December 1924

"Next stop, Hamilton! Next stop, Hamilton!"

Elizabeth felt a rush of excitement. Soon the long train trip across the country would be over, and she would be reunited with her parents. The Thatchers had invited the Grants to visit for Christmas. Though it involved six days on a train one way, Elizabeth and Nathan decided to take the trip and introduce their children to the life their mother had grown up with. William and Grace had visited twice for Christmas in the past few years. Elizabeth was looking forward to spending Christmas in Hamilton. It would be a different experience seeing it through the eyes of her husband and children.

She looked down at their youngest. Little April was almost two years old, named for the month in which she'd been born. "Are you ready to meet your grandparents, sweet girl?"

April giggled and nodded. Five-year-old Amy pulled on Elizabeth's arm. "Are Grandpa and Grandma going to meet us at the station?"

"Grandpa is. He's bringing a car to pick us up and take us to the house."

Allie glanced out the window, eyes wide. "This city is huge, Mom! I know you said it was, but I didn't imagine anything so grand."

Elizabeth felt a small lump in her throat as she looked at her now-grown daughter. Allie was eighteen and an adult in her own right, but she still possessed a sense of wonder. She was on Christmas break from her college studies, excited to be traveling with the family to a new city. Elizabeth looked out the window herself, trying to see Hamilton through her daughter's eyes.

"It's grown since I was here last. Father said things have been changing at the speed of lightning." She chuckled. "I still don't know if he thinks that's a good thing or not."

"Knowing Grandpa, he's glad it's growing for the sake of his business, but personally, he hates it."

Elizabeth chuckled. "That sounds about right."

Amy tugged on her arm again. "When's Daddy coming back with the boys?"

"They'll be here soon, Amy. Daddy had to check on something." In truth, Nathan had taken eight-year-old Jack and their three-year-old twins, Jordan and Jude, to run up and down the deserted railcar near the back of the train. The boys had so much energy that needed release. Nathan made the trek to the back car several times a day so they didn't burst with boredom.

Allie took Amy's hand. "Why don't we go for a walk?" She glanced at Elizabeth. "If that's alright with you, Mom?"

Elizabeth nodded. "That's fine. Just be back within ten minutes. The train will be pulling into the station shortly."

Her two older daughters headed out of the travel car. Elizabeth smiled at April. "I guess it's just you and me for now."

"Me an Mama." April clapped her hands, then pointed out the window. "Wat dat?"

Elizabeth tried to figure out what April meant. "The horse?"

"Howsey!"

They played a version of I Spy. Elizabeth tried to contain her excitement, but as the train slowed, she spotted her father waiting at the platform. Tears misted her eyes. She hadn't been to her childhood home since the weeks following Jack's death. Though Hope Valley was home, she had to admit at times she missed Hamilton, mainly because that's where her parents lived.

A commotion at the door of their traveling compartment brought Elizabeth's attention there. Jordan and Jude raced into the small space, running circles between the seats. Jack flopped on the bench, shaking his head. "They are crazy, Mom."

Nathan entered behind the boys. He ruffled Jack's hair with a laugh. "You were pretty energetic yourself at their age, son."

Jack eyed his brothers dubiously. "Are you sure about that?"

Elizabeth chuckled. "You were indeed. Though since there was only one of you, it did feel a little easier." She caught Jordan by his arm, expertly pulling him up into her lap beside April. "You, young man, need to settle."

Jordan giggled. "Mama! I wanna run!"

Nathan scooped up Jude as the train screeched to a halt. "It's time to see your grandparents. No more running until we get to the house. Then you can run all you want."

"Yay!" The twins' voices chorused together. Allie appeared in the doorway, Amy at her side. Amy's face lit when she saw Nathan. "Daddy!" She climbed into his arms despite the fact that her brother was nestled there. Nathan simply laughed and made room for her. Allie sat beside Jack. Within minutes, they received the clearance to leave the train. Gathering their things, the family made their way to the nearest exit.

Elizabeth climbed down the steps first, and immediately she found herself enveloped in her father's arms. She hugged him tight. "Father. I've missed you."

"I missed you too, Beth."

April pushed on the older man's chest. "Wat dat?" She stared up at her grandfather, her blue eyes wide. All four of Nathan and Elizabeth's biological children had brilliant irises like their father, with specks of deeper blue like their mother's.

She smiled at her daughter. "This is your grandfather."

April tucked her face into Elizabeth's neck. Elizabeth looked at her father apologetically. "She's a little shy."

He smiled. "Reminds me of her mother when she was a little girl." He patted her cheek affectionately. "It's good to have you home." His attention then turned to the rest of the family. A general cacophony of noise sounded as the children greeted him with enthusiasm. He and Nathan exchanged a quick handshake before Father grinned at his grandchildren and doled out hugs. After their reunion, everything was packed into his car and they set off for the house.

The children stared out the window at the unfamiliar sights and sounded. Even Jordan and Jude seemed awed by the magnificence of the city. Elizabeth hadn't seen them sit so still since they were stricken with the flu as toddlers. Nathan leaned toward his, his breath tickling her ear. "This is amazing."

She turned to face him. "You've never been to Hamilton?"

He shook his head. "I've never been more than halfway across the country. This is a first." He slipped an arm around her shoulders. "I'm happy to be sharing it with you."

She leaned her head against his arm. "So I am."

When they reached the house, there was another round of welcomes as the children met their grandmother. Though Grace Thatcher had held herself a bit aloof when Elizabeth and her sisters were children, with her grandchildren she was an absolute softie. Mother reminded her a lot of Bill. Elizabeth smiled to herself, tucking that nugget of information away to share with Nathan later.

Mother embraced her. "My darling girl. Your father and I are thrilled to be spending Christmas with you and your family."

"I feel the same." Elizabeth pulled back, looking around the grand foyer. "I see nothing has changed."

Her mother chuckled. "Of course not." She patted her arm. "Your room hasn't changed either. That's where you've put you and Nathan. The children will be in rooms near yours. Why don't you show your husband the room? Your father and I will take care of the kids."

Elizabeth's brows shot up. "Are you sure?" She glanced at the twins and Amy. "They can be a handful."

Grace laughed. "I managed to raise three girls. I think I'll be fine." She gave Elizabeth a little push toward the stairs. "Go on."

Elizabeth looked at Nathan, extending her hand to him as Father rounded up the children to show them the house. "Would you like to see the room?"

He smiled. "And get a glimpse into your childhood? Yes, please." They headed up the staircase hand-in-hand. Elizabeth could see Nathan looking all around, his mouth hanging open as he took in the Thatcher mansion.

"I can't believe you grew up here." His voice held awe mixed with surprise. "This is beautiful, but opulent. You are so … so normal!"

She chuckled. "I've been told that a time or two. Mother and Father had high expectations for us, but being arrogant or entitled were not part of those expectations. I think that helped to ground me and Viola. Julie was a little more wild, but once she matured, she settled down a bit."

"Is she coming for Christmas with her family?"

Elizabeth nodded. "She and Charles will be here this evening for supper."

Nathan grinned at her. "I still find it funny that he proposed to you all those years ago, only to discover that Julie was the woman for him."

That had been strange for Elizabeth at first. Sedate, sweet Charles seemed too mild-mannered for her headstrong, independent sister, but they worked surprisingly well together. And they were clearly in love. She was happy for her sister and brother-in-law. They'd both received a happy ending. The Kensingtons had two children, Caroline and Phillip, equivalent in age to the twins and April. Elizabeth hadn't met them yet, and she looked forward to seeing them tonight.

She stopped at the door to her childhood room. "Here we are." She pulled it open and led Nathan inside. "It's relatively simple compared to the rest of the house."

He took it all in, turning in a slow circle. "I like it. It suits you."

Elizabeth smiled, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Do you think you'll be comfortable here? It's still fancier than anything in Hope Valley."

He pulled her closer. "True, but it's not as fancy at that hotel we spent our honeymoon in." He nuzzled her cheek with his nose. "I think I'll be very happy here, but not because of the room. It's because you're with me."

Elizabeth lifted herself on her toes to kiss him. He returned the gesture, and for a few sweet moments, they were lost in a world of their own. She knew they would need to rejoin their children shortly, but for now, she intended to enjoy this rare bit of alone time.

Nathan stared at the multitude of utensils on the table. He'd been to plenty of fancy events as a Mountie, but this felt like a different level of society. He knew which utensils were for which course, but it still stunned him to see it in a family home rather than a society event. Even so, as supper progressed, it became clear that though they were in the formal dining room, the Thatchers weren't going to act stuffy like some of their class would. They acted as they had when they visited for Christmases in Hope Valley.

He also discovered that he liked his brother-in-law. Charles had a dry sense of humor and a ready smile. The two men got along immediately, swapping stories of what it was like being married to a Thatcher sister. Both held their youngest children on their laps. April was enamored with her cousin Phillip. The two smiled at each other and spoke in their toddler language, half-words and half-babbles. The dinner table was lively, full of laughter and conversation. Nathan had never experienced something like this. Normally, it would exhaust him, but he found that he enjoyed being with this extended family he'd married into.

The next few days were full of Christmas activities and events. His in-laws gifted him and Elizabeth with tickets to the ballet. He'd never been to one, and while it wasn't his favorite event, the joy on Elizabeth's face as she watched the performance made it all worth it. The highlight of the trip turned out to be Christmas Eve services at the large Hamilton cathedral. The day was spent celebrating Jack's ninth birthday, while the evening was reserved for celebrating the birth of Christ. Nathan had seen some beautiful churches in his life, but this was unlike anything he'd seen before. He couldn't tear his eyes from the lofty architecture, the stunning stained glass, or the ornate altar. The young children remained at home with the same governess that watched over Elizabeth and her sisters when they were young, but Allie and Jack came along to the services. Their eyes were wide with wonder too. Even after sitting in their pew, the three Grants continued looking around in awe.

The choir began to sing, and Nathan smiled as the familiar notes of O Holy Night filled the cathedral. He continued to be amazed at how the song hit differently every time he heard it. This time, the second verse tugged his heart.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming;

With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand:

So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land,

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,

In all our trials born to be our friend;

He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger!

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King! Your King! Before him bend!

As the third verse began, Nathan's eyes wandered to the Nativity scene at the front of the church. Above the stable, a star hung large and bright. Before the manger, three wise men knelt before the newborn King. He marveled at the fact that the light of a star led them to Bethlehem. They'd been watching and waiting, and when the star appeared, they were ready to follow. He wondered if his faith would have been so great back then. It would have been an easy sign to ignore. But the wise men hadn't ignored the sign in the heavens. Instead, they were led by the light across their lands to a foreign country, where they bowed before an infant King.

As if reading his thoughts, the pastor's sermon was on the star of Bethlehem. Nathan smiled to himself, sliding an arm around Elizabeth's shoulders as they listened to the sermon. After the service, they spent some time before the Nativity, quietly studying the Christmas scene. A little later, they headed back to the Thatcher mansion and went to sleep, excited about the morning to come.

Nathan and Elizabeth woke early on Christmas morning, not by choice, but by Jordan and Jude barging into the room and climbing onto the bed. "It's Christmas! Wake up, wake up!"

Elizabeth blinked open her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Time for Christmas, Mama! Grandpa said to come get you!"

She sat up. "He did? I thought he liked to sleep in."

"We woke him up." Jude made that pronouncement proudly.

Elizabeth's brows shot up. "You woke your grandparents?"

"Yep!" Jordan nodded emphatically. "And then Grandpa said we should come get you."

"Of course he did." Elizabeth chuckled wryly. "I do believe that is what one would call payback."

Jude tipped his head. "What's 'payback', Mama?"

Nathan tucked a twin under each arm and rose from the bed. "It means when you two have children someday, they're going to wake you up early on Christmas morning." The words were spoken with a laugh. The twins giggled as they were carried from the room by their father. Last night, the adults decided they would wear their pajamas for opening presents, then change into more formal attire for the family Christmas breakfast. Pushing back the covers, Elizabeth slipped from the bed and quickly braided her unruly hair before following her husband and children down the stairs.

It seemed the twins weren't the only ones who'd gotten up early. Allie, Jack, and Amy were sitting around the tree, while Mother held April in her arms as she sat on a chair. Father and Nathan were entertaining the twins. Though they'd planned on the informal gift opening, Elizabeth still stared at her parents in surprise. She was sure she'd never seen them in their nightclothes before. Mother saw her look and smiled.

"Things can change, Beth."

"So it would seem." She smiled and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, Mother."

"Merry Christmas."

Father raised his arms, and the children instantly quieted, gazing up at their grandfather in rapt attention. "Are you ready to open your presents?"

A chorus of affirmative answers filled the room. Nathan chuckled, slipping an arm around Elizabeth's waist as Father passed out gifts. "They are having the time of their lives."

She leaned a head on his shoulder. "I'm glad. This will be a special Christmas memory for them. I don't know if we'll be able to travel like this again, at least not with the whole family." She looked at Allie, tears sparkling in her eyes. "Our girl is in college, Nathan. She's pursuing her own dreams. How did that happen?"

"I have no idea." He sighed quietly. "Time goes by so fast. Before we know it, April will be headed to college."

Elizabeth groaned. "Don't say that! She's our baby. We have a solid sixteen more years before worrying about that." She looked up at him. "And we have another nine years before we have to think about Jack going off on his own." Just the thought made a lump form in her throat.

She felt Nathan's lips press against her forehead. "One day at a time, sweetheart. We have our children for years to come, and Allie isn't that far away. She comes home on breaks, and in a few years, you'll have another teacher to help you with schooling."

Pride swelled in Elizabeth's chest. "It means the world to me that she wanted to follow in my footsteps." She looked at their children, who were wiggling with excitement as they waited to open their gifts. "I wonder what the rest of them will choose when the time comes."

"We'll find out eventually." Nathan smiled. "There's plenty of time for that."

"Yes." She lifted on her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. "At least we'll always have each other, no matter where life takes the children."

His smile turned tender. "That we will."

Father came up to them, handing each one a gift. "I haven't had this much fun in ages," he said, his eyes twinkling. "Thank you for coming here this year. Your mother and I truly appreciate it."

"We're happy to be here." Elizabeth hugged her father. "I love you."

"I love you too, Beth." He turned to the children. "Are we ready?"

"Yes!"

Father's grin grew. "Go!"

A flurry of activity filled the room as the children opened their gifts and exclaimed over the treasures they found inside. Elizabeth watched with a full heart. Their excitement was contagious. She loved seeing them so happy.

It was the only gift she needed.