Sorry this took so long to post- work has been crazy (peds office + back to school + Covid outbreaks in schools, preschools, and daycares = I can barely function when I get home), and I was trying to polish up two chapters at once. You'll see why. I'm sorry. I just had to. I promise the next chapter is almost done.
Chapter Seven
Elizabeth couldn't get Tom and Rosemary's words out of her head. Was Nathan ready to be married? He'd teased her weeks ago with the pretend proposal in the classroom, but hadn't said or done anything since to make her believe things had changed. The last thing she wanted was to make him feel any sort of pressure to propose to her just because he thought she wanted him to. She did want him to. They really did spend almost all of their free time together, usually with the children, and it always felt comfortable. Normal. Right.
What wasn't comfortable anymore were their good night kisses. Every time it got harder and harder to part, to lock the door and make her way up to her bed alone. Brief as it was, she had been very happily married. She knew the joy of being intimate with the man she loved, and the simple pleasure of falling asleep and waking in his arms. She couldn't help but imagine that closeness with Nathan. She and Jack had barely opened the door on their life together before it was slammed in her face, and she thought she'd be afraid to take the next steps in a new relationship. Instead, she had overwhelming faith that she would spend the rest of her life with Nathan, they would raise Allie and Jack together, and hopefully add more children to their family.
Before she could dwell on it too much or drop any hints, however, Nathan was called away on an investigation. He and Newton rode out early on a cool fall Monday, well before school started for the day, stopping at Elizabeth's for an early breakfast and to say good-bye. Allie, who was staying with her until Nathan returned, got up as usual to see him off in her pajamas. Elizabeth brought Jack downstairs, still mostly asleep, for hugs and kisses. And Allie, bless her, took him upstairs when she went back to bed, giving Nathan and Elizabeth time to say their good-byes in private.
"Be safe." Despite her determination to be brave, her eyes filled with tears as she met his tender gaze. "I love you."
"I love you, too, and I will do everything I can to come back to you, always," he promised, caressing her cheek and wiping a couple escaped tears away. He hugged her close again, her face tucked against his chest and her arms tight around his waist. Then with one last long sweet kiss, he strode out the door and climbed onto Newton's back. "I'll be home as soon as I can."
Nathan called as often as he could, whenever the search took him to a Mountie station with a phone. It became routine for him to call the Coulters, who would go next door to get Elizabeth and then stay with Jack and Allie. Allie would come over after a few minutes, giving her dad and Elizabeth some privacy, at least on her end. Nathan was teased regularly by the other Mounties, but he didn't care; those few minutes talking to his love and his daughter were worth anything. Rather than being a distraction, his feelings for Elizabeth and their life in Hope Valley made him more focused on the job at hand, more aware of what needed to be done and how to do it.
He had been gone for nearly three weeks when the word finally came—the prisoner had been captured, the reports were being filed, and if he had to be a part of the trial, it would be at least a few weeks away. Nathan was coming home. Elizabeth and Allie planned a special dinner for the night he was to arrive. With Allie and Bill's help, Elizabeth was going to prepare Nathan's own fried fish recipe. She just hoped she could do it justice.
Elizabeth had dismissed the children a few minutes earlier, and planned to stop at the Mercantile before heading home to relieve Laura. She double checked that the list from Allie was on the top of her basket, so they could have everything ready for tomorrow. As she cleaned the chalkboard and gathered her things, she saw a flash of red in her peripheral vision. Get a grip! She mentally scolded herself. You're so ready for Nathan to get home that you're daydreaming. She turned to leave and froze. "You're here!"
Nathan had spent the last few minutes leaning in the doorway, watching Elizabeth work. He grinned as she dropped her basket and ran down the aisle, straightening up and opening his arms to catch and hug her close.
"I thought I was losing my mind, that I wanted you home so badly I was imagining you." She nestled her face into his chest, the feel of the warm serge under her cheek a welcome comfort.
Nathan didn't say anything in reply, choosing instead to kiss her with all the love and loneliness that had been building in him since their good-bye. The kiss may have lasted a few minutes, several hours, or even a year for all they knew, but eventually they had to part in order to breath.
Elizabeth kept a tight hold on his arm as they went to pick up her scattered basket and papers. "You said you weren't going to be back until tomorrow!" she scolded. "Allie and I had a special dinner planned."
Nathan smirked. "I wanted to surprise you. When you and I talked last night, I was already in Buxton. I finished my very detailed reports this morning so I won't have to return for the trial, had lunch, and came home. I even managed to sneak Newton back to the livery before coming here. And Allie knew I'd be home today—why do you think she was so eager to go out with her friends after school? She, Robert, and Harper are fishing for our dinner as we speak. "
Elizabeth tried to scowl at him, but between his crooked grin and the warmth shining in his eyes, she couldn't find it in herself to be angry. "Guess I won't need Bill's help with dinner anymore. Allie was going to share the Grant family recipe with us."
"I will be more than happy to teach you myself," Nathan promised. "Besides, I don't want Bill to have my recipe. It's a family secret."
"But you're willing to share it with me?"
Nathan pulled her close, giving her a quick kiss as he explained, "You are family."
As promised, Elizabeth and Jack were invited to take part in Colleen's birthday celebration this year. Elizabeth helped Allie bake the cake and Jack helped with the frosting, though he seemed to eat and wear more than he put on the cake.
"It your birfday, Awwie?" he asked, eyeing the finished cake and brightly wrapped present on the table.
"Actually, it's my mom's birthday," she explained.
Jack looked around, clearly confused. "Where is she?"
Allie hugged the little boy and gave him a sad smile. "My mom is in heaven like your Daddy. She went away when I was a little bigger than you—that's why Uncle Nathan is my Dad now."
"Why you open present for her birfday?"
Allie laughed. "It's actually a present from my grandma, something of my mom's for me to keep. Like your Grandma Charlotte sent you Bear."
Jack grinned, understanding dawning on his face. He looked at the present and then back to Allie. "You open now?"
Nathan and Elizabeth gathered around the table as Allie opened the package. She gasped when she saw the ring, immediately putting it on. She scrambled to catch it seconds later as it slid off her finger.
"I was afraid that might happen," Nathan said. "Maybe this will help?" He held out another package, this one long and slim. Allie opened it to find a long gold chain, and looked back at him in confusion. Nathan slid the ring onto the necklace and then clasped the chain around her neck. "Now you can keep it with you, without worrying about it falling off and getting lost." Allie jumped into his arms, literally bouncing with glee. She finished reading the letter from her grandmother explaining the significance of the ring, and Nathan added his own memories.
"Do you think my mom and Jack's dad are together in heaven?" Allie asked out of the blue. "Like, together together? They're both watching over us, so they must spend a lot of time together, right?"
"That would be nice, wouldn't it?" Elizabeth replied. "They wouldn't have to be lonely."
Allie smiled. "I'd like to think they're happy up in heaven. What do you think they'd be doing if they weren't watching us?"
Elizabeth thought for a moment. "I don't think they spend all their time watching us. I think they're here for the important things, like tonight's celebration or when we're sick or scared. I think they just 'know' when we need them, but they're not watching us every second of every day. Maybe at first they were, but now that we're moving on, they can, too."
"I could spend every second of the day watching you," Nathan teased, giving her a kiss.
Elizabeth smiled, leaning against him. "Thank you." Then she turned serious. "How horrible would it be to spend eternity only being able to watch the people you love, though? Never touch their hand, smell their cologne, talk about their day… I know Jack and Colleen wanted us to be happy again; I hope they are, too."
In the weeks since his return, they all settled easily back into their routines, but Elizabeth noticed Nathan seemed more and more distracted. He was as affectionate and attentive to her and the children as ever, but something just wasn't right.
"Are you okay?" Elizabeth asked after dinner one night, her eyes filled with concern.
"I'm fine," Nathan assured her, forcing a smile back onto his face. "Just have a lot on my mind."
"Is it about that case you're working on?" Allie asked pointedly. "The one you had that question about?"
Nathan gave her an equally direct look, his face smoothing into a smile when Elizabeth glanced back at them. "Yes, that's it."
"What kind of case?" Elizabeth asked.
Nathan shrugged, fighting the urge to rub the back of his neck, a nervous habit Elizabeth had quickly picked up on. "Just something I'm trying to get wrapped up. It's one of those times when you already know the answers, but you have to ask the questions anyway."
"Uh huh," Elizabeth nodded, settling at her desk to grade some history exams but glancing back at them frequently.
"Mama, come see what we drawed!"
Elizabeth laughed, setting the tests aside and joining Nathan and the kids on the floor around the coffee table. Jack had a pile of pictures in front of him, and he excitedly handed them over. Allie went back to her own drawing, while Nathan sat behind Jack.
The first picture seemed to be lots of colorful squiggles, with a name in the middle. "Will. Is this for your Grandfather William?" she asked, setting the paper down and looking at the next one. It appeared to be a woman with lots of brown hair and a pink dress, and Nathan or Allie had helped Jack write the word 'you' at the top. A flutter started in Elizabeth's stomach as she looked at the next picture. It was a building with a pointed roof and a very large bell on top, and the word 'Marry' inscribed on it. She held her breath as she brought the last picture to top. It showed a family of four, all smiling and holding hands. 'Us'. Tears filled her eyes as she looked up to see Nathan holding a ring.
"Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton, I lost my heart the first time you walked into my office. You are the bravest, most incredible, most beautiful woman I have ever met. You amaze me every day with all that you do—for your child, your students, your friends—and I thank God that you are a part of my world. I want us to build a life, our life, together. You, me, Allie, and Jack. Will you marry us?"
Elizabeth was on her feet before he finished the question, her tears falling heedlessly as she beamed. "Yes! Of course! Yes!"
Allie scooped up Jack and started dancing around the room. Nathan stood, sliding the ring onto her finger and pulling her close, kissing her with more passion and fire than ever before.
"I think I need to sit down," Elizabeth sighed, her head spinning and her knees gone completely weak. Instead of helping her onto the sofa, Nathan swept her up into his arms and then sat himself, holding her in his lap. They shared another, gentler, kiss before she nestled her head against his shoulder, holding her hand out to admire its new adornment.
"So I need to explain something about the ring," Nathan admitted, his own head still spinning as he watched her study it.
"It's beautiful. How did you get it without everyone in town knowing? I can't see Florence or Ned being very discrete."
Nathan shook his head. "I've had it for a while now. It was my mother's." At her startled look, he continued. "Remember when I was telling you about Colleen's gift for Allie this year? You asked me if there was something with my birthstone in it, and I was afraid to answer."
"I wondered why you changed the subject so quickly, but I didn't want to pry. I thought it might have something to do with Colleen and I didn't want to upset you."
Nathan pressed a kiss on her forehead before elaborating. "I couldn't very well tell you I had a diamond ring waiting in my drawer."
Elizabeth laughed softly. "I might have insisted on having it right away."
"I was planning to have a wedding band made to fit with it," Nathan said hesitantly. "But if you'd rather have something new…"
She interrupted him with a kiss. "I love this ring."
Nathan grinned, relieved. "Then I should probably also explain that your ring and Allie's can be worn together." Allie took her necklace off and slid the ring from the chain. Nathan placed the second ring onto Elizabeth's finger, showing her how the stones settled together when the bands were stacked.
Elizabeth looked between Nathan and Allie. "If they're a set, then Allie should have both of them," she insisted. "I don't need a ring to tell the world that I am going to marry you."
"Actually," Allie replied quietly. "I like the idea of us both having a piece. It's kind of like a mother and daughter thing….like maybe someday you'll think of me as your daughter."
Elizabeth's tears returned as she sat up, pulling Allie down on the sofa beside her and wrapping her arms around her. "I already think of you as my daughter," she declared. "I love you just as much as I do Jack, and I am honored that you want to share a piece of your family with me."
Allie hugged Elizabeth and Nathan wrapped his arms around both of them. Not to be left out, Jack scrambled into Nathan's lap. "Fam-wee hug!"
"We are definitely going to need a bigger sofa," Nathan laughed.
"First we need a bigger house," Allie pointed out. "Where are we going to live?"
"I guess that depends on how long Elizabeth and I are engaged. It will take some time to find and purchase land, and to get a new house built, so we may have to stay in one of the row houses for a bit," Nathan explained.
Elizabeth squeezed his hand. "Would you mind a short engagement?" she asked. "I don't want to wait. Jack and I courted for four years before he proposed, and then it was another year before we were married. Once he came home from the Northern Territories, we planned our wedding pretty quickly, but we didn't actually get to be married very long. He got his new assignment and left within a few days. We had twelve days together before I left him at Fort Clay." She leaned her head on Nathan's shoulder. "We've already lost so much time because of my fears and doubts. I don't want to waste any more."
Nathan grinned. "Short engagement it is. Looks like you and I are moving again, Allie."
"Jack and I could move to your house," Elizabeth protested but Nathan shook his head.
"Yours has a third bedroom," he explained. "Unless you think Allie and Jack would want to share a room until we get our house built."
Elizabeth laughed. "Oh, that's definitely not a good idea. For a night or two, maybe, but he wouldn't give her any privacy or personal space."
"Awwie stay in my room?" Jack was confused but not unhappy with the idea.
"No, silly boy, you and I get our own rooms. They have to share," Allie explained, gesturing towards their parents.
Jack pouted a bit as he considered the new plans, but soon settled on the most important part. "Awwie read me story?" Allie, agreed, volunteering to get Jack ready for bed. Elizabeth and Nathan gave him hugs and kisses goodnight, then took advantage of being alone to kiss a little longer and deeper than they would in front of the children.
"About our new house," Elizabeth said later, after Allie had settled at the kitchen table with her homework. "You know that I already own land, right? I paid off the bank with the money from Jack's death benefit, so it's all mine, free and clear. We could build there, or I'll sell it so we can look somewhere else."
"Elizabeth…that land was your dream with Jack."
"And our dream didn't come true," she replied. "But I know he would want my dreams to be fulfilled. You are my dream now. You are my family and my future. And if I remember correctly, we could even have some of the lumber already. Jack paid for it and had the first load out there to start work. While he was at Fort Clay, Lee took it back, figuring it could be put to use then, and he would send fresh lumber when Jack was back and ready to build."
"We'll have to talk to Lee, but the sooner we can get started…" Nathan's eyes lit with excitement.
"We may need that new house sooner than you'd think," Elizabeth said quietly. "That cute little guy upstairs is the result of less than two weeks of marriage."
Nathan broke into a grin as he leaned in to capture her lips in another kiss. "And since I intend to spend a lifetime longer than two weeks with you…I'll talk to Lee tomorrow."
Allie offered to stay and keep an ear out for Jack so that Elizabeth and Nathan could go next door to share their news with the Coulters. "I'm surprised Mrs. Coulter hasn't come over here, yet."
As expected, their friends were thrilled for them.
"I told you that man was ready to marry you," Rosemary teased. She and Elizabeth were sitting on the sofa, while Lee and Nathan had drifted outside to celebrate with cigars. "Forgive me, but I'm surprised he didn't do something more….well, more."
Elizabeth shook her head. "I couldn't have asked for better," she stated. "I've had candles and roses and grand gestures, and they were wonderful. But this…it was simple. It was beautiful because it was just so us. At home, with our kids. It was perfect."
"Well as long as you're happy, and clearly you are, then I'm happy for you. Ecstatic even!" Rosemary gathered her in for another hug. "We need to get planning right away. Have you set a date yet?"
"Rosemary, we just got engaged an hour ago!" Elizabeth giggled. "Give us a day or two, at least."
Lee and Nathan returned just as the phone rang. Lee answered and quickly handed it to Elizabeth. "It's your sister, Julie."
Elizabeth grasped Nathan's hand, pulling him to her side to make the announcement. "We're engaged!"
"Elizabeth, its Father. There's been an accident."