CHAPTER 30

Elizabeth's eyes were brimming with tears, some of which stubbornly rolled down her cheeks. Her hands, as if they had a life of their own, ran down Nathan's neck to his face, where her small fingers insisted on caressing. That man was wonderful, he loved her and protected her with every cell in his body. Elizabeth's voice caught in her throat as she noticed all the affection and love this man had for her.

- Nathan...

- Lizbeth! I'm not going to let your family cause you a single drop of hurt. I've warned your father, the doors would be open to them if they wanted to be with you, but only if it was to love you, but I've already warned you that I won't accept any of them criticizing or hurting you, or our son...

- I don't know what to think about them. When Jack asked me to marry him, he went to Hamilton afterwards and when he spoke to my father, he turned him down. My father and Julie came to the wedding, but that was the only contact with him. My father refused to go into the church with me and it was Bill who walked me down the aisle. My mother and Viola haven't spoken to me since the wake, until today... Elizabeth tapped her chin thoughtfully and Nathan thought it was the most beautiful thing in the world. She continued:

- My mother and Viola were difficult to deal with. As soon as Jack died, neither of them came to the funeral, and I was lost, not knowing whether or not to leave Hope Valle. I thought that being with family would help me get through those moments of pain while I was grieving. I spent a fortnight in Hamilton, it had been a week since Jack had died, and my mother prepared a gala dinner dance to introduce me to high society as the new widow and opened the door to future suitors, but of course her favorite was Charles Kensigton III.

Charles was as annoyed as I was, and when I turned my back and walked out of the party into the garden. My mother and Viola went ballistic.

- A week of mourning and she tried to marry you off? How disrespectful...

- Yes, Nathan, she didn't respect Jack and especially me.

- Charles had been in touch with me since we were children, he even asked me to marry him.

- He asked you to marry him? How did he propose?

- By getting down on one knee with a shiny school ring that Jack made for me... laughed Elizabeth.

- But Jack was going to do the same, he heard everything and thought I'd be happy with him. Then my sister had sent a letter saying that Mum was very ill, and I ended up returning with Charles to Hamilton without speaking to Jack, who had gone out on his rounds. In Hamilton, as soon as I arrived, my mother arranged a party... I was young, I'd never dated, I'd run away from everyone because no one interested me, the first was Jack, and we were doing well in our relationship..., but I didn't know that Jack had seen Charles proposing to me, first he ran off on his rounds running away from that he thought I'd accepted Charles and his proposal. But Jack found out about my departure, and decided to go after me and fight for our love. When he arrived in the evening dressed in his mountie uniform, I was walking into the living room, where I discovered a party that until that moment I hadn't known existed, and my mother announcing the happiest day of her life, where her middle daughter was getting engaged. I saw Jack on the other side of the room, and smiled, looking into his eyes as we had a quiet conversation. Then I took the microphone from my mother and spoke:

- It's the happiest day of my life and I'd like to share it with all of you. I love you very much, my love... I went on and on, passing Charles and arriving in front of Jack, where I kissed him in front of everyone. It was a buzz, a conversation everywhere and at the same time. The photographers couldn't miss a click, I think their fingers were cramping.

My mother and Viola had nothing to do that day. Seeing that my mother had lied about her health to set me up made my heart ache with disappointment, and the next morning I went back to Hope Valle with Jack. What I want to say is that both my mother and Viola, and my father, hurt me by not respecting my choices, either when I was single or when I was widowed. They never even met their grandson or asked about him.

- I understand, my love. I don't think your mother has changed much, the conversation I had with her, but your father I talked to for a long time and he seemed concerned about you, so much so that he called me several times to get news of you. He even asked if we wanted to send little Jack to Hamilton while you were ill.

- Never... never. She was emphatic when talking about her son.

- I know, love. I told you that a son belongs with his parents.

- I love it when you say you're his father. I love your love for him and for me. Elizabeth snuggled into her husband's arms.

- My queen, my love, my Lizbeth... you are my life, the air I breathe.

Feeling more and more loved by her husband, she moved closer to him, Nathan gave her a crooked smile, thinking, "You look like a sly kitten... my kitten. "And that's how their lips came together, it was a passionate, wet kiss, mouth to mouth, tongues touching in sync, the burning desire burning their bodies, she moaned into his lips, making him shiver all over. Nathan wanted his wife, they needed to find a way to be alone, a little honeymoon would be perfect, so they could lose themselves in love in each other's arms, consummating their marriage. And very softly he spoke into her ear:

- Soon my love... soon you will be mine.

Elizabeth moaned and hugged her husband, she wanted him so much and she couldn't wait to be in his arms.

- Elizabeth, as time progresses, I feel that we are becoming a single love story, a tale where our dreams intertwine and our destinies come together, as if we were meant to be one since the beginning of time. Every day that passes, our connection deepens, and the anticipation of the day when we will be one fills my heart with joy and gratitude, as if we were about to write the most incredible chapter of our lives. With you by my side, I know that every challenge will be overcome, every joy will be shared and every tear will be wiped away by this love that we cherish so dearly. Together, we will be stronger, happier and more complete, and the bright future that awaits our meeting is the promise that our union will be the most extraordinary love story that has ever been told. Elizabeth, as time progresses, I feel that we are becoming a single love story, a tale where our dreams intertwine and our destinies come together, as if we were meant to be one from the beginning of time.

I can't wait for us to share our first night of many, a moment that will seal our promises of eternal love, where the soft touch of our hands will become the sweetest melody, and our hearts, now united, will beat in perfect harmony as we go on this incredible journey together. Our first night will be the beginning of a love story that will continue to grow and strengthen with each dawn, and I can't wait to witness all the magical moments that the future holds.