Disclaimer – I own nothing.
Abigail Stanton was happy with the life she had led thus far. She had had a beautiful family and though she had lost them she wouldn't have traded a single moment they had shared. Just when she had thought she would live out her life as an old maid in a small coal mining town in walked Elizabeth Thatcher.
For certain Abigail had had doubts about the girl after their first encounter and especially after she burnt down the teachers' home, but she had been raised to give everyone a second chance and taking the young woman in had seemed the Christian thing to do. She thanked the lord every day for Elizabeth Thatcher. Elizabeth had breathed new life into their little town and into Abigail as well. She had reminded Abigail what it meant to love thy neighbour and seek new adventures. If it hadn't been for Elizabeth she questioned whether she would have ever had the courage to open the café.
It was also such an unbelievable pleasure to watch the young woman come into her own. She had such a skill with children and teaching that she doubted there would have been a town or school in Canada that wouldn't have loved to have her there but it was more than that. Elizabeth never gave up. Even when she knew that the mothers were questioning her abilities, she never gave up. She rallied behind the townspeople even when they didn't rally behind her and in doing so she changed the feel of the entire town. Elizabeth Thatcher had brought Hope to Hope Valley had made them all believe that impossible things could happen.
Abigail had noticed the handsome Mountie almost the moment he'd ridden into town, there weren't many women who hadn't. At first they were unsure what he was doing in the little town. The coal mining company generally handled the law in their own towns. It wasn't until Elizabeth had arrived that she had pieced it together and if his cold demeanor hadn't been proof enough that the young man was also aware, Elizabeth's proud indifference would have.
The problem was that though they resented the reason for the Mountie being present it was blatantly clear that they were both attracted to each other.
Abigail had never thought she would ever marry again. So when Elizabeth and Jack began the back and forth flirting that the entire town now cherished Abigail had strapped in for the ride. Living vicariously through her new friend she had enjoyed every moment from stolen glances to sweet kisses, she had been so wrapped up in Jack and Elizabeth she had hardly noticed that Bill was courting her. Once she had it had been almost so shocking she'd leapt in so quickly she hadn't listened to the nagging feeling in her chest that something wasn't right.
Then Frank had arrived. Frank. Her heart quickened at the mere thought of his name. She had loved Noah dearly and she would have been content to have lived the rest of her life with the memory of how Noah had made her feel but to have it again – she could not have dreamed it. Even through all of the uncertainty with his identity she hadn't been able to shake the feelings he elicited within her. Could someone truly and utterly fall in love twice in one lifetime? Was it even fair to consider it?
Everything in her life had calmed into a steady beautiful rhythm. A beautiful, talented and kind best friend; a compassionate, witty and handsome beau; a café selling her own cooking and baking filled everyday with people who came just for food; and a boy, a lost boy that had given her a second chance at motherhood. She was so abundantly blessed that she'd almost entered a hazy daze just flitting from one beautiful moment until the next.
Then a storm hit Hope Valley – it should have been terrifying, it should have been so many things but instead it was the catalyst to one of the most beautiful moments she could remember in a long time.
When Jack had fallen to his knee in front of Elizabeth tears had filled Abigail's eyes. She could see their life in that moment. She could see children and holidays and above all else love. Even the entrance of Mr. Thatcher had not swayed her thoughts. If she hadn't heard it in his words she would have seen it in his eyes, Jack's heart had found its match in Elizabeth and he wasn't letting go and she'd seen that same look on Elizabeth's face only a minute after her father and lover had walked out of the café.
If any two people belonged together it was them.
Abigail's face was glued into a smile as she watched the buggie make its way down the main road. Elizabeth was cuddled in as close as she could possibly be next to Jack, her head on his shoulder and every other minute he would look down and gaze at her.
The first time Abigail had walked into the house her jaw had dropped. From outside she could tell it was a larger home but inside, inside Jack had designed it so perfectly that it really didn't feel too big. It felt like a home even back then when it had just been a shell. Jack had wanted help with the layout of the kitchen and what to include, she'd been over there with him half a dozen times since and every single time she saw more and more Elizabeth in the décor. It was a house that looked like the city - modern and unique, but felt like the country – open and cozy.
Then he'd shown her that room and she had had to reach out for his arm to steady herself. There had been no way to really explain what she thought of that room and how perfect it was so she'd lifted on her tip toes and dropped a motherly kiss to his cheek. She could only imagine what kind of kiss Elizabeth had given him when she had seen it.
"They back yet?" Frank wrapped an arm over her shoulders and his gaze joined hers out the window.
Abigail turned to Frank and took in the rugged handsomeness and the soft eyes that held more than most anyone's eyes should.
"I think I'm in love with you," Abigail said the words almost matter-of-factly and she was instantly disappointed in herself.
"You think?" Frank smiled at her, "I know I'm in love with you," his hand slid under her chin and then he was kissing her and Abigail was sure, absolutely sure that she loved him.
…..
Elizabeth was out of breath even before he'd removed the blindfold. A dash of fear shot through her at the thought of finally seeing the home Jack had spent so many hours working on and she closed her eyes.
"Elizabeth?" Jack let out a small chuckle.
"I'm afraid," She cried and she felt his hands slide down her arms and his hands linked with hers.
"You have nothing to be afraid of," he whispered and she let one eye peek open and then the other snapped up and her mouth went dry. Tears formed and she felt like she was losing control of her own body. There was nothing, absolutely nothing that she could have dreamed up to match what the man before her had managed to do.
Not in control of her limbs, her feet carried her to the stone fireplace. Fingers grazed the heavy wood mantle as she walked passed it into the kitchen. A modern stove, an indoor sink, a tall icebox and the most beautiful table sat on the other side of that stone fireplace which was open to the kitchen as well as the family room. Her fingers danced over the soft wood and she finally stopped to look up at her fiancé.
"We had some left over lumber; I thought a nice big table would be a good way to use it." His voice was so soft, softer than she had ever heard it. He was unsure if she liked it, unsure if she was happy with all his hard work.
She walked back over to him and when she was right in front of him she took his hand and brought it to her chest.
"I'm overwhelmed Jack; can you feel it?" His hand was warm against her chest and she pushed in closer. "Can you feel my heart it's beating so fast I can hardly breathe and it's all because you saw even better than I did what our home should be."
"and what should it be?" his voice was husky, filled with emotion.
"A place built out of love. A place that was part me…" she looked at the modern kitchen appliances and then she brushed a loving hand over the table, "and part you. This house is us. I love it."
His head dropped to her shoulder in a sigh of pure relief. Elizabeth watched the weight and the worry visibly lift from her shoulders. She knew from the bottom of her heart that she would have loved any home that he had built but this was so them that she joined him in his relief and joy.
"Where's our room?" Elizabeth asked quietly and Jack lifted his head a sly smirk on his lips. He took her hand and led her passed the fireplace and back out into the main room. A quarter of the way into the room was a staircase, he led her up the stairs and once they were standing on the balcony he pointed to the two doors facing the banister to the right of them.
"Those are empty…hopefully we'll fill them soon enough." He dropped a kiss to the sensitive place where her neck met her shoulders. The door directly in front of them at the top of the stairs was slightly opened but Elizabeth couldn't see inside. "That's an indoor privy you can see it in a second. This," he turned them to the left and opened a door that led to a room over the kitchen. "This is our room,"
Elizabeth walked in and once again lost all coherent thought. The room was empty, but it was large enough to fit two or three wardrobes, a dresser and a big bed but it wasn't any of these things that drew her attention. Along the far wall hopefully across from where they would put their bed, were two large windows. Two windows that looked out over the mountains and the valley and all she could think was how lucky she would be to wake every morning with Jack beside her and that view in front of her.
The windows were so similar to the big windows in her Hamilton home she couldn't help but smile. Once again he had mixed and matched them so perfectly. He pulled her to a door at the back of the room and when she walked in a girlish giggle took her over. There was an indoor loo, a built in vanity and mirror and a big porcelain bathing tub with as far as she could see running water attached. She squealed in delight and jumped in place and then she noticed the door leading back to the main balcony at the top of the stairs.
"I think you should change professions, I mean the red serge it really works for you but this is so beyond impressive Jack!" Jack laughed sheepishly and then once again took her hand.
"There's more," he led her out and back down the stairs quickly, excitedly now that he knew she loved it.
Elizabeth wasn't sure if she could take anymore. Overwhelming had been an understatement.
As they descended the stairs Jack briefly mentioned the spare bedroom on the main floor for her family and then they were standing in front of a closed door and Jack was smiling.
"This is your real Christmas gift."
"Jack…"
"I wanted you to have a place. Somewhere you could go to write, or read or work on lesson plans, somewhere that was quiet and entirely yours. I hope that this is it," He met her lips softly and then he backed away wanting her to be unguarded as she took in her gift.
Elizabeth had known almost immediately that Jack Thornton was an incredible man. Even with his slightly haughty attitude after he had been forced into the position of her guardsman, she had still understood the caliber of man he was. This though, she never in a million years could have dreamed that someone would know her so well. Jack understood her maybe even better than she understood herself and the proof was in every detail of this small room he'd built just for her. She felt as if he'd stripped her bare. Did she know his as well? Could she be as attentive and thoughtful as he had been? So many doubts and fears bubbled to the surface and she wanted to cry. She wanted to cry and laugh, she wanted to go out there and kiss him but at the same time she wanted to yell and bang her fists against his chest out of frustration.
Her hand dropped to the desk he'd built into the far wall and she felt the cool metal of her ring. She looked down at the precious stones and her entire body relaxed. Yes this was intense, all the feelings, all the love but they were meant to do this. They were meant for each other.
Jack was standing near his horse when she walked back outside. The wind was warm as it blew through her hair and for a moment she stood on the front porch and watched him. It was like the past and the present and the future were all wrapped up in that one moment. They were going to make a history in that home and maybe the only people that would ever know about it would be their direct descendants but that would be enough. In the end, family was always enough.
A/N – Thanks for your patience everyone! So I wasn't quite sure how to do this chapter because I've really already described the house but at the same time I wanted to have Elizabeth's reaction. I hope it didn't bore you all too much to hear about the house a second time. Happy Thanksgiving to anyone reading in Canada!