On June twenty-fourth, Nathan woke as the first rays of dawn crept through his windows. A smile tugged at his lips. Today was the day he got to marry the woman he loved. Buoyed by that thought, he threw back his covers and hopped out of bed cheerfully. Padding to his closet, he opened the door and reached out for the clothes he would wear before the wedding. He paused. A smile crossed his lips as he took in Elizabeth's dresses hanging beside his shirts. Over the last week, she'd slowly begun moving her things into his apartment in preparation for living together after their honeymoon. Her scent lingered on the clothes, reaching his nose and making his smile grow. His eyes moved to his dresser, where several items of hers rested. A hairbrush. A jewelry box. A small mirror. All little things he'd never seen before. Having them in his apartment made her feel close even when she was across town in her rowhouse.

This would be the last morning she woke in that home. How was she feeling about her impending change? A desire shot through him to see her. Throwing on a pair of pants and his blue checkered shirt, Nathan hurried down the stairs and out the door. His long legs ate up the distance between his home and hers. Not many people were up and about this early. When he reached Elizabeth's house, he stopped in his tracks. What was he thinking, coming here at such an hour? Yes, he was concerned about how she might be feeling, but surely barging into her home before the sun rose was a bad idea. Not to mention that Rosemary told him time and again that he shouldn't see the bride on their wedding day, not until the wedding itself. It seemed a silly rule to him, but maybe Elizabeth didn't think so.

He was still debating on a course of action when the front door opened. His fiancée slipped out, looking beautiful in a pale pink skirt and white blouse, hair loosely braided, two mugs in hand. She smiled warmly when she saw him. "You looked like you were thinking awfully hard when I peeked out the window. Would you like to share a morning cup of coffee with me?"

He glanced at Rosemary's house. "Wouldn't she have something to say about that?"

Elizabeth's laugh sounded softly on the breeze. "She would, but I don't have a problem with it, and since you're my groom, I say we can spend some time together before our wedding." She sat on the porch steps and motioned for him to join her. He did, and she handed him a mug. They shared a short, sweet kiss before beginning to sip the slightly bitter beverage.

Elizabeth rested her head on his shoulder, a soft sigh escaping. Nathan smiled, slipping an arm around her as they sat in silence, watching the sun rise slowly over the horizon.

"I can't believe we're finally getting married." There was a smile in her voice.

He let his head fall gently onto hers. "Neither can I."

"Are you ready?"

He could hear the concern she tried to hide. Touched by her thoughtfulness, he smiled. "I still wonder if I'll make a good husband and father, but my talks with Gabe and my desire to marry you have gone a long way toward diminishing those fears. So yes, sweetheart, I'm ready to marry you." He kissed her temple. "We'll figure things out as we go along."

"Good." She nestled her head further into the curve of his neck. "Because today is the happiest day of my life. I get to become your wife."

He chuckled. "I came over here because I thought you might be struggling a bit with the thought of leaving your home."

She shook her head, tickling his neck with her hair. "Not at all. I can't wait to start this life with you."

Before he could respond, a shriek sounded from next door. "Nathan Grant! What are you doing here?!"

He lifted his head to glance at an indignant Rosemary. She stood on her porch, LJ on her hip and a frown on her face. He couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "Good morning to you too, Rosemary."

She tapped her foot. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"

He bit his lip to keep from laughing again. "I'm sharing a cup of coffee with my beautiful fiancée."

"Oh!" Rosemary threw her free hand in the air. "You need to get yourself right back into town, young man. The wedding is in just a few hours. Elizabeth needs time to get ready, you know."

Elizabeth peeked around him. "There's plenty of time, Rosemary. There's nothing I'd rather be doing right now than enjoying this lovely morning with the man I love."

Lee appeared on the porch behind his wife. He chuckled, taking her arm. "Come on, Rosie. Let Nathan and Elizabeth have a bit of calm before the storm. You know it's going to be a busy day for them." He pulled her into the house, ignoring her sputtering.

Nathan laughed quietly. "Lee is a saint."

Elizabeth grinned. "So he's been told many a time." She leaned against him. "What time does our train leave this afternoon?"

"Three o'clock. We should be at Vancouver Island by seven this evening."

She smiled. "I think it will be a lovely honeymoon. A cottage on the beach and a whole week to explore the island."

He kissed her gently. "It'll be a wonderful start to our marriage. You'll love the island. It's one of the prettiest places in Canada."

Elizabeth absently played with a stray lock of his hair. "I believe it. You had a great idea for us to have a morning wedding and a lunch reception so we could get to our honeymoon destination at a reasonable hour." She shuddered slightly. "Can you imagine having to travel all day after a full slate of festivities?"

He chuckled. "Not really. That doesn't sound fun. Thankfully, Vancouver Island is relatively close to Hope Valley."

The door opened behind them. Nathan and Elizabeth turned in unison to see Viola poking her head out of the house. "Sorry to interrupt, but Julie wanted me to bring our sister inside. Something about a good breakfast to start the morning before all the wedding preparations."

Nathan smiled and stood. "I'll let you ladies get to it." He reached out a hand to help Elizabeth to her feet. She took his coffee cup and kissed his cheek. "The next time I see you, we'll be pledging forever to each other."

The thought stole his breath. He pulled her close. "I can't wait."

She pressed her lips to his cheek again. Nathan turned his head so that their lips met, kissing her tenderly before stepping back. "I love you, Elizabeth. See you in a few hours."

She smiled. "I love you, too."

Happiness welled in his heart as he watched her disappear into the house. Just four hours until their lives became one. He turned and headed down the lane, whistling a lively tune.

Gabe chuckled, watching as Nathan attempted to knot his tie. The navy blue piece of material matched his suit, the same color suit that Gabe wore himself. He sauntered over to his friend, taking the tie from him.

"Let me help before you hurt yourself."

Nathan laughed. "Thanks, Gabe. I never could figure those things out."

Gabe eyed him. "You're more chipper than I've seen you in years."

His friend grinned. "I get to marry Elizabeth Thatcher today. Of course I'm chipper."

"I won't lie, I expected you to display some nerves." Gabe expertly threaded the tie into the proper knot. "But you seem nothing but excited."

Nathan wrapped Gabe in an embrace. Thrown off by the unexpected show of affection, Gabe blinked before hugging his friend in return. Nathan pulled back several moments later, a serious look on his face. "I wouldn't have gotten to this place without you, Gabe. Your help over the months has allowed me to really face my fears and overcome them. Marriage and fatherhood were once terrifying to me. They're not anymore. So thank you."

Gabe smiled, clapping Nathan on the shoulder. "I'm just glad you took the leap. It hurt watching you live in fear. I'm happy that you and Elizabeth were able to find your way to each other." He grinned. "Besides, now that you're joining the married men's club, we can talk all about the ins and outs of keeping our wives happy."

Nathan laughed. "Wise idea. Lee keeps telling me that requires a delicate balancing act."

Grin softening into a smile, Gabe thought of Colleen. Even five months pregnant with their twins, she kept her gentle demeanor, though if he forgot to hang up his serge, he heard about it. Thankfully, that wasn't nearly as common now as it had been in the early days of their marriage. They'd learned things that annoyed one another and things that made each other happy. He nodded, looking at Nathan once more. "It is a balancing act, for both parties. But it's worthwhile. I wouldn't trade my life with your sister for anything."

"I know." Nathan placed a hand on Gabe's arm. "You've made Colleen happy, and that is something that would have earned my lifelong gratitude, even if you weren't my best friend."

Gabe chuckled. "I guess we're stuck with each other forever."

The door opened to reveal Bill. He bustled into the room, dressed in his own navy suit. He yanked on the tie that hung around his neck, untied. "This blasted thing is going to be the death of me." The muttered comment was accompanied with a glare at the offending piece of material.

Gabe broke into laughter, doubling over. Bill grunted. "What's so funny?"

Nathan answered for Gabe, since he still couldn't speak through his laughing fit. "He had to help me with my tie not too long ago."

Bill grunted again. "I'm pretty sure these things were invented by a woman in order to frustrate a man. Don't know how these devices of torture lasted past one use."

Gabe finally got control of himself. He reached for Bill's tie. "You might be right." Within thirty seconds, he had the tie perfectly knotted and hanging straight.

Bill gaped. "How did you do that?"

"Lots of practice."

Nathan put a hand on both Gabe and Bill's shoulders. "Ready, gentlemen? I do believe it's about time for a wedding."

Gabe nodded. "Let's get this show on the road."

Abigail's upstairs apartment was a whirlwind of activity. Rosemary, Colleen, and Abigail surrounded Elizabeth, in addition to her mother and sisters. The gorgeous dress Rosemary crafted for her fit perfectly. The material felt soft and smooth against her skin. Her mother gave her the pearls she wore at her own wedding, making Elizabeth's eyes mist with tears. It was a precious gift that she would cherish always.

"No crying! You'll ruin your makeup!"

Rosemary's exclamation made her laugh. "We certainly can't have that."

"Definitely not." Abigail wrapped her in a warm embrace, then pulled back with a smile. "You look beautiful, Elizabeth. Nathan won't be able to take his eyes off of you."

A rosy blush darkened her cheeks. She looked in the mirror, taking in the look her friends and family created. She didn't often think of how she looked, but today, she felt like a princess. Being surrounded by people she loved made the day feel that much more special. She'd have happily married Nathan with just the preacher and two witnesses, but having the community come together to celebrate showed her how much everyone cared. She closed her eyes, a prayer of gratitude welling in her heart. The journey to get to this point hadn't been easy, but she wouldn't change a thing.

"Are you ready, dear girl?"

Her mother's voice made Elizabeth open her eyes. She smiled. "I'm ready."

The group of women headed down the stairs, with Elizabeth in the middle of the line. Colleen walked beside her. "Thank you for understanding why I chose to sit in the congregation instead of standing up with Rosemary and Abigail as bridesmaid, Elizabeth. I appreciate that."

Elizabeth stopped, pulled her almost-sister-in-law into a hug. "Of course I understand. You have two small children and you're pregnant with two more."

Colleen smiled, a hand going to her stomach naturally. "These two didn't let me sleep a wink last night." Her nose wrinkled. "Neither did Daisy, for that matter. I think she's teething again." She grinned at Elizabeth. "Things for you to look forward to."

That made her laugh. "I know being a mother is hard work, but I am looking forward to it." Her eyes softened. "Nathan is going to be such a wonderful father."

Colleen nodded. "He is. I think he's starting to believe that."

A tender smile pulled at Elizabeth's lips. "Good." Her future husband had it in him all along; he'd just had to learn to accept it for himself. She never had a doubt that he would love and nurture their children with a father's loving heart.

The walk to the church didn't take long. Her father met them at the bottom of the steps. His eyes looked on his middle daughter with pride. "Beth, you are stunning."

She hugged him. "Thank you, Father."

Abigail, Colleen, and Rosemary took their places to walk into the church. Colleen held Allie by the hand, who would be acting as their flower girl. Mother, Julie, and Viola made their way into the building, where they would sit in the front row. Colleen would join them shortly once she walked down the aisle.

Rosemary signaled someone inside the church. Music began playing. Elizabeth clutched her father's arm. Excitement pulsed through her. In just a few minutes, she would become Nathan's wife.

Finally.

Her father smiled down at her, tears shining in his eyes. "I must admit, it's difficult to give you away. You're the first of my girls to get married. It feels like a final parting."

Tears welled in her own eyes at her father's rare display of emotion. "I'll always be your daughter. We'll still see each other."

He nodded. "I know. But another man is going to take my place as the most important one in your life." He said the words lightly, but she could see the struggle in his eyes.

She hugged him again. "I love you, Father."

He kissed her cheek. "I love you too, Beth." He straightened, patting the hand that rested on his arm. "Let's go get you married." He smiled. "Nathan and I had a little chat right before you showed up. That man is clearly head over heels for you. I'm proud to have him join our family."

More gratitude filled Elizabeth. That was high praise coming from her father. She smiled as they climbed the steps to walk into the church. They paused right outside the doors. Robert and Cody swept aside the curtain that hid her from view, while the wedding march began to play. The congregation rose, but Elizabeth's gaze went straight to Nathan. Their eyes locked. A huge smile filled his face, bringing an answering smile to her own, along with a flurry of butterflies in her stomach. He looked so handsome in his navy suit, standing tall as he waited for her to join him at the altar.

Her father squeezed her arm gently, and together they walked down the aisle toward her future.

Colleen loved weddings. Her romantic heart sighed over the beauty of a man and a woman pledging their lives to each other forever before God, through good and bad, sickness and health, and everything in between. As she stood with everyone else when Elizabeth entered the building, she took in the glow her friend wore. Elizabeth's eyes were trained on Nathan. Colleen turned to look at her brother. Nathan's smile was unlike any she'd seen from him before. He looked as radiant as Elizabeth. When his bride reached him, he took her hands almost reverently, gazing into her eyes and mouthing the words I love you. Elizabeth looked back at him with a love that no one could miss.

The ceremony was simple and traditional. Nathan and Elizabeth stood hand in hand, their vows heartfelt. Nathan spoke his first, his eyes never leaving Elizabeth's. The emotion he felt was obvious in the tone of his voice. When Elizabeth said her vows, that emotion overwhelmed him, making a single tear fall from each eye. The tenderness and love on Elizabeth's face grew even more. She reached up to gently wipe away the watery trails on his cheeks. No embarrassment flooded his face, telling Colleen just how absorbed he was in his new bride.

She sighed happily to herself, resting a hand over her heart. Her brother had finally found happiness and pledged his life to a good woman. He allowed love to win rather than fear. The chains of their past were now gone. She'd found healing with Gabe, and Nathan found healing with Elizabeth. Their trauma hadn't carried the day. Love had.

Gabe chose that moment to look her way. She caught her breath as he smiled. He was always handsome, but something about the navy blue suit he wore brought out the darkness of his features in a new way, making him look incredibly appealing. A knowing look came over his face as their gaze prolonged. He winked. Colleen blushed lightly, but she smiled. She loved him more than words could say.

The preacher said something about rings, bringing her attention back to her brother and Elizabeth. Nathan slid a ring on Elizabeth's finger, and she did the same for him. They were both beaming. When the pastor pronounced them husband and wife, Nathan didn't hesitate. He took his wife into his arms and kissed her. Their family and friends clapped and cheered. The pastor grinned, raising his voice to be heard over the commotion. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Grant!"

The cheers grew in volume. Nathan and Elizabeth laughed, joining hands as they headed down the aisle amid congratulations and handfuls of rice. Colleen remained where she was, watching them with a full heart. Grace walked past, Allie's hand in hers, while Viola held Daisy. The women had graciously asked to keep an eye on the girls during the wedding, giving Colleen a chance to relax and just enjoy the ceremony.

A hand slipped around her waist. She turned to Gabe as he pulled her close. "He did it."

She smiled. "He did."

Her husband gave her a kiss. Colleen rested her hand against his chest, leaning into him. She loved his kisses, and she didn't mind the fact that they were in a public place now - though everyone likely had their attention on the newlyweds rather than her and Gabe. Even so, he pulled back sooner than he would have at home. His warm brown eyes rested on her. "It's amazing how far you Grant siblings have come."

She smiled. "A lot of that is because of you, you know."

He shrugged, his cheeks turning pink. "All I did was be a friend."

She placed a hand on his cheek. "Sometimes, that's all it takes. Being a friend through thick and thin, even when it seems like hope is lost." She kissed his cheek. "You helped us both out of the darkness, Gabe. Thank you."

His cheeks darkened even more. Colleen took pity on him. She smiled and reached down for his hand. "Come on. We have a reception to attend. There is lots of celebrating to be done."

He chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."

They walked from the church together. Colleen's eyes caught on her brother and sister-in-law. They stood at the bottom of the steps, receiving the congratulations and well-wishes from their community. When it was her turn, she hugged Elizabeth. "Welcome to the family."

Elizabeth smiled. "Thank you, Colleen. I'm so glad we're officially sisters."

"Me too." She turned to Nathan. Emotion nearly overwhelmed her as she looked at her little brother. Without a word, she embraced him. His arms wrapped around her, holding her close. She swallowed a few times before finding the words to speak. "I'm happy for you, Nate. So, so happy."

He pressed a kiss against her hair. "Thanks, Colleen. You're the best sister a guy could ask for."

She chuckled, pulling back. "I'm glad you think so." She glanced up toward the sky, then looked back at Nathan. "I think Joshua is cheering from heaven right now."

Her brother's throat worked for a moment, but he nodded. "I like to think so."

"So are Jack and Sarah."

Gabe's quiet voice brought their attention to him. Elizabeth linked her arm through Nathan's. "I agree. All of them are happy for us."

Nathan smiled, resting his head against Elizabeth's. "I think you're right."

Colleen watched them until Gabe took her hand. "We were the last ones out of the church. Are you two lovebirds ready for your reception?"

They nodded, twin smiles on their faces. Together, all four friends headed for the café and the celebration of the latest Hope Valley wedding.