"What does it say?" Allie asked. Nathan looked up from the paperwork.
"Don't you have to get ready for school?' Nathan asked.
"Why does everyone treat me like a child? This is about me." Allie said.
Nathan looked at Allie. Nathan knew she was right. She was not a child and this did concern her. Nathan handed her the papers.
Allie read through the papers. Her facial expression went from curiosity to sadness. Dylan was asking for full custody of Allie. He wanted the Judge to override Colleen's will and to appoint Dylan as Allie's guardian. Dylan cited that while he was grateful for Nathan's help after Colleen's death, Dylan was Allie's biological father.
After reading the papers, she handed them back to Nathan.
"I better get to school." Allie said with no emotion.
"You don't have to. Mrs. Thornton will understand with everything going on." Nathan said.
"I just want to go to school." Allie said. Allie ran into the house. Nathan sighed. He folded up the papers and put them in his back pocket. Nathan went over to the men who were starting to build the stable and started helping them build it.
Later, Allie exited the house. She mounted Buttercup and left for school. Nathan couldn't help but feel sorry for Allie. Life was starting to get back to "normal" for Allie and then Dylan has to throw a wrench into it. Even though he had not been in contacted with Colleen for many years, he knew that she wouldn't want Dylan to have custody of Allie. Nathan would do everything in his power to keep Allie with him.
At a lunch break, Nathan rode Newton into town. He used the phone at the Mercantile and called a family law attorney in Hamilton to get some names for attorneys in the area around Hope Valley. The Hamilton attorney gave him a name of an attorney who was located in Buxton, which was perfect because the case would be heard in Buxton. He called J. Winters and set up a phone call for tomorrow since the attorney was out of the office.
After making the phone calls, Nathan went home and helped the men work on the stable. By three in the afternoon, the men called it a day and they left. They would be back tomorrow to help build the rest of the stable. As Nathan was cleaning up, he saw Allie walking back with Buttercup. But Allie wasn't alone; Elizabeth was walking with her.
At the sight of Elizabeth, his heart started beating fast. If he didn't know any better, it felt like his heart skipped a few beats. Allie passed Nathan without saying hello and went to tie Buttercup up to a post.
"Nathan. I'm so sorry about the barn and stable." Elizabeth said.
"Me too." Nathan said. Elizabeth and Nathan watched Allie go inside.
"Poor thing. She has been through so much." Elizabeth said.
"I know. And now this whole issue with her father." Nathan said.
"Allie mentioned something about that but did not give any details." Elizabeth said.
"Her father wants custody of Allie." Nathan said.
Elizabeth gasped.
"Oh no!" Elizabeth said.
"Yes." Nathan said.
"I never met your brother-in-law but from what Colleen told me, he is trouble." Elizabeth said. Nathan gave a sad smile. If only Colleen had figured that earlier.
"Our Aunt gave us an inheritance and Dylan spent it on alcohol and gambling. Colleen didn't know until it was too late." Nathan said.
"Is that what caused the rift between you and your sister?' Elizabeth asked.
"Yes. Which led to a physical altercation between Dylan and I." Nathan said.
"Oh my." Elizabeth said.
"I know Colleen loved Dylan but I just wish he wasn't like my father." Nathan said.
"Was your father trouble?" Elizabeth asked.
"He was a gambler. A thief. Unreliable. I'm sad that Allie has to grow up with a father like that." Nathan said.
"I can tell that this is upsetting to Allie. She was quiet in class today." Elizabeth said.
"I'll have to talk to her. I just hope I can get through to her." Nathan said.
"I'm sure you will." Elizabeth said. She patted his arm. Nathan's heart fluttered.
"Thank you." Nathan said.
Realizing what she was doing, she pulled her hand away from Nathan's arm and blushed.
"Will you be at the Founder's Day festival tomorrow?" Elizabeth asked.
"I saw the signs around town. I'm sure Allie will want to go. Will you be there?" Nathan asked.
Elizabeth sighed.
"Yes. I was roped into the kissing booth by my friend Rosemary." Elizabeth said.
Nathan smiled.
"Kissing booth?" Nathan asked.
"On the cheek." Elizabeth said.
"I may have to stop by that booth." Nathan teased.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Nathan laughed. They said their goodbyes. Nathan went into the house and went to Allie's room. The door was cracked open. Nathan knocked and opened the door. Allie was laying on her bed petting the puppy.
"Do we have a name for him yet? I know I heard you call him a few names but I wasn't sure what you ended up calling him." Nathan said.
Allie shrugged.
Nathan pulled out a chair from Allie's desk and sat in it facing Allie.
"Talk to me." Nathan said.
"Why? You are going to side with my father and I'm going to have to go live with him." Allie said. Tears were starting to form in her eyes.
"Where did you get that idea?" Nathan asked.
"I know you don't like it in Hope Valley. The only reason you are here is because of me. This gives you an excuse to leave." Allie cried.
Nathan sighed.
"While living in Hope Valley has been an adjustment for me, I am living here because this is your home and it is what your mother would want." Nathan said.
"Everyone leaves me. You will too." Allie said.
Nathan didn't realize how deep the abandonment issue went with Allie. But Nathan couldn't blame her. Her father leaves her. Her mother dies. And Nathan has one foot out the door. Nathan would have probably been just like Allie if his mother had died after they left Archie.
"Allie. I don't know where we will be in June or we will be in a year. That's too far ahead. I can only think about the here and now. And for the time being, I'm going to be right here. I'm not going anywhere. And I'm going to fight to keep you with me. I have a phone call with a family law attorney tomorrow. My attorney friend told me that they are the best in Buxton. But I'm going to fight for you because I love you, Allie. I would be sad without you." Nathan said.
"You would?" Allie asked.
"Of course. Who would make fun of my axe skills? Who would argue with me" Nathan said with a smile. Nathan grabbed Allie's hand.
"You have part of my sister in you. And despite our differences, she was my best friend." Nathan said.
Allie smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Colin." Allie said.
"What?" Nathan asked.
"I think we should name him Colin." Allie said. Nathan looked at the dog. Colin. It was close to Colleen.
Nathan reached out and pet the dog.
"I like it. Colin. We could get him a collar with his name engraved in it." Nathan said.
Allie got out her bed carrying the puppy.
"That would be cool. Are we going to the Founder's Day festival tomorrow?" Allie asked.
"Do you want to go?" Nathan asked.
"Yes. I heard Mrs. Thornton will be having a kissing booth." Allie said slyly.
"I heard." Nathan said.
"Will you be standing in line?" Allie said making kissing noises.
Nathan laughed and grabbed Allie and kissed her on the top of head.