Chapter Twenty-Five

Julie watched as Catherine Franklin bid farewell to the last of the guests. It didn't take and expert to know that the night had been quite a success. The last time Julie had checked, which was at least a couple of hours ago, they had surpassed their goal for donations by nearly double. She hoped that when her chance came to officially put on such a magnificent event, she would be half as good a hostess.

Everyone had a good time, Julie most of all. Her only regret was that her sister and Nathan hadn't been there to see it, but she understood. They needed some time to themselves. He tried, but her brother-in-law was never going to be comfortable in this kind of formal setting. If she'd asked, he would have put on a tux and a tie and dutifully played escort-and probably stayed in the back of the room and as out of sight as possible. Or rather, if Elizabeth had asked, she thought with a smirk. The man really is absolutely besotted with her, especially these days.

It was fortunate that Adolphus Franklin had volunteered to watch the children. To Isaac's amusement and his mother's dismay, his father could tolerate long, stuffy board meetings at the university, but found any excuse to avoid his wife's formal galas and dinners. He justified that her face was much prettier, and therefore more in demand at these sorts of things, and that his generous monetary donations were ample support. He was also thoroughly enjoying having children in the house again, more than once hinting that his sons needed to settle down and give him grandchildren. So, while Elizabeth and Nathan enjoyed a night on the town, likely their last until after the baby arrived, 'Mr. Addie' and the staff were keeping Allie and Jack entertained.

Julie sighed as she watched Isaac talking to his mother, dreading the conversation she knew was coming. He had been very attentive all week, sitting with her at the planning sessions, driving her on the various last minute errands Catherine sent her on… He had acted as her escort this evening, allowing her to see the fruits of her efforts as well as introducing her to patrons and pointing out which of them might be willing to help her expand her program back in Hamilton.

Yet, something still seemed off. Perhaps it was his mother's influence, but those planning sessions felt like dates. And the other night, he had invited her to a small museum dinner, suggesting she could compare it with his mother's event and see which would work best for her charity. It was a wonderful evening, and she did get some ideas, but… it didn't feel quite right. Almost like his attentions were forced.

Obviously, she found Isaac attractive, but as much as she'd hoped to, she didn't feel any chemistry between them. Oh, they could talk for hours about anything and everything, and she adored his sense of humor. They made a very handsome couple- everyone said so. But she didn't want to settle for just looking good together, and even she knew that there was more to life than just money, fancy clothes, and a nice car. She'd seen enough of Viola and Lionel's tepid relationship to know that she wanted to find the same kind of intensity that Elizabeth had found with both of her husbands. She was thoroughly enjoying Isaac's company, but it wouldn't pain her to leave him and go back to Hope Valley. She didn't feel the urge to ask him to move closer to Hamilton so they could continue their relationship. Now, as he crossed the room towards her, she knew she had to tell him.

Isaac had been watching Julie Thatcher shine all night. Her effervescent personality and stunning smile had charmed more than one donor into giving more. She was clearly in her element. Yet he also saw her grin falter as he turned and approached, and that it was a little bit strained when it returned. He knew he had to tell her.

"Congratulations, my dear," he cheered, applauding as he took the last few steps towards her. "Thanks to you, this evening was a smashing success!"

Julie blushed, the shine coming back to her eyes. "Thank you, but we both know your mother did most of the work. She deserves the credit."

"Nonsense," Isaac argued as he led her towards the lobby to retrieve their coats. "My mother agrees that without your help, tonight wouldn't have been nearly this triumphant. You really are a natural at this sort of thing. I can't wait to hear what you do with your Children's Society back home."

They made small talk as they gathered their coats and made their way outside. The valet brought the car around, and as they drove home, they compared their favorite moments of the night.

"I know it's late, but would you join me?" Isaac asked, gesturing towards the kitchen. "Mother always says she never gets to eat much at these sorts of things, being too busy talking and campaigning and whatnot. I asked Cook to leave us some sandwiches."

Julie's stomach rumbled in reply, causing them both to laugh. "A snack would be wonderful!"

They were both quiet for a few minutes, content to eat and just relax after a nice but stressful evening. As the silence grew, so did the tension. Julie dabbed her lips and folded her napkin in her lap, fidgeting with it as she tried to figure out how to begin.

"I think we both know what you're about to say," Isaac said quietly. "This isn't working out as either of us hoped, is it?"

Julie breathed a sigh, relief clear on her face. "You don't feel it either?"

"No, I'm afraid not," Isaac chuckled. "You are a beautiful, enchanting young lady, please never doubt that but…"

"The spark's just not there," she finished, her eyes glowing.

"Exactly!" He grinned, relieved she didn't seem disappointed.

"So, you aren't upset with me for leading you on?" she wondered. "My sisters say that I am an insufferable flirt sometimes, but I don't mean to be! I just want to enjoy life, and that includes surrounding myself with charming men!"

"As you should. No harm done," he assured her. "Does this mean you intend to pursue things with Mr. Bouchard when you get back to Hope Valley? I couldn't help but notice he has also shown interest in your attentions."

Julie flushed, guilt creeping in. "He has expressed interest, though I'm not sure I can return his affections. I suppose that's why I encouraged you both."

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, my dear. If anyone was wrong, it was me. I knew that Mr. Bouchard was interested in you, but as he wasn't acting on his feelings, I took a chance."

"I really have enjoyed your company, both of you. I just don't have any romantic feelings."

"I have a confession to make," Isaac admitted. "Part of the reason I stayed in Hope Valley was to teach Mr. Bouchard a bit of a lesson." At Julie's surprised expression, he hastily continued. "When I came to see him about the oil company, I had no idea you were in town. When I realized you were the new woman he was interested in, and saw that you were keeping him at arm's length, I stepped in. I knew bits and pieces of his story with your sister, both from things he let slip during our meetings and what I found when I asked around town. What he did to her and your brother-in-law wasn't right. While I have some respect for him as a businessman, his disregard for their feelings and her choices… I suppose I wanted to give him a taste of how things were from Mr. Grant's side of that ridiculous little triangle."

"Why?" Julie asked. "You barely knew me."

He shrugged. "I guess I wanted to show Mr. Bouchard the error of his ways. Either he would find redemption in the eyes of you, the Grants, and the town, or it would prove to you that there are better options out there. Either way, you stood to win."

They both looked up at the sound of footsteps. Elizabeth pushed the door open, stopping quickly in surprise when she saw them.

"Please excuse me," she apologized, pulling the sash of her robe a little tighter. "Your cook has been kind enough to leave a light on in here for me, in case…"

"You and baby need a midnight snack?" Julie teased.

"You jest, but wait until it's your turn," her sister rebuked mildly. "Then we'll see who's laughing."

Isaac got to his feet, helping her into the chair he had just vacated and turning to get the last sandwich and another glass of milk.

"I'll leave you ladies to talk," he said, chuckling as Elizabeth quickly took a bite.

"If I weren't used to it from Nathan, I might scold you, too," she grumbled. "You men have no idea what it's like…"

"I meant no offence, Mrs. Grant," he apologized, taking a few steps back. "And I will be sure to tell Cook how much the extra sandwich was appreciated. Is there anything else I can get either of you before I go?"

Julie shook her head, but Elizabeth looked up hopefully. "I don't suppose you have any pickles?"

"As a matter of fact," he said, reaching into the pantry and coming out with a large jar. "We do." He started to get another plate, but Julie caught his eye and subtly shook her head. He placed the jar on the table before beating a hasty retreat for the door. "Good night, ladies!"

Julie managed to hold back her giggles until the door had closed behind him. "Do you enjoy scaring them like that?" she snickered.

Elizabeth shrugged, swirling a pickle around in her glass of milk before taking a bite. "If a man can't handle a woman being pregnant, they aren't going to survive trying to raise a child."

Her sister laughed. "So how was your night out on the town? Did Nathan make it through dinner before losing his tie?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "I told him to take it off before we even left. It was supposed to be an enjoyable evening, and we both know he would have been miserable with his neck confined."

"Oh, he certainly would be," Julie smirked. "But he'd do it for you." She grinned as her sister blushed. "Did you go anywhere besides dinner?"

Elizabeth sat back, her plate and glass both empty. "We went for a walk under the streetlights," she said, smiling as she recalled. "It's not the same as strolling under the stars, but there is something magical about lights on the storefronts and street corners. There weren't too many cars about, so it wasn't excessively noisy. We shared a pretzel from one of those cute vendor carts, and he bought me a rose…"

"And having the strong arm of your handsome husband to lean on isn't bad either, is it?" Julie couldn't help but tease.

"It certainly is not," her sister replied proudly.

"And how did the kids do with Mr. Franklin?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "Jack was asleep when we got home and Allie was in bed reading, so they at least went to bed on time. Considering the desserts and snacks that we had tonight…". She paused, taking in her sister's amused countenance. "What? I let Nathan have at least a few bites of everything! Anyway, given the things I had tonight, I chose not to inquire about how many cookies or pieces of candy they ate. Sometimes, it's best not to ask."

Julie laughed quietly, nodding. She cringed when her sister rose and looked around, returning to the table with a tomato and a jar of peanut butter.

"I know you get up for snacks at home. Are they always this…. repulsive?"

Elizabeth looked up from spreading peanut butter over the juicy red fruit, deliberately meeting her sister's eyes as she took a large bite and sighed happily. When Julie glanced away, blanching and shaking her head, she laughed. "At least I'm eating it down here. Nathan gets annoyed when I bring food back to bed, especially things that leave crumbs."

"I can understand why."

Elizabeth paused, a look of concern crossing her face. "Do I wake you when I go down for snacks at home?"

Her sister shook her head. "Maybe once or twice, but I went right back to sleep. I'm more intrigued by the times I've woken up to the smell of baked goods and there were none to be found. Did you really make and eat an entire batch of oatmeal raisin cookies a few weeks ago?"

"Only half of them," Elizabeth admitted with a blush. "The rest I bundled up for Nathan to take to work." Determined to stop eating, knowing that much more would make it difficult for her to get to sleep, she turned the attention back to her sister's night. "So, how was the gala? Everything you hoped for?"

Julie beamed. "It was wonderful! So many beautiful people, and the gallery was just breathtaking, especially with all the lights… And I feel like I learned so much! I always knew there was more to it than reserving a room, arranging food, and sending invitations, but I never paid attention to all the little details. I hadn't considered how the size of the guest list needs to coordinate with the scope of the room; too small and guests are crowded and uncomfortable, too large and it appears poorly attended. How should the food be served? A buffet service works well with smaller groups and open seating, while plated sit-down service is better with larger crowds and assigned seating. If there is to be designated seating, one should know the ins and outs of who is and isn't speaking to who, whether this person should be closer to the door or that one needs to be up front. What do we do with any leftover food? Who deals with the decorations?"

Elizabeth studied her sister closely. "And how were things with Isaac? Are you going to see him again after we go home?"

"Perhaps we'll meet for lunch or something before I go back to Hamilton, but you and Nathan don't have to worry about chaperoning me with a suitor. Isaac and I agreed that we are just good friends," Julie announced. "We will still see each other socially, and it shouldn't be awkward for me to reach out to Catherine if I need advice or anything, but neither of us have romantic feelings for the other."

"And you're alright with that?"

"Heavens yes!" her sister assured her. "It's just better this way. His job and everything are here, and I'll be back in Hamilton. It's best for everyone."

She was quiet, debating whether to share the rest of her conversation with Isaac and deciding it was best to put everything out there. She explained his competition with Lucas, and the motivation behind it. "Perhaps it was a bit underhanded to pursue me once Lucas had already declared his interest, but Isaac never attempted to sway anyone's opinion of them. There were no misleading statements or deliberate slights; he merely showed his own character. If Lucas came up lacking in comparison, he figured it was better to know now."

Elizabeth was silent, absorbing the surprise revelation. "Well," she shrugged. "it's not as though you told him 'No' and he pursued you anyway. I think he meant well."

"Exactly!"

Elizabeth put her hand atop her sister's and waited for Julie to meet her eyes. "And what about Lucas? Do you intend to see him when we get back?"

"I think I need to have a similar conversation with him," the younger woman sighed. "I don't want to be the kind of girl who leads a man on for nothing. I'll be going back to Hamilton in a few months. I know that my life is there. Not just Mother and Father, but my friends, the charity… I was thinking about going back to school, perhaps some business classes if I can find a place that allows women. And I have so many ideas of how to make the Children's Society bigger and more successful." She paused. "I only hope Lucas can take 'no' for an answer this time."

"Lucas seems the type of person who needs to be hit over the head with something- he doesn't judge subtlety well," Elizabeth warned. "You are going to have to come right out and say it, no 'maybe we can make it work' or anything. He is likely to follow you back to Hamilton if you give him even the slightest sense of hope."

"Would that be such a bad thing?" her sister queried. "He'd be out of your way, and if neither of us can scare him off, perhaps our parents can. Mother can introduce him to all her stuffy friends, and Father will have him and all his business dealings investigated. Who knows? If he survives them, perhaps he is worth keeping."

Elizabeth shook her head. "Well, before you break up with him, can you ask him to have Gustav try his hand at salmon puffs first?"

The sisters laughed as they dimmed the light, arms linked as they went upstairs.

"I'm proud of you," Elizabeth said quietly as they reached the landing. "You have really matured. It's nice to see you finding your place."

Julie nodded, hugging her sister before disappearing into her room.

Elizabeth peeked into the children's rooms, assuring herself they were both sleeping peacefully. She tiptoed over to her son, gently adjusting the blanket he'd kicked off and rescuing Bear from where he'd fallen on the floor. Brushing a soft kiss on Jack's forehead, she softly exited. Feeling exhausted now that her stomach and the baby were sated, she dropped her robe over a chair and crawled back into bed, happily nestling under the blankets. A warm arm hugged her close as Nathan, his eyes still closed, leaned down to kiss her.

"Pickles?" he murmured.

"Mmm hmm," she replied, cuddling closer.

Nathan opened one eye, studying her carefully. "And you didn't bring anything back with you, right? No crackers or bits of toast?"

Elizabeth poked him gently. "No extras," she assured him. "Though I can go back for something..."

Nathan chuckled, tightening his arm around her and kissing her forehead.

"You are all I need."

Their final day in Union City was fairly quiet. Allie and Jack told their parents about the picnic they'd had in the library with Mr. Franklin, as well as the game of hide and seek they'd played with him, the butler, two of the maids, and the groom. Allie was eager to hear about the restaurant her parents had gone to, not to mention every minute detail of the gala from Julie and Mrs. Franklin. Julie and Isaac, now that the expectation of romance was off the table, companionably chatted about upcoming events in Union City and Hamilton they might both be attending.

As the train approached Hope Valley, Elizabeth could see that her sister was getting anxious. "You don't have to talk to him right away. You know that, right?"

Julie let out a heavy breath, her shoulders slumping a bit. "I know," she said. "But I really should…. the sooner the better…"

"Whenever you're ready," Nathan said firmly. "Take all the time you need. Lucas can wait."

As it turned out, Lucas wasn't willing to wait long. Having overheard Rosemary and Florence talking after church about the Grants' return, he was waiting on the platform as the train pulled in. He quickly made his way to their carriage's door, offering his hand to assist both Allie and Julie. As Nathan stepped off next and immediately turned to help Elizabeth and Jack down, Lucas shifted his attention to the younger Thatcher sister.

"I hope you had a pleasant trip," he said earnestly. "I read about the Arts Gala in the papers. It sounds like it was a resounding success. Congratulations, my dear."

"Thank you," Julie replied politely. "And how have things been here in Hope Valley?"

"Dreadfully dull without your beauty and charms."

Nathan and Elizabeth exchanged a look. With a quick nod, Elizabeth stepped forward, grasping her sister's arm and pulling her towards Lee and his waiting car. "I am simply exhausted. Can you help me with the children while Nathan and Lee see to our things?"

"My car is here," Lucas offered. "Perhaps I could see Julie home?"

Glancing at her sister, Julie offered a short nod. "That would be most kind of you," she replied politely, allowing Lucas to lift her large case and follow her across the platform.

"If I may," Lucas began. "Gustav is preparing a delicious prime rib tonight. Perhaps you would like to join me for supper this evening. I would be delighted to hear about your trip."

Julie hesitated, then pasted on a smile as she followed him.

"We do have a lot to talk about."

"So how did he take the news?" Allie asked, looking up. She and her parents were all relaxing with books and hot cocoa. They watched as Julie took her coat off and sank heavily into the chair next to the fireplace.

"That bad, huh?" her niece smirked.

"It certainly wasn't pleasant," her aunt said mournfully. "I tried to spare his feelings, but I had to be honest."

"What happened?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, you know that he drove out here to drop my things off, and then took me back to the saloon. He had a nice table set up in his office so we could have some privacy…"

"How private?" Nathan grumbled.

Elizabeth put her hand on his arm, then looked pointedly at her sister, waiting for her to continue.

"We ate supper, and I told him about the gala and the museum show and how much I enjoyed working with Catherine Franklin. He told me that Hope Valley was rather dull in comparison; apparently, the biggest thing to happen while we were gone was the Sundermans' pigs getting loose. It took Mr. Avery and both Sunderman boys hours to round them up from the road." They all laughed for a moment before she continued. "When we were finished, he offered me a drink, which I declined, and then he asked me to dance…" Her face settled into a frown. "Then I told him that we needed to talk."

"Did he get mad?" Allie asked.

"He asked if it was because of Mr. Franklin, if I had agreed to court with him. I told him it wasn't, that I just didn't feel anything special. Then I reminded him that I am going to be leaving here in a few months and going back to my life in Hamilton."

Elizabeth studied her sister. It was obvious their conversation had been distressful, but that didn't explain why Julie refused to meet her eye now.

"What exactly did you say to him?" she asked, her tone almost resigned as she suspected whatever it was hadn't been clear enough.

"Well… I told him we could still enjoy each other's company socially while I'm here, but that I didn't want anything serious right now." She frowned when she saw both her sister and brother-in-law close their eyes and shake their heads.

"What?" Julie asked innocently. "I didn't want to be too cruel!"

"And giving him hope isn't?"

A/N- I am gagging over here at Elizabeth's snacks...not a pickle person, and I hate tomatoes, so... But both combinations sounded appropriately disgusting for a pregnancy craving, so I ran with it.

Thank you, Lynn, for the line about hitting Lucas over the head. (Yes, she was warned her words were going into the story.) I'm certain you all know how much I enjoyed that image. ;-)