Chapter 108. Date Night

At 6 p.m., those three light taps sounded on Julia's door. At their resonance, her face lit up, and and that smile appeared - the one that always inadvertently took over her face whenever he was around. As soon as she opened the door, a smile lit Nathan's face, too. They stood there frozen for just a moment, taking each other in.

Nathan was immediately captivated. Julia wore the wine color dress she had worn the night of the Social Club, when they'd played darts for the first time. That night, she had impressed him at every turn, and he had been sure, as he walked home afterwards, that he had never met anyone like her before. And just like that, his heartbreak had become a distant memory, and new possibilities, laid just on the horizon. He had looked up at the abundance of brilliant stars in the sky, and grabbed hold of those new possibilities with both hands. And now, the most unexpected of those possibilities, the most wonderful one, the best one, stood just before him, more beautiful than ever. And those butterflies, that always seemed ready to take flight whenever she was near, were doing their little dance now.

"Hi." He drawled long as he stepped closer. Nathan held out the single red rose he held in his hand.

Julia smiled up at him and took the rose. "Hi." She answered back, while she could still breathe.

He wore his navy blue suit, and the way it brought out his eyes caused her stomach to do a flip. They were so intense and striking. She wished she had something to hold onto more sturdy than the door handle. One surprise - he was wearing a tie. Had she misjudged the formality of this evening? Did he have more in store for her than she'd anticipated?

"Would you like to come in, Lawman?" She pushed open the door, and he stepped inside.

Julia walked slowly to the kitchen to put her rose in water. But Nathan went directly to the painting set up on the easel.

"Wow. This is a new one." He told her, curious.

She came and stood beside him. "Yes. Do you recognize it?"

He smiled. "Allie's overlook."

Julia kept her eyes on the painting and tilted her head, always perusing, always critiquing, just like an artist. "Yes." She turned toward him and playfully put out her finger. "But, you can't tell her. It's a surprise."

Nathan turned back toward the painting. "Jules, she's going to love it."

"It's for her room, in the big house." Julia said, matter of fact.

Nathan looked around. "And the painting of our dock?"

Julia went to her closet and pulled it out. "It's all done. What do you think?"

Nathan followed her and looked it over. She watched his face intently as he perused the painting. She had added some highlights that seemed to sparkle, almost like gold. It was beautiful. "Wow." He drawled long. "It's spectacular."

"Do you like how it turned out?" She asked him, eyes still focused on his reaction.

His eyes met hers. "I love it."

She covered it back up and returned it to the closet. Nathan walked back over and looked at Allie's overlook again. How could she capture the likeness so well, when she had seen it so few times - once on the way to Brookfield, and once on the way back? The only other time she had been up to the overlook was in the dark, during the storm, when she had gone in search of Allie, and she certainly hadn't gotten a good look at it then.

"You did such a good job with the likeness, for only seeing it once or twice." He told her.

Julia looked up at him. "Well…small confession. Jake rode up there with me, one other time. While you were in Union City. I was not so attentive the first time or two I was there, and I really wanted to get it right. He took me back so I could get a rough sketch."

She sketched, too? Nathan suddenly wanted to see. "Wait. Sketch?…You sketch?…Could I see your sketch?"

Julia's cheeks turned bright pink. She hadn't been expecting that question. She opened her mouth and then closed it again, and then considered for a moment. "I don't know. It's…nothing good at all, Nathan. Only a rough sketch, and only for the purpose of transferring the image to canvas later."

Nathan was still curious. He desired to see anything that she had created. "I would really like to see."

Julia didn't move for a few seconds, but finally, went to her chest. She pulled out a beautiful old leather book. It was larger than standard size, and was held together by a thick leather cord at the top.

As Julia held it out, the look on her face told him one thing - that she was letting him in on something very private, and very precious to her. Nathan first took her hand, then took the book, and led her over to the table. He pulled his chair right up next to hers so they were sitting very close. Then, he opened the book, from the top.

The first few sketches were of her and Jake as children. And, it was obvious, by the handiwork, that they were not hers.

"The early ones are my father's." She explained. "Some he turned into paintings, others he didn't."

Nathan could tell by the way she looked at them, the way her hand ever so gently smoothed the pages, that these simple sketches were some of her most prized possessions. A look through the eyes of the man who had meant so much to her.

There was a sketch of her mother, who had been a very beautiful woman - a timeless beauty, just like Julia. Then sketches of Jake as a young boy, and then as a teenager. And, Julia as a baby and a teenager. Sketches of the lighthouse, the boat, and the house in Peggy's Cove. And there was the sketch of Lily on the horse, with the wildflowers, just as Julia's father had painted her.

And then there was a blank page.

And once Nathan passed the blank page, the sketches were different. They were more modern and had a style all their own. The difference was obvious, and he knew that these must be Julia's.

There was a sketch of a young Jake in Mountie uniform, likely from his graduation or shortly after. One of her father so young and focused - working on the boat. Then a sketch of a lovely cafe, with two older people sitting at a table out front.

He looked at her and asked. "Your grandparents? The cafe?"

Julia nodded.

Next there was a sketch of a woman who looked a whole lot like her mother, but had a few distinct differences. "Auntie Elle?" Nathan guessed. She nodded again.

Then another lull - because that was the last sketch of her family and early life. And on the very next page, all of a sudden, he was in Hope Valley.

The first sketch was the downtown of Hope Valley, complete with the infirmary sign.

And then, on the next page, was a sketch of a Mountie on a horse, in a field of wildflowers. And he recognized himself.

"The moment we first met?" But from her point of view. Him on the horse, surrounded by flowers.

"Yes."

He turned the page, and next was the sketch of their overlook. Then a portrait sketch of Allie, and the likeness was amazing. "Wow. This is really good, Jules."

"Thanks." She told him shyly, from under her lashes.

On the next page was a sketch of the dock and the pond, probably the one that she had used to create her painting. Though in her sketch, Nathan was standing on the dock. He was leaning back against the railing, arms crossed, looking off into the distance. He was wearing plain clothes, the very same ones he wore the day he'd been injured but tracked her down anyway, and told her he missed her, right there on the dock. When he'd confessed he wanted to pursue her romantically and then held her in his arms for the very first time.

"It's a day I never want to forget." She told him. As he looked at her, he felt his heart swell. Talking to her that day was perhaps the best decision he had ever made, besides adopting Allie.

Next was a sketch of his row house, then Allie on Ginger, one of Faith in the infirmary, and another of Jake sitting in front of the Mountie office. Then the sketch of Allie's overlook.

But it was the last sketch that went straight to his heart. It was a sketch of the swing up on their land, with the beautiful view of the valley stretched out behind. And on the swing, sat Nathan and Julia, with Allie sandwiched right in the middle.

Nathan couldn't take his eyes off the happy expressions on their faces. He had never seen a photo or a sketch where he was smiling quite so big. When he was happy, did his smile really go up into his eyes like that? And make those crinkles at their corners? And Julia…she was smiling from ear to ear, and her dimples were so deep and pronounced. Allie was positively beaming, her head tilted just slightly, as she tended to do when she was truly happy about something.

He felt his chin quiver and he tried to form words. He couldn't quite get them out, so she spoke for him. "You like it?"

He looked over at her and couldn't manage anything audible. He just nodded and leaned over and kissed her. It was just a little kiss, but its tenderness was the only way to express what words failed to say. When he pulled back, her hand was on his neck and trailed forward to his cheek and lingered there. His gaze was intense and unrelenting, and communicated all that he wanted her to know. Her heart overflowed with the emotion he so easily laid bare and left hanging there between them.

He had one question now. "Will you paint it?"

"I'm not sure yet." She told him honestly, as she let her hand fall to his arm.

He looked a little bit disappointed.

"There are so many possibilities with the adoption ceremony coming up. And the wedding. I haven't decided what scene…could be next." And there was one other thing that held her back. "And, I tend to prefer landscapes to portraits."

He returned his gaze to the sketch. He loved it so much. "Can we frame this?"

Julia explained. "To be honest, I have been wondering if Allie would like to try to paint something like this. She actually does very well with portraits. And, I thought...maybe...when we are in the big house, we might paint…together." Julia explained.

That gave Nathan a good idea, a very very good idea. And it would only take a few small adjustments to his house plans, to fit it in. He looked at Julia and hoped it could be added. He would ride up to the build site, first thing in the morning, to see about it.

"These sketches are just…possibilities. And, we can turn them into paintings if and when we are ready. There is no hurry." She explained. "And, there are other things we can do with such sketches."

"Like what?" He asked.

"Well, my mother used to add color to them." Julia explained. "With wax colors." There were a few hanging in their house in Peggy's Cove. Her dad's sketches with her mother's color.

Nathan imagined this could be easily done. He used to do something similar with Colleen when they were young. "Or with pencil crayons?"

Julia nodded. "My mother even used to color some of our old photographs."

Nathan told her. "Colleen and I used to sketch and she'd add color using tinted pencil crayons."

"Exactly." Julia told him. "I've not a lot of experience with them, but they are a great medium."

Nathan thought of the possibilities they could sketch and color together. "You and I make a good team on so many levels, Miss Matthews."

Julia gazed at him and blinked a few times. He was absolutely right. "Yes, we do." She agreed.

He gave one more long look at the sketch that he adored so much. And he finally, slowly closed the book. He handed it back to her, and she was just about to rise and put it away, when his stomach growled.

Julia giggled. "Lawman, when's the last time you ate?" She stood and moved to her trunk and placed the old sketch book carefully inside.

"Too long ago." He chuckled low, as he stood and put one hand in his pocket.

"Well, maybe we should remedy that, before you pass out on me." She gazed at him playful.

He nodded and held out his elbow to her. She took it, and they headed towards the door.

As they walked toward Gustave's, Nathan asked her. "How's Jimmy doing?"

"Good. Better than expected, actually. I rode out there this morning. He's got a good set up. William and George make sure he's fed and taken care of, but at the same time, they give him his space." She told him.

"Wait. You rode out there?" Nathan asked.

"Yep. The town nurse is officially on horseback." She smiled up at him. The lessons he gave her so long ago, and her determination to ride in order to better serve her patients, had finally paid off.

"Wow. That's a milestone, Jules." Nathan told her. "And, it's good to hear about Jimmy."

Julia surmised. "I was worried about how he would take the fact that he needs help. That he must depend on others. He's such a tough guy, I didn't think that would sit well with him." She explained. "And with any other caregivers, I think it might've been a problem. But with George and William, who are men, and sort of related to him, he seems to be…accepting."

"He hasn't had any family in a long time." Nathan told her.

"Exactly why I think it's working out. They are the only relatives he's got, and the fact that they are treating him like family, is not lost on him. It's totally changed the way he approaches the whole situation."

Nathan could imagine that would change the perspective of anyone who had wished for family for the better part of their life. Even pride couldn't make him mess this up. "Well I'm glad he's aware of the significance of what's being done for him."

"Me, too." She told him. "And, Joseph and Minnie have sort of become…parents to him. I think he feels that, too. And, the weight of that opportunity."

Julia smiled solemn. And couldn't help but add something. "When your parents are gone, and someone treats you like their own…it's no small thing."

That brought Nathan's eyes right around to Julia. He realized something. He had never stopped to think about what it must be like to lose a parent, to not have them around anymore. And Julia had neither of her parents. Sure, she had shared the stories of losing them, and he had cried with her. But he had never considered what that must be like on a day to day basis, when they were just…no longer there.

He stopped and turned to her. Nathan thought of his own parents, and the immediate bond they had both individually made with Julia. His mother had adored Julia from the first minute she'd met her. And Archie hadn't stop asking about Julia, since Nathan's very first mention of her, long before he ever arrived in Hope Valley.

There was something Nathan wanted her to know. "My parents love you, Julia."

They were exactly who she'd been referring to. "And I love them." She confessed. "And, it's no small thing the way they love me."

So she had been referring to Archie and Rebecca. "You have a second set of parents now." That was clear as day.

She smiled. "I don't take it lightly."

Nathan brought her hand up to his lips and gently kissed the back of it. She gazed at him a moment longer, understanding the depths of what it meant to be loved into a family. When a person is born, he or she is born into a family, with no choice in the matter. But when you are loved into a family, you are chosen, wanted, and grafted in by another kind of grace. A grace that was wonderful and special, and held its own incredible merits.

Nathan thought of someone else, who had been fatherly with both of them. "And…there's Bill."

Julia chuckled low. "And…there's Bill." She repeated, agreeing one-hundred percent. He was prickly and sour with a lot of people, but with her and Nathan, he was different. He acted like a father figure, even if he didn't even realize he was doing it.

Breaking through their honest moment, was the sound of Nathan's stomach - sounding off, again.

Julia just giggled and playfully pulled him toward the door of the restaurant. "Let's go, Lawman."

When they walked in, Alex smiled and came over to greet them. "Your table is ready, Inspector." Julia glanced up at Nathan, and realized he had indeed, planned something special. Nathan calmly kept Julia's hand tucked over his elbow, and they followed Alex to their table.

As they passed through the dining room, many eyes were on them. Julia looked shyly up at Nathan, who smiled proudly down at her. She had no idea how beautiful she was, and how much attention she could draw. Actually, neither of them did, for they made a handsome couple together.

As they passed a table, Bill stood in greeting. "Nathan, Julia."

"Hi, Bill." Nathan said, as they stopped in front of him.

And then Nathan and Julia both realized with whom Bill dined. Elizabeth. Her back had been to them, so it wasn't until they were standing right there beside her that they realized. She looked terribly uncomfortable, but Nathan was gracious, as always.

"Good evening, Elizabeth." He said as natural as could be.

Julia did the same. "Hi, Elizabeth. Good to see you." Julia looked at Bill. "And you too, Bill."

"Good evening." Elizabeth answered. "We were just catching up."

Julia answered lightly. "It's important to take time to do that. I imagine you have lots to catch up on, since you left for Hamilton."

Elizabeth's jaw clenched slightly but she kept her eyes bright. "Yes. There's a lot to share."

Nathan looked at Bill. "Well, we won't keep you then."

Bill told them. "Enjoy your time, you two."

Nathan smiled at both of them. "We will." He spoke to them both. "Enjoy your evening, too."

And they continued following Alex, who had a table in the back for them, all prepared. Thoughtfully laid across Julia's plate, was another single red rose.

Julia smiled at Nathan, as he pulled out her chair. "Lawman, what have you got up your sleeve?"

As Nathan scooted her in, he leaned down close to her ear and teased her. "Nothing in particular. I just want you to know how much you mean to me." His sweet declaration, and his proximity, made all the hairs stand up on the back of her neck.

When he straightened, Julia reached out and grabbed his hand before he got too far. He stopped and she whispered a soft. "Thank you."

He smiled crooked. "Don't thank me yet. The night is young." Julia gently let go of his hand so he could take his place across from her.

Alex poured wine into both of their glasses, and couldn't hide her smile, at their cuteness.

When she was gone, Julia simply remarked. "You spoil me, Lawman."

Nathan was convinced of something, and wanted her to know. "I meant what I said." He told her. "Things are going to get busy soon. With family coming in and all the last minute preparations." He held out his hand across the table, and she took it. "It's important to take time together. To enjoy each other."

"My love, you are very thoughtful." She smiled across the table. "And I'm a lucky girl."

Nathan had noticed how many heads had turned their way when they walked through the dining room tonight. And he was convinced Julia was the reason. He shook his head to disagree. "I'm the lucky one, Julia."

She teased him. "Well on that point…we can agree to disagree."

Nathan surmised. "Perhaps we are both blessed. To have found each other."

Julia smiled. "Well, that we can agree on."

She picked up her glass and Nathan followed suit. Though, he wasn't ready for what came next. She spoke very soft, but with purpose. "To the man whose character is unwavering, whose commitment to upholding what's right is exceptional, and whose motivations are always honorable and noble. You have set the standard high. And, you challenge me, Nathan Grant, and make me a better person. I'm thankful for the incredible man that you are. I count myself blessed to be loved by you."

Nathan was speechless and blushed red. But she wasn't finished. "So you will never convince me that you are the lucky one. I'm the blessed one, and I know it. And I plan to spend the rest of my life loving you back."

Nathan searched for the words to respond. He hadn't been ready for such a speech from Julia, for such words of affirmation. They went straight to his heart, and brought every emotion right to the surface. He tried desperately to recover.

Since they were still holding their glasses, finally, Julia made a toast. "To our love, the most beautiful of blessings." Now, that was something Nathan could toast. He smiled and clanged his glass with hers.

When she set her glass down, he still looked terribly shy. "I'm sorry…if I embarrassed you."

Nathan finally found his voice. "No one can render me speechless like you do, Julia. I don't even know what to say."

She felt so much emotion, just as he did. It was evident on both their faces. "Say you love me." She whispered. "Those are the only words I need to hear."

"I love you." He whispered without a moment's hesitation. And he brought her hand, the one he was still holding, up to his lips, and kissed it tenderly across the knuckles.

When he set their hands back down, Julia shifted in her chair. She hadn't meant to stir such emotion, but it had all just spilled out, the moment he had mentioned the blessing of finding each other.

Alex arrived with two small plates and set one in front of each of them. They pulled their hands back as she spoke. "An amuse-bouche, compliments of the chef." She softly told them. Then she explained further. "Olive tapenade, two ways." The green and black paste was served with cute little toasts.

Nathan looked up at her, and smiled. "Looks good."

Julia nodded, and tilted her head. She was anxious to know about something. "How did your call go today with Commander Collins?"

Nathan had been waiting all day to tell her. And he loved seeing how interested she was in the professional part of his life. "Very well. He's happy with the way everything turned out with the training program. The feedback was all very good. He wants to schedule training sessions more often."

"More often?" She asked him.

"Yes. Because of the excellent feedback, the demand has been particularly high. Apparently, he's getting a lot of requests from Inspectors and Superintendents, even from other provinces, asking him to reserve places in future sessions, for their men. So, the next few sessions are already quite full. He wants to rearrange the schedule and add a few more sessions over the course of the next year." Nathan explained.

"Can you do that? I mean will you have the time?" She asked him. "It won't be too much?"

"He asked me again what I thought about Ben Davis, as an assistant." Nathan smiled. "I told him I couldn't possibly do what he's asking without him. So he's going to offer Ben Davis the assistant position immediately."

A huge happy smile spread across Julia's face. Deep down, she wanted to squeal with delight, for Faith's sake, but remembered she was in a restaurant. But her face showed exactly how happy she was about this wonderful news. "Nathan, this is amazing." She couldn't believe it. "Ben Davis is coming. Surely he will say yes, right? I mean, he's the one that asked for it. So, of course, he's going to say yes."

Nathan agreed with a chuckle. He loved seeing her reaction. "I cannot imagine him turning it down. It was all his idea, and a good one."

Julia thought of her dear friend. "Faith is going to be over the moon. Though, I will not say a word. It's Ben's place to do that."

"I can't believe how well it's coming together." He told her. There was more. "Gabe will come over and help more regularly, too. I put that bug in the Commander's ear, but he had already asked Gabe to make a more regular appearance, as part of the program."

Julia teased. "Since he's the second best tracker in Alberta?"

Nathan chuckled. "Exactly."

Alex came and cleared their empty plates from the amuse-bouche. Then, she brought out new plates, with the first course. Julia was surprised for half a second, since they hadn't even ordered, but one look at Nathan told her that this was all part of the surprise.

Julia looked down at the lovely plate in front of her - a cute little square pastry with leeks and cheese, and a summer salad.

"Nathan Grant. The spoiling continues." She told him with a cute smile. "This looks delicious."

"Well, I only picked from the choices I was given. It's really Gustave who's spoiling us." He told her playfully.

Nathan reached across the table, and said a quick little prayer for the food.

Julia wanted to know more, about Nathan's conversation with Chief Superintendent Collins. "So Gabe will come more often, or for a longer time?"

Nathan told her. "Hopefully both. Though he hasn't agreed to it, yet. But I asked for his presence the entire second week of the training program. First, to offer some of his expertise in the classroom - I would like him to teach a few classes. And then, I need him for the simulation, which will always be scheduled the last three days of the program."

"So, Ben will be with you all the time. And Gabe will come for the second week of every session?" She asked to clarify.

"Exactly." Nathan told her. "It's the only way we can do it right."

"And Commander Collins wants to do it more often?"

"Yes. He asked if I could run the next session in early October." Nathan told her.

"With the wedding and honeymoon, will that be possible?" She asked.

"He will offer Ben Davis the position as soon as possible, so he can move and be settled here, by the 28th of September." Nathan explained.

"That's just a little over a month from now." Julia wondered. "Can he move that quickly?"

"He should be able to. Especially since he was keen on it. And, I think, because of Faith, he will be happy to get here sooner rather than later." Nathan was probably right.

"And that will give you and Ben a few weeks before the next session starts?" She asked. Nathan had obviously gone over the schedule with Commander Collins. In fact, it was probably Nathan's planning and input, that had determined the dates.

Nathan nodded, and took another bite of salad.

"It sounds like you have worked it all out." She told him.

There was something else to consider. He reminded her. "The ground will get cold end of October. So, if we wait much later in the year, it will be hard, in good conscience, to send them out for the simulation part of the program."

Julia could imagine. "So you will have to stop for winter?"

"Yes. Unless we skip the simulation part, which neither of us wants to do." He told her. "I have other ideas, and so does Ben, of how we can continue to hold some sessions in winter. Perhaps for those who already completed the first level of the training, or a general introduction for new recruits. We aren't sure yet, but we are kicking around ideas."

Julia smiled at him. "I'm sure the two of you will come up with good initiatives." She thought of something else. "And Hope Valley gets to play such an important role in the security of the commonwealth. By hosting such programs. It's kinda neat."

Sarah came around and picked up their empty plates. And Alex was right behind her with their main course. As soon as the plate was in front of Julia, recognition spread across her face.

"Chicken Marsala." She told him. One of her favorites. And exactly what Nathan and his mother had made for her on their very first date - the surprise one, that had been interrupted when Little Jack got hurt.

Nathan had to tell her. "I asked for Fried Chicken, but Gustave refused." He chuckled. "He said it wasn't fancy enough for a date with you. He thinks pretty highly of you." Nathan smiled. "I told him that fried chicken was your favorite, but he still wouldn't budge." Nathan shook his head. "He said he could not possibly throw fried chicken on the plate of such a special lady, for such a special occasion."

Nathan shrugged. "Is it me or are French chefs a little too particular about their cuisine?"

Julia chuckled. "No, it's not just you. It's a thing." Julia told him. "And, I get it." She looked down at her plate again. "But, this is wonderful. Chicken Marsala is probably my second favorite. It holds a very special place in my heart." She looked up at him. "Do you remember, Nathan? You made this for me on our surprise date. The one your mother and Allie helped you arrange." She reminded him.

Though, he remembered already. Of course, he remembered.

"It's why I asked for it when he refused the fried chicken." He told her, with a shy smile.

"That was a good night." She told him, remembering that first date.

Nathan remembered too. "Until that knock on the door."

There was one part that was still vivid in her mind. "That… almost kiss in Rosemary's kitchen…"

Nathan nearly dropped his fork. How could he ever forget. He felt the butterflies even thinking about it. "Rosemary has the worst timing."

"She sure does." Julia laughed softly. "But we made up for it a few days later."

"We sure did." His eyes were intense and fixed on her now. "Though...it would have been a good kiss."

Julia gazed at him. "I think all of our kisses fall into the good category." She surmised. "It's the nature of you and me."

Nathan repeated softly, with a cute, crooked smile. "The nature of you and me…" He exhaled. "We are a good fit."

"And a good team, and a good match." Julia could go on and on. "All part of the blessing you mentioned earlier."

Nathan nodded in agreement. As he did, Julia glanced over to her left and noticed something cute. Mike Hickam was in the restaurant sitting alone at a table near the bar. And, Alex was just there, talking to him.

Nathan noticed Julia's gaze somewhere else, so she mentioned it. "Speaking of blessings, Nathan. It's so cute. Mike's here, by himself. And Alex has stopped by his table, and is talking to him. It's the second time I've noticed her stop and talk to him, in fact."

Nathan turned slightly to his right, and saw the scene, too. "Is that so?"

"I was sure he'd be a regular in here now." Julia told him low. "He's not very discreet."

Nathan chuckled and looked at her. "No, he's not. But are any of us really discreet when we've made up our minds?"

Nathan tried to remember if he was, when he'd first set his sights on Julia.

"I don't remember. Were you?" Julia honestly couldn't recall. "I don't remember you being so obvious."

"I'm pretty sure everyone read it on my face, every time I so much as looked at you." Nathan told her.

"That night I stayed by your bedside, the night I thought…" She didn't need to say more, he knew to what she was referring - the night he had said his good-byes. When he'd had the fever and she thought they were losing him. "When Faith came the next morning, she could read it on my face. I don't think I even tried to hide it, after such a scare."

"I kept looking for you to come by, and you didn't. And, I'm pretty sure Faith could read it on my face every time I asked where or how you were." Nathan told her, too.

"It seems so long ago." She was right about that. "But, look where we are now. In just 17 days, I get to become Mrs. Nathan Grant."

"And, it all started with just a look." Nathan told her, cutely.

They both looked over at Alex and Mike, and smiled. And Julia added, "And well, a run through the flowers."

"Yes. And wildflowers." Nathan agreed, with a crooked smile. "And Joseph's broken leg."

Julia returned her gaze to Nathan. "Yes. We owe Joseph and his leg, big time." She said with a little smile.

Nathan chuckled low. "Yes, we do."

Sarah came by and picked up their empty dinner plates.

Nathan put his hand across the table. "Julia, the evening isn't over yet. There's one more little surprise in store."

Julia placed her hand in his. "Nathan, you are full of surprises. But, what more could there be? It's been so wonderful already."

Nathan just gazed at her, determined. "Will you come with me?"

Julia breathed. "Of course." Nathan stood and she followed suit. Julia quickly grabbed up her rose, as he led her away from their table. He weaved them through the tables and out the front door of the saloon. They walked a little ways, to Lee's car, parked just beside the Mountie office. How did she not notice before?

Nathan held her hand tightly as he opened the passenger door, and helped her climb inside. Then Nathan went around to the driver's side and brought the car to life. Pretty soon, they were climbing the road past the church. They turned right toward their land, and it dawned on her where they were going.

He drove like an expert as he turned left and drove them straight down the lane on their land. Another left and a slight right brought them to a halt just in front of the build site.

"Wow." Was all Julia could say when she saw the progress. The second floor frame was going up now, and it was impressive. The house looked so big and beautiful standing there, even if it was only bare bones so far. It resembled a skeleton, but gave every hint of what Nathan had brought to life in his drawings. And it was already wonderful and beautiful, to her.

Nathan came around and opened the car door. He held a picnic basket in one hand, and extended his other hand to her. Julia took it and didn't let go as he led her over to the swing.

"Nathan." She said as she caught sight of the view. He stopped just beside her and gazed out too - it was some view. The sky gave barely a hint of what was to come - the very first colors were just beginning to make their appearance. And she understood - he had brought her up here to watch the sunset.

He led her to the swing and they sat down together. She wondered what could possibly be in the picnic basket, since they had just eaten. But she got her answer when he pulled out a tin, opened it, and showed her the contents. "Allie's cookies."

Julia took one and snuggled into Nathan's side. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. She tucked her feet up on the swing, under her skirts, as Nathan kicked the swing into motion.

And there they swang, cuddled together, watching the first of what they both knew would be thousands and thousands of sunsets, from this viewpoint. Julia laid her head back on his shoulder, and enjoyed his proximity, as the usual show of reds and oranges and yellows turned pink, violet, and indigo. And when the light faded and the stars began to twinkle, the sky was so brilliant and beautiful from this spot. Julia didn't think she had ever seen a sky so big, or so many stars at once. And they were so incredibly bright, like nothing she'd ever seen before.

Nathan leaned in closer still and told her the one thing he knew for certain. "We will be very happy here."

Julia turned and looked into his eyes, so deep and blue in the starlight. The most beautiful eyes she had ever seen, with depths that she would gladly take those thousand-upon-a-thousand sunsets, to discover. Little by little. Depth by depth.

And she answered the one thing she too, knew for certain. "I will be happy...wherever you are."

And his lips claimed hers - in a kiss.

Author's Note:

I hope no one is too offended by Nathan and Julia's comments about French chefs in this chapter. My husband of 17 years (who is French and actually trained as a chef when he was young) gave me permission to say that. (; Just wanted to include that little disclaimer.

From what I hear, it seems the show continues to break Nathan down, as a character, which is why I continue to build him up. Words have power, and it's the way I choose to fight for Nathan and Allie. With words, and Julia's love...❤︎