A/N: I found the next two chapters over the weekend in my notes that I had written at the end of June in hopes of posting prior to my vacation but life happened. So, with the help of Joann and Donna once again, i present them to you now. Chapter 90 will follow in the very near future. It was half written last June as well but it needs some work amongst my schedule nowadays. Thank you for your patience with me and staying with this story! Hope you enjoy the next two chapters!
Chapter 88: At Home with the Grants
The phone rang at the Thornton rowhouse, where Julie, Allie, and Jack had all remained during the time Nathan and Elizabeth were on their coastal honeymoon. Allie and Jack tried to make a mad dash for the telephone from across the room where they had been playing but Julie got to it first. As she expected, it was her sister on the other end. Julie could tell by the joyful tone in Elizabeth's voice, that her older sister was positively beaming as she greeted her on the other end of the phone.
"Hello, Elizabeth! How are you? Have you had a simply splendid honeymoon?" Julie asked excitedly.
By this time, Allie and Jack were at Julie's side. Jack was tugging at his aunt's skirt, then reaching up as if gesturing that he was ready to talk with his parents.
Allie, on the other hand, was calling out from where she stood next to Julie. "Hi Mom! Hi Dad! We miss you!"
Elizabeth giggled on the other end and then said, "Julie, I am magnificent! The coast was so beautiful, and we stayed at the cutest little cottage that you've ever seen! How are you? How are the children? I hear Allie in the background."
"I am doing well. I had the best time with my niece and nephew! Thank you so much for letting me have this time with them! They are doing well. Actually, they are also waiting to speak with you, as you noticed." Julie responded as she looked between Allie's and Jack's eager faces with a wide grin on her face.
Julie handed the phone to Jack first. Allie crossed her arms and gave a little pout. Half teasing but half serious, she wasn't used to having to share her dad with anyone else. Jack held the phone with some assistance from Julie and said, "Hi Mama! We haf fun wif Aunt Juwie! But I want you home now. You come soon?" Jack plainly asked.
Elizabeth put a hand to her heart and looked up at Nathan. In return, Nathan put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her head.
"Yes, my sweet boy, we will be home very soon. We are getting ready to board the train that will bring us home to you later this week. Here's your Daddy." Elizabeth said this and then handed the phone over to Nathan. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest as he spoke to Jack.
"Hey there, Jack! Your mama and I are looking forward to seeing you this week! Continue to be good for your Aunt Julie and Allie, ok? We love you!" Nathan said as he once more kissed the top of Elizabeth's head.
Elizabeth smiled and said loud enough for Jack to hear, "I love you, my sweet boy!"
"I wuv you, Daddy Natan! I wuv you, Mama! Here's Awie!" Jack held the phone out to Allie as he went over to Julie, crawled into her lap, and rested his head against his aunt's bosom.
"Hi Dad! I'm glad you called! We've missed you, but we know you must be having the best time there too! I'm so jealous that you got to go to the beach! I want to do that one day too, ok?" Allie said in a demanding tone.
Nathan let out a hearty chuckle and said, "Hi there, Allie! It's good to hear your voice! I think that we could manage that sometime down the road. We miss you too, and we're looking forward to being back with you all at the end of the week. Continue to help take care of your little brother, ok? I love you, Allie girl! Here's your Mama." Nathan said, wearing a big smile on his face as he handed the phone to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth remained in Nathan's embrace as she spoke. "Hi Allie! Thank you so much for helping your Aunt Julie out! I love you!" Elizabeth said as a tear trickled down her cheek. Nathan took his thumb and brushed it away.
"You're very welcome, Mom. I've loved spending time with Aunt Julie! And I love you too!" Allie responded.
Allie handed the phone back to Julie and took Jack outside to play as her aunt and mother discussed a few more things about their return at the end of the week.
During the week after the wedding, the children were on spring break, so Julie, Allie, and Jack worked hard to prepare the rowhouse for the Flynns, who would be moving in shortly after their transfer back to the Grant home.
That following week, Lee and his men finished the second story of the Grant's new home. They had even moved the newlywed's bedroom furniture up the stairs with the expert guidance of Rosemary. With the newlyweds taking the new master bedroom on the upstairs level, Allie transferred from her room into the downstairs master bedroom.
After school, the day of their phone call, Lee watched Jack and the twins out in the yard of the Grant's new home while Julie, Rosemary, and Allie decorated the children's bedrooms after all of the changes that had been made.
At one point, Jack came bounding into the house and right into his bedroom, where all three ladies were, with his hands on his hips.
"I wanna decowate too! It's my room!" Jack said in a demanding voice.
Allie turned and stifled a chuckle as Julie looked over at her, amused at her nephew's insistence as well but restraining herself. Rosemary looked over at the two of them, rolling her eyes annoyed, knowing they were leaving the task of responding to the frustrated child to her. She let out a deep breath, walked over to Jack, and stooped down to his eye level.
"Jack! I'm so glad that you came when you did! I was just telling the others that we needed your help because, of course, it's your room. What do you think? What should we do next?" Rosemary spoke in a sweet voice to Jack as she waved her arm around the room, guiding him to take a look.
Jack relaxed his stance, walked away from Rosemary and over to the stack of drawings that sat on the nightstand, grabbed them, and then looked around the room for a while.
He walked over to a wall and then said, as he pointed up, "I want my pictures over here."
Allie turned back around, joined her little brother, and said, "Jack, that's a great place for these! Here, I will work on this while Aunt Julie and Auntie Rosemary finish that area over there. Does that sound like a plan?"
Jack looked back at his aunts, then his sister, and nodded his head. Once they were done with that task, he clapped his hands together and said, "All done!"
Before they could say anything else, he ran back outside to join Lee and the twins. The ladies just stood there shaking their heads and laughing as they went back to work.
Later that week, on the day that the newlyweds came home, Julie planned to return home on the train as well. They would have enough time to give one another a quick hug before she boarded the train to return to Hamilton. She figured that the newlyweds would appreciate time in their own home with their children all to themselves.
Before she boarded the train, Julie stood between Elizabeth and Nathan and smiled. "Now don't be mad, but there's a present out there for you, as Allie and Jack already know. It's from Father, Mother, Charlotte, Tom, Nellie, Archie, and myself. They are waiting out there with it. I love you both! We will talk soon, Elizabeth!" Julie said as she embraced them once more and walked quickly to the train. Nathan and Elizabeth looked at one another, puzzled, and then shrugged their shoulders. They each picked up their bags and headed out to the front of the train depot.
There, by the car her parents had used during their stay in Hope Valley, were Allie and Jack, waiting for them. The moment the children saw them, they ran to their parents and embraced them tightly. Many happy tears flowed as the four of them embraced, all talking at once.
Once they seemed satisfied with their hellos, Allie held out the key ring and handed it to her father. Nathan looked confused but took it from her anyway. Before he could say anything, Allie spoke.
"All the grandparents, Aunt Julie and Uncle Tom, decided that the family needed a car. So, Grandpa Thornton spoke to the company that he borrowed this car from, and they offered him a really good deal on it. The seven of them decided to split the cost and purchase the car at the discounted price that was offered." Allie shared it with her parents as she gestured a presentation of the car.
"We have a car now, Mama!" Jack said as he tugged on his mother's skirt, looking up and grinning from ear to ear.
Elizabeth caressed his son's light blond hair and smiled down at him as she nodded. Then she cautiously looked up at Nathan, afraid of his reaction, especially after his feelings about the furniture. Nathan ran a hand slowly over his face and then put it behind his neck as he inhaled and exhaled. He simply stood there and shook his head.
With one hand on Jack's shoulder, she placed the other on Nathan's back as she rubbed it gently. Finally, she leaned in and whispered, "It was very thoughtful of them, you know. Try to focus on the intention and heart behind it, not the total cost of what it was."
Once more, Nathan sighed heavily and replied, "I know. I know. It was very thoughtful, but... a car, really?! I'm not sure I will ever get used to the gifting habits in your family." He just shook his head, let out a deep breath, grabbed their suitcases and he went off to load the vehicle with the bags.
Allie put an arm around Elizabeth's shoulders as they both watched Nathan walking away still shaking his head and said quietly, "He'll get used to it, Mom. It's just a shock right now. I know Dad; it will be okay. Give him time." Elizabeth looked over at her daughter, nodded, and kissed her cheek.
The new upstairs addition to the Grant home not only added a new master bedroom but also an extra bathroom, a small office for the couple, and another bedroom. As the four got ready for bed that evening, Jack was extra clingy with his parents.
"I wanna sweep upstairs wif you, bof, Mama. I missed you!" Jack said with weepy eyes and a sad look. Elizabeth held him in her arms as he rested his head on her chest.
She rubbed his back as she swayed from side to side. Elizabeth looked over at Nathan, speaking only with her eyes, pleading with him for what to do next.
Nathan stepped over to where Jack and Elizabeth were and took on Elizabeth's task of rubbing his son's back while she held him and kept swaying. The two were silent for a moment, and finally, Nathan spoke.
"Jack, we missed you too! Are you sure you want to miss out on your first night in your very own room? I saw what a wonderful room you all created! I especially loved the pictures you hung up on the wall! Great choice where you put them, by the way!" Nathan said softly, close to Jack's ear.
Jack smiled in response to the comment, but then nuzzled his face back into the crook of Elizabeth's neck and clung on tighter than before. Feeling a bit clueless, Elizabeth glanced over at Nathan for some kind of guidance on what to do in this situation. She knew that if it had just been her and Jack still, she would easily keep Jack with her overnight for the evening. But she wasn't quite sure how Nathan would feel about the matter.
Nathan nodded his head and reached out to take Jack from his mother's grasp. Jack transferred to Nathan without hesitation and nuzzled into him as he had Elizabeth.
"Jack, what do you say we make a deal? We will all go to your new room and read a few stories together. If, by the time we are all done, you still want to stay with us, we can talk about that again then. Does that sound like a plan?' Nathan asked as he leaned his head down and spoke into Jack's ear.
In response, Jack nodded, and the three of them went downstairs to the young boy's bedroom. Jack crawled into the bed as Elizabeth sat next to him on it, and Nathan took his place in the rocking chair close by. By the time the second story was finished, Jack was fast asleep in the crook of Elizabeth's arm. She looked over at Nathan, and he gestured for them to wait for a little bit. As they sat there, Nathan reached over and took hold of Elizabeth's hand. The couple sat there, simply enjoying the presence of one another and the peacefulness of watching their sleeping son together in the stillness of the evening. Once they heard a small, steady snore come from Jack, they knew that he was down for the night, and that was their signal to exit.
After that night, Nathan and Elizabeth had to establish that they would either both have nightly reading times with Jack or take turns spending time with him. The young boy was struggling to have them leave him before bed otherwise, not wanting to miss a single moment.
As time went on in the Grant household, the family quickly learned the routines of work and school and adjusted to living with four people instead of only two like they had been used to. Joseph had encouraged the newlyweds to maintain as much as possible a balance of the time spent as a family: some with each child individually and some spent together as a couple. They found that even though they lived with one another, trying to balance all of those times with each other while being under the same roof, along with work and school, could prove to be a bit challenging at times.
Sundays were not only the day for church for the Grants; afterwards, it was all about the family. Since Allie had Nathan's attention once lunch was done on Sundays, Jack had it while the ladies were fixing lunch. Nathan and Jack would go for walks, play games, or collect rocks together during that time. Jack loved to talk to Nathan about the things that they saw or asked questions about various things, and Nathan was always more than willing to answer them for his young son.
After lunch, Nathan and Allie would go to the river to fish. One day, about a month of being together as a blended family, Nathan and Allie were sitting on the riverbank. Nathan noticed that his daughter was a bit quieter than her usual self. After a while longer of complete silence, he finally looked over and asked.
"Allie, you're awfully quiet. Is everything okay with you?" Nathan asked in a concerned voice as he gently rested his hand upon her shoulder.
Allie looked at him, sighed and said, "Dad, something is bothering me, but I am concerned that it will upset you and Mom."
Nathan looked intently at his daughter and responded, "Allie, if something is bothering you. it's important that you communicate with us so if there is something that you need help with, we can try to fix it."
Allie took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She then put her hand to her forehead as of thinking of what to say next. "Dad, I love Jack, please know that, but that boy has no sense of boundaries whatsoever." Allie said and let out an exasperated breath as she waved her hand quickly in the air.
Nathan looked at her baffled by her statement and commented, "What do you mean by that?"
Allie rolled her eyes, shook her head and said, "Dad, he follows me around all the time. I have absolutely no privacy. Do you know what that is like for a 15-year-old girl? He walks into my room without warning when Emily and Opal are over. When I am doing my homework or writing letters to Cody and Robert, he comes bounding in, demanding to play. Even when I am trying to simply read Jack is right there by my side expecting me to do something with him. And I don't mind doing things with him, Dad. He is my little brother after all. But this walking in whenever he wants to, uninvited many times and having to spend all my free time with him. It's becoming too much."
Nathan listened attentively and after Allie had finished, he looked out onto the river thoughtfully.
After several minutes, he turned and said, "So, you're still writing the boys pretty faithfully, are you?"
Allie opened her mouth in disbelief, shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Really?! I just poured my heart to you about something that has been frustrating me at home and you got that from the conversation? Seriously Dad, were you even listening." Allie said as she quickly reeled in her line, stood up and walked off in a huff to where the basket for the fish they caught sat. She jerked off the fish she had caught during their time there and threw it into the basket.
Nathan, seeing his daughter's frustration, swiftly reeled in his line, stood, and joined his daughter by the basket. He put his fishing pole down and placed both of his hands on Allie's shoulders with an apologetic look on his face.
"No Allie, it's not all that I got out of the conversation. Was I distracted for a moment? Yes. But I heard every word that you said. I think your best bet is to talk to your mom about it first. Maybe you two can come up with ideas of how to deal with the matter together perhaps. I can even speak to Jack too, if Elizabeth wants me to.
Allie sighed and replied, "Okay, I will talk to mom about it." Then, the pair picked up their things and walked back to their home hand in hand.
Since their trip was successful, the pair had the duty of making dinner that evening. After their early dinner on Sunday evenings, the family would play games with one another.
Elizabeth always reserved the time on Sunday evenings, about an hour before bed, for her and Jack. They would play with Jack's toys, make something, or sing songs together. This particular evening, Jack went to his closet and pointed to the shelf at the very top where Jack Sr.'s campaign hat sat.
Elizabeth reached up and brought it down carefully while a flood of memories came back all at once.
"Mama, why you wook sad?" Jack said as he gently touched her arm.
Elizabeth smiled at Jack, held up the hat and said, "Oh Jack, I was just remembering when your Mountie Daddy used to wear this. Would you like to try it on Jack?"
Jack's face lit up and he nodded excitedly. Elizabeth took the campaign hat, reached over and carefully placed it onto her son's head. Jack stood taller suddenly and beamed full of pride.
Elizabeth sat back, put her hand to her heart and simply looked at her son with misty eyes. In response, Jack inched closer to his mother, and he said, "Mama, what's wong?"
As the tears glistened in her eyes, Elizabeth shook her head and she placed both of her hands on her son's cheeks.
"My sweet boy…Jack…nothing is wrong. You look so much like your Mountie Daddy here in this hat tonight. It just fills up my heart and makes me so happy that the joy is simply spilling out of me. "Elizabeth said as she kissed both of his cheeks and embraced her young son tightly.
The next day, Allie and Elizabeth sat outside brainstorming together about stories for Jack. Then, Elizabeth wrote, and Allie illustrated what she had written. That day, they had received their weekly letter from Nellie. At the end, she included a handful of recipes. After they took the time to read Nellie's letter and to write back to her right there, they would read over the new recipes and decide together which they wanted to try first in the near future.
In addition, Elizabeth sat with Allie as she shared the letters that she received from both Cody and Robert that day as well. Afterwards Allie spilled her heart out about how she felt at that moment.
Allie looked over at Elizabeth there on the porch with a concerned look before she finally spoke. "Mom, I am so thankful for this time that we have together. These past few months as a family have been great. You're like one of my best friends, to be honest. Is that okay? Is it okay to consider you a best friend when you're my mom?" Allie asked as she glanced shyly at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth smiled, stroked her daughter's hair, and thought for a moment. "Allie, I believe that you can be friends with your family. I mean, look at you and your dad. You two have such a special bond. And I know that you and I, well, we've always had something special as well. My point is, Allie, I feel like you are not only my daughter but a precious friend too. We have the kind of relationship where we can share almost anything." Elizabeth responded.
Allie thought about what Elizabeth had said, nodded, and said, "Hmm."
She turned, faced Elizabeth and said, "Mom, I need to talk to you about something. I spoke with Dad about it yesterday. He encouraged me to speak to you about it so that we could maybe work out a plan to solve the matter. I just hope that you don't get upset with me because of what it's about."
Elizabeth looked at her daughter, putting her hand onto hers and said with the utmost sincerity, "Sweet girl, you can tell me anything and I promise you, I won't get upset. What's bothering you, Allie?"
Allie looked out into the yard where Jack was playing and smiled thoughtfully as she watched him for a few moments. She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly and then proceeded to tell Elizabeth her frustrations about Jack and the concern about privacy and alone time. Elizabeth listened attentively to her daughter as she shared. When Allie finished sharing, she remorsefully looked at Elizabeth.
"I'm sorry Mom. I really love Jack, but …" Allie started to say but was interrupted when Elizabeth interrupted as she embraced her daughter.
Allie responded by tightly hugging Elizabeth, laying her head on Elizabeth's shoulder. Elizabeth sat there holding Allie when, all of a sudden, the pair were interrupted by Jack squirming his way between the two of them to sit on both of their laps. The two looked at one another, burst out giggling, and hugged Jack, kissing him on each of his cheeks.
Elizabeth looked back over at Allie and said, "Allie, we will take care of the matter, I promise."
Later that week, one night after Allie had gone to bed, Nathan and Elizabeth had just gotten back to their bedroom from putting Jack to bed. The pair had held hands all the way up the stairs and as they walked into the bedroom. After they entered the room and Nathan closed the door behind them, he pulled Elizabeth to him and kissed her passionately.
He whispered into her ear as they broke apart, "I've been waiting to do that all day long."
Elizabeth smiled and kissed Nathan again without a single word. The two got lost in their intimate moment and Elizabeth reached over, beginning to slowly unbutton each button of his shirt. Once the shirt was undone, they broke apart long enough for Elizabeth to urgently pull-down Nathan's suspenders off his shoulders and then his shirt to
follow. She allowed her hands to freely roam over his bare chest as she kissed the nape of his neck. Nathan closed his eyes and softly moaned.
When he could stand it no longer, he took Elizabeth in his arms and captured her lips. As they kissed, Nathan carefully guided them towards their bed. They stopped moving once at the edge and focused solely on their passionate kiss.
Nathan moved one hand away from Elizabeth's hair and slowly started to unbutton her white blouse. Elizabeth gasped with the release of each one. Once all the buttons were unfastened, he took his other hand from her hair and with both hands slid the blouse off her shoulders, allowing it to drop to the floor.
Elizabeth stood there in her corset, catching her breath as her heart was racing when Nathan gazed at her with eyes full of hungry passion. They came together once more in a deep and longing kiss allowing their hands to freely communicate what their bodies were aching for.
Then, all of sudden, without warning, Jack came bounding into the bedroom and ran straight for the pair. Startled, they pulled away from one another and Elizabeth scrambled to pick up her top from the floor. Nathan picked up Jack, sat on the edge of the bed, placing the young boy on his lap. Once Elizabeth had put her blouse back on and was buttoned back up, she sat next to Nathan on the bed, rubbing Jack's back.
Nathan looked down at his son and asked, "So, Jack, what is the reason for this late-night visit from you?"
"I woke up and it was dawk. I want to see you bof. Can I sweep wif you?" Jack responded as he looked up with pleading eyes.
Nathan sighed and glanced over at Elizabeth. She met his gaze and without words communicated that the decision was his alone. After a few paused moments, Nathan answered Jack looking intently at him.
"I know it can be a little scary when you wake up in the dark and in a place that is still sort of new to you, Jack. But I also think it's important that you learn how to be a brave boy too. Let's all go downstairs to your room and get you settled back into your own bed. Your mama and I will read you some more stories like we do every night and stay with you. You need to try to go back to sleep; if that doesn't work though, then we will reconsider having you come back here with us. Okay?" Nathan said looking at his son, trying to see his reaction.
Jack put his head down for a minute but then looked back at Nathan with a renewed air of confidence.
"I be bwave wike bof my Daddys. I go back to my woom. You come wif me though." Jack said to his parents.
Elizabeth and Nathan both nodded in response and Nathan stood with Jack in his arms. Elizabeth followed the pair, looking at Nathan's bare back and then turning before she exited and glancing around the room. She sighed in disappointment and thought to herself, "Now I can see what Allie meant about privacy. We most definitely need a family meeting about this after tonight."
The next evening, after dinner, the family had a meeting. Elizabeth suggested to the children a carved-out time of "play" between the brother and sister duo nightly prior to dinner. Nathan and Elizabeth would make sure to communicate and reinforce that concept with Jack to ensure that the young boy learned this new boundary. Although he was a little sad that he couldn't spend all his time with Allie, he loved the idea of daily play time before dinner.
Another thing that they discussed was the topic of closed doors. Nathan and Elizabeth made it seem they were speaking to both the children when they brought up the concept of knocking and waiting for an invite inside. As a whole group, they all committed to making sure that they followed this new expectation daily. Nathan and Elizabeth glanced at one another, knowing that this would be a process. But for the sake of not having another moment like the other night happen again or even worse, this new procedure had to be established.
Even as much a life was filled with learning curves it was also filled with sweet memories as well. One of their favorite memories as a family was the beginning of the summer dance that was held at the inn. It was a night full of celebration, and when the square dancing began, everyone joined in on the fun. They danced and laughed like they had never done it before. The family knew that night and its memory would be etched in their hearts forever.
