair. She had moved here when he got transferred and she had made a lot of compromises over the years. It was his turn to compromise.
….
