A/N: Hi friends! I apologize for the delay in getting these stories updated. Life has been very busy, but I am hoping to get back in the swing of things here. My current focus is finishing this story (about three more chapters) and The Strength Within (about eight more chapters). Once they're complete, I will focus on Call of the Heart (that poor story has been neglected for months now, but hopefully I can work on it again soon!). Thank you so much for all your support and encouragement of these stories! It keeps me going, and I am so thankful for each and every one of you. I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. Cheers to a great 2023!

Elizabeth couldn't stop gazing at her week-old daughter. Lottie looked back up at her and yawned, a tiny fist closed against her petal-soft cheek.

"You have your father's eyes, sweet girl," Elizabeth whispered. "I never knew if they were more green or gray because they were constantly changing. I loved his eyes." She nuzzled Lottie's cheek. "I'm so glad you inherited them."

There was a good mix of both herself and Jack in their daughter's features. Elizabeth found herself daydreaming about what Lottie would be like as she grew up. Would she display signs of Jack's personality? Would she have the characteristic Thatcher stubbornness? Whoever she'd become, Elizabeth knew one thing: this child would be well loved.

A knock sounded at the door. She went to open it. Abigail stood on the other side, a basket in hand. "I thought you might need some more provisions." She held up the basket. "There are several meals in here, along with some extra baby blankets. It's been awfully cold."

Elizabeth smiled, touched at her friend's kind gesture. "Thank you, Abigail."

They visited for a while, Abigail holding Lottie to give Elizabeth a short break. Not that Elizabeth felt much need for one. She loved holding her daughter. Granted, she was tired from multiple feedings each night, but Lottie always went back to sleep quickly after nursing.

After an hour, Abigail stood and handed the little girl back to Elizabeth. "I should get going, but I'll be back later to check in on you."

Elizabeth smiled. "I'm grateful for your support. I'm sure Lottie will be happy to see Aunt Abigail again."

Abigail chuckled. "I hope so."

Elizabeth walked her to the door. When she pulled it open for her friend, she was startled to see Carson on the other side. His face mirrored her surprise, his fist lifted in preparation to knock. "Carson!" A familiar rush of butterflies flit through her stomach.

He smiled, and the butterflies intensified. "Hey, Elizabeth. Hi, Abigail."

Abigail shot Elizabeth a knowing look, a secret smile on her face. "See you later." She nodded at Carson, then walked down the lane.

Elizabeth swallowed, suddenly a bit nervous. "Please, come in."

He stepped into the house. Elizabeth shut the door to the cold and turned to face him. His eyes were on Lottie, a tender look in them. "She's growing so fast already."

Elizabeth nodded. "She really is. I can't believe how much difference a week makes." She looked up at him, a little shy. "I've missed our lunches."

He put something on her desk. "As have I. But I figured you needed some time to rest and recover."

"I did." She was about to invite him to start coming again, but he spoke first.

"I finished your book."

She caught her breath. More nerves filled her, but these had nothing to do with butterflies. "What did you think?"

He nodded toward the settee. "Why don't we sit?"

They settled side-by-side, then Elizabeth offered him the baby. "Would you like to hold her?"

His eyes lit up. He nodded, holding out his arms. Once Lottie was nestled securely, he smiled. "Hello, sweet girl. Have you been good for your mama?"

Elizabeth chuckled. "She's a dream. I couldn't have asked for a better baby."

Carson turned his smile to her. "And you're a wonderful mother. She's a fortunate child."

His praise made her blush. Before she could think of something else to say, he took the stack of papers he'd placed on the table and handed them to her. "This was excellent, Elizabeth."

She felt her heart skip a beat. "You liked it?"

He nodded. "I did. You captured the emotions of grief very well in the beginning, as well as the struggle to open one's heart after a tragedy. I feel like I got a look into your own grieving process."

She looked at the papers. "You did. I poured my feelings into this story. It was my way of coping with and accepting Jack's death. I feel like it gave me some closure."

He reached out, covering one of her hands with his. "I'm honored that you trusted me with this before publishing it. It's truly a wonderful story." He smiled. "I liked how hopeful the ending felt. There was a sense that your main character was ready to open her heart to love again."

Another blush filled her cheeks. When she'd written that ending, she admitted to herself that Jack's final wish for her might someday come to fruition. As she sat with Carson, feeling his warm hand over hers, she wondered if Abigail and Charlotte were right. Did he have feelings for her? And if he did, did she return them?

She slowly looked up. Carson was studying her. "Are you alright?"

"I think so." She felt a strange urge to pull her hand away, but a stronger urge kept it right where it was. "Thank you for the feedback. I'm glad you liked the story."

He brushed his thumb over the back of her hand, almost unconsciously. "You have a gift, Elizabeth. I'm proud of you for taking steps to share that with the world."

Her heart thumped hard in her chest. His words, his gaze - they were turning her stomach to mush. She wasn't sure what to make of her feelings for her. Instead, she simply smiled, trying to convey her gratitude with her eyes.

They sat for a while talking. Eventually, they were interrupted by Lottie's cries. Elizabeth reached for her daughter. "She's hungry. I should probably feed her."

Carson surrendered the precious bundle. "I'll leave you to it." He stood, then paused. "Are you planning on going to the big dinner on Christmas Eve?"

She nodded. "I'll be there. I can't believe it's just a couple days away."

"Would you like me to pick you and Lottie up?"

He had always been a considerate man. Elizabeth smiled. "Thank you, but Lee and Rosemary said they would drive us."

"Of course."

Lottie's cries grew louder. Carson said goodbye and headed for the door. Elizabeth began feeding her daughter once he'd closed it behind him, pondering the whole time what she felt for the man who had been a friend for so long.

The orphan wagon Carson had heard about in Brookfield arrived two days before Christmas. He met Constable Gabriel Kinslow first, as the man was leading the horses that pulled the wagon. There was something instantly likable about him. He had an easy manner and a ready wit, two things Carson appreciated. Lillian and Grace, the women starting the new orphanage, were sisters, but they were as different as could be. One thing they did have in common, though, was a clear love for the children in their care. Six orphans rode in the wagon, their eyes taking in the town they were passing through. As they'd had a heads up about the incoming wagon, the people of Hope Valley had places ready for the visitors.

Gabriel and the three boys would be staying with the Coulters, while Lillian, Grace, and then girls would stay with Shane and Faith. Abigail planned to close down the cafe to customers that evening so the group could have a special pre-Christmas dinner together, along with a few friends. Elizabeth had been invited, but since the big Christmas Eve dinner was the next night, she declined, not wanting to overtax herself or the baby by being out two nights in a row.

Carson found himself sitting beside Gabriel at the dinner. "It's very kind of you to accompany the sisters to Brookfield," Carson said, looking at the young man in red.

Gabriel smiled. "It was the right thing to do."

Carson noticed that his eyes turned to Lillian, lingering there longer than necessary. He hid a smile. "Looks like your young lady has a wonderful heart."

The Mountie turned red as his serge. "I … no … we're not …"

It was obvious the young man had feelings for the pretty young woman, but it seemed they hadn't spoken them out loud. Taking pity on him, Carson nodded. "Yeah. I know how that goes."

Gabriel's lips turned up in a half-smile. "Why is it so hard to risk our hearts?"

Carson shook his head, his thoughts turning to Elizabeth. "If you figure out the answer to that, let me know. I'm in the same boat as you. It's not smooth sailing."

"Not at all." Gabriel's wry words were punctuated with a chuckle. "But then, we're told nothing worth having comes easy. I suppose risk is always involved in any worthwhile venture. Including matters of the heart." He looked Lillian's way again. "She just has so many children depending on her. It feels selfish of me to ask her to commit to anything right now." He shrugged. "We have time."

Carson's throat tightened. "Not necessarily."

Gabriel looked at him, surprise written on his face. Carson hurried to explain. "I was married to a wonderful woman. She was my world. I thought we'd have the rest of our lives to spend together, getting to know each other more and more." He felt tears prick his eyes. "She died."

A shadow crossed Gabriel's face. "I'm sorry, Carson."

He smiled slightly. "Thank you. The point is, tomorrow is not guaranteed. The timing might never be perfect. If you have feelings for that young woman, the longer you wait to make them known, the likelier the chance that you won't be able to tell her at all." He nodded at Gabriel's uniform. "Your job is a dangerous one. Anything could happen. Don't let timing get in the way of your potential happiness."

The young man nodded thoughtfully. "You make a good point." He smiled. "Thank you."

Their conversation took a new turn when Brandon sat beside Gabriel. "Constable Kinslow, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something."

"Please, call me Gabriel."

Brandon nodded. "Yes, sir."

Carson hid a smile. The young man had a tendency to resort to the formality that would have characterized his training, but he was slowly learning that being less formal was okay. It seemed in the presence of an older Mountie - even one only a few years older - he reverted to sir and last names by default.

"What can I do for you?" Gabriel asked.

Brandon rested his arms on the table. "Sheriff Avery and I are trying to track down a former recruit. The problem is, we keep hitting dead ends. If you wouldn't mind, could you keep an ear out for a man named Taron Johnson? He grew up near Brookfield, so there's a possibility he could end up in that area again." He sighed. "I'm worried for him. He took the death of our superior officer very hard. No one has seen or heard from him since he left training in May."

Compassion lit Gabriel's face. "Of course. I'll do a little digging of my own when I get back to Brookfield. Maybe between us, we'll be able to find him. Would you like me to notify you if I get any leads?"

Brandon's facial muscles relaxed in relief. "Yes, please. That would be very helpful."

Gabriel nodded. "Consider it done."

Carson smiled. It looked like the character traits that made Hope Valley special were present in Gabriel Kinslow as well. Having been to Brookfield, Carson knew it was a town full of kind, hard-working people who looked out for those around them. If Taron Johnson made his way there, they would take care of him. He hoped for Brandon's sake that they could find his lost friend. If the young man had indeed taken things harder than Brandon, his guilt must be eating him alive.

On Christmas Eve, Elizabeth watched from her parlor window as the orphan wagon rolled slowly out of sight. According to Rosemary, the previous evening had gone very well. Elizabeth had been able to hear the boys laughing and playing through the thin walls of the rowhouses. Lee and Rosemary had laughed a lot as well. Elizabeth found herself hoping and praying that her friends would soon be able to have a child of their own. She knew how much they longed for a baby.

A knock at her door sounded, followed by Rosemary breezing into the house. "Oh, Elizabeth!" She wrapped her in an exuberant embrace. "Lee and I talked long into the night, and we've come to a decision about something."

Her friend was fairly glowing. Elizabeth laughed. "It must be something wonderful if you're this happy."

Rosemary nodded. "We're going to adopt!"

Elizabeth gasped. "Rosemary! That's wonderful!" She smiled. "I take it the orphans had something to do with this?"

Laughing, Rosemary nodded. "They were such wonderful children, and one of them in particular captured our hearts. His name is Fred, and he's the sweetest little boy. We didn't want to say anything to him yet, just because they're already undergoing such a big transition, and we need to be approved by a judge to be able to adopt. But as soon as we are, we're going to make the trip to Brookfield and see if he would like for us to be his parents."

"Oh, my friend, I am so happy for you!" Elizabeth pulled her into another embrace. "Congratulations."

The two women talked a bit longer, then Rosemary took her leave. The house seemed very quiet afterward. Lottie was still napping. Elizabeth glanced at her bare Christmas tree. Henry brought it over for her just yesterday, and she hadn't yet had a chance to decorate it. Maybe she could do it now. Before she could trek upstairs to get the boxes of ornaments, a wave of loneliness crashed over her. Tears sprang to her eyes as she looked at the unadorned tree. Last Christmas, she and Jack decorated together on Christmas Eve.

The memory undid her. She sank onto the settee, tears pouring down her cheeks. Though the memory was a happy one, it reminded her that her husband was no longer here to celebrate Christmas and never would be. The pain that sliced through her felt intense. She allowed herself time to mourn that fact rather than pushing the grief aside. If the last months had taught her anything, it was that suppressing grief made it much worse.

She wasn't sure when she fell asleep, but a knock at the door jolted her awake. Stumbling to her feet, she crossed the room to see who was there. Carson's smiling face met her when she pulled the door open. His smile instantly disappeared as he looked at her. "Elizabeth! What's wrong?"

She sagged against the doorframe. "Jack is gone."

Understanding filled his eyes. He took her arm and guided her to the settee after closing the door. "Can I make you a cup of tea?"

She nodded, though the action felt listless. Carson headed for the kitchen. Elizabeth once again stared at her tree. How could she decorate it this year without Jack? She almost wished she hadn't accepted Henry's offer to get her a tree.

Several minutes later, Carson brought her a steaming mug of tea. She accepted it and took a sip. The warmth of chamomile filled her senses. She smiled as he sat beside her. "Thank you."

They sat in silence for a little while. He was the first to speak. "My first Christmas without Amber was the worst one I'd ever experienced. All I could think about was that she was gone, about how unfair it was that her life had been cut short. I missed her terribly. I didn't have the strength or energy to celebrate in any way, even avoiding church services that year." He reached out, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I know it's hard, Elizabeth."

She sniffed. More tears threatened in the wake of Carson's gentle empathy. "It hurts."

He rubbed her upper back in a soothing manner. "I know."

"I don't want to decorate the tree. Seeing all those ornaments we collected together would be too hard."

"That's understandable."

She gulped in another breath. "I also know Jack wouldn't want me to let grief win. He loved Christmas. The tree should be decorated."

Carson was quiet for a couple moments. "What if you did something simple?"

She blinked. "What do you mean?"

He looked at the tree. "What if you wrapped a garland around it, then added some tinsel and pinecones? It would create a more natural look, and you wouldn't have to use ornaments, but it would still be festive."

Relief filled her. "I like that." Just as quickly, she sighed. "But I don't have any of those things."

Carson squeezed her shoulder. "Give me half an hour and I'll get some for you."

She almost protested, but she knew he was doing it because he wanted to help her feel better, so she simply nodded with a smile. "Thank you."

Lottie woke while Carson was away. Elizabeth fed and changed her daughter, then set about making some hot chocolate. It was just hot enough when another knock signaled his return. He came into the house with a large box, which he placed beside the tree. After, he came into the kitchen and peered over her shoulder. "That smells good."

His hand naturally came to rest on her back, and the innocently intimate touch made her heart skip a beat. Confused at how she could be missing Jack so badly but also reacting to the nearness of another man, Elizabeth tried to focus her attention on the cocoa. "I hope you like hot chocolate. I thought it would be nice to sip on while we decorate the tree."

Carson looked at her. "We? You want my help?"

She smiled a little shyly. "If that's something you would be open to."

He nodded. "Absolutely. I just wasn't sure if that would feel like stepping over a boundary." He looked her in the eyes. "I know your memories of decorating are tied to Jack. I wouldn't want it to seem like I was trying to take his place."

Elizabeth again felt the sting of tears, but this time it was in gratitude for Carson's understanding. Before she could analyze what she was doing, she raised herself on tiptoe to press a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you."

His lips parted in surprise. They stared at each other for a few seconds, something simmering between them that she couldn't – or wouldn't – label. He seemed to sway closer before clearing his throat and taking a step back. "It's my pleasure."

Elizabeth ducked her head, a blush spreading over her cheeks. "Why don't you hold Lottie while I pour the chocolate into cups?"

A smile broke out on his face. "Gladly." He accepted her daughter with a look of awe. "Hello, princess. Are you ready for your first tree decorating? Your daddy loved Christmas, and I know he would have been so happy that you were born in December."

He continued to talk to the little girl as he moved to the tree. Elizabeth watched with a bittersweet smile. Jack might not be able to be here for his daughter's first Christmas, but Carson was keeping his memory alive by talking about him to Lottie and by suggesting how she could still decorate her tree without being plagued by memories.

This Christmas might be hard, but with friends like him, she knew she wouldn't be alone.