Hello! First of all, thank you for reading so, so much. All your kind reviews have just made my day. I want to especially thank the person who private messaged me about a mistake I had made (don't worry, it's fixed now). Thank YOU so much for your feedback. Anyway, enough of this, and let's get onto the story!
"Elizabeth!" A voice called as she was departing, standing on the gravel in front of the church. Elizabeth turned around to find Nathan bounding down the steps, apparently pleased to see that Lucas had cleared. "Happy Mother's Day!" He exclaimed, grinning ear-to-ear. Nathan had made up his mind that today he would talk to her, for real. It may or may not have been inspired by Lucas' actions, although he would never admit that they undoubtedly were. It's not like Nathan became assertive out of nowhere, that's for sure. Something had to have prompted him.
"Really?" She asked, furrowing her brows. She paused, surprised at her lack of words. Elizabeth noticed that he was the first person to wish her what she thought she wouldn't hear.
"Why not?" In actuality, he verily knew well why not. It was because of his lackluster ability to speak to her. Nathan shrugged as he got closer, making sure to say hi to little Jack. He gave a crooked smile full of brilliant teeth, tilted his head, and jiggled Jack's tiny hand, eliciting a hearty giggle.
Elizabeth glanced down at his wholesome exchange with her son and gave him a halfhearted smile. Nathan slid his hands in the pockets of his pants, and swayed his body side-to-side, looking down, awaiting her response. She was shocked that he decided to finally speak to her after their respite. "No, it's just…" Nathan glanced up at her idle conversation. Elizabeth gave him the same expression she had given him just before he asked her out several days ago. Her cheeks began to warm as she remembered the longing look in his eyes. "Thank you, Nathan. It means a lot." Elizabeth turned to walk away, but Nathan caught the edge of her elbow. Elizabeth immediately felt a jolt of electric sparks zing through her arm and down to her fingertips, exactly like when their hands brushed in the library. That sudden burning sensation where his hand made contact with her forced her to stop in her tracks.
"Elizabeth," He faced her. "Are you doing okay?"
Elizabeth shifted her gaze to meet his eyes. "Yes." She said, voice wobbling, not yet ready to unveil her emotions that were building up at an alarming rate. "I'm fine."
Nathan cocked his head, his gaze lingering as he noticed the absence of the usual twinkle in her eyes. Still on her hip, little Jack began to squirm and waved a hand at Nathan. As though it was instinct, Nathan offered his finger, which Jack eagerly grasped. Shifting her twisting son, Elizabeth looked down and let out a sniffle.
"Are you sure?"
She peered up at his sympathetic face from her lashes, tears beginning to rapidly hinder her vision. "Well…" Her voice broke as the tears began to stream down her face, as though a dam had shattered.
"Hey," Nathan stepped closer, loosening little Jack's grip on his finger as Elizabeth struggled to wipe her eyes. "Here." He said softly, fumbling for something in the pocket underneath the lapel of his aegean suit jacket. When his hand emerged a silk, navy blue handkerchief became visible. He traded the dainty fabric for the wiggly toddler.
Elizabeth gave him a sad but grateful smile as she released her son and reached for the handkerchief.
Little Jack soon gazed in awe at the new pair of arms he was being held in. It was a much higher view than ever before, in the Constable's encirclement. He could babble in wonder at the landscapes before him, without the urge to climb up his mother's body for a better view.
Slowly strolling away from the church, they walked in companionable silence. Quickly, the group came across a wooden bench, tiny droplets of condensation on the metal armrests left over from the morning air. They both eased themselves down on the seat, Elizabeth first, taking care to tuck her skirts away from the wet dew. Nathan, still carrying Jack, sat down about five inches away from her, tilting his body so he could face the brunette. He shifted the towheaded child on his lap so Jack faced forward, and casually secured his arms around him. Nathan began to tap his leg lightly to entertain Jack, jostling him a bit. He was rewarded with a goofy smile from the toddler, returned the grin and bumped his leg up some more. Elizabeth viewed the interaction and smiled solemnly, wondering if this is what life would've been for little Jack if Jack Sr. had not died. She knew that her late husband's death would not only affect her, but her son's life, too. Little Jack would be lacking a proper father figure, unless… She couldn't think about that right now. Her heart was heavy enough. That swell of emotion only heightened her sadness, resulting in fresh tears.
Elizabeth wiped the tears off her face, shuddering as she spoke in a shaky voice. "It's just that…" she paused to gulp down a few renegade tears, refusing to look Nathan in the eyes. Those baby blues would only evoke more feelings to stir inside of her. "It feels like everything is going south."
"What do you mean?" Nathan queried her concerningly.
"It's selfish, really…" she started. Elizabeth took a breath, and then continued. Nathan waited patiently for her explanation. "I almost feel… underappreciated, in a way. And, of course," She tilted her head suggestively and pursed her pink lips, "I feel as if I'm transforming into the green eyed monster."
The Constable gave an apologetic smile. "Elizabeth, if anyone is deserving of all the appreciation in the world, it would be you. You do so much for this town, and most importantly for your son." He glanced down at little Jack, reoffering his hand. Seeing the child reminded him that Jack did indeed have a father. A father that was at the utmost of importance and cherishment to Elizabeth in the past. Maybe even still is. "I can imagine this is a hard day for you without the person that mattered most."
Elizabeth fiddled with the hankie, a new set of tears threatening to make an appearance. "Yes… it is."
Nathan tenderly touched her arm. "If you ever want to talk about it, I'm always available. Or wanting to take the day off- I don't mind watching little Jack here. I'm sure Allie would love it."
The disheartened schoolteacher was moved. "I appreciate that, Nathan," She gave him a teary-eyed smile. "More than you'll ever know." Elizabeth felt her breath catch as they gazed into each other's eyes. A fiery sensation churned in her stomach as the stare was prolonged. His sapphire eyes, under a canopy of impossibly long, ebony lashes seemed to bore into her soul. Suddenly feeling her face on fire and self-conscious, she thought of how to halt the enduring fixation. The moment was shattered when Elizabeth suddenly frowned, and abruptly cleared her throat.
"What's the matter?" Nathan asked her, a question in his gaze. What on earth could be wrong now? Did he do something out of line he was not aware of? Was his fly undone? Nathan instantaneously looked down to his pants, where the fashion emergency could be. His fear was quickly admonished by little Jack, who squirmed his body just in time for Nathan to sneak a glance.
"Speaking of Allie," Elizabeth wiped one hand on her skirts, then locked eyes with him. "Where is she?" She looked at him with a spark of mock teacher-like scolding in her blue eyes. How could he forget his niece?
"Oh, don't worry about her," Nathan replied, momentarily stunned by her look of beration. Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, a conspiratorial grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "She went off to play with Opal and some of the other girls at Emily's house."
"Oh," the schoolteacher countered, looking down at Nathan's handkerchief in her lap. She was playing with it, her long fingers twisting the damp fabric replete with her salty tears like a pretzel. She would need to clean it today to get it back to him as soon as possible. "Umm, I-" Elizabeth was interrupted by a gleeful chortle from her son, bouncing up and down happily on Nathan's lap. How does his leg not get tired?
Nathan laughed along with Jack, who had turned his small head to face the Mountie. "Hey, little guy!" Nathan gently tapped the child's wee button nose, slightly reddened by the fresh air. "You really like that, don't you?"
"Aah!" Was little Jack's reply, opening up his tiny fists to clap them against one another.
Elizabeth surveyed the scene with a smile dancing across her lips. It wasn't everyday you get to see your town's Constable with an idiotic grin plastered on his face, delighting a toddler.
Both adults knew they needed to talk about the previous week. But for now, all that was needed was joy. And that joy was supplied as they sat on the bench, almost looking something like a family.
A few minutes later, Nathan grudgingly cleared his throat. He loved the time that Elizabeth, Jack and him had spent together, but he still had a duty to the town and it was imperative he completed his noon rounds. "I uh, have to go do my rounds," Nathan informed her, using one hand to gesture to the rest of the world, while safely wrapping the other arm around little Jack so he didn't fall.
Elizabeth nodded in understanding. "Okay," she reached out her arms to hold Jack, whom Nathan surrendered to her. "Thank you, Nathan. I'll get your hankie back to you tomorrow." She shook the cloth in her free hand.
"Oh, no," Nathan said, gesticulating with his hands, beginning to rise from the seat. "You keep it." At her appalled expression, he felt his face start to burn, and opened and closed his mouth awkwardly, trying to sound out the words. "I mean, just in case. You need it more than I do." Elizabeth gave him a soft smile as she looked up at him from the bench, smoothing back little Jack's downy blond hair.
"Thank you." She tucked a tendril of brown hair behind an ear, nudged Jack's hand with one of her own, and with the other she pointed to Nathan. "Say bye-bye!"
Little Jack waved his arms and propelled himself forwards. "Buh-buh!" He exclaimed in a toddler-like fashion, leaning out of Elizabeth's grasp, towards Nathan.
Elizabeth gasped, attempting to rally the child, but failing. It was ridiculous how quick little Jack wanted out of her arms.
In a flash, Nathan lunged forward and caught Jack before any damage could be done. "Whoa there, little buddy!" He kneeled down on the stone, and placed the child back on Elizabeth's lap. "You nearly went…" Nathan feigned an exaggerated surprised expression, and peered up at a shocked Elizabeth, very glad her son was now safe. "...Ker-splat!" Nathan finished, embellishing the "splat" part, and playfully poked the child's tummy, producing a belly giggle from Jack.
As Nathan was about to get up for the second time, little Jack reached forward once more, and patted Nathan's cheeks. "Buh-buh!" Nathan felt his breathing shallow as the child adoringly took in his features, and swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Bye-bye, little man." He looked up at the relieved schoolteacher and exchanged tender smiles. He stood up, and affectionately ruffled Jack's hair.
"Goodbye, Elizabeth," Nathan imparted, catching her sparkling, bright eyes.
Elizabeth felt her pace quicken so rapidly by this man's words. "Goodbye, Nathan." She uttered, breathing out the farewell in one slow, mesmerized breath.
God truly only knows…