It had been a quiet day and one when Nathan did the shorter of his rounds, so he was able to finish early. One of the things he enjoyed most about spring being here was how much lighter the evenings were which meant there was still plenty of time for Allie and him to go fishing, something they did as often as they could these days.
After locking the door to the Mountie Office he was just stepping onto the road when he saw Faith come out of the infirmary, the look on her face telling him that something was wrong. He knew she had been struggling to move on after Carson left and it always pained him to see her like this. If anyone deserved happiness she did.
He crossed quickly, calling out to her as he neared. "Are you okay Faith?"
The redness of her eyes was clear to see and he began to wonder what could have happened to upset her so much. He knew she had no seriously ill patients to deal with right now so it wasn't that. It must be about Carson, he thought.
"I'm not trying to pry but I can see that you are disturbed by something."
She smiled then, looking at her friend, the man who had been her greatest strength since Carson had decided to pursue a surgery fellowship in Baltimore. Without Nathan to share her pain with as they commiserated together she didn't know if she would have been able to continue here in Hope Valley.
Her voice was quiet as she replied, "I had a letter from Carson. He just got married."
Nathan was surprised. "I didn't know he was seeing someone?"
Faith nodded, "I didn't know for sure but I suspected something from the way his letters had changed of late and the lack of telephone calls. The funny thing is I don't think I'm upset so much about the news as I am about how everyone will treat me once they hear. I know he is still in contact with Lee and Rosemary so you can guarantee the word will spread quickly once they find out."
Nathan nodded. The hardest thing he had found having to deal with since Elizabeth had chosen to be with Lucas were the pitying looks he received from everyone around him. Their habit of displaying affection publicly didn't help the situation and each time they kissed out on the street, which always seemed to be in sight of the Mountie Office, he knew all eyes turned in his direction. Allie had said she felt the same way at school. Every time Mrs Thornton spoke to her, which seemed to be more frequent than with anyone else, the other students all watched for her reaction until eventually they realized there was never going to be one. She remained polite towards her teacher and nothing more.
That was how Nathan treated the woman with whom he had once dreamed of having a future. A cursory nod if they passed in the street but outwith that he made no acknowledgement of her. If a conversation turned to mention of Elizabeth or Lucas he would move away, not wanting to be part of it. His only contact was at parent meetings when he arranged them for early in the time allotted so that there were plenty of other people around, meaning that their discussion was kept on topic and brief.
Sometimes he would turn to find Elizabeth watching him from the balcony of the saloon, that same look that he had once taken for longing on her face, but he would simply turn away. That part of his life was gone and he was focused now on just doing what was best for Allie and not thinking of ever finding someone with whom to settle down.
He turned his attention back to Faith. "I know exactly what you mean."
She gave him a half smile then, almost laughing at the pair of them, "What are we like, you and me? I am just grateful that I have had you to understand what I have been going through or else I don't think I could have coped. It's not just the pain of losing Carson but the little things. Someone to talk with about your day, to enjoy a walk with on an evening like this, to share lunch or coffee at Abigail's or simply to be beside you when there is a function to attend. I miss all of that."
Again Nathan nodded. "I feel the same, although I am lucky that I do have Allie. What I would do without that girl I really don't know."
He paused then before continuing. "I know it's not a very exciting offer but I was just heading home to get her so that we could go fishing. Would you care to join us?"
From the look on her face Nathan could tell she was about to say no, so he pushed a bit, "Come on, it will do you good to be out in the fresh air and I can guarantee Allie will be delighted to have someone other than me to talk to. I'm just her boring old dad who knows nothing."
Faith knew that was not true. It was clear to anyone who knew The Grant family that the girl adored the man standing right there and he her. The story of Allie's mother dying when she was young, of her father then abandoning her, and how Nathan had stepped in first as guardian and then adopting her was one they all knew. For a young man to give up so much to take on the care of his four year old niece spoke greatly of the person he was. How Elizabeth Thornton had let him go she would never understand.
Surprised by her own thoughts Faith hesitated before finally deciding, "That sounds like too good an offer to pass up Nathan. If you just give me a few minutes to change I will meet you at your house."
He smiled then, the crooked one that she had seen so often when he was happy about something. "Perfect! We'll have everything ready by the time you get there."
It didn't take long after that for it to become a regular occurrence for Faith to join Nathan and Allie for walks or fishing trips, where she often sat under a tree reading while they caught that evening's dinner. Other times they met for a meal in the café or could be found sitting in the same pew at church on a Sunday. For all of them it was a comfortable feeling being together and they were relaxed enough not to care what others thought.
Then Elizabeth and Lucas announced their engagement and once again Nathan found himself centre stage of everyone's thinking as they looked for some reaction from him. He found it difficult at times but managed to keep an emotionless expression on his face whenever they were mentioned.
Allie of course knew how hard he found it, although he hadn't burdened her with his feelings. Finally when they were preparing dinner one evening she broached the subject. "Does it still hurt you to see Mrs Thornton and Mr Bouchard together, Dad?"
As he thought of how to answer he realized that he was no longer sure himself exactly how he felt. Was it the fact that Elizabeth had chosen Lucas or that she had rejected him in such a cruel way? Or did her treatment of Allie upset him more than what she had done to him? Before he could reply there was a knock on the door. Faith, he thought, perfect timing to save me from answering.
But Allie wasn't letting the question go. Sticking to the agreement they had made that there would always be honesty between them and that any concerns should be raised and answered she broached the subject again once they were all seated at the dinner table. "Dr Carter, do you think it is cruel of Mrs Thornton to push her relationship in my dad's face all the time, the way she and Mr Bouchard do? How are we supposed to move on from everything while they are doing that?"
Nathan went to say something but Faith held her hand up to stop him. "I know how difficult it is for both of you to see them act in that way but unfortunately it is not up to us to decide how other people should behave."
She turned to Nathan then, "I haven't been told this by Carson myself, in fact he has not written again since I didn't reply to his letter announcing his marriage, but I overheard Rosemary talking in the café this afternoon and it seems that he is to be a father. She stopped quickly when I walked in and I could see on everyone's faces that they were all feeling sorry for me. That hurt. They are my friends and yet I feel as though I will always be judged by what he does, not for my own actions."
Nathan and Allie were both nodding in agreement, knowing exactly how that felt. No matter what they did everyone would always balance it against what had happened with Elizabeth, as though she was still responsible for any happiness they could have.
Suddenly a small smile started on Allie's face, quickly growing bigger. Nathan knew that look, "Whatever it is you are thinking Allie-girl, and I know it will be something mischievious, the answer is no."
Her smile widened even more then as she started nodding to herself, as though deciding that it was a good idea.
"Just hear me out, Dad. You too Dr Carter."
Nathan was quick to interrupt, "No, Allie. The best thing for us is to just continue doing what we have been doing, putting a brave face on everything until it eventually dies down."
"But don't you see, it will never die down unless we move from Hope Valley. People will always be comparing Mrs Thornton's happiness with what they think is our misery." She paused for a moment then, waiting for an argument back. When nothing was said the floodgates of her mind were suddenly flung wide open.
"What if you two were to start courting. Or pretend courting that is. No-one else needs to know but us. You already do a lot together so it would not come as a total surprise. This way people will think that you have both put your heartache behind you and found happiness together. With me too, of course."
Nathan and Faith both laughed, before he replied. "Well that is an interesting concept Allie but we can't court forever so what happens then?"
"Oh that is easy. You will have a very amicable break up, saying you decided that you preferred to just be friends. People by then will have forgotten about Dr Shepherd and Mrs Thornton having anything to do with you both."
Faith was smiling to herself, hoping deep down that Allie would never stop surprising her. The girl was a delight and a wonderful credit to how Nathan had raised her. This was what she loved about their times together, the ease with which they spoke of their feelings and how to deal with them. If she was honest, that was never something she could do with Carson.
Seeing the look on her face Nathan found himself smiling too. "You're very quiet there Faith. Please don't tell me you actually think this is a good idea!"
Something in his expression made her laugh, suddenly wanting to tease him. "Actually, I think it's a marvellous plan and can't believe we didn't think of this before!"
Nathan was surprised by her reaction but also secretly pleased. At least the thought of pretend courting with him hadn't disgusted her. Was there something to what Allie was
suggesting? If it would put an end to the constant feelings of pity from others towards them all then perhaps it was something they should actually consider.
Allie found the next few days highly amusing as her dad and Dr Carter discussed whether they would actually do this and if they went ahead just what it would entail. After a while they realized that it was just a matter of going on as they had been doing for weeks, the only difference now was that they would hold hands or try to convey some type of closeness for others to see.
Neither of them had ever been the type who would indulge in over the top public displays anyway so it was just a matter of changing their mindset slightly to think of themselves as a couple.
Their first outing was quite uneventful, Nathan calling for Faith at the infirmary before taking her hand as they crossed the road to the café. If Minnie's eyebrow raised at the sight of them like that they pretended not to notice. Nor did they react to the sudden whispered conversations going on at the surrounding tables. The sooner the word spread the quicker they hoped attitudes would change towards them.
Nathan had already mentioned it to Bill, while Faith confided in her friend Fiona, simply saying that they had grown closer of late and wanted to explore taking their relationship further. The expected questions weren't forthcoming, their announcement being greeted as though it was a normal development, which surprised them both.
In school Allie had whispered to Emily and Opal during morning break how happy she was that her dad and Dr. Carter were courting and by the end of the school day every child was taking the news home to their mother. The next morning it was the talk of the town.
That lunchtime Elizabeth found herself watching Allie even more closely, thinking how much happier the girl had become of late as though the troubles she had carried with her for so long were now gone. When the whispers about Nathan and Faith reached her she wasn't sure how to react, struggling to keep her composure until the final bell rang.
It was only when Rosemary hurried across from the newspaper office to see her that she finally let her emotions out.
"Have you seen them together?" she asked, not wanting to believe that Nathan had moved on so quickly from loving her. "Do you think it is true?"
Rosemary found herself hesitating, trying hard to find words that would not hurt her friend but knowing that she had to be blunt so that Elizabeth would understand that what Nathan did was no longer her business.
"Well they have certainly been spending a lot of time together lately so it seems like the natural progression for them. I must admit, they make a rather striking couple. Nathan so dark and Faith so fair. And I'm sure they have a lot in common considering their roles within the community."
Glancing quickly to see if there was any reaction to her words she ploughed on, determined to make Elizabeth accept that she had no say in what he did.
"You do know that whatever you think doesn't matter. You gave up any right to be a part of Nathan's life when you chose Lucas and, to be honest, after the way you treated both him and Allie I'm surprised he even acknowledges your existence these days. You have known for a long time what I thought of your actions and that will never change."
Elizabeth had heard this all so many times before. Somehow she couldn't let go of her feelings for Nathan and instead of supporting her struggle Rosemary could be quite scathing in her comments whenever she tried to talk to her. It was clear that no-one cared how difficult the decision had been for her to make.
From his seat on the balcony of the saloon, Lucas had been watching with interest as the relationship between Nathan and Faith became more public. He wondered if this would finally put paid to Elizabeth's dithering and allow them to set a date for their wedding.
He didn't want to wait too much longer, his need to be part of the Thatcher family and have some control over her money grew stronger all the time. There was only so long that he could hold off his creditors and that time was coming to an end. He needed to make good on his promises that funds would be no problem in the future.
Now he watched as they were together once again, their animated conversation as they descended the steps from The Mercantile showing a lightness of feeling he couldn't understand. With Elizabeth life was always tumultuous, yet here was a couple who seemed to enjoy every moment of being together.
Nathan had expected to feel nervous as he and Faith walked towards the café this particular evening, her arm through his as he carried a basket of goods from The Mercantile in his other hand. Instead he found himself very relaxed, laughing easily as she teased him about his cooking and how much better he and Allie were looking now that she was preparing their shared meals on such a regular basis.
It has been just over three weeks since they had announced that they were courting, knowing that word would quickly spread around town. Surprisingly, no-one had been shocked, instead there was almost a delight to be found on the faces of Hope Valley residents as they watched their Mountie and Doctor enjoying time in each other's company.
Faith was cooking dinner for him at her flat later this evening, while Allie was spending the night at Emily's as they worked on the maths project they had been set by Mrs Thornton. All the pupils agreed that there was definitely a change in their teacher in the past few weeks, her manner a little more erratic, and it had not gone unnoticed that she spent even more time than normal watching Allie as though she was trying to muster up the courage to ask her something.
When she announced that she would be carrying out assessments of their academic progress in each subject by means of tests and assignments, with weekly parent meetings to discuss this, Allie was under no illusion that this new idea had something to do with Mrs Thornton wanting to have an excuse to see her father. His avoidance of her had been clear to everyone for a long while now although as part of the courting plan he had agreed to make more of an effort to not turn away from her at every opportunity. Instead he would give a nod and smile before moving quickly on, indicative of a happy and contented man he hoped.
Tonight the subject was science, something at which they knew Allie was doing well. Nathan was prepared for there to be some complaint from Elizabeth so that she could stretch out the meeting for longer than required, as was her habit. With Allie's agreement he had asked Faith to accompany him, the excuse being that she had a more scientific background than him, or indeed Elizabeth, so would be better placed to discuss any problems.
In all honesty, while the motivation was to show them as a courting couple, Nathan was quite happy to be sharing this task with someone who he knew cared for Allie and who understood the difficulties that a young woman with ambition would face in the world into which she would be going. It had been obvious in the past weeks as they spent more time with Faith that there were questions Allie had that were better answered by a woman and it pleased him to see the bond the two were building together, something he believed would last beyond this ruse.
It was the little things he noticed as they talked about subjects of which he had scant knowledge, sometimes in serious discussion and other times with a lot of laughter and whispers. There was none of the "longing for a mother" manner that Allie had displayed towards Elizabeth but simply a teenage girl who needed a woman's advice and guidance, something Faith seemed to happily give without ever being too overbearing.
Pausing for a moment at the steps up to Abigail's café, he marvelled at how doing such ordinary things in life as picking up a rhubarb tart for desert now seemed to give him so much joy. Briefly he thought back to the time he and Carson had both been standing there, watching the women they loved across the street and wondering why life was so difficult. But now that memory was from a time that was becoming more distant and he knew that it wasn't only the bright spring mornings that made him jump out of bed each day. There was definitely a lightness to his step now that only a few weeks ago had not been there.
Minnie smiled as they entered, trying not to act too excited about seeing them together. They had of course been the main topic of conversation in the café for the past few weeks and the general consensus was that it was wonderful. It had been so difficult for many of them to watch these two people who mattered so much to the town suffer the hurt that had been inflicted on them by others. For Nathan it had seemed worse as he had to face Elizabeth and Lucas together every day and his resolute manner in facing the situation was another reason that they were all so happy for their Mountie.
Now there was definitely something different about the pair of them, a clear enjoyment of life that had seemed missing for so long. Minnie said a silent prayer of thanks and asked God to keep blessing them in this way for they deserved it so very much.
"Good evening Faith, Nathan. By the look of that basket I would guess you are not coming in to dine so what can I help you with?"
Faith found it quite normal and easy to answer for them both, as though them being together was the most natural thing. "We would like a rhubarb pie for tonight's dinner, Minnie. Please tell me you haven't sold out as it is Nathan's favourite." She looked up at him as she spoke and for a moment Minnie had the feeling that she did not exist as his smile in response was full of so much warmth it almost cast a light around the two of them.
Although she had actually sold the last on the counter just a few minutes earlier, she had kept one out the back as it was the pie she baked that Joseph liked the best and when he had smelled them in the oven this morning he had said how he would spend the day looking forward to having some tonight. Thank goodness her husband was an understanding man, she thought, as she quickly crossed her fingers behind her back and replied, "Would you believe it I have just the one left through in the kitchen. I guess it had your name on it!"
In the schoolhouse Elizabeth was trying to focus on what Cat Montgomery was saying as she explained how much easier Emily was finding both science and maths now that she and Allie were working on their homework together. "Maybe it has to do with them being the same age but I know Emily finds it clearer sometimes when Allie explains the principles of these things. Thank goodness she can do it as I certainly have no knowledge of a lot of what they are learning!" She laughed then but was surprised to see the school teacher furrow her brough at the mention of Allie's name.
It had been clear from the moment she arrived in Hope Valley that Allie was a bright girl and had been encouraged by Nathan to learn about a range of things that her inquisitive mind found interesting. That she excelled in most subjects was not surprising and even when she wasn't the best pupil at something she worked hard to improve her knowledge and ability. And while their relationship was no longer the same Elizabeth could find no fault in Allie's manner, with the girl always responding in a polite, albeit brief, way. It was therefore difficult to have anything to complain to Nathan about his daughter at these meetings, which obviously meant they were the briefest of all those she held with parents.
But now this gave her something that would require discussion and perhaps an opportunity to question him on what exactly was going on in his private life that necessitated Allie spending so much time doing homework at Emily's house. She smiled to herself as she thought how easy this should be to find out what was happening between him and Faith before she would tell him what he should be doing as Allie's father.
The sound of Nathan's voice outside broke into Elizabeth's thinking and she quickly wrapped up the discussion with Cat by telling her that she would make sure Emily understood everything in the classroom without needing to resort to asking Allie. As Cat went to reply Elizabeth stood up, holding out her hand to signal that the meeting was over.
She hurriedly straightened her skirt and checked that her hair was in place before looking up as the door opened, the smile on her face quickly fading as she watched Nathan usher Faith ahead of him into the schoolroom. Momentarily flustered she turned back to her desk, picking up Allie's file from the top of the pile before taking a deep breath and facing the two people now standing in front of her.
"Nathan, Faith, thank you for coming. I must admit I am surprised to see you both here. Is there a reason for that?"
Nathan glanced sideways at Faith before replying. "A number of reasons actually. Firstly, Dr Carter is far more knowledgeable in science than me so Allie and I thought it would be a good idea for her to be here, and secondly, as someone who we hope will play a big part in what Allie does in the future I want her to be involved in all aspects of our lives."
Elizabeth didn't know how to respond to that so she simply nodded and pointed towards the front pew for them to sit down, her thoughts now working on how quickly she could get this meeting over with.
Life fell into a regular pattern from then on and neither Nathan nor Faith seemed in a hurry to change the situation, the ease they felt in their lives something neither had experienced here before. The hot summer weather meant a lot more time spent outside and they took advantage of it, attending all the picnics, baseball matches and fetes in both Hope Valley and the neighbouring towns. Sometimes with others, on other occasions just the two of them.
Allie was delighted to see them together and often forgot that it wasn't real. She guessed that by the time school started again after the summer Mrs Thornton would no longer be so desperate to know everything they were doing and that maybe things would change then but for now she was just determined to enjoy every moment.
There were only a few days of holiday left when Nathan had drew his car up outside the infirmary. Placing Faith's bag into the back he quickly jumped back in, smiling at Allie in the seat behind before turning to his front passenger to check that she was comfortable.
Some Mountie business in Cape Fullerton had offered up the opportunity for them all to have a few days away and after making sure that it was clear to everyone that Allie and Faith were to share a room in the hotel while he stayed in Mountie accommodation they were finally on their way.
Elizabeth had stopped him in the street when she heard about the upcoming trip, saying that she hoped they wouldn't be away too long as she didn't want Allie missing any days off school. Nathan quickly pointed out that she would be back for the first day of term and therefore it was nothing for her to be concerned about. Inwardly he was angry that she still felt she had a right to question him on what he did in his private life.
But that was not on his mind now. He was looking forward to the chance for them all to relax without the eyes of the town upon them, although he did find himself hoping that it wouldn't change how he and Faith were with each other. The girls were planning to do some shopping and maybe take in a movie at one of the town's theatres while he carried out his business, before all dining together in the evenings.
This would be the first time that he would see how Faith was without the constraints of being the town Doctor and he really wanted to enjoy these moments when there was no need for them to act out a role. He liked them being together and realized that it was possibly the only time in his adult life that he was spending time with someone with whom he could just be himself. No expectations, no guilt, just happy in each other's company. That Allie was obviously enjoying all the time they spent together was a bonus.
After the initial chatter about what they were going to be doing they drove in silence for a while, an air of peaceful contentment in the car as each was caught up in their own thoughts.
He had wanted to do something special for Faith to show his appreciation for not only her willingness to be part of this arrangement but more importantly what she was doing for Allie. There was no question that his daughter was blossoming the more time she spent with Faith and the ease of their relationship made him worry at times how she was going to react when it all came to an end.
Suddenly the thought of that made his own heart heavy. He had carried the burden of responsibility for others alone for so long that he knew that after this time of sharing it would be hard to go back to that again. Trying to picture their life without Faith in it seemed impossible and he quickly knew that he didn't want that. When had his feelings for her changed?
In a short period of time they had made so many wonderful memories together, from the hilarity of Allie's attempts to show her how to fish to watching as Faith patiently explained to his daughter over and over again how to do a simple sewing stitch that seemed to elude her. Those times in the kitchen as Faith was determined to teach him how to cook, despite his assurance that many before her had tried and failed, would always see her moments of frustration turn into fits of laughter.
They spent hours talking about life, their families, the good and bad times in their past. Long discussions about the books they had read and the places they had visited as well as where they still dreamed of going filled many an evening and Nathan wasn't surprised when Faith spoke of her desire to settle down and have children, wanting the same experience as her own mother, and he suddenly found himself picturing a house filled with childish laughter with her in the centre of it. He liked the idea and he knew Allie did too.
Suddenly their world had been filled with joy and happiness, with each day bringing new experiences, as though the clouds had finally moved away from blocking the sun after a bad storm and now bathed them all in light. Somehow it seemed Faith had found a way into his heart and he didn't know what to do about it.
After settling the girls into the hotel, one that had been recommended by his superintendent as being in the perfect location for everything they would want to do while in town, Nathan headed to the Mountie offices to check in and find out his schedule for the next few days. The business he needed to conduct could probably have been carried out over the telephone or by letter but he had decided that it was the perfect opportunity for this time away.
In the hotel room Faith watched as Allie carefully unpacked her bag, hanging her dresses in the closet and filling a drawer of the chest with her other garments. She knew exactly what the girl had packed as it had been subject to much discussion between the two of them over the past few days. For so long focused on her training and work this was something entirely new to Faith and she had to admit she was enjoying it.
The conversation on the journey had been so normal it both pleased and worried her. Anyone watching would have seen a family travelling together, so comfortable were they with each other, and when they had stopped for refreshments she could almost believe that was exactly who they were.
Looking back over the past months she tried to work out when her feelings had changed. Somehow the pretend courtship had become something they did with ease and apart from not sharing very intimate moments it seemed no different to what she had experienced before. No, she thought, it was better. Somehow Nathan had found a way into her heart and she didn't know how she was ever going to let him go.
But she knew that she had to work out how to move forward once they decided to put an end to this, making sure that neither Nathan nor Allie was left with any sadness. She couldn't bear to think of them hurt and being with them was too important for her not to want to remain a friend, however difficult that was going to be.
The sound of a drawer closing brought her back to the present as she realized Allie had finished her unpacking. They had decided to take a walk around the local shops and boutiques while Nathan got himself sorted for tomorrow, before heading over here to take them for dinner. She felt a thrill go through her at the prospect of being out in a city all together, the tall handsome Mountie and this girl who was becoming more like a daughter to her each day. I'll just enjoy this time, she thought, and then deal with the future when we go back to Hope Valley.
Allie had watched her father and Dr Carter from her seat in the back of the car, noticing all the little things they did or said to each other that showed the connection between them. She guessed they had become so accustomed to behaving in this way that it was quite normal for them now, forgetting that it was only her there.
She thought back to when she had wished for him to have a relationship with Mrs Thornton, her desperation for a mother something she couldn't remember not ever having. Now she saw the folly of that. It was not a role just anybody could fill, only someone special was good enough for her dad and she found herself feeling sad that here was that very person and yet none of it was real.
Of course they were friends and the time spent over recent months with Dr Carter had been wonderful, for the first time she had seen what a real family could be like for them. But she was old enough now to know that what she wanted wasn't necessarily right for others and so she tried to keep her feelings to herself. If she just enjoyed the now then hopefully there would be some way for them all to still share some things in the future.
The restaurant Nathan had chosen was very elegant and as they were shown to their table he knew that the eyes of the other patrons were on his family. Faith looked more beautiful than ever and he found it difficult to keep his eyes off her. The cornflower blue dress she had chosen this evening highlighted her eyes while her blonde hair, which she had recently cut shorter, shone under the light from the chandeliers. Beside her Allie stood out in a floral dress that matched in colour, the style more grown up than he had seen her wear before and he knew he had Faith to thank for taking his daughter under her wing and helping her in this transition from tomboy to young lady.
He felt his chest puff out a little with pride and was glad that he had taken extra effort to ensure that his uniform was immaculate, his boots polished within an inch of their lives. He wanted his girls to feel the same way about being with him as he did about them. Suddenly he noticed how frequently he found himself referring to them in that way and it made him smile. Two very strong females were never going to belong to anyone but themselves but he wanted to be the man they were happy to be with. He knew that would not be forever with Allie but the realization that he saw Faith as part of everything he dreamt about in his future no longer surprised him.
Dinner set the tone for their time in Cape Fullerton as Nathan filled them in on the history of the town, adding amusing tales of when he was stationed here as a young naïve Mountie. Faith wondered what kind of person he would have been had duty not called in the form of his niece. Knowing the man sitting across from her there was no doubt in her mind that he would probably not have been very different. When you are as honourable as Nathan Grant then whatever path you took would have involved loyalty and caring for others.
The following few days passed too quickly for them all. Away from Hope Valley they were able to relax completely yet Nathan found himself still taking Faith's arm as they walked through the park after dinner, Allie usually two or three steps ahead of them as she pretended to be studying the flowers to give them space.
As the morning of their departure dawned, three heavy hearts rose and prepared for the journey home. This had been like a dream of what could be that none of them wanted to end.
But reality soon hit as a chickenpox epidemic in Hope Valley and the surrounding area greeted them on their return. With all three having had it before they were not worried about themselves but Faith found herself overrun with cases to deal with and as the families of Mountie after Mountie succumbed to it Nathan was spread wide covering all the towns.
Time together became rare for a while and it wasn't easy knowing that the other was so near and yet their commitment to the people they served meant there was little chance of spending more than a passing moment with each other.
Finally, with the spread of the disease under control the communities came together for a celebration to show their appreciation to everyone who had worked so tirelessly to help those affected. It was the first time in a number of weeks that Nathan and Faith would be out together and surprisingly they both felt rather nervous at the prospect. As he stood at the door waiting for her to answer he could feel his heart beating fast and he knew this was something he could no longer deny.
The Queen of Hearts was abuzz with chatter as many people were enjoying a much needed night out after so long being stuck at home. Extra attention had been paid to dresses and hair, with even the men seeming to have put in more effort than usual. Gustav had outdone himself with the meal and as the musicians struck the first note there was no hesitancy for many as they took to the dance floor.
Elizabeth sat at a table with her friends, bored with yet another night there but as the hotel owner's fiancé she was expected to attend. Lucas liked to make a show in front of the town, determined to make everyone see just how wonderful their relationship was. But even though they were now engaged it was apparent that no-one really cared about what they did. In fact looking around the room she knew that unless they were to have one of their loud and sometimes hurtful disagreements in public there was little about them of interest to anyone.
To be honest she was past thinking about what others had to say. The only person whose opinion mattered to her never took any notice, always finding something else to focus on whenever Lucas decided to make a show of his feelings towards her, something she had to go along with or he would become angry. While it embarrassed her to act that way in front of others, it was necessary to keep reminding herself that she had made the correct decision, no matter the pain she felt.
When two couples from one of the centre tables stood up to dance it opened a clear line of sight for her to where Nathan and Faith were sitting, along with the Mounties and their wives from the surrounding towns.
Seeing how easily they had been accepted as a couple it seemed she had been the only one surprised when they began courting and it still hurt her to think that he could move on so quickly. That his professed love for her was something so easily forgotten made her wonder if this was real but every time she saw them together it was obvious that there was something to their relationship that only came from caring deeply for each other.
Now as Elizabeth watched she could see Faith whisper something in Nathan's ear and as his head turned towards her she just knew that he was looking at her in that special way he had, his crooked smile making Faith feel as though she was the only person in the world to him.
He reached across and squeezed Faith's hand as he whispered his reply, then lifting it from the table he kissed the back of it, his lips lingering for a moment as though savouring the closeness of her. There was nothing showy, nothing lustful, just love shining out from them without a care about anyone else around.
Faith was surprised by Nathan's kiss on her hand. She had been whispering to him how funny it was that they were now old news as a couple when he laughed back, saying that they would always be talked about because she was the most beautiful woman in Hope Valley and he, of course, was the brave Mountie who deserved her love.
There was an ease about them being together as neither of them felt any pressure to be someone they weren't. Their long friendship had already given them an understanding of each other and now as they continued to share more from their past and their dreams for the future the picture of them as a couple just seemed to come together naturally.
With each new revelation from Nathan as he opened up about his childhood, growing up with a criminal for a father, the loss of Coleen and then him taking on Allie, she realized that she already knew more about him than she ever had about either Peter or Carson. With her fiancé it had all been about his career and fitting in with the life he decided they would have. Coming from a family that placed more emphasis on propriety than how people felt he had never once discussed his true feelings with her. Nor had he ever bothered to ask her what she wanted from their life together.
She realized now that Carson had spent so long carrying the burden of his wife's death and his part in trying to save her that he had never been able to open up fully to share himself with her. There was always a part of him that would have stayed closed off and she knew that eventually that would have driven a wedge between them. Perhaps him taking the fellowship at John Hopkins had been a blessing in disguise as it at least gave him a reason to make the break without it being about her. She let out a little gasp as she noticed that thinking about him didn't hurt in the same way and then she smiled to herself.
Nathan saw it and leaning close he whispered in her ear, "Penny for your thoughts?"
Looking up at him she saw how blue his eyes became as they searched her face with such intensity. The urge to reach up and brush the loose lock of hair that fell down on his forehead startled her, the feelings she had surprising her with their depth.
They had agreed it was important to be affectionate enough in public to make their relationship believable but this was not something that she was forcing. She could feel it from the depths of her being and it was wonderful.
Nathan was surprised too. There was something about being with Faith that gave him the confidence to just be himself. There were no secrets, no hidden agendas, nothing to feel guilty about. But tonight he was experiencing some different emotions that he couldn't quite explain. That he was happy went without question. Being together was always easy, even in their darkest times as they gave each other the strength.
But this was more than being comfortable with each other. It had been growing for some time and while they were both dealing with the epidemic he had felt an emptiness without her presence.
Now there was a physical pleasure about sitting here beside her. When he had touched her the electricity that went through him was so strong that he found himself wanting more. It had been a spontaneous action to lift and place his lips on her hand but in that moment it just seemed the most natural thing to do and now he wasn't sure what it meant. All he knew was that he didn't want it to end.
He began to wonder about just how much he was hurting these days. He had seen Elizabeth and Lucas enter the room at the beginning of the evening, their usual show of pretentious romance not receiving quite the same response from the people here. Did it bother them that they were no longer the most talked about couple in town?
Looking up he saw Elizabeth stand and turn towards them, the expression on her face one that he had seen so many times before. There was almost a longing in her eyes but for the first time it wasn't hidden behind the hardness of her face as she tried to contain her emotions. Now there was pain, as though seeing him sitting there was too much for her to bear. She stood motionless, her desire clear.
Faith's voice broke into his thoughts, "We can leave if it is too hard for you Nathan."
All at once he knew that he didn't feel anything anymore. No longer was he fighting an internal battle to push down the emotions he held for the woman on the other side of the room. If anything, all that was left was indifference.
At the next table Allie had stopped talking with her friends and was focused on what was happening, her eyes moving back and forth between her father and teacher, concern on her face.
Seeing her look he smiled and winked across at her before turning to Faith, "Actually, I am feeling just fine. In fact I can't remember ever being this happy. I have everything I need and want right here in this room with you and Allie. I also now know what I don't want, which is like a weight lifted from my shoulders that I should have cast off a long time ago. But sometimes it takes the right person to help you find your way."
Faith could feel her heart beating faster as Nathan spoke, his eyes firmly on hers now as he took both her hands in his. "I don't want to pretend anymore Faith. I like us together. In fact I love us together. I love you. You have made me happier than I ever dreamt I could be and little by little it seems you have captured my heart. I can only hope and pray that you feel the same way about me."
Words were not necessary for him to know the answer. The love shining from her eyes was so clear and he wondered what kind of fool he had been not to see this earlier. She was everything he wanted and needed, offering a simple love that held no drama, no betrayal, just honest and caring emotion. This was where he belonged.
Nothing else mattered in that moment and forgetting where they were he leant closer, his eyes never leaving hers as his hands reached around to the back of her neck to draw her in. The moment their lips met was sweet and sensual, a feeling that neither had ever experienced before. It was a promise of what was to come.
With tears in her eyes Elizabeth reached for her shawl, mumbling to the others seated around her that she wasn't feeling well and wanted to go home. Lucas looked up dismissively, not trying to hide his annoyance at her plan to leave. "I really need to stay here until the end Elizabeth but if you must go then I am sure you will be fine walking by yourself. It is still early so light out."
She nodded, unable to speak, as everyone at the table turned back to what they had been discussing before she interrupted. This is what my life will be, she thought. I am going to have to get used to it as it is what I chose.
With one last look at the couple at the other table she walked out alone.