"You Look exhausted, Colleen," Elizabeth said as she supported her inside the house and out of the sunshine. "Let me sit you down and get you a cup of tea. Would you like anything to eat?" Elizabeth paused. Was it her place to be offering Colleen Tea? After all, it wasn't her house, and given her last discussion with Nathan, she didn't know where she stood.
Colleen smiled and said quietly, "thank you, Elizabeth. I would love a cup of tea."
"I hope I am not overstepping. I'm sorry, I was just worried for you."
"Of course, you're not. I appreciate it so much. I appreciate everything you have done. You and this whole Town have been so supportive. Don't tell Nathan, but I can't believe I resisted moving here."
"I am so glad you did. You won't regret it, and with everyone here to look after you, you'll recover from the trip in no time."
Colleen looked at Elizabeth, her eyes narrowed. Something about her tone caught Colleen's attention; it didn't match her words.
"What is it, Elizabeth?" Colleen asked quietly as Elizabeth leaned forward to drape the blanket over her.
"It's nothing, Colleen. I am sorry if I worried you," Elizabeth said, blushing. What was wrong with her? The last thing she wanted to do was stress Colleen out; she needed to focus on her health.
"I can tell it's not nothing," Colleen began but stopped when Elizabeth looked toward the door and shook her head slightly. Nathan stepped inside, carrying some of the luggage from the car and smiled at the two women.
"I'll just carry these through to your room. Do you need anything?" he asked, smiling at his sister.
"Elizabeth is looking after me, thank you," Colleen replied, watching him closely. Nathan's eyes flicked to Elizabeth, and he smiled at her, his smile slipping when she didn't return it.
"I'm sure she is, and if that's the case, I will continue unloading the car." Nathan hurried inside Colleen's room and dropped the bag.
Colleen turned back to her friend and said, "I don't know what is going on, but I am not stupid. We will talk about this later."
Elizabeth nodded but didn't respond. Colleen observed the two as Nathan passed Elizabeth on the way back outside to the car and saw her avert her eyes. There was definitely something wrong. There was a coldness between the two, or maybe a distance was a better word; whatever was wrong, it seemed serious, and Colleen vowed to get to the bottom of it.
"You should have stayed there for dinner, Elizabeth," Rosemary said, frowning. "You two are never going to get over this if you don't talk about it; you need to clear the air."
"I don't know what there is to talk about," Elizabeth replied. She was trying very hard not to snap at Rosemary, but her humiliation, anger and hurt were making her want to lash out at everyone. If she had stayed at Nathan and Colleen's much longer, she knew she would have snapped at him and possibly ruined Colleen's first night in Hope Valley.
"You know very well the two of you need to talk. Whatever was said during your last conversation has you upset, and I don't like when my friends are upset."
Elizabeth laughed bitterly at her friend; it was a typical Rosemary thing to say; she was happy; therefore, she wanted those around her to be happy too. Elizabeth didn't know what to do to fix what was wrong between herself and Nathan. She didn't know if she could fix it.
"What was that laugh for?" Rosemary asked hands on her hips. "I think it's about time you told me what Nathan has done to upset you."
"He said no when I asked him to marry me," Elizabeth said matter of factly.
"He said what! You asked him ...Elizabeth; I need to know the details." Rosemary grabbed Elizabeth's hand and dragged her to the lounge. "Tell me everything."
"It was the night before Colleen arrived; after we had finished the cleaning, I spoke to Nathan about what would happen when Colleen and Allie arrived." Elizabeth paused as she looked at Rosemary, and she shrugged. "I thought he might suggest the two of us move forward in our relationship; we are courting, after all. It seemed the logical thing g to do."
"Logical?" Rosemary said, raising her eyebrows, "how romantic."
"You know what I mean!" she exclaimed. "It would have solved so many problems of caring for Colleen and Allie." Elizabeth screwed up her face and said, "Besides I'm in love with Nathan and know I want to be with him for the rest of my life."
"Well. I am glad you can admit that" shaking her head, Rosemary said, "I can't believe Nathan just said no; there has to be more to the story than that."
"Of course, he didn't only say no; he talked about me asking because I felt obligated, and it not being fair to ask me to do that." Elizabeth felt tears well in her eyes; she understood why Nathan had said what he had, but that didn't make it hurt less. "He doesn't expect me to take care of his sister when she is ill, and then afterwards, he will be the one to care for Allie long-term. He doesn't want to force that on me."
"But Elizabeth, that's silly." Rosemary was becoming indignant on behalf of her friend. "Doesn't he realise how much you care for him and Allie, that you would love to be there with him and help him raise her? Does he realise you are a Teacher, that looking after Children is what you do, your calling?"
"Rosemary, please calm down. I think you are almost as upset as I am over this."
"I think I am. Wait until I see Nathan Grant. I am going to give him a piece of my mind."
"Rosemary! No! Please don't do that. Elizabeth said, horrified. "It's Nathan's right to say no to me. Imagine if he asked me and I said no, you would expect him to respect my decision."
"Well, of course, I would, but he is not thinking straight. He loves you; you love him. You are perfect for each other."
"Please, Rosemary. I am embarrassed enough that he said no. I don't need you talking to him about how he rejected me."
"So, where does this leave the two of you? Are you still together? Are you still courting?" Rosemary asked, confused.
"I don't know, Rosemary, how can we be? If he doesn't see us together in the future, why would we be together at all."
Rosemary sat beside Elizabeth, feeling her friend's hurt and pain. What was Nathan thinking? He was being noble, of course, the silly man. Noble was very gallant, but in this case, just plain wrong.
"Are you going to tell me what you did to upset Elizabeth?" Colleen asked Nathan as he handed her a cup of tea.
"What makes you think I did anything or that anything is wrong?"
Colleen said nothing, only cocked an eyebrow and stared at him.
"I don't want to talk about it, Colleen. Allie only got settled a few minutes ago, and you must be exhausted from your trip."
"It was because of Allie and I, wasn't it?"
"No, of course not."
"Nathan, you have never been able to lie to me, so why start trying now? What did you do?" Colleen stared at her brother until he could no longer hold her gaze and looked down at his cup.
"Elizabeth asked me to...let her help look after you and Allie, and I said no."
"Nope. That's not it because she was here helping tonight; you still aren't telling me the whole truth of what happened." Colleen placed her mug of tea on the table and made to get off the lounge. "Fine, I will go and ask her myself."
"Colleen, wait, sit back down." Nathan ran his hand through his hair, remembering the look on Elizabeth's face when he had said no to her offer of marriage. "She asked me to marry her, and I said no."
Nathan watched his sister's eyes widen in shock, which was quickly followed by fear and guilt.
"She asked because of me and Allie, and you said no for the same reasons." Colleen tipped her head back and closed her eyes; when she opened them again, they were flashing with anger. "You promised me it wouldn't be a burden or change your life if I came here. I haven't even been here twenty-four hours and look what's happened."
"What's happened? I said no to Elizabeth rushing into a quickie wedding to support me. I said no to Elizabeth, giving up teaching to look after you and Allie. I can afford to hire a nurse and intend to, so she doesn't have to."
"Did you explain that to her? The Elizabeth, who was here earlier, does not look like that is what she heard. She was heartbroken."
"What?" Nathan couldn't understand what Colleen was saying, surely Elizabeth understood why he had said no.
"Have you spoken to her since telling her you don't want a future with her?" Colleen spat. "That you don't want her raising your Niece with you?" Shaking her head at him, "for a smart man, you can be dense sometimes. I doubt Elizabeth thinks everything is going to continue as before Nathan. I am sure she thinks it's over between you, and why wouldn't she?"
Nathan sat back in the chair; mouth open. He had noticed Elizabeth had been a little distant earlier, but he had suspected it was because there was so much going on. What had he done?
"Close your mouth, Nathan," Colleen smirked. "The sooner you clear this up, the better. Why don't you go and see her now? Neither one of us will sleep until you fix this?"
Nathan nodded and stood up, hesitating. He looked at the door and then toward his room upstairs.
"Something upstairs you think you will need?" Colleen teased.
"Um, yes." Nathan stammered, "Okay, yes, there might be something upstairs I need to get." Nathan smiled at Colleen; despite how tired she was, she couldn't resist teasing him, and he hoped she never would.
"Good, go and get it and then grovel, a lot, to Elizabeth and hope she says yes when you ask her the question, she asked you."
Nathan bolted up the stairs two at a time and hurried into his bedroom. He rummaged around in his drawer until he found the small velvet box. The ring had been in the drawer for quite some time because he knew he would eventually ask Elizabeth to marry him. He had allowed himself to get distracted by too many things, settling in, the trial, Colleen's illness. It was time to tell Elizabeth how he saw their future, what she truly meant to him and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. And apologise for being so dense earlier.
Rosemary smiled at the knock on the door of their row house, "I'll get it, Elizabeth. It's probably Lee; he said he would call in to see me."
Elizabeth smiled at her and nodded, preparing to go upstairs and give her friends some privacy. She was startled when Rosemary spoke harshly to whoever was at the door; apparently, it wasn't Lee.
"I don't think she is free; in fact, I am not even sure she is home; she may be out."
"Rosemary," Nathan said patiently, trying not to smile in the face of her anger. "I can see her standing behind you."
Rosemary spun around and exclaimed, "why Elizabeth, when did you get home? You look tired. Would you like me to ask Nathan to come back another time?"
"It's fine, Rosemary; if he is here, he must need something," Elizabeth said as she shook her head, her tone curt and her body stiff,
Nathan felt sick; how could he have messed this up so badly? Not only was Rosemary upset with him, but Elizabeth had also never used that tone with him, not even when she found out about her father and what had happened.
"Hey, Nathan, I didn't know you were coming to visit. We could have walked together," Lee said; his voice trailed off as he got closer to the open doorway and could feel the tension coming from the three of them. "Rosemary, are you ready to take that walk?"
"Of course, Lee. What a thoughtful idea. Have I told you how much I appreciate you and how you show me you care?"
"It's only a walk, Rosemary?" Lee replied, confused.
"Yes, well, it might be. Other people could learn a lot from you, Leeland Coulter, about manners and relationships." Rosemary gave Nathan one final glare before walking upstairs to grab a coat.
Lee looked between Elizabeth and Nathan, standing silent, Elizabeth refusing to look at either of them. Lee clapped Nathan on the back, "I don't know what you have done, my friend, but I suggest whatever it was, you apologise and prepare to grovel."
"Sometimes grovelling is not enough," Rosemary said as she swept downstairs. "Are you sure you will be okay if I leave you here with the Constable?"
Lee looked at Nathan and widened his eyes as he mouthed, "the Constable," and grimaced, "you really are in trouble," he whispered.
Nathan didn't respond; he just gave him and Rosemary a curt nod as they passed him.
Nathan was left standing in the open doorway, "would it be alright if I came inside, Elizabeth?" he asked tentatively.
"Certainly."
Nathan swallowed and stepped toward her, "would you like to sit with me on the lounge?"
"I think I will stand. I can't imagine what you have to say to me that you haven't already made very clear."
Her last two words were said through gritted teeth. Elizabeth's cheeks were high with colour, and she had her arms crossed in front of her. Nathan finally understood how badly he had hurt her. How poorly he explained himself when she made herself vulnerable and asked to marry him. Nathan bit his lips to stop them from trembling; what if he had ruined what they had by not listening to her, not trying to understand what she was saying? He had been so intent on caring for Colleen and Allie that he hadn't thought of her feelings.
"I'm sorry."
Elizabeth finally at Nathan. Did he understand what he was apologising for, or was he just apologising because he finally realised, she was upset?
"Why?" she asked.
"For not explaining why I said no when you asked to share my life. For not realising I was pushing you away when all you wanted was to help, show you care, and love my family and me." Nathan's voice broke on the last words. "I am used to being the one who looks after everyone and fixes everything, and I have never had anyone to help me do that." Nathan walked closer to her, "I should never have said no. I should have told you the truth. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. That there is no one else I want by my side in the good times and the bad. When I think about what my future looks like, you are there with me always."
Nathan reached out and took her hand, "I am sorry that my words hurt you and made you doubt how much I love you. I was trying to do the right thing by everyone and ended up messing everything up."
Elizabeth had heard enough; she believed he hadn't meant to hurt her. "Nathan, I am sorry too; I didn't think about how much you always had to do it on your own. I love that you didn't want me to feel obligated or burdened." Elizabeth dropped his hand, leaning her head against his chest, glad when she felt his hand stroke her dark curls as she listened to his heartbeat beneath her ear. "I need you to understand that I don't believe Colleen or Allie are burdens. As you wouldn't think I was one if I needed you."
Nathan closed his eyes and tightened his hold on her, dropping his head to her hair and inhaling the lovely floral smell of her shampoo. He would recognise that scent anywhere.
"I love you with all my heart Elizabeth Thatcher."
"I love you too, Nathan Grant," Elizabeth said, smiling up at him, frowning in confusion as he pulled away.
Nathan knew it was time; he wouldn't get less nervous while he waited to ask her. Dropping to his knee in front of her, he fumbled in his pocket for the ring box before holding it out to her.
"Elizabeth Thatcher, will you do me the honour of being my wife?"
Elizabeth's hand flew to her mouth, shocked. Although she had asked Nathan to marry her, she hadn't thought he was there to propose, only to clear the air.
"Yes! Yes! Of course, yes." Elizabeth felt tears sliding down her cheeks as Nathan stood, took her left hand in his and slid the diamond ring onto her finger. She looked down at the sparkling stone and back to her fiancé. "I love you, Nathan Grant. I will be the best wife you have ever had."
"The only one I hope, for a very, very long time." Nathan captured her lips in a kiss. This time the butterflies in his stomach had nothing to do with nerves and everything to do with the woman he was kissing.
Lee laughed out loud when Rosemary explained why she was angry with Nathan. "Oh, Rosemary, I do love your loyalty to your friends, but Nathan has his reasons."
"What reason could be good enough to say no when someone you love asks you to marry them?" Rosemary was confused; why was Lee laughing?
"Rosie, he was trying to protect her. He didn't want her to rush into a quickie wedding with him or give up her dreams to look after his family. He wants to do that."
"Why can't they do both?"
"They can, and I believe Nathan thought that was what he had suggested, but it doesn't sound as though he explained it well." Lee shrugged. Lee shook his head slowly; poor Nathan, he hoped Elizabeth let him explain. Lee knew about the ring Nathan had bought and even helped him pick it out in the catalogue. He hoped it ended up on Elizabeth's finger. "We need to let the two of them sort it out."
"I am putting you on notice, Leeland Coulter. If I ever ask you to marry me, you had better say yes!"
"I promise, Rosie, I will say yes if you ask me." Lee wrapped his arm around her and placed a kiss on her head. He knew he would have to plan his own proposal soon, one up to Rosie's standard. Lee had taken a hint from Nathan and purchased a ring, ready for the right time. He knew he had to make it memorable, grinning he thought this was something he wouldn't ask Nathan for help with.
