From Friendship to Love

Chapter 4

Grant Rowhouse

Allie was busily preparing supper as her dad came down to help. She turned and looked at what he was wearing and then back up at his face, one eyebrow cocked. Didn't say a word.

Nathan threw his arms out. "What?!" He looked down at his blue plaid shirt...well, one of his blue plaid shirts...and thought he looked just fine. It was clean and unwrinkled.

His daughter just set down the spoon she'd been stirring the chicken and dumplings with and marched upstairs...he knew he was supposed to follow her. Up in his room, she was rifling through the tops hanging in his wardrobe.

"Aha!" she crowed and pulled out a brown and blue plaid that he'd forgotten he'd had. Well, maybe he was in a rut. Good thing he had her around to make sure he didn't get stuck there! She handed it to him and left the room. 'Just who was the parent here?' he thought. She turned right before heading downstairs and said that the brown would bring out the blue in his eyes as the two were 'complementary colors'...whatever that meant.

When he arrived back downstairs, he realized quickly that she wasn't through with him yet. She didn't even inspect his outfit, just nodded her head towards the front door and said, "Flowers." He almost immediately obeyed - almost.

He had grabbed the scissors and started for the door, then stopped. "Really, Allie. I'm a grown man. I think I've got this. Not that I don't appreciate your help, because I do." Then again, she gave him that look that said she knew better. She set down the spoon again, apparently showing great, long suffering patience, walked over to him and grabbed both of his hands.

Looking up at him sweetly with those hazel eyes of hers, she said "Dad. Let's face it. You're woefully out of practice. I mean, besides a couple of barely dates with Mei while she was here - and she was all wrong for you, when was the last time you were on an actual date? Well, not counting last evening of course. I just want to help is all."

Nathan shook his head and chuckled. She definitely had a point. "Of course you do. Thank you, darling daughter." he said as he grabbed his jacket and the scissors and held them up. "Flowers." Then he headed out front to the meadow.

Meanwhile, Faith was turning the corner towards the rowhouses and that's when she saw him. He was in the middle of the field, scouting for any fall flowers he could find - for her. While she wasn't big into getting flowers - she was a sucker for the effort behind going out and picking or cutting your own. Gestures were nothing if the intent behind them wasn't pure. She picked up her pace until she reached the Grant's porch and set the cake dish down before she turned to join Nathan in the meadow.

Thornton Rowhouse

Wiping her hands on a towel, then taking a moment to stretch her tired back, Elizabeth glanced out of her front window. She'd noticed someone in the meadow and then, just as she realized it was Nathan - she saw Faith wander towards him from the Grant's. She looked back at him and noticed that he was cutting flowers. Her heart stuttered for a moment and she felt her throat tighten. She knew she should look away, but couldn't and soon wished that she had.

She watched as Faith approached Nathan, reached for the scissors and the flowers he was holding and gently set them on the ground. Then she reached up and cupped his face with both hands, pulling him down to hers for a kiss. It was clear that he responded quickly when her hands went into his hair. By now, Elizabeth's heart was racing and what happened next broke it into a million pieces. Nathan picked Faith up and swung her around, both of them laughing. They looked so happy. Elizabeth had to face the fact that she was not - and she wanted that. She wanted the real happy, not the show. She'd chosen the show and the charm had long worn out.

Quickly backing away from the window, she plunked down on a chair, resting her head in her hands. She knew that it was too late for her and Nathan, but she also knew she had to make it right with him. She didn't deserve him after the way she hurt him and Allie. But first, she was going to have to deal with Lucas. She groaned. This was not going to go well. Before she had another thought, she heard Jack calling for her and headed upstairs to check on him.

Grant Rowhouse

Nathan set Faith down, then reached down for the flowers and scissors. He handed her the latter and plucked one of the flowers out of the bouquet and slipped it in her hair. He stared into her bright blue eyes and his breath caught. The setting sun chose just that moment to hit her golden hair and lit up her smile and he was struck at how beautiful she was; how joyful and peaceful. He cupped the side of her face with his free hand and leaned down to brush his lips over hers one more time. He was proud of his restraint, because he felt like he could do this all day - but there were neighbors and they could be watching. He grabbed her hand and they headed towards his house - each content with the silence.

Elizabeth hadn't been the only onlooker. As Nathan and Faith headed inside, Allie quickly scrambled away from the window so as not to be caught. She did not feel guilty in the least for spying on the duo. She believed that it was past time for her dad to be happy. It was a supreme struggle to wipe the giant smile off of her face and she do a really quick little happy dance before the adults entered. She immediately resumed her task of setting the table, with Faith quickly joining in to help her out while Nathan set the cake aside and put the flowers in a jar. Faith and Nathan washed their hands and the trio sat down to enjoy their meal.

The Saloon

After the second try at calling Elizabeth, Lucas decides he's going over there. He marches over to the Mercantile, which he finds closed, and pounds on the door. Finally, a harried Ned opens up. "Lucas! What's the emergency? We're just having supper here."

Lucas sighs heavily - impatience radiating off of him. "Ned, I need some roses. Do you have any? I'll take whatever you've got." He brushes past the man into the darkened store.

Ned rolls his eyes. Man, would he like to give this guy a piece of his mind. "Um, there are some here, but they're looking a little worn."

With a wave of the hand, Lucas says "Wrap them up. I'll take them all!"

At this point, Ned would've probably either reduced the price or given them away - but not for this customer. No way. Bouchard was way too entitled and he knew there would be no appreciation for the extra effort. He quickly wrapped them up, saying a silent prayer for Elizabeth Thornton to have her eyes opened as he did. Lucas paid Ned and rushed out, not even a thank you. Ned slammed the front door, making sure it was locked and the closed sign was visible.

Thornton Rowhouse

A pounding sound woke Elizabeth with a start. She looked around, disoriented and realized she must have fallen asleep after she'd comforted Jack. She quickly and quietly removed herself from her sleeping son's bed and rushed downstairs to see what the commotion was about. What kind of emergency would cause someone to be pounding on her door? That's when she saw Lucas's car parked out front. She stopped to fortify herself with a deep breath and prayed that whatever happened did not wake Jack up again - he needed his sleep. She sighed and opened the door, glad that her hair was a mess and she was clearly sleep deprived. This was life with a toddler and Lucas needed to see that.

"Lucas? Why are you pounding on my door?" she asked as he brushed past her.

"Why don't you answer your phone?" he barked, then as an afterthought handed her the nearly wilted flowers. She just looked at them. This was a sharp contrast to what she'd just seen a little while before. She sighed regretfully. This is a choice she'd made.

She slowly laid the flowers on the table as they weren't worth the trouble of getting out a vase and wasting water on. She turned to him. "I didn't answer the phone because I didn't hear it. I haven't slept much and must have dozed off after tending to Jack a little while ago. I'm sorry." She just looked at him and could see the irritation on his face. Why did she ever think this would work? She now believed he'd only pretended to get along with her son to get more time alone with her.

He closed the distance and reached out to pull her into a hug, and she stiffened. He'd become increasingly persistent about physical closeness in private places lately. This man was her fiancée, so why did she feel so threatened when he put his arms around her? He let them drop to his side, jaw tightening.

"Lucas, I think we need to talk. I'm so tired right now, I'm not even sure that I can carry on much of a conversation. But, please come have a seat." She gestured towards the parlor. Once he was seated on the settee, she took a seat in the chair across from him - physically marking their distance. She reached down and began to remove the engagement ring.

He sputtered, standing up "Are you kidding me?! You begged me for that thing!" he yelled, not caring that he could wake Jack or that the Coulters would certainly hear him. He moved to grab her wrist and she hopped up and backed around the chair, dropping the ring on it.

"This isn't working, Lucas, and you know it. We both know it." she pleaded, edging her way towards the kitchen and he continued to approach her - after pocketing his ring, of course.

"You know, it all seemed fine until you started to realize that Nathan had finally moved on from you. Not the forced dates with Mei that you pushed on him - but really moved on. You have played me for long enough, Mrs Thornton." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him then pushed her up against a wall. She never found out what he was about to do because, at that very moment, both Jack and Lee came to her rescue. And, to her embarrassment and shame, Nathan and Faith were passing by as he walked her home.

As Jack was crying for his Mama, Lee burst in the front door. At the very moment where he grabbed the collar of Lucas's shirt, Nathan and Faith rushed in. Faith picked up Jack and pulled Elizabeth into the parlor while Nathan and Lee yanked Lucas out the front door. Faith whispered to Elizabeth and then picked up the phone to call Rosemary and ask her to take Jack. Then she took the boy out the back door and led him into the Coulter's yard as there was no way that she'd let a very pregnant Rosemary attempt to carry the 4 year old.

She found Elizabeth shaking and found a blanket draped over a rocking chair. She wrapped it around her friend and reached for her wrist, checking her pulse. "I think you might be in shock. We need to keep you warm and hydrated. I'll grab you a glass of water and be right back. Do not move."

Outside Nathan is still holding onto a very hostile Lucas. "Man, what were you thinking?! We heard you halfway down the lane and Lee said you had Elizabeth pushed against the wall. I'm going to leave you out here in Lee's hands and find out if she wants to press charges against you." He started to ascend the stairs.

"Press charges?! Really? For what? Trying to get what was promised to me? She owes me! She used me to try to forget about you!" Lucas shouted, for all the world to hear.

Before Nathan could even turn around to respond, he heard a thud and figured that Lee had shut the man up. Since he didn't actually see anything, he just kept walking into the house. He figured it would be the only way to get the guy to shut up until he sorted things out and in his world, you just didn't lay hands on a woman like that. It was going to be a long night.