Chapter 7: Bonding Together
The next morning, Nathan and Allie stopped by the apartment attached to the infirmary to pick up Faith for church. When Faith opened the door, she smiled brightly at the father-daughter pair. Even though she knew that they would be the talk of Hope Valley once they arrived at church together, she was excited to share this experience with them as well.
"Good morning! I had so much fun fishing with you and having dinner with you last night! I'm glad we get to go to church together today too!" Allie said, as she greeted Faith and gave her a quick hug.
Faith's face lit up as Allie hugged her and as the teen girl pulled away, she responded, "I had fun too! I'm looking forward to spending more time with you both again! And you know, it doesn't always have to be with your dad either."
Faith glanced over at Nathan and smiled big and winked flirtatiously at him. Nathan simply shook his head and chuckled as Allie rolled her eyes at the two adults with her.
"Oh boy, you two going together are going to take some getting used to! You're lucky I like you both." Allie replied as she turned and started making her way towards the church.
Nathan watched his daughter for a moment and then turned to Faith and asked, "Are you ready for this Dr. Carter?"
Nathan eyes twinkled when he smiled at her, holding out his hand for her to take hold of it.
Faith smiled in return, sighed as she grabbed his hand and answered, "As ready as I'm going to be. You know Constable, the good folks of Hope Valley have already had their suspicions about us from what I've heard from Molly and Fiona. This will only confirm the rumors. Are you ready for all the attention?"
Nathan turned to face Faith and said, "Believe it or not, I am. I am honored and proud to have you by my side and share with the good people of Hope Valley that I am blessed enough to be courting Dr. Faith Carter."
Faith looked down, smiled at the comment, and then met Nathan's gaze. She reached out and touched his cheek with her free hand, the two of them frozen like that for a moment.
It was when Bill walked by clearing his throat that the pair were jarred out of their trance. They turned their heads in the direction of where he stopped across from where they stood.
Bill snicked and said, "Better get a move on you two. The townspeople need something to wake them up a little before service. Seeing you two together I think will do just that."
Faith blushed at the comment but kept her hand on Nathan's cheek as Bill passed. Once he was out of earshot, she whispered, "I am blessed to have you by my side too."
Nathan smiled at her, took her hand from his cheek, and kissed it while keeping eye contact the entire time. Shivers went through Faith as Nathan's lips caressed her fingers and his crystal blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight.
He kept hold of her hand and gently started pulling her towards the church.
As they walked towards the church together, the first to see them was Ned and Florence who looked at one another for a split second before they smiled, wishing them a good morning as the pair walked by them.
Molly approached the Yosts shortly after Nathan and Faith had made their way towards the church steps. Florence rushed over to Molly's side ready to speak with her when Molly held up her hand.
"Yes, I know. It became official this past week. You were right, but I just couldn't say anything because they were still exploring their feelings. Now, Florence, keep this between us, okay?" Molly said as she glanced at her friend with a stern look.
Florence scowled at Molly, sighed heavily, and said, "Well I can, but you know with them showing up like that, I'm not the only one who will be talking about it."
Molly nodded as she wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulders and guided her towards the church, gesturing to Ned to follow them.
As Faith and Nathan walked into the small church, there was a hush that fell upon the room as several sets of heads turned their way and they both could feel the inquisitive stares that bore right through them. The pair simply tightened their grasp as they found their seat next to Allie in the back pew.
Once settled Nathan looked up to find that both Elizabeth and Lucas were staring at them. Nathan gave a subtle wave to the two and whispered something into Faith's ear. She chuckled a little and looked up as well to extend a wave to both Elizabeth and Lucas. They waved back, giving forced smiles themselves and turned back around to face Joseph at the front of the small church. Lucas whispered something in Elizabeth's ear and Nathan couldn't help but notice the scowl on Elizabeth's face and the way she pulled away from his arm around her shoulder.
Faith watched the interaction as well as Nathan, observing the couple a few pews ahead of them. She squeezed his hand a little and he glanced over at her giving her a loving smile.
"Just curiosity, that's all. Nothing else. You have to admit that was an interesting interaction between those two, to say the least." Nathan whispered quietly in Faith's ear.
Faith nodded and looked back over in the pair's direction. Lucas and Elizabeth now simply sat side by side and Jack had shifted over to sit between the two of them as both looked straight forward. Nathan watched Faith for a moment and then released his hand and stretched his arm across the back of the pew. Faith smiled at Nathan's move and scooted over to be by his side. Allie saw the maneuver and smiled to herself.
Over the next two months, Faith and Nathan became a steady item in Hope Valley. Whenever his schedule allowed, Nathan would continue to head over to the infirmary to take Faith to lunch whether it be at the cafe or if the weather allowed a picnic. Faith truly looked forward to the times that Nathan was able to show up.
Faith was invited to move into a rowhouse and share it with Mei and Fiona not long after the pair began courting.
Fiona enjoyed teasing Nathan often when he was visiting or when she saw him in town, treating him like one of her many brothers at home. At first, Nathan was embarrassed by it, but as time wore on, he got used to her antics and played along like he used to do with Colleen.
He was thankful that things weren't awkward between himself and Mei either, being that the three ladies were now living together. Although they were close, Mei and Nathan had discovered early on that they had been better as friends and nothing more. Besides, Mike had recently approached Nathan about an interest that he had in Mei. Both Fiona and Nathan encouraged Mike to ask to court her, even though he was being a bit bashful about the whole thing.
One night, when at a community event at the saloon, Nathan and Faith agreed to go separately so that they could spend time with others - him with Allie and her with Mei and Fiona. However, when Nathan went back to the bar to order himself a drink, he couldn't help but glance over at Faith with the others. They happened to be looking over at the same time and caught his gaze and smiled back.
"Your dear Constable is looking our way. And I know you, Faith Carter. You may be sitting here with us, but your internal attention is all on that dish standing over there at the bar." Fiona said as she took a sip from her wine glass.
Mei giggled in response as did Faith as they looked over in Nathan's direction and Faith locked eyes with him once more. That was interrupted however when Bill came up behind Nathan and clapped a hand over his shoulder.
"Oh boy! You are a goner! But I have to say, it's been great seeing you so chipper and less grumpy lately." Bill teasingly said.
Before Nathan could protest, Bill chuckled and moved on to join Molly and the Yosts across the room at their table.
Similarly, when the community went to the Hope Springs on its opening day, Faith joined her roommates as Nathan and Allie went on their own. As Elizabeth, Bill and Nathan stood overlooking the whole scene, Nathan couldn't help but look back to where Faith and the others sat.
The two made eye contact again and smiled shyly at one another. Bill looked over at Nathan and then back at Faith shaking his head.
Bill leaned in and said, "Just go over and join them. Allie is off with the Canfields. Elizabeth and I can take care of the thing we were talking about, right Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth glanced over at the men and then over her shoulder at Faith. Faith smiled at Elizabeth as Fiona and Mei took sips from their teacups. When she looked back over at Bill and Nathan, she simply nodded at them.
Nathan smirked, said his goodbyes, and headed over to the blanket where the ladies and some others had been sitting.
"Hi!", Nathan said wearing a big grin as he took a seat next to Faith on the blanket. Faith smiled back in return and reached out instinctively for his hand.
Fiona looked over at her roommates and winked as she said, "I was wondering how long it would take you to join us. Were your ears burning Constable?" Fiona chuckled and took a sip of her tea as she looked innocently at Nathan.
Mei restrained her chuckle as she took another sip of her own tea as Mike just looked at Nathan and grinned.
"Now, let's leave the good Constable and our beloved doctor alone, would you? It's young love and to be quite honest, it's fun to watch. You're going to make them all self-conscious and then, it won't be as much fun anymore." Molly said winking at Faith and Nathan.
Nathan shook his head, chuckling and said, "I should lock all of you up for the night for harassing an officer, but I like you all too much, so I won't."
The whole blanket got a good laugh at that and continued talking amongst one another for the remainder of the afternoon there.
Having Faith live so close by made it easier for the couple to spend time together. Allie would join Faith, Mei and Fiona at their place once a week to try out recipes that Allie's grandmother had sent her way. Allie loved hearing the stories that Faith and Fiona would share about life with their families. It was something that she had always longed for and spending time with these ladies and hearing their stories just filled that empty place in her heart.
Each Saturday morning, Nathan and Allie would stop by the ladies' home to see if Faith wanted to join them fishing. In the beginning after the first few times of going, Faith was hesitant to accept the offer on a regular basis, not wanting to invade on the father-daughter's special time with one another. One week she turned them down and Allie asked her about it that following week after they had finished their weekly baking project.
"Why didn't you come fishing with Dad and me last Saturday? We really missed having you there." Allie asked as they sat at the kitchen table nibbling on their latest creation.
Faith looked intently at Allie seeing the hurt look behind her eyes. She reached over and took hold of Allie's hand and said, "I'm so sorry! I just don't want to impose on that special time with you and your dad too often. I love spending time with both of you and I don't want to take anything away that you hold so dear."
Allie looked at Faith, smiled and said, "I appreciate you wanting to keep that as something special for just dad and me. But we want you there! We wouldn't stop by if we didn't, I promise! Please come with us this week!"
Faith squeezed the young teenager's hand as she smiled brightly back at her and said confidently, "Ok I will then! It would be my honor to join you both again!"
On Sundays, the three of them would go horseback riding. Nathan had shared with Faith one night after Allie had returned home that for her birthday, he was hoping to purchase a horse for her since they were riding quite often now.
"Nathan, I think that is a wonderful idea! Allie will love that!" Faith responded as the two sat on the porch steps together holding hands.
Nathan smiled at her, and Faith laid her head on his shoulder as they sat there. Soon they were interrupted when Mei came out to tell Faith that her father was on the phone.
"Come with me Nathan! I would love for you to have the opportunity to talk to my father too." Faith said as she looked at Nathan eagerly.
Nathan took her hand, kissed it, and said, "I'd be honored to talk to your father."
The two walked up the steps together and Faith sat at the chair by the tables with the phone as Nathan stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders. She spoke to her father for a few minutes and then eventually gave the phone to Nathan.
The two changed their places and the men spoke on the phone for the next several minutes. Faith could tell that her father was asking Nathan questions by his responses of "yes sir" or "no sir". She glanced over at Mei and Fiona who were sitting on the sofa, smiling, watching the scene as well.
When Nathan was done speaking to David Carter, he handed the phone back over to Faith. Nathan strode across to the other side of the room to sit closer to Mei and Fiona.
"Getting the third degree from Mr. Carter were you, Nathan?" Fiona playfully asked.
Nathan chuckled, running his hand over his face and shook his head. The two roommates simply giggled at the response. Mei offered Nathan some tea and he politely declined and then glanced over at Faith sitting over by the phone.
She hung up the phone shortly after and looked over at Nathan. He stood, walked over to her, and held out his hand to her.
"Will you walk me out? Ladies, I'll see you later." Nathan said.
The roommates smiled and waved as Faith nodded, taking hold of Nathan's hand, and ushering him out onto the front porch steps.
"I'm sorry if my father gave you a hard time…" Faith started to say.
Nathan put his finger to her lips, shaking his head at her and replied, "I wouldn't have expected any less, sweetheart. I'd do the same with anyone that Allie was courting, especially if I had not been able to meet him yet."
Nathan reached out with his free hand, caressing her cheek, and said softly, "Faith, I …"
Before he finished his sentence, this time it was Faith who took her hand out of his and placed her finger on his lips. She looked intently into his eyes and then drew herself closer replacing her finger with her own lips. Nathan raised his eyebrows as the kiss began but then the hand that had been on Faith's cheek moved slowly to the nape of her neck and their kiss deepened.
When they pulled away to catch a breath, with the moonlight lighting their features on the steps of the porch, Faith gazed into Nathan's eyes.
"Nathan Grant, do you know what you've done to my world and heart these past few months?" Faith whispered.
She stood there staring at him, stroking the locks of hair between her fingertips, and softly said, "I've fallen in love with you, Nathan."
Without giving him any time to verbally respond, Faith sought out Nathan's lips once more, getting the answer she longed for in his response. His lips searched hers and he wound his arms around her small frame.
Nathan held her face within in his hands once they had drawn back from their embrace and whispered to her, "I've fallen in love with you too, Faith Carter."
He held her gaze there for a moment and kissed her passionately once more. The two were interrupted a few moments later when Allie came down the pathway with Scout.
"Uh, hey you two, sorry to interrupt, but Scout really needed to go out. I'll just be going now." Allie said as she went to turn to head back the way she had come.
Nathan quickly kissed Faith's cheek and whispered, "I love you" and then called out to Allie.
"Hey Allie, wait up and I'll join you. I was just saying goodnight anyway." Nathan called out as he bounded down the steps and over to where his teenage daughter and Scout stood on the path.
Before heading out, Nathan turned and looked at Faith as she stood on the porch steps with her hand to her chest. He held out his hand to wave goodbye and she waved in return.
As she turned to go in the house, she inhaled slowly and thought to herself, "We love each other." Then, she smiled, opened the door, and went inside.
As Nathan and Allie got to their own house and were about to climb their steps, Allie looked at her father bashfully.
"I'm so sorry Dad that I interrupted the two of you. I never meant to." Allie said as she glanced down.
Nathan smiled, taking the crook of his finger to lift her chin to get her to look at him once again. Once her eyes looked back at his own, he spoke quietly to her.
"There is nothing to apologize for. In fact, it was probably a good thing that you came along. One could say that we got a little caught up in the moment. Allie, we admitted we loved one another tonight." Nathan said as he grinned from ear to ear.
Allie's heart overflowed with joy as she saw the way her father was beaming at this profession of love for their town doctor. She embraced him in a bear hug as Scout sat patiently alongside them.
"Dad, I am absolutely thrilled for the both of you!" Allie proclaimed as she pulled back from their embrace.
Nathan smiled down at her and said, "It means so much to me that you approve of this relationship and the way that it is progressing."
Nathan embraced her once more and kissed her on top of her head. Then, they made their way up the steps and in for the night.