Nathan woke up late the next morning. When he got up, he saw Archie's door still closed. Nathan went out into the kitchen where Allie was eating fruit and reading a book.
"Have you seen Grandpa?" Nathan asked.
"No. It looks like he is still sleeping." Allie said.
"He never sleeps that late." Nathan said.
Allie shrugged her shoulders.
Nathan went to Archie's door and knocked. Nathan went inside his room. Archie was laying on his side.
"Archie, time to get up, you have to help me paint those toy soldiers." Nathan said.
Nathan went to the side where Archie was laying. Nathan saw Archie with his eyes closed. Nathan touched him. He was cold to the touch. Nathan checked his pulse, but there was none.
Nathan sat down on the edge of the bed. Nathan sighed. He took Archie's hand and held it for a moment.
Nathan stroked his father's face.
"Oh. Dad." Nathan said. Nathan felt a lump starting to form in his throat. He cleared it. Nathan got up and put a sheet over Archie. Nathan closed the door and went out into the kitchen to let Allie know what had happened. As expected, Allie sobbed.
For the next couple of days, Nathan planned Archie's funeral. What Nathan didn't expect was the outpouring of support from the community. The ground was still solid and Nathan wasn't sure if they would be burying Archie until the Spring. But all the men in Hope Valley banded together and were able to break through to the ground so that Archie would be buried.
The women of Hope Valley banded together and made meals for Nathan and Allie. Nathan spent most of his time consoling Allie. She was tough but had her moments. Though they knew the day was going to come sooner or later, it is always difficult when that day comes.
While consoling Allie, Nathan worked on his eulogy for his father. There were many emotions floating inside for Nathan. There was sadness and anger with a little regret inside of him. Nathan decided to write the eulogy from his heart.
On the day of the funeral, everyone gathered in their coats and stood around the grave site. Nathan had chosen a simple wooden casket. Joseph started the funeral off with a prayer.
"Dearly beloved, we are here to rejoice and reflect in the life of Archie Grant. While not always perfect, he was one of God's children. His son Nathan would like to say a few words." Joseph said stepping to the side.
Nathan took out his eulogy and stood where Joseph had been standing.
Nathan began to read his eulogy.
"I had a difficult time writing this eulogy. My father and I did not have a relationship until just recently. For many years I was disappointed in my father and told people that I did not have a father. He gambled our money away and broke my heart, my sister's heart and mostly my mother's heart numerous times during his life. But in the end, he was just a man who wanted to be loved by his family. He was a fantastic Grandfather to Allie, and in the end, a good father to me. I will miss hearing his laugh and his stories. I love you Dad, please don't forget that." Nathan put his eulogy away and stepped to the side.
A couple more prayers were said and then all the guests grabbed some dirt and threw it in the ground with the casket. As people were leaving, they gave Nathan and Allie a hug with their condolences. After getting through half the people, Elizabeth came and hugged Allie and then Nathan. As Nathan hugged Elizabeth he whispered in her ear.
"You'll be coming over for the private reception?" Nathan asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth whispered.
After everyone left the funeral, Nathan and Allie stood over the casket for the last time. Allie grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it in the ground. Nathan grabbed some dirt and threw it in the ground. Nathan and Allie walked back home hand in hand.
After the funeral, there was a small reception back at the house. Elizabeth, the Coulters and a few other people who knew his father gathered at the house. They shared any story they knew about Archie. While only in Hope Valley for a short time, he had immersed himself in the community.
After the stories were told, the conversation shifted to politics or the weather. The women cleaned up the kitchen for Nathan. Nathan snuck away and went into Archie's room.
Nathan stood in Archie's room and looked around. Nathan smiled at the picture that he had given to Archie that Christmas. Archie had hung Allie's picture up in his room. Nathan went through Archie's nightstand. Nathan rummage through it and found Archie's Swiss Army knife that Nathan would keep. He found some old coins.
In the way back of the drawer, he found some paper. The paper used to be white but had gone yellow over the years. The paper had been folded into small parts to fit into a wallet or Archie's pocket. Nathan carefully unfolded the paper. Nathan read the writing on the paper:
Happy Father's Day. I love you. Love Nathan.
Nathan sat down on the edge of the bed. Nathan must have been about five years old when he made this card. Archie had kept it all these years. The lump started to grow in Nathan's throat but he couldn't take it any longer. Nathan started to quietly sobbed. Nathan thought his father had forgotten about him for all these years was reminded of him every day.
There was knock on the door. Nathan stood up. It was Elizabeth.
"Nathan?" Elizabeth asked shutting the door slightly.
Nathan was wiping the tears away from his eyes.
"I thought after all these years he had forgotten about me, but he didn't" Nathan said showing Elizabeth the paper.
"Come here." Elizabeth said opening her arms. Nathan went over and hugged Elizabeth and sobbed into her. Elizabeth stroked Nathan's hair and consoled him. As Nathan pulled back,
Nathan and Elizabeth's faces were close together. They locked eyes. Suddenly, Elizabeth started kissing Nathan slowly. Nathan inched back to see if this was what Elizabeth wanted. She gently stroked the side of his face. Taking the cue from Elizabeth, Nathan started kissing Elizabeth and she kissed back. The kiss was passionate and spoke more than words could ever have. Elizabeth gave a quiet moan as he kissed her. Suddenly, there was knock on the door. Nathan and Elizabeth stopped kissing immediately and Nathan turned away from the door.
"Elizabeth?" It was Rosemary. Rosemary looked at both of them with suspicion. Elizabeth covered her mouth.
"Yes?" Elizabeth asked.
"Are you ready to go?" Rosemary asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth answered.
"Are you okay, Nathan?" Rosemary asked.
"Yes. Just an emotional time." Nathan said.
Rosemary gave him hug.
"Let me know if you need anything." Rosemary said.
"I will." Nathan said.
"Goodbye Nathan." Elizabeth said.
"Goodbye Elizabeth." Nathan said. The two stared at each other both shocked at what had just happened.