Chapter Ninety-one

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Petitions and Permissions Granted

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At home, Allie was ready to share her goodnight hugs, when Nathan asked her to sit down for a bit. "Allie? Mrs. Thornton and I want to talk to you for a few moments." Nathan motioned for Allie to sit in the middle, while Elizabeth and he sat on either side. "As you have seen, we have realized our love for each other is deep and although denied for some time, has been present for many years. We just want to be sure you are okay with us going forward together? We are not making any announcements at this time, but we just want you to know. Our goal is to become a family someday. How do you feel about that now?"

Allie looked from her father to her teacher as she began to cry. "Really?"

Elizabeth, seated on her other side, reached her hand over to hold Allie's. "Really, Sweetheart. I love your Dad and he loves me. I also love you, dear girl, and we both know your Dad loves Jack! We just want to be sure you are okay as we move forward. Are you?"

"Oh, yes! This is my prayer every night and it was my birthday wish too! I am so happy!" She immediately reached over to hug Elizabeth then, letting go, turned to hug Nathan. "Oh Dad. This is perfect. Mrs. Thornton loves you… and she loves me too!" She leaned back to take each of their hands. "So are you officially anything yet? Are you courting? Or engaged or? When will you get married? Oh, and where will we live? Oh, I am so excited!"

"Slow down, Allie-girl." Nathan chuckled. "First, this stays between the three of us for now, okay? Please don't share with anyone. We haven't even gotten to the courting stage, but we promise to let you know as soon as we reach each milestone, okay? I have a feeling our relationship will not follow the normal patterns and timelines, just knowing our history! But, just to answer your questions? The answer is that we cannot answer them because we don't know yet!"

"Well…that's okay. I'm just happy we are, what did you call it, Mrs. Thornton? Oh… moving forward. I like that!" Allie wiggled in her seat. "See, Dad? I told you. Nothing is impossible with God."

Nathan looked at Elizabeth, grinning. "Out of the mouths of babes!" Turning back to Allie he continued. "How about we pray together here? Then you can go right to bed when you finish reading. Is that okay, Honey?"

"Sure. May I pray first?"

"Of course." Nathan held Elizabeth's gaze and reached his other hand around Allie to grasp Elizabeth's forming a circle. "Go ahead, Allie."

"Dear God, You are right! Nothing is impossible with you! Thank you, God. Thank you so much for Dad and for Mrs. Thornton and for the love they have. Thank you for young Jack too! Thank you that we will be a family all together some day. I can wait now, knowing it will happen. Please bless all of us?

Be with Grandmom and Grandpa, Uncle Zach, Uncle Bill and Aunt Adeli. Be with Uncle Lee and Aunt Rosemary and little Patrick. Help him to like his new family and Hope Valley. Be with Angela and Opal and Emily and Anna. Be with all my friends at the Academy and be with Gramma Carol and Grampa Pete. Oh! Be with Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher…" Allie paused as a realization hit. "They'll be my grandparents too someday! Wow! Oh, be with Uncle Gabe and Miss Lillian and… well, with whoever I am forgetting tonight. But mostly be with Dad and Mrs. Thornton.
And, God? Thanks again. In your name I pray, Amen!"

"Dear Lord," Elizabeth began softly.

"My heart is overflowing, with love and gratefulness, with hope and praise too. You have blessed me, blessed each of us beyond measure. I offer my thank you even as Allie has tonight. Thank you for your forgiveness and for that of Nathan and Allie as well. You have worked a miracle. You ARE working a miracle. Keep us close to you and to each other, Lord. Bless my sweet boy Jack, bless us, and all our loved ones, through the night. May we awaken refreshed and with a song in our hearts as a new day dawns. Thank you, Lord. Amen."

Nathan cleared his throat and began a simple and short prayer. "Dear Lord? I echo all that Allie and Elizabeth have just prayed. You have been very good to us, faithful, answering our prayers beyond what we could ask or even dream. Thank you, Lord, for all your blessings. I give you praise for my wonderful family-in-the-making. Amen and Amen."

Releasing the hands of both of his girls, Nathan stood. "Let me give you your good night hug, Honey. I love you." Nathan wrapped Allie into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Sleep well."

"You too, Dad. And sweet dreams, right?" She looked up at her Dad. "I love you, Dad."

Turning to Elizabeth who had also stood, Allie wrapped her arms around her. "I love you too, Mrs. Thornton, and I am so happy."

"Oh Allie. We are all so happy we could burst! I love you and wish you sweet dreams too!"

The telephone rang, interrupting their goodnights, so Nathan quickly answered. "Grant residence, Nathan speaking."

"Nathan, this is Grace. May I come down to the cottage for a few minutes? I have something for Allie."

"Sure. We were saying our goodnights, but you are welcome. Shall I walk up to walk you down the path?"

"No, no, Nathan. Carol and I will come together and use a flashlight to avoid any falls. Be right there." Grace hung up the telephone before saying goodbye.

Nathan looked at the receiver in his hand, shrugged and set it in its holder. "That was your mother, Elizabeth. She and Carol are coming down for a few minutes. Allie, they have something for you."

"For me?" Allie looked at the clock. "It must be important to come so late."

Within moments, Nathan opened the door to welcome in Grace and Carol. They seemed unusually excited and declined Nathan's offer to take their coats.

"Allie," Grace handed her a large dress box tied with a red ribbon. "This is for you… an early Christmas gift!"

"Well, thank you. " Allie accepted the box. "Do you want me to open it now?"

"Yes! That's why I am giving it to you early, Sweetheart." Explained Grace. "Open it please?"

Letting the ribbon fall as the box balanced on the back of the sofa, Allie lifted off the cover to reveal an elegant dress. She looked at Grace, bewildered. "Is this for me? It is so beautiful! But it looks so expensive!"

"Think nothing of it, my dear. Lift it out. Do you like it?"

Allie held up a rich, deep green wool dress with a slender cut. The straight skirt had buttons down the side, with an opening near the bottom to allow for easy walking. Trapunto-style embroidery that perfectly matched the dress color encircled the neckline, the long, slender sleeves which also had a row of covered buttons, and the raised embroidery fell from the waist to just below the knee. The bodice was buttoned down the back and a wide sash was tied around the waistline. Holding it up to herself, Allie pressed the dress close to her waist and looked down on it, noting every detail. Whispering, she admitted, "This is beautiful…"

Grace looked at Carol and grinned. "Would you mind trying it on, Allie? I was thinking you might like to wear it tomorrow night."

"Oh my! Really?" She looked at her father with round eyes, then seeing his nod, she stepped around the sofa and made her way to her bedroom. Halfway there she called back, "Mrs. Thornton could you please come with me?"

As the bedroom door closed, Nathan spoke up. "Since you won't let me take your coats, please have a seat at least?" Once the ladies sat, having chosen the chairs beside the fireplace for the best look into the hallway, Nathan added. "Grace, this looks to be a most generous gift!"

Grace waved his comment away with her hand. "Allie deserves this, Nathan. Not that you don't provide beautiful outfits for her, but I am here and tomorrow is a special night. I want her to feel beautiful as well as look it!"

The bedroom door opened and Elizabeth preceded Allie into the front room, pausing and stepping aside to motion to the young lady behind her. "Voila! Miss Allie Grant!" She glanced from Allie to Nathan to see his first look at his elegant daughter.

"Oh!" Was the uniform reaction from Nathan, Grace and Carol.

Allie stepped over to the front windows and turned around slowly, holding out her hands, palms down beside her. "What do you think?" She looked first to her father as his opinion was the one she most desired. "Dad?"

Nathan was speechless. The dress was stunning and fit Allie as though it had been created for her. She was an eye-catching young woman! He struggled to speak. "Uh, Allie you look stunning. That dress is so… just marvelous! Turn again?"

As Allie pirouetted once more, Nathan let out a low whistle. "You will be the envy of your classmates and the star of the joint chorus. Wow!" Looking back at Elizabeth, he inquired. "What do you think, Elizabeth?"

"Allie looks gorgeous and I approve." Elizabeth nodded. "I vote for this dress for tomorrow's concert!"

"Oh good!" Grace responded. "What do you think, Allie?"

"I've never had, nor even seen a work of art like this!" Allie fingered the embroidery with admiration. "Thank you, Mrs. Thatcher!" Turning back to her father. "May I wear it tomorrow, Dad?"

"You will look lovely wearing that tomorrow. The dress fits the venue!" Nathan looked at Grace. "You are too generous, Grace, but thank you for making our young lady be the belle of the concert hall!"

Allie went to envelop Grace in a hug, then Carol. She hugged her Dad again and Elizabeth as well as she went towards the hallway. "Oh, Mrs. Thornton, I think you need to help me with the buttons in back."

Standing, Carol thanked Nathan for allowing Allie to accept and wear the beautiful dress. "She'll have plenty of other special events to which she can wear her other outfits. Allie is such a delight, Nathan! I can't wait to see what Peter thinks tomorrow, oh and Claire as well! We will all be bursting with pride." Carol reached up to kiss Nathan's cheek. "We will see you for our soup supper tomorrow, Son. Have a good sleep tonight. You have to be Allie's escort, not to mention Elizabeth's and Grace's! Big responsibilities!"

Grace stood right behind Carol and also reached up to pat, then kiss his cheek. "It will be an honor to attend the concert with you, Nathan. Sweet dreams." Grace also kissed Nathan's cheek causing him to blush as Elizabeth returned to the front room.

"What is it, Nathan? You are blushing." Elizabeth questioned as he turned from closing the door.

"I just received kisses from the ladies. Wait, they weren't flirting were they? They are married!" Nathan shook his head as he walked to join Elizabeth on the sofa. "All this attention might just go to my head!"

Later he wondered at the knowing and teasing glance Elizabeth gave him over her shoulder before she sat on the sofa.

With a cup of hot peppermint tea, Elizabeth and Nathan sat together on the sofa before the crackling fire. "Thank you for this wonderful day, Nathan. I have so many sweet memories to think about, just from the normal, domestic things we did together." She sipped her tea. "I hope I didn't make you feel uncomfortable with all the talk of flirting? You are not aware of how you affect women around you, but I'm not sure how to, or even if I should, make you aware of that!"

"I confess, I still feel clueless. When I am with you I think I am safe, but alone? I think it is safest to keep my distance. Good thing there are not many women around at Depot, eh?" Nathan nudged her arm with his own.

"Oh, that's a very good thing, Nathan." Elizabeth paused then withdrew an envelope from her pocket. "Could we read something together tonight? I promise it is not recounting our past."

"I guess if you are beside me that's okay." Nathan moved closer so their arms touched and he could look at what Elizabeth had written.

Elizabeth set her tea on the coffee table and unfolding the note, read softly.

'My Dearest Nathan,

I believe my confessions are completed, except for spur-or-the-moment revelations that I hope to handle as they arise. With this letter I have some things to tell you and promises to make to you, even as I tell you that, with God's help, I will not let myself fall so far ever again. I have begun to give thanks to God every day. I am writing some lists and prayers of thanksgiving in my journal to help me remember all my blessings.

I am learning to trust God, to stop trying to control things and see what he does to surprise me!

I am endeavoring to look for and find the good and the best. I will try to keep my eyes and heart open for all the Lord is doing around me and in me.

I will be faithful, loyal and try to find ways to encourage you and those I love.

I will read the fruits of the Spirit frequently and ask God to help me exemplify them now, to be patient and kind and know God's joy and peace. To love unselfishly. To offer myself to you, to serve you, meet your needs, to love you, to pray for you throughout every day and night.

I promise to give things to God, and pray for his will to be done in earth as it is in heaven.

These things I share with you, my dearest Nathan. As your name says, you are truly a 'gift from God.' What a privilege to receive you as God's gift in my life.
I love you, Nathan.

Yours,
Elizabeth'

Nathan lifted his arm to encircle Elizabeth's shoulders. With his other hand, he gently cupped her cheek and guided her to rest her head on his shoulder. They sat in silence, watching the flames spark and sizzle and fly upward, the golden glow illuminating their faces. Finally Nathan spoke quietly. "Beautiful, Lisbeth. Thank you for this letter. I will treasure it always." He leaned his head against hers, inhaling her sweet fragrance and making a memory.

"I mean every word, Nathan."

"I know you do, My Love."

Elizabeth's breath caught as she heard Nathan's endearment. She shifted to lean on him as closely as possible. Could this day, this life, this love get any better than this? Yet, as Nathan next spoke, everything did get better.

"Lisbeth? May I court you?"

Elizabeth caught a quick breath. "Oh yes, Nathan, my dearest man. Yes, yes and yes again!" She took his hand in hers then tilted her head to look up at him.

Nathan glanced down at her. "Good. Then it's official. We'll tell Allie in the morning, then we can tell your mother. I can call your father, because he said he already gave me his permission. So I should tell him we have reached this milestone. Maybe we can find time to call my parents before dinner? Then we can tell Peter and Carol at dinner. We'll tell Zachary when we pick him up on the way to the concert, then we can shout it from the rooftops, Lisbeth." He bent to kiss her forehead, chuckling. "We are courting!"

Incredulous, Elizabeth giggled and let a small squeal escape. "We are courting!"

On Friday morning, Elizabeth knocked on the Cottage door, before using her key as Nathan had suggested. "Good morning!" The lilt in Elizabeth's voice was unmistakable as she called into the house.

"I'm in the kitchen. Sorry." Nathan called. "Be right there."

"That's okay. Something smells good!" Removing her overcoat, she draped it over the sofa. "What can I do…" Elizabeth stopped, taking in the scene before her as she reached the kitchen door. She hoped she never got used to this morning vision.

Nathan, in his denim apron over his Henley and cardigan sweater, had a potholder in his hand and was scraping freshly-baked scones from the pan into a linen-lined basket. The fact that he was cooking for her, well, for Allie and for her, warmed her heart and sent fluttery feelings deep inside.

"Hi!" Nathan grinned, sheepishly. "You caught me before I was finished!"

"Oh Nathan, I am so glad I did. You are a picture I want to remember."

Glancing down, Nathan looked at her quizzically. "You want to remember me half-dressed and in an apron?"

"Oh, do I ever! Memorized and kept in a file labeled, 'Someday soon!' Not that I expect you would always bake scones for us in the morning, just that it is a delightful and promising thought." Elizabeth moved to pat his back, then donned the floral apron and washed her hands. "So how may I help?"

Scones safely ensconced in linen, Nathan set the pan on a trivet to cool and went to the sink, placing his arm around Elizabeth's shoulders and squeezing her to his side. "Good morning," he whispered into her ear, sending shivers through her.

"Oh, it is such a good, good, morning, Nathan." Elizabeth responded, leaning her head on his shoulder. "How did you sleep?"

"Maybe the best night of my life so far?" He kissed the top of her head. "How about you, My Love? Sleep well?"

Elizabeth's breath caught hearing his words again. "I love that you call me that, Nathan. You may call me 'my love' anytime. May I use the term for you as well?"

"Of course. Just not in public until our family knows, okay?"

"Of course not." Elizabeth whispered. "My Love." It thrilled her to say it as much as it thrilled Nathan to hear it spoken, to himself!

They parted as they heard Allie in the hallway.

"Oh! Good morning, Mrs. Thornton." She took note of the table set for three and the sprig of evergreen, holly and two pinecones in the center of the table. "I see you are joining us for breakfast?" Allie pointed to the table arrangement, smiling approvingly before entering the kitchen to hug Mrs. Thornton, then her father. "Nice, Dad."

As he released Allie from their hug, Nathan nodded. "We are ready and the scones are hot from the oven, take a seat, Sweetheart?"

Nathan nodded to the coffee. "Lisbeth, would you pour the coffee, please?" Nathan set Allie's milk on the table, then retrieved the scrambled eggs and bacon that had kept warm in the covered cast iron pan on the back of the stovetop and served.

Reaching for each other's hands, Nathan gave thanks for the day, the food and for each other. He prayed for God's protection on Jack and all their loved ones, before squeezing the hands of his ladies as he said, "Amen."

Letting go of Allie's hand, Nathan kept his hold on Elizabeth's. "Allie? We have some news." His pause was only a second, but it was enough for a wide grin to spread across Allie's face.

Continuing, Nathan announced. "We are courting, Allie."

"Yes!" Allie raised her hands in her joy, hopped up and almost sent her chair toppling to the floor.

With instant Mountie-trained reflexes, Nathan caught the chair and set it right as Allie came to stand behind her Dad and teacher. She spread her arms wide and hugged them together. "This is such good news! May I tell everyone at school?"

Both Elizabeth and Nathan patted Allie's arms. "Not yet, Sweetheart. We have to tell our parents and then tonight we can spread the news, okay? Sorry, you'll have to wait, but that's the price you pay for being the first to know!" Nathan chuckled as Allie released her hug. "I take it you approve?"

"With all my heart!" She returned to her chair. "I guess a few more hours is fine after all these years."

Elizabeth and Nathan laughed. "I guess so, Allie." Elizabeth commented. "Still, I think we will all be so elated we will find it hard to keep our heads out of the clouds today."