Stepping Into Love Chapter 7, a when calls the heart fanfic

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Part Seven – Over the Threshold

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Standing at the front of the church, Nathan stared at the door, remembering the many times he had walked down this aisle to Elizabeth. Now she was walking towards him and today they were stepping together into their future. Nathan's deep thoughts, were halted as the curtain parted to reveal Jack hurrying down the aisle to him.

When he arrived, he hugged Nathan's legs and, still gripping the pillow cushion, he moved to lift his arms to his Uncle Bill. Jack wanted the best views and he knew in the arms of his special people he had that privilege.

Allie entered next, looking stunning and way too grown-up for Nathan's sake as she glided towards the front. She was as poised and beautiful as Colleen had been on her own wedding day and Nathan cherished the brief memory before winking at his brown-eyed girl.

Rosemary was next and was surprisingly emotional as she came towards the front, needing to use her own handkerchief as she arrived and turned sideways to look for Elizabeth. What Rosemary hadn't told anyone though was that, after the briefest glance at the Bride, she always focused her attention on the Groom. Watching his face as he beheld the love of his life was the very best part of the processional!

Nathan didn't disappoint. Elizabeth entered as Rosemary had said, looking like a vision. Nathan didn't know anything about the dress or how she had found one in less than a day, but she was beautiful. With a quick glance he took in her gown, but it was her hair with hydrangea tucked-in, her sweet smiling face and her twinkling eyes that captured Nathan's attention. This was his Elizabeth coming towards him. He almost swayed and felt Bill's strong hand against his back to steady him.

Henry walked straight and proud to give away this beautiful friend who had been so dear to him over so many years. It was an honor to escort her to marry Nathan too and Henry couldn't stop smiling.

At the front, Joseph asked 'who gave this woman to be married to this man' and Henry clearly stated, "Her son, Jack, and I do." Henry kissed Elizabeth on the cheek and she returned one to him before he placed her hand in Nathan's and sat on the groom's side of the sanctuary.

Elizabeth had caught her breath when she had seen Nathan, tall, strong and always regal-looking to her, and she had approached him with wonder. Was this truly happening? Nathan was hers, after all these years? She looked into his crystal blue eyes and saw her best friend, the man who had faithfully loved her for so many years and was here today to promise his love and life to her forever and always. As she thought these things, the Pastor had been welcoming everyone and reading a Scripture. Elizabeth was glad they had heard them last night because she could not focus on anything but Nathan, standing before her, holding her hand and shining his love towards her.

When Nathan closed his eyes in prayer, Elizabeth closed hers and that was when she began to listen.

Opening their eyes, Nathan caught sight of the pearl and sapphire pendant necklace that Allie and he had given to Elizabeth. Noticing where he was looking, she smiled and whispered, "Thank you," holding his gaze once again.

Allie stepped to the piano and stood beside Angela, explaining, "This is a poem I wrote recently and for which Angela has composed the music. We have prepared this duet as a wedding gift to you both."

Elizabeth lowered her gaze as she carefully listened to 'Carpe Diem'. Although she had read the poem aloud at the community event, she had never heard the sweet music. As she raised her eyes to Nathan's again, she saw the tears forming and new this would be a song frequently sung in their new Grant family.

Pastor Joseph spoke words of encouragement and wisdom to Nathan and Elizabeth as they established a new family and a new home, gathering their children into each other's hearts, and being an earthly example of God's all-encompassing, heavenly love.

"Nathan? Elizabeth? You have already shown us your faith and your love and now I encourage you to pray together daily. Be patient with each other, kind, gentle, steady and faithful, keeping yourselves for each other alone. Remember to never be arrogant or boast, but be humble and be each other's strong support. If you are angry, sin not and don't let the sun set without talking together. You may not resolve every issue before you sleep, but be at peace with each other and commit to working through your struggles the following day. Make each other a priority after God himself and you will be shining examples to your dear children."

"God has brought you together in His perfect time and for His purposes. Cling to Him and to each other. Read the fruit of the Holy Spirit often and keep living those attributes daily. May you, as individuals and as a married couple, as well as your home be known as a place of peace and blessing, a place of welcome and encouragement. I feel as though you are already living out these admonitions, so I am just reminding you to continue to serve the Lord and your family and your community with open hearts. I pray God's blessings on you both, together."

Pausing Joseph introduced the making of vows, "Nathan and Elizabeth have chosen to say their heartfelt personal vows today, followed by the formal and traditional vows so many of us have made. Nathan? You may begin."

Nathan unfolded a page he had kept in his pocket then, then with one large hand holding both of Elizabeth's, he spoke:

"Elizabeth,

"I see autumn's bright sky in your blue eyes And hear the joy of a winter carol as you call my name.
I touch the rosy blush of spring on your sweet lips And feel the softness of summer's sands in your silky hair.

You are my shining sun and my midnight's moon, My morning song and in my evening prayer
And though tomorrow you will be in my yesterday, You are the seasons of my every year to come.

Your tears fall like gentle rain to wash me clean, Your laughter rings with children's happy songs
Your love is the heart-fire's glow that melts me, Your touch the quiet lullaby that birth's my dreams.

You are my heart's ache when we are parted And my soul leaps when you run to my embrace.
You are my often treasured memory And God's gift of an unknown, new day.

I see the dance of autumn's leaves in your movements And will watch winter's silent snows as you sleep.
I'll hear the songs of spring in your awakening voice And feel summer's warm, perfumed breeze in your sigh.

You are my key to doors of hidden wealth And your harmony inspires my heartsongs.
Your glance and smile sets my feet to dancing And our love paints the prism's colors across my life.

You are my shining sun and my midnight's moon, My morning song and in my evening prayer
And though tomorrow you will be in my yesterday, You are the seasons of my every year to come." (*EMH)

"Elizabeth, I love you. I am in love with you and every day I thank God for giving you to me. I promise to love and cherish you, to honor and be faithful to you, to hold you in my daily prayers and to protect, care for and serve you all the days of my life."

Nathan lifted Elizabeth's hands to kiss, never taking his sparkling eyes from hers.

Joseph spoke softly, "And now Elizabeth?"

Briefly closing her eyes and absorbing her groom's heartfelt words, Elizabeth then gathered her thoughts and held Nathan's gaze as she spoke from her heart.

"Nathan, my dear love, thank you for your beautiful words. As your name means, you are God's gift and I am so grateful. This is what I promise to you," she took a deep breath to control her emotions.

"I promise to not just listen to you, but to hear you, to hear your beautiful heart.
I promise to support and defend and be your greatest champion as we join our lives together and to stand beside you and, when needed, stand behind you too.
I promise to encourage you and honor you each day.
I recognize and respect who you are, your integrity and heart for service and I promise to help you in every way possible.
I promise to always hold you as the head of our family, of our home, and to pray for you.
I see the wonderful father you are and I am grateful that we will share parenting together, grateful that our children will have your example to follow.
I promise to come to you with my concerns and thoughts, my failings and successes, to confide in you and be honest, faithful, and loyal to you.
I promise to work beside you, to make our marriage strong and to create a God-honoring home for you and our children."

Elizabeth paused to control her emotions, then continued softly,
"I give myself and my love to you and all these things and more I promise you, for I love you dearly, Nathan. You are my always and forever."

As Elizabeth finished speaking her tears overflowed. Nathan reached into his pocket and gently and lovingly wiped her tears away. His care for Elizabeth was not missed by anyone in the sanctuary.

After exchanging the formal marriage vows and the exchange of rings, Joseph looked at each one in the wedding party and in the pews.

"We are all honored to be here today. To witness and celebrate the love between Nathan and Elizabeth and the establishing of their blended family with Allison and Jack. We pray together, 'Lord God, we ask for you to guard and protect these dear ones. Continue to make them Your hands and feet in our community. We count it a privilege to know this precious couple and their special children and pray for Your very best for them from this day forward. Amen and Amen.'"

"Let us sing a closing hymn together as a prayer for ourselves and for this couple, 'Now Thank We All Our God.'"

As the final notes of the hymn faded, Joseph cleared his throat and made his declaration. "Under God and as a minister of His Gospel, and by the power invested in me by the Province of British Columbia, I now pronounce you man and wife. What God has joined together, man must not separate. Nathan? You may now kiss your Bride."

Nathan paused for a moment, drinking in this pronouncement and the beauty before him, then lifted her face with his hands and kissed his Elizabeth, just long enough and passionate enough to still be proper before these people, but infused with love and promise to this woman who was now his wife. After their kiss, he reverantly touched his lips to her forehead.

"It is now my great honor to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Grant. Go forth with the blessings and peace of the Lord!"

Angela played another verse of the closing hymn, but rather than walk the length of the aisle, Nathan and Elizabeth opened their arms to their children, whispering promises of love to both Allie and Jack. Jack wanted to be in Nathan's arms so the hugs shared with Bill, Rosemary and Lee, Henry, Joseph and Minnie all included Jack. When Cooper approached, Jack asked to be put down and immediately went to take the hand of his friend, Cooper.

Meanwhile, Allie and Angela were hugging and crying together because it was all so beautiful.

Joseph and Minnie exchanged grateful and knowing looks as they observed their children's inclusion in the family group. God healed a little bit more of their hearts in that moment.

After posing for photographs with various combinations of people, Bill finally took one of Nathan and Elizabeth together. Not knowing the import of his words, Bill was pleased with the photo he had captured and declared, "That's a Keeper!"

Nathan and Elizabeth ginned at each other, Nathan bending low to whisper, "Do you remember? I have a copy of that photo in my bedtable drawer!"

Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak and found she was too emotional to do so. She nodded instead and made a note to show Nathan that she kept her copy in the same place!

Soon it was time to enjoy the surprise of some beautiful tea sandwiches Minnie had prepared, then cut and distribute the cake and punch. The family and friends stood or sat in the pews that had been quickly arranged in a circle for the reception, gathering around, laughing, sharing stories and commenting on how beautiful the ceremony was. They declared how stunning everyone looked, how lovely was the duet the girls sang, how well-behaved Jack was and how big he was getting!

Nathan learned that Elizabeth's gown was the one he had seen her in just recently, but unrecognizably altered to eliminate yards of ruffled Tulle. Rosemary received high praise for her dressmaking skills!

Bill and Rosemary each shared a toast with a bit of storytelling included, and although not offically in the wedding party, Lee gave a word of appreciation as well.

Everyone loved the story and symbolism of Elizabeth's engagement ring, admiring it for its unique and incredible beauty.

Lee asked for the details of the assassination attempt because he wanted to know about Nathan's heroic actions, but Bill had to supplement Nathan's story and bragged a bit. Bill also informally announced that there would be an award ceremony in the coming weeks to celebrate Nathan and hinted it might include some Mountie guests. He also insisted it should be a gathering that did not include anything to do with Balfour. When talk turned to politics amongst the men, they also discussed the now secured future of Hope Valley.

The women and girls discussed Elizabeth and Allie's matching hairstyles, the sides drawn back into a small bun encircled with hydrangea and the remainder long and curled. Each admired the lovely dresses, and discussed the changes to come in Elizabeth's row house as the Grants moved in. Allie excitedly announced that her new 'Mom' would be adopting her and Dad would adopt Jack too, an announcement that required the need for more handkerchiefs!

As the evening drew to a close, Nathan and Elizabeth each thanked their family and friends for assisting in preparing for the ceremony in addition to all their prayers and supportive words as they gradually discovered and opened their hearts to each other. Each person there had been pivotal to their relationship!

No one would let them help with restoring the classroom, so with hugs and kisses and copious well-withes, the newly-formed Grant family walked home hand-in-hand beneath the starry night sky.

After settling Jack at the Coulter's home, and kissing Allie goodnight, Nathan and Elizabeth walked to Nathan's home for their first night of their together forever.

Standing before the door, Nathan captured Elizabeth's lips with his own. They hardly wanted to part, yet they knew there were new and immediate, lifelong, and love-filled joys ahead, so Nathan scooped Elizabeth into his arms to carry her over the threshold, stepping into love.

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Author's Note:

In film we would now see 'Iris out to a heart' and need some of those extra handkerchiefs!

My apologies for this late posting, but their story grew and, much as I tired, I could not delete very much in the editing process. Blessings until we meet again! Eilie

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(*1) Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, (1803 – 1882)

(*2) 'We Gather Together to Ask the Lord's Blessing,' Author is anonymous (1625) Translated by Theodore Baker. Public Domain

(*3) 'Now Thank We All Our God,' Martin Rinkart (1636) Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Public Domain

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