Autumn was coming quickly to Hope Valley. It was quite the sight to see for newcomers like Lucas and Rosemary, Allison and Fiona, and Dr. Faith Carter. Golden leaves from the surrounding woods blew in through town, paving the streets of the town a poor facsimile of the heavenly roads of paradise. The sun shone bright, but not strong enough to cause the blistering hest of summer. Though spring was not come yet, love bloomed as if it had. Elizabeth and Jack had become open about their love for each other, Allison and Cody could be seen walking together while Abigail Stanton kept an eye on the two, much to the embarrassment of Cody. Cody had decided that, much to the knowledge that one day soon she would leave, that the chance to spend every moment with her was worth the pain he would experience later on.
What no one expected, however, was for Fiona Miller to purchase the old barbershop in town, much less produce a certificate of graduation from a barber school. Allison herself had been perplexed by the action. She had known that Fiona was a licensed barber, she had kept care of Allison's hair for as long as they knew each other, but to do something that would settle her down was out of character.
"It's quite simple Allison dear", Fiona said one day while putting the finishing touches on the barber pole outside, "I'm going in to business for myself".
Allison didn't understand. She asked Fiona to tell her why, but the proud woman wouldn't budge. Allison was distraught. For the past three weeks she had been coming to terms with the man she thought had been her Uncle Nathan and comparing and contrasting him with the man that, she was learning, he had been. She began with apologizing to Elizabeth. The woman had been nothing but kind and loving towards her, welcoming her as family, and she had spat in her face. She felt so guilty for how she had treated the school teacher.
Then there was Cody, dear, sweet Cody. So afraid that one day she would leave him, never to return. How was she going to tell him that she was taking her Uncle's advice and staying in Hope Valley?
Jack Thornton smiled as Elizabeth lay against his shoulder, her head bobbing with the motion of the surrey. Abigail Stanton, like all the widows before her, had refused his gift. So he decided that discretion was the better part of valor and kept the surrey, deciding that he would need it if he and Elizabeth ever courted in public. And they did, much to Michael's delight. Jack smiled as he remembered the little boy's cry of sheer delight as he tackled Jack with his signature bear hug.
Jack smiled and kissed Elizabeth's head.
"Elizabeth".
"hmmm"?
"Don't fall asleep, I don't think you'd appreciate me dropping you".
"I'm not sleeping, I'm just blissfully happy".
"Well, can you be blissfully happy with your eyes open, we're almost there".
Elizabeth smiled and sat up. For an entire month Jack had spent less and less time with her and Michael. She was worried about what he was doing until he brought Michael home from fishing the other day. The little boy had been so excited about it that he almost gave away what the surprise was, until Jack reminded him. After that Michael was tight lipped whenever all three were in the same room.
Elizabeth's heart beat faster and faster as the surrey stopped and Jack helped her down.
"Alright Elizabeth, please turn around".
Smiling she touched his clean-shaven cheek.
"Jack, you can trust me to close my eyes".
"I know, but I also know I caught you trying to sneak a peek at your Christmas present when it came in the mail the other day".
Elizabeth pouted and conceded the point. Dramatically turning around she placed her hands behind her back and let him blindfold her, as if being led off to the guillotine. Jack chuckled. He gently led her by the hand and led her to the large pond that was close to the school house. Jack had purposefully taken a long, roundabout way to get there, parking the surrey out of sight. Finally reaching the pond Jack took the blindfold off.
"Alright Elizabeth.. open".
Elizabeth's heart sunk at the sight.
"Jack, it's just the schoolhouse, what's so..". That's when she saw it, a brand new rowboat, painted white with red trim. As she approached the boat her heart stopped and tears welled behind her eyes. Painted on the side of the boat was the name N.M. ELIZABETH.
"It's beautiful Jack", she said, taking his hand, "what does the N.M. stand for"?
"Nathaniel Michael. I figured this way, you can have the three men you love with you".
She laughed happily as the tears came flowing.
"Oh, I'm sorry Jack, I don't mean to cry. This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me".
"Outside of installing plumbing in your house", he asked teasingly. Elizabeth giggles and said, "it's up there", right before standing on her tiptoes and kissing him. She knew that she would never get tired of this, his strong lips seemingly enveloping her soft ones, linked in perfect harmony, as if made for each other. How could they not be?