Chapter 74: A Picnic Dinner
At Nathan's appointment, Faith and James decided that even though Nathan would return to work, they would only grant him permission to go back to desk work until the first week in April. That way, there would be no concern about physical strain prior to the wedding. Regardless, Nathan was excited to be back on the job, at least in some capacity. Constable Kent would stay on as a support until the beginning of April and then head back to headquarters for his next assignment.
Right after his appointment with the McGuffins, Nathan headed to the Mounties' office to give Constable Kent and Bill the news. Once he finished filling them in, he made a call to Brookfield. He had one more very important matter that he needed to take care of immediately.
Gabe answered the phone after the fourth ring. "Well, it took you long enough, Kinslow.", Nathan joked on the other end of the phone. Back in Brookfield, Gabe shook his head, chuckled, and responded, "Well, some of us are actually working, Grant."
"Hey, as of today, I am working too. At my desk, but that still counts.", Nathan protested. Gabe just laughed in response. "Laugh all you want, Kinslow, but it does count. But that's not why I'm calling you. I've been wanting to speak to you for awhile now. I was wondering, Gabe would you stand up with me as a groomsman in my wedding?"
Gabe sat back in his chair, smiled, and answered, "Nathan, it would be my honor to stand alongside you as you marry Elizabeth. Thank you for asking."
Nathan smiled and replied, "Thank you, Gabe! I'll have Rosemary get in contact with you. She has all of the attire for the wedding party on hand."
The two friends talked for a bit longer and then hung up with the promise to speak again soon.
After school let out that day, Nathan walked over to pick up Elizabeth and Allie. Just as he neared the schoolhouse steps, he caught Allie as she was bounding down the steps with Emily and Opal.
"Dad! Hi! What are you doing here? You're in your Serge too? Are you back to work?" Allie asked curiously, with a bit of a concerned look on her face.
Right as Nathan opened his mouth to speak, Elizabeth walked out onto the steps. Both of their faces lit up as they saw one another. Allie looked between the two of them and then rolled her eyes. "Really? You two are worse than teenagers, and that's coming from one! Dad, I asked if you were back to work?", Allie asked impatiently.
Nathan looked down for a moment and fiddled with his hat. Then he looked up and halfheartedly chuckled as he responded, "In a way of speaking, you could say that I am." At that point, Elizabeth had made her way to the bottom of the steps and walked over to where the teens and Nathan stood. She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, then stepped back once again to take in the whole scenario.
"What do you mean, Nathan?", Elizabeth asked curiously.
"The McGuffins allowed me to go back to work, but I'm on desk duty until April. Headquarters has agreed to allow Jonah to stay on here in Hope Valley until then.", he answered, looking between Elizabeth and Allie.
Elizabeth smiled, nodded, and responded, "Well, I have to say it's sure a treat to see you here and in your Serge once again."
Allie nodded but still wore a reserved look in her eyes. Nathan smiled and smiled then looked over at Emily and Opal and asked, "Girls, I would love to take my family somewhere. Do you mind if I steal Allie away from you this afternoon?"
The girls smiled and nodded, and Emily answered, "Not at all, Mountie Nathan! We can do something tomorrow. Come on, Opal! Bye, Mrs. Thornton! Bye, Mountie Nathan! Bye Allie!" With that, the girls took off in a flash, leaving the three watching and laughing.
"So, what's the plan, Dad?", Allie inquired.
"I was thinking that we could go get a picnic basket dinner from the cafe, pick up Jack from the preschool, and go up to the new house. What do you think?", Nathan asked as he looked between Elizabeth and Allie.
Allie squealed, nodded, and replied, "I think that's a great idea, Dad! Mom, can I go get Jack's wagon from home and then pick up Jack from the preschool? I could meet you back here as soon as possible." Allie looked at Elizabeth with anxious eyes, and Elizabeth chuckled and nodded her head.
As Allie ran off, she yelled, "See you soon." Nathan and Elizabeth watched their daughter run off towards the rowhouses and laughed. Nathan reached over, grabbed Elizabeth's hand, gave it a quick kiss, and said, "So, Mrs. Grant to be, let's go borrow the Coulters' car and go see our home. If we haven't finished, when Allie comes back, she can go pick up the basket from the cafe."
The two walked over to Coulter Enterprises' office and went in for a few moments. By the time that they had gotten the keys for the car and walked over to it, Allie was walking down the road with Jack inside his wagon, wearing a bright smile. "Daddy! Mama! Awwie says we go to house!", Jack said enthusiastically.
Elizabeth smiled in response as she picked Jack up out of the wagon and loaded him into the back of the car. "Yes, my sweet boy! We are taking a picnic up there! How does that sound?", Elizabeth asked Jack. Jack simply nodded and clapped his hands. Nathan handed Allie some money and asked her to pick up the picnic basket from the cafe. "We will meet you over there in a moment.", Nathan told her as she nodded and ran off in the direction of the cafe. He and Elizabeth loaded Jack's wagon inside the trunk. Then, he escorted Elizabeth to the driver's side and opened the door for her. Before he was able to get into the passenger side himself, Allie came running over with the picnic basket. She placed herself in the back seat next to Jack and then climbed in herself. Once Allie was settled, Nathan climbed inside, and they were on their way.
The family rode for a little way until they reached the property lines of the house. Elizabeth stopped the car, and the four simply sat back and admired their new home from afar. The ladies of Hope Valley, with Rosemary's instigation, had found it within themselves to order some plants and decorate the front yard and porch since the previous Sunday, when the home had been finished. As their personal wedding gift to them, the Coulters provided the furniture that sat on the porch, claiming that it would serve a purpose on the many visits that they would have over the spring and summertime.
Allie touched Nathan's shoulder and asked, "Dad, can I take Jack and his wagon and walk up to the house from here?"
Nathan agreed and climbed out of the car, letting Allie and Jack climb out from their spots in the back. Then Allie and Nathan pulled out the wagon from the trunk. Allie lifted Jack into the wagon, and the two of them bounded down the path towards the Grants' new home.
Nathan shook his head, and was chuckling to himself as he climbed back into the car. "Well, shall we go join our children?", Nathan asked Elizabeth, his face beaming and his eyes twinkling. Elizabeth smiled and nodded, then drove on closer to the house. After they parked and had gotten out of the car with the picnic basket, Allie arrived with Jack in the wagon.
"Wow! The women did an amazing job on the porch and yard! And the furniture from Uncle Lee and Aunt Rosemary is beautiful!", Allie gushed as she looked around.
Nathan and Elizabeth looked around, smiling from ear to ear and nodding. "We are blessed, to say the least.", Nathan responded.
The family laid out the blanket in front of their new home and enjoyed their meal together. Once the children were finished, they went off again with the wagon, while Nathan and Elizabeth stayed behind to chat.
"Have you thought anymore about moving into the house, Nathan?", Elizabeth asked as she looked over at her fiancé.
Nathan nodded and brushed back a tendril of hair that fell in front of Elizabeth's face. "I have, and I think it's a good idea. When my parents come into town for the wedding, they can stay at our old rowhouse. Which reminds me, the McGuffins approached me about moving in after that since their family is expanding now.", Nathan said with a smirk on his face.
Elizabeth sat back with a surprised look on her face and asked, "Faith, she is expecting then?" Nathan smiled and nodded as Elizabeth smiled and covered her heart. "When is she due?" , Elizabeth inquired.
Nathan looked at her, squeezed her hand, and answered, "James and Faith said that Baby McGuffin should make his or her debut around mid-October." They were thinking that Ruby, Maggie, and Anna could share the apartment above the infirmary once they moved out too."
Elizabeth looked back at their new home, and tears filled her eyes. Nathan, seeing the tears, wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "Lizbeth, what is it? Why are you crying?", Nathan asked with concern in his voice. Elizabeth had looked over at Nathan with tears in her eyes and answered, "Nathan, my love, nothing is wrong. I'm simply amazed. A little over a year ago, this town saw so much devastation with the epidemic, and now... now, our doctors are expecting a baby, some of the youth are getting their own place, and we will officially be a family. I'm so glad we chose the spring to get married! It truly is a time for new beginnings and new life!" She caressed his cheek for a moment, then leaned in and kissed him.
Just then, Allie walked up and cleared her throat. "Like I said earlier, you two are worse than a couple of teenagers. I hate to interrupt, but it's starting to get dark. We should probably head back home.", Allie said as she looked between her parents.
They both nodded and rose to clean up the remaining items left from their picnic and the blanket that they sat upon. The girls loaded the wagon into the trunk as Nathan helped Jack into the backseat with the picnic basket. They drove back to Coulter Enterprises just as Lee and Rosemary were locking up for the evening.
Once they left their friends, they walked home to their rowhouse. Allie was pulling Jack and Elizabeth with her arm, weaved through Nathan's. An excitement filled the air about what was to come in the very near future.