After going back and forth with the Mountie's in Union City, Nathan was finally able to set up a meeting between Dylan and Allie. They left Wednesday morning. Nathan decided they would make a mini vacation. They would see a show, have dinner and Allie could do some shopping. The stage coach took them to the nearest train station. From there, they would take the train to Union City.
Once they made it to the train station and found the correct train, they made their way to their cabin. It was an overnight trip to Union City so Nathan made sure that they would be comfortable.
Once everything was put away, Nathan and Allie sat down at the table.
"Order anything you want." Nathan said.
"Really? Even dessert?" Allie asked.
"Dinner first, then dessert." Nathan said smiling.
Allie smiled and perused the menu.
The waitress came into take their order.
"I will have the steak and broccoli." Nathan ordered.
"I will have the chicken with Brussel sprouts." Allie ordered.
The waitress took their orders and left.
"Are you nervous for tomorrow?" Nathan asked.
"A little." Allie said.
"You don't have to do this." Nathan said.
"I know. But I want to. I just don't know what I'm going to say." Allie said.
"I'm sure you've thought about this before. Maybe you should jot down some notes." Nathan said.
Allie nodded.
Nathan grabbed Allie's hand.
"I'll be there the whole time. I won't let him hurt you." Nathan said.
Allie smiled.
"I love you, dad." Allie said.
"I love you too Allie girl." Nathan said.
Nathan and Allie ate dinner. And after dinner, they ate dessert. They played a few rounds of go fish. After the few rounds, they both went to bed.
xxx
The train arrived early morning in Union City. Before going to their hotel, Nathan and Allie stopped and ate breakfast. After breakfast, they went to their hotel. Allie would get her own room but it was joined with Nathan's room with a door between the rooms.
Nathan looked at his watch. They were meeting Dylan just a little before lunch. Nathan got dressed in his uniform. There was knock on the door from Allie's room.
"Come in." Nathan said.
Allie walked in through the door. She was wearing a dress with flowers embroidered on it. She had her hair in a braid. Nathan knew that his little girl is growing up.
"What do you think." Allie asked.
"You look pretty." Nathan said.
Allie smiled.
"Do you have everything?" Nathan asked.
Allie nodded.
"Let's go." Nathan said.
The Mountie office in Union City wasn't a far walk from their hotel. But the whole time, Nathan's heart was beating loudly. Nathan was nervous that Dylan would refuse to talk to her or give her false information to make himself look better. As much as Nathan was nervous, he couldn't imagine how nervous Allie was at this moment.
"How are you feeling?" Nathan asked Allie as they walked.
"Nervous." Allie said.
"Me too." Nathan said.
Nathan knew Allie was tough but underneath, she was sensitive.
After walking a few blocks, they made it to the Mountie office.
They were checked in and escorted to a room. Nathan sat in a chair in the corner while Allie sat at a table.
Finally, the guard came in and put Dylan in a chair across from Allie. Nathan noticed that prison had changed Dylan in his appearance. He had a longer beard and was skinnier than the last time Nathan had seen him. There were bags under his eyes meaning he wasn't getting much sleep. That gave Nathan a little satisfaction.
Dylan smiled.
"Hello Allie." Dylan said.
"Hello." Allie said.
"You are the spitting image of your mother." Dylan said.
Nathan sighed.
"Hello Nathan." Dylan said.
"Dylan." Nathan said sternly.
Dylan smiled.
"It has been so long since I've seen you." Dylan said.
"It has. I remember you said that you were going to go find a job but never came back." Allie said.
"You were only four years old. How could you remember that?" Dylan asked.
"I just do." Allie said.
Dylan just smiled.
"What else do you remember from that time?" Dylan asked.
"I remember when mom was really sick and you wouldn't come until late smelling like alcohol." Allie said.
"Listen, Allie…" Dylan started.
"No, you listen. How could you do that to us? There were times that I went without food for a day because mom was too sick to make breakfast or dinner. I needed you. You abandoned mom when she needed you. And then you abandoned me after mom died." Allie said.
Dylan looked down at the table.
"I could give you excuses that I wasn't ready to be a father or that my addiction to alcohol and gambling was stronger than my love for you or your mother. But the real answer is because I'm a terrible human being. I knew you needed me. I knew your mother needed me but I didn't care. I was selfish. And my selfishness led to me where I am today. Being in here has given me time to think. And all I have to say is that I'm sorry. I'm sorry I abandoned you. I'm sorry I abandoned your mother." Dylan said.
Dylan stared at the table. Allie sighed.
Allie slid her hand over to Dylan's hand.
"I forgive you. I forgive you for all the terrible things you did to my mother and I. But you are not my father. You haven't been my father for a long time. That man behind me has been my father. He will always be my father. I hope to marry a man one day who is just like him. While I am grateful that you helped bring me into this world, I will never consider you my father." Allie said. Allie stood up and walked over to Nathan.
"Can we go?" Allie asked.
"Yes." Nathan said.
As they were leaving, Nathan looked back at Dylan who had his hands over his face.
Once Nathan and Allie left the office, Nathan gave her a hug.
"You were so brave. Do you want to talk about what happened?" Nathan asked.
"No. Can we go back to the hotel. I would like to lie down for a little." Allie said.
Nathan and Allie walked back to the hotel to let Allie
xxx
Later that evening at dinner, Nathan looked at Allie with pride.
"What?" Allie asked.
"I'm just so proud." Nathan said.
Allie smiled.
"And do you really forgive him?" Nathan asked.
Allie thought for a moment.
"Yes, I do." Allie said.
"Even after all the heartbreak he has caused?" Nathan asked.
"You taught me that holding onto anger is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. It doesn't do any good to hold onto anger. And I think he has changed. And when we go to church every Sunday, we learn that we need to forgive others." Allie said.
"I didn't know you listened to me." Nathan teased.
"Sometimes." Nathan teased back.
Nathan looked at all the people in the restaurant. An older couple caught his eye. They were sitting there eating and not saying anything. But the way they looked at each other, they didn't need words.
Nathan thought back to what Lucas said to him. Who does Nathan want to see sitting across from him in 30 years. In his heart, he knew that was Elizabeth but how could he trust her after all that has happened.
After dinner, Nathan and Allie went to see a play. After the play, they got ice cream together. For the rest of the trip, Nathan took Allie shopping and he even found a few clothing items for himself. Nathan enjoyed their time together.
xxx
When Nathan and Allie arrived back at Hope Valley, Nathan dropped Allie off at home and went into the office for a couple hours to do some work. As Nathan was doing work, there was a knock on the door. Nathan looked up and saw Elizabeth with Jack.
"Hello!" Nathan said. He got up from his chair and went over to say hello to Jack.
"Jack wanted to come see you." Elizabeth said.
"Just Jack?" Nathan teased.
"Okay, me too. I wanted to know what happened with Allie and her father." Elizabeth said.
Nathan smiled at Jack.
"She spoke her truth. I'm very proud of her." Nathan said.
Elizabeth smiled.
"I'm glad." Elizabeth said.
"But the trip has opened my eyes too. Elizabeth, I'm not angry with you anymore. I can't hold onto this anger anymore. I need to move on." Nathan said.
Elizabeth's eyes started welling up.
"And even though I'm not angry with you anymore, I don't know if I can trust you." Nathan said.
Elizabeth closed her eyes.
"I understand." Elizabeth said.
There was a silence between them.
"Come on Jack. Time to go home for dinner." Elizabeth said.
"I'll see you on Saturday." Nathan said.
"See you then." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth left.
Even though Nathan was letting anger go, his heart still needed healing.