AN: Okay, so the basic idea for this drabble came from Mamabethany. I hope this satisfies what she was hoping to see. It is set during season 8 but of course before the horrible finale.
Elizabeth glanced around. Her friends and neighbors were all enjoying themselves, either while running the booths or enjoying the fun of Founder's day. Mike, Kevin and Jesse were over at the strength test booth. Whether they were trying to win something specific or just trying to see which one could ring the bell first, Elizabeth wasn't sure. Laura was running the petting zoo. Elizabeth had delighted in watching Jack touch the animals this year. Her son had reveled in it. Clara had recently learned origami and her creations proved to be a hit. She was even given occasional demonstrations. Ally was currently attempting a flower under Clara's watchful eye. Lillian had a few of her children at the fishing booth. She and Grace had brought the kids from the orphanage to Hope Valley for the carnival, following through on their promise to visit Rosemary and Lee. Grace stood behind Christian and Vincent who were trying to throw rings around the necks of bottles, the game that Lucas had made look so easy a couple of years ago. Fiona had decided to run a kissing booth this year and it was another popular one. Bill had taken a shift at it earlier and there had been quite a line. As her gaze drifted that way now, Elizabeth saw there was still a line. Instead of Bill sitting behind the booth though, Nathan was now sitting there.
Elizabeth's gaze had continued to wander only to go back to the kissing booth. She had not been mistaken. Nathan Grant was indeed behind the booth and was currently placing a kiss on Opal's cheek.
"Are you enjoying yourself, Elizabeth?" Rosemary asked as she came up beside her friend. "Hello there, Jack," she added, smiling at the boy in Elizabeth's arms.
"Well, Jack has been enjoying himself," Elizabeth said. "That is all the joy I need."
"Spoken just like a mother," Lee said, joining the group.
Rosemary had a sad look on her face as she often did when talking about being a mother these days. Deciding to get away from the painful topic for her friend, Elizabeth asked, "so how did you talk Nathan into doing the kissing booth."
"I didn't," Rosemary replied. "Bill managed that."
"Bill?" Elizabeth asked surprised.
"Yes," Lee replied. "Nathan said he wouldn't do it. Bill asked him if he was afraid no one would pay ten cents to kiss him. Nathan said he could raise more money in the kissing booth than Bill and there is the result," he said grinning as he motioned toward the booth.
"Nathan is not a bad kisser," Rosemary commented.
"You kissed him?" Elizabeth asked, a tinge of jealousy rising up in her, though it was not as strong as when Rosemary had flounced into town saying she was Jack's fiancé.
"I did. With Lee's blessing of course."
Elizabeth looked to Lee.
Lee shrugged. "What can I say, I kind of want to see Bill's reaction if Nathan did raise more money than him. As I am not about to kiss Nathan myself, getting my wife to do it was the reasonable method of helping bring about that result. Nathan turning red when Rosemary paid the ten cents was a nice bonus," he added with a grin.
"Nathan's cheeks have been red most of the time he has been manning that booth," Rosemary said. She glanced at the booth where it was now Fiona kissing Nathan. "He has been a good sport about it though."
A desire rose in Elizabeth. A desire to pay the ten cents for an excuse to kiss Nathan. Something in her longed to know what it felt like. There was also a part of her that wanted to know if she could follow through with kissing another man. She had turned away when Lucas had tried to kiss her when the thunderstorm had brought an end to their picnic. It hadn't felt right. Was that because it was Lucas or was it simply her.
"Can you hold Jack for a few minutes?" Elizabeth asked, looking at Lee.
"Or course," Lee replied, reaching out for the boy.
"Where are you going, Elizabeth?" Rosemary asked, curiosity on her face.
"Lee has a point. Bill would be might disappointed if Nathan raised more money. I am going to go do my part to help that happen," Elizabeth told them, hoping they would buy the completely innocent explanation. She had no desire to tell even Rosemary that she wanted to know if she could actually bring herself to kiss another man. If she couldn't do it in an innocent situation like this then how could she be ready to kiss another man romantically.