Made For Each Other

Chapter 13

Pastor Joseph, who had been watching all through his sermon and had sensed something wasn't quite right, gave Elizabeth an understanding look and waited for her to get up the courage to say what she needed to say.

Elizabeth felt a strange sense of peace wash over her and thought of Abigail's words the night before, "No one will think badly of you... We all want what's best for you... You don't want to do something that you may live to regret". Then picturing the Emerson quote Nathan has carved and that she saw every time she went to the library, "Always do what you are afraid to do", she took a deep breath and looked up at Lucas before saying out loud the words she had just whispered to Joseph. "I do!"

Looking at her questioningly as if she didn't realize what Pastor Joseph had asked, Lucas leaned down and whispered in her ear "it's not time for that yet."

But shaking her head Elizabeth said dolefully but resolutely, "I do object to this marriage, Lucas. We are not made especially for each other in the way that Pastor Joseph just spoke about."

Despite the collective gasp she heard and a mixed look of confusion and hurt on Lucas's face, Elizabeth knew she must press on. "I am so sorry Lucas, but I am afraid the only way for me to not keep you from your dreams is for me to let you go!"

Wiping a tear from her cheek and taking yet another deep breath, Elizabeth continued, "You need someone who wants to see the world with you, who is ready for adventure. Someone who can't wait to live in a house you have built for them and loves being surprised." Then more slowly and meaningfully she added, "Someone who isn't going to try to change you. Someone who can give you their whole heart!"

In a pained voice she finished, "I can't be that person for you Lucas! My heart is still taken, and... maybe it always will be. I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you!"

Quickly Elizabeth reached out to where Little Jack was standing by his Uncle Lee and took his hand, then hurrying past the groomsmen they slipped out the side door of the church and headed straight towards the stables. She was thankful for one decision that she had actually made. Going with a more of an A-line dress that simply draped over her frame without any crinoline under it, rather than the mermaid dress Rosemary had first designed. Then working to saddle up Sargent she couldn't help but be surprised at how light she felt now.

Dejectedly Lucas sat down by his parents in the front row, confused and stunned at what had just transpired as he was far more used to being the one who walked away than being the person someone else walked away from.

Rosemary along with most everyone else in the church looked completely shocked. Julie and Mr. And Mrs. Bouchard looked confused, whilst Abigail, Mrs. Thatcher and Bill looked relieved.

As if the whole room were holding a collective breath not knowing what to do next Pastor Joseph stepped forward to where Lucas sat, placed a hand on his shoulder and broke the silence. "Friends and family, while this is definitely not the way any of us expected today to go let us all try and remember that it takes courage to accept God's will for our lives and to admit when perhaps we have taken a different path than the one God has called us to. This isn't easy and the pain is real for both parties involved."

Pastor Joseph gave a compassionate look towards The Bouchards, then the Thatchers. "So I trust that in true Hope Valley form we will show respect and understanding. Just as we have seen courage, we know there is also much vulnerability. So, please give love, give time, and refrain from gossip. Let God heal the hearts of all involved, as the good book tells us in Psalms 147:3 "He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds."

After leaning down to ask Lucas a question Joseph continued with as much enthusiasm as seemed appropriate under the circumstances. "We haven't had one of our community dinners for quite some time now, so you are all invited to make your way over to the hotel for a Hope Valley Community Luncheon."

As everyone filed out of the church headed for the Queen of Hearts Bill came up beside Abigail and said for her ears only "I don't know what you did but I am guessing a thank you is in order."

Abigail smiled. "Thank you Bill, but I really didn't do anything."

Bill, giving her a knowing smile said, "I personally believe your being here has done more than you know."

As they continued walking, he asked. "Have you given any more thought to my offer yesterday?"

"Actually, I have," Abigail replied.

"And" said Bill.

"I would have to sell my mother's house to have the money to buy you out." Abigail smiled then continued, "but especially after today I feel like maybe there is a reason God has brought me back here to Hope Valley at this time."

Bill beamed. "I am in no hurry for the money, you do what you need to.", before adding, "After what we just witnessed in there, I have a feeling you being here again is just what Elizabeth needs moving forward."

"Now, what is this I hear?" Henry said, walking up on Abigail's other side with a wide grin on his face. "The thought of you moving back to Hope Valley sounds mighty fine to me."

"Why thank you Henry", smiled Abigail. "I think it does too."

"Maybe she'll be giving you a run for your money, Bill, when the next Hope Valley Mayor election comes around", Henry said, giving Bill a wry smile.

"Haha, very funny," answered Bill.

Laughing, Abigail linked arms with the two rivals and said, "Some things never change.", as the three friends made their way to the reception, now turned community luncheon.

Pastor Joseph spoke some private words of solace to Lucas and his parents, telling the dejected groom that he was welcome to stay here in the church for as long as he needed, before going to see how Elizabeth's family were holding up.

The groomsmen had all given Lucas their commiserations but being typical men and not knowing what else to do for him other than to say, "I'm sorry man" or "Tough break", they all now made their way to where the food would be served.

Lucas' mother was saying how she had always found Elizabeth to be undisciplined in her writing, but for her to get all the way down the aisle only to then call off the wedding was just beyond anything she could have ever imagined! His father chimed in with "how much is this costing you son? That girl's father better be helping defray the costs of all this food that was meant for the reception but that's now feeding the entire town.'

Nathan had once again intentionally stayed out on rounds later than usual. The thought of watching Elizabeth walk down the aisle and marry Lucas Bouchard was unsettling and saying he was held up on rounds would sound perfectly legitimate if anyone were to ask him.

No matter how hard he tried he couldn't shake the feeling that Elizabeth being with Bouchard was simply her escape mechanism. Not just from him, but from the deep-seated pain she still carried around with her from the loss of Jack. "Haven't you ever lost someone so close to your heart that it tears you apart?" Elizabeth had asked him once. And the recent conversations he had had with her regarding Little Jack asking questions about his father again made him sense that while it may have been five years on the calendar it was still as if it were yesterday for her.

These kinds of realizations had made it easier for him to transition to just being friends. Maybe it was his Mountie training or maybe that he sensed she still looked to him for a sense of stability. But all he knew was that he couldn't abandon someone when they were wounded.

As Nathan dismounted Newton and walked him into the stable he was completely taken aback to see Elizabeth in a long champagne colored wedding dress walking Sargent out of his stall, saddled and ready to ride, with Little Jack at her side. "Elizabeth!" Nathan said in surprise " um... aren't ...you like heading in the wrong direction?"

"No," Elizabeth said, shaking her head and smiling. "For the first time in a very long time, I think I am actually heading in the right direction!"

Nathan thought she looked more at peace than he had possibly ever seen her look before.

As he was there Nathan offered to lift Little Jack up on to Sargent once she mounted. Then settling Jack along with the bouquet of flowers he was holding in front of his mother, Nathan told the small boy, "have a nice ride"

Elizabeth said, "thank you,". Then, as if she was debating on whether to leave it at that or say more she finally added before clicking for Sargent to move forward, "Thank you again for the Emerson quote you carved for me."

Nathan watched as she rode towards the road that would take her past Bill's Land and he felt he had a good idea as to where she was headed.

Fiona had hung back in the church, telling Faith and Mei Sue to go ahead to the luncheon without her. Working up her nerve Fiona walked to the front where Lucas still sat, his face in his hands listening to his parents telling him that he better come home with them and get away for a while to decide what he wanted to do next.

Hesitantly Fiona approached, not being quite sure what to say, but feeling bad seeing someone who had been a business partner and whom she considered a friend, hurting. When she said his name Lucas looked up at her.

Smiling sympathetically at him she said. "I just wanted to say I am really sorry. If you need anything just let me know." Then added. "If you're not up to being around anyone I could bring you back a plate of food. Or if you need a diversion from thinking too seriously, you know me!" she smiled and gave a little chuckle. "I can always liven the party up a bit, find some jazz music on the radio, Heck! I'll even dance with you!"

Seeing that her humor had at least gotten a smile out of him she felt quite pleased with herself. Lucas watched as she encouraged his parents to join her at the Queen of Hearts and whispered "thank you" as she followed them out of the church, promising to bring him back a plate of food soon.

"Dad, Dad!" Allie called out, walking in from the other side of the stables. "I thought I saw you coming back, did you hear the news? Mrs. Thornton didn't go through with the wedding? Everyone is so surprised! " Allie said in a rush as she walked over to where her dad was unsaddling Newton.

"Yes, I know," Nathan replied.

"Emily is really happy because she figures we won't have to have a new teacher next year now. Won't that be great!"

Nathan smiled at her but said, "Make sure you tell Emily and all your friends not to be gossiping or bombarding Mrs. Thornton with too many questions, she is going to need time to heal and decide how to move forward."

"Ok Dad, I understand." agreed Allie, then remembering added, "Oh and everyone is at the Queen of Hearts for a community luncheon now rather than a reception."

"Well why didn't you say so sooner!" Nathan quipped, pulling one of his faces that would usually get her to laugh or at least roll her eyes and say "really dad?" "Let's go get some cake!... That is... right after you help me with Newtown.", he finished as he tossed her a brush.

Arriving at Jack's grave Elizabeth dismounted before helping Little Jack down. Together they laid what had been her wedding bouquet in front of Jack's gravestone.

When Little Jack wandered off to pick more flowers that he had seen growing along the fence she knelt on the ground, running her finger along the engraving on the stone. "Jack you still have my heart and soul." Elizabeth said as tears finally came. "I told myself I was doing the right thing. That, I needed to move on like your letter said. But I just couldn't! Why did you have to leave me Jack? Why?"

Elizabeth laid her heart against the gravestone and let the sobs come out that she had been trying so hard for so long to keep inside herself, especially after she had realized she was pregnant with Jack's baby. She had always thought that in order to be strong she should hide her grief inside rather than let it out in the open.

Hearing Little Jack call, "Look mama!" Elizabeth sat up and wiped her eyes. She watched as their son ran back with a handful of flowers saying, "These are for daddy Jack!" Elizabeth managed a smile and helped him add his flowers in with the ones in the bouquet they had brought.

When Jack got down to his final white Daisy instead of putting it in with the others, he held it up to Elizabeth and lovingly said, "this one is for you Mama."

"Thank you, Jack," Elizabeth said, accepting his gift with a smile despite the tears.

Then, as if audible, "You will always have part of me with you" rushed through Elizabeth's thoughts.

"Mama loves you so much" Elizabeth said before hugging her little man close. Whispering in his ear what she used to say to him when he was baby. "Part him, part me. all you"

Finally, looking up towards heaven, Elizabeth silently thanked God for this gift that she had been given both from Him and from Jack, especially made for her. And this time rather than telling God what she wanted Him to do for her. she simply prayed. "Lord, please help me accept what is right now and whatever path you have planned for me in the future."

-The End-

Thank you to all who have read this story, I hope you have enjoyed it. I have never written before and I don't know if I will write anything more after this or not, that will have to remain to be seen.

Back in September a Facebook group called Nathan Grant Fanfiction! Home of Sunday Night Serge posted the question of "Why might there be no Lucas and Elizabeth Wedding?" Well, that sparked a thought and reminded me of a personal experience I had.

While trying to stay as much as possible in character with the When Calls The Heart characters, I wove in much of my own personal experiences around and leading up to myself being the one standing in front of a church on my wedding day, in my wedding dress, when the pastor read Genesis 2:18 and talked about needing to know that God had made you for each other. And hearing the audible thought of "we are not made for each other"

Yes, I missed the rehearsal. Yes, I had an Abigail who told me that everyone would understand if we postponed or cancelled the wedding. I went through all the reasons why it was too late, that we had gone too far, that it would be too embarrassing with all the guests out of town family sitting there watching, Plus the question of who changes their mind because of a random though? After all, I reasoned, I loved him despite problems/red flags/concerns of my friends and family.

But unlike in my story, where Elizabeth finally decides to not fight God and calls off the wedding, I personally got trapped in the reasons why it was too late and said "I do" only to be divorced before our first anniversary.

To say I learned some serious life lessons with the whole experience would be an understatement and I am grateful that God doesn't give up on even the stubborn ones like me who, for way too long, tried to tell Him what I want Him to do, rather than asking what His will was for me.

So, as you may have noticed earlier in the story when Elizabeth said a prayer, it had quite the laundry list of what she wanted God to do for her, not once asking what He wanted for her. Whereas at the end we see her asking God to help her accept what his plans for her are.

Thank you again for Reading, may you each be blessed.

Thank you to my dear friend who read and edited it for me! And to my Daisy sisters who encouraged me to pursue writing the story to its completion.