Driving into Oakville, Quinn couldn't believe how strange it felt; she expected to feel some nostalgia or experience a feeling of homecoming, but that didn't happen. Oakville wasn't her home, and the town had let her down; there was no longer an emotional connection. Her home was in Hope Valley, and that was the place that held her heart.
Quinn would stay with Sam in her home; she had no interest in entering her previous home again. She didn't want to reconnect with her neighbours or townspeople. As soon as she finalised the sale of her father's house and business, she would leave.
Quinn did not want to see any of the Fieldings, especially Mary. Joshua had apologised in his letter, so there wasn't any more to say. Mary had irrevocably destroyed any chance of a relationship with her lies. Mary had faced the risk of backlash from society and chose a path that allowed her to keep her position. The lies she told about Quinn were for self-preservation, and while Quinn understood her need to protect herself and her family, she couldn't forgive her yet. James Fielding was innocent of wrongdoing in her father's death; his crime was defending the woman he loved, the mother of his son and believing the worst of Quinn.
Sam understood Quinn's feelings and had done all the preliminary negotiations with the buyer of her father's business and home without the need for Quinn to be present. Quinn had only to sign the paperwork when the buyer finally arrived in Oakville; she knew there was a window of several days when he could arrive, and she hoped it would be sooner rather than later.
As Quinn settled into the guest room at Sam's, her thoughts drifted to Hope Valley. She was missing Nathan and Allie so much her heart ached. She was missing her friends too, but they didn't leave the same hole in her heart as Nathan and Allie. Quinn was so pleased Sam had a telephone in her house, and she could speak to Nathan and Allie while she was away. She needed to hear Nathan's voice and let him know she had arrived safely.
Quinn lifted her suitcase to store on top of the wardrobe; while she wasn't staying long, she didn't want to be tripping over it for the next couple of days. Looking around the room, satisfied it was tidy, she headed downstairs to find Sam.
Sam was in the kitchen, looking through her cupboards to see what she had available so she could prepare them a simple meal. Sam knew Quinn didn't want to go into town to eat, and after travelling all day, she was content to stay in. Unfortunately, there wasn't much in the kitchen, and she wondered if she should go to the shop for something. Just as Sam was preparing a mental list of items to buy, there was a knock on her door.
Quinn had reached the bottom of the stairs as the knock came, and she looked at Sam. Sam raised her eyebrows and shrugged to let Quinn know she didn't know who it was and that the visitor was unexpected. Quinn's stomach filled with butterflies, but not the good kind.
Sam approached the door cautiously, cracking it open. Quinn frowned as she watched Sam, wondering who it could be, who would know Sam was coming home. Did they know Quinn was there, or were they only there to see Sam? As Quinn stood silently, holding her breath, Sam threw the door open, saying, 'come in, please.'
Quinn let out the breath she held when she saw who the visitor was. "Gabe, I am so glad it is you," Quinn said, greeting him. Quinn glanced at the basket Sam had taken from Gabe and realised it held dinner and other groceries they would need until they could do some shopping. Grateful, she embraced him quickly. "Did your trip go well, Gabe? No unexpected delays or incidents?" she asked. Quinn had deliberately avoided asking Nathan about Andrew Booth's transfer, but she felt it was appropriate to ask as Gabe had accompanied him.
Gabe returned Quinn's hug and said, "it went smoothly, Quinn, as has everything since we arrived; there is no reason to think of it anymore." Quinn guided Gabe toward the kitchen, where Sam unpacked the items he had brought.
"Thank you so much, Gabe; I was despairing about the contents of my cupboards; you are a lifesaver. Please say you can stay for dinner," Sam said to him, smiling.
"I was hoping you would ask," Gabe admitted, flashing her a cheeky grin. "I have spent my evenings in the jail of late and couldn't wait to see friendly faces. Also, I head out for Brookfield tomorrow afternoon, so this is my last chance to join you for a meal."
"Is someone else coming to guard Andrew Booth?" Sam questioned. "Another Mountie?"
Gabe nodded, "Yes, they are sending someone to relieve me." Watching Quinn, he said, "there is a chance Booth could be sent to an institution, not jail. They have delayed the trial to determine if Booth is fit to face charges."
"I understand, Gabe, and as long as he is somewhere, he can't hurt himself or anyone else. I am happy." Quinn considered Gabe's words, remembering how Booth was when she saw him in the jail in Hope Valley. Quinn acknowledged there was something wrong with Booth, and she understood the need to investigate the right course of action.
Quinn turned the conversation away from Booth and onto happier things, asking about Lillian, Gabe's fiancé, and his trip home. The time spent on dinner went quickly, and Quinn had just carried the last of their plates to the sink when the evening was interrupted by the telephone ringing. Quinn looked at her, smiling, knowing tomorrow she would be calling Nathan sitting right there; it was too late to call now; the Mercantile was closed.
Quinn watched as Sam walked over to the telephone, quickly answering it with her back to her and Gabe. Quinn turned back to the kitchen, wanting to give Sam privacy for her call but looked over her shoulder as Sam called her name, "It's for you."
Quinn spun toward her, confused, "for me, but the Mercantile is closed," her face lit up, "is Nathan calling from the Mountie office? Is Allie there?" she asked.
"Nathan isn't calling from the Mountie office," Sam stated as she handed Quinn the phone. Smiling at the confusion on her friend's face, Sam looked at Gabe and said, "Would you help me with something out the back, please, Gabe?" Sam was glad that Gabe quickly understood that it was a ruse to allow Quinn privacy.
Quinn waited for Sam and Gabe to step outside before raising the telephone handset to her ear and speaking into the mouthpiece. "Hello?"
"Hello, Quinn," Nathan said, smiling at the sound of her voice, marvelling at how clear the connection was. It was extraordinary that he was sitting in his lounge room while Quinn was in Oakville, but he felt he could reach out and touch her. He wished he could.
"Nathan, this is such a wonderful surprise; I didn't expect to hear from you until tomorrow when Florence was back in the Mercantile." She closed her eyes and sat down on the settee. He gave her butterflies and made her weak at the knees, even from a distance, with only his voice. For once, she was glad he couldn't see her; he would take one look at her red cheeks and know what she was thinking. "I didn't expect you to stay in the Mountie office. Is Allie with you?"
"I'm not at the Mountie office; I am at home," he announced. "I had a telephone installed here so I could talk to you privately; I didn't want to risk being interrupted. Allie is upstairs getting ready for bed, so we have a few minutes before I put her on." Nathan heard Quinn's intake of breath and smiled; he had hoped to surprise her.
Nathan and Quinn talked comfortably about their days, enjoying they could do something so simple so easily despite their distance. Quinn told Nathan about dinner with Sam and Gabe and her plans for the rest of her time in Oakville, which she realised was about leaving as soon as possible. Nathan told Quinn about his day, mainly spent catching up on those things he had missed with the drama of Andrew Booth. Nathan was back doing his regular rounds, which were good.
Allie came downstairs and spoke to Quinn, excited to be talking to her and doing it from her own home. Nathan relaxed next to Allie and listened to his daughter chatting so comfortably with Quinn, so pleased that the two women most important to him got on so well. Nathan loved to hear the joy in Allie's voice as she recounted her day-to-day activities and filled Quinn in on all she missed.
Nathan didn't want to rush Allie but wanted to make sure he could talk to Quinn again, and he could tell Allie sensed his restlessness. Eventually, her chatter wound down, and she said a reluctant goodbye to Quinn. Handing the phone to her dad, "I will go to bed now so you and Quinn can talk privately," she said with a sassy smile.
Nathan mussed up Allie's hair, knowing how much she disliked it and laughed as he returned the phone to his ear. He watched Allie walk upstairs and said, "I am back. Are you still there?" he asked Quinn. Quinn's reply, 'I'm here,' her voice, always husky, reverberated through the phone line, sending shivers down Nathan's spine. He loved her voice, and he sighed, missing her so much.
Nathan was conscious that while Allie had gone to bed, Quinn still had Sam and Gabe with her, so she couldn't talk as freely as he could and not for as long. Eventually, although they continued talking, Nathan knew he had to let her go. "I suppose I should let you go so you can talk to Sam and Gabe," he said.
Quinn hesitated, not wanting to hang up the phone. Even though Sam and Gabe sat talking in the kitchen and didn't appear to be listening, she lowered her voice, "I miss you so much," she whispered. Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked them back, not wanting the others to see.
Nathan felt his throat tighten with emotion, "I miss you too; I can't wait for you to come home. Remember, I will come and get you if you need me to," only half-joking. Nathan knew that Quinn was at Sam's mercy and needed her to be free to bring her home, and they had to wait for several days at least, a week more than likely.
"I can't wait to see you both; I can't wait to see you and ..." Quinn's voice drifted off, not wanting to say how much she wanted to hold him and feel his arms around her.
"Me too," Nathan whispered, knowing precisely what Quinn had hesitated to say. "Promise me we can go for a picnic when you get back, ride Misty and Newton far away from the Town and possible interruptions."
"I promise, the thought of that will keep me going until I can see you again," Quinn answered.
Despite their reluctance, they eventually hung up, Nathan sitting quietly on the lounge, thinking back over the conversation. It was bittersweet, he realised, he loved being able to talk to Quinn, but it highlighted how much he missed her.
Sam and Gabe shared a brief smile as they looked at Quinn, still holding the telephone in her hand as she sat on the lounge with a faraway expression. "I think her mind is still in Hope Valley," Gabe commented to Sam, amused.
"Not just her mind, Sam answered, "her heart too. Not that I blame her, she has found a home in Hope Valley and a family in Nathan and Allie."
Nathan looked up at the sound of Allie's footsteps, "I thought you had gone to bed."
"I couldn't sleep, and I wanted to ask you a question," Allie said nervously.
Holding his hand out to her, Nathan said, "what is it, Allie? You seem upset; come sit with me, tell me what's wrong."
Allie sat next to her dad on the lounge, leaning against him as he raised his arm and wrapped it around her shoulder. "You know you can talk to me about anything, okay?" he assured her, kissing the top of her head.
"It's about Quinn," Allie started, her voice quiet, "she will come back right; there is no chance she will change her mind when she gets to Oakville and stay? Is there?" Allie's eyes were bright with unshed tears.
"I believe Quinn will come back to us as soon as possible," Nathan assured her. He realised he believed that and didn't share the same concerns as Allie; he trusted Quinn and believed her when she said her life was with him and Allie.
"And what then, what happens then?" she questioned. "Do we keep going the way we have been? You and Quinn told me that men and women court to decide if they want to get married, but no one has said how long that takes." Allie's voice rose with frustration, "How long before you two decide if that's what you want?"
"Allie, getting married is a big decision; Quinn and I haven't talked about it. We know we love each other and you." Nathan answered, his heart aching with love for Allie. He knew how desperately she wanted a mother, but that would never be his motivation; he believed in marrying for love and couldn't do it for any other reason.
"So, when do you think you will talk about it?" Allie frowned up at him, "can it be soon?"
"No promises, Allie, except one; when Quinn and I decide, you will be the first person I tell," Nathan promised her, smiling. "Now, get to bed!"
Huffing out a breath, Allie rolled her eyes, "fine," she said, heading upstairs and back to bed.
Nathan watched Allie shaking his head. She wasn't wrong, and he knew it was well past time he talked to Quinn about their future. He loved her more than anything other than Allie. She made him happier than he had ever been, and he couldn't and didn't want to imagine his future without her in it. He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly; he realised there was only one way to find out if she felt the same. Nathan knew he would need to see Lee before Quinn returned and retrieve the item he was watching for him.
Quinn woke on the third morning of her stay in Oakville, excited to get up and out of bed and into town. She didn't want to appear ungrateful to Sam and her hospitality, but she would be signing the papers today for the sale of her home and her father's business, which meant she was one step closer to heading home.
Quinn and Sam had talked late into the night after Sam found out the buyer would be in town the next day; she wanted to make sure Quinn had no questions or lingering doubts. Quinn had reassured Sam this was what she wanted, nothing stopping her from going home to Hope Valley. Quinn had tried very hard to convince Sam to come home with her, planting the seed of how much Sam would like to live in Hope Valley.
When Quinn made it downstairs, Sam was preparing a light breakfast in the kitchen. "You don't have to cook for me, Sam; I don't expect you to wait on me," Quinn exclaimed. "Although I am happy you have the coffee ready," she said with a smile.
"It's no trouble; I like doing it," Sam replied. "I usually don't bother when it is just me," she explained.
"Well, if you came home to Hope Valley with me, you wouldn't have to live alone," Quinn teased. "We could share a house; I am sure we could find something suitable."
"And just how long do you think that arrangement would last?" Sam asked. "I cannot imagine that you will be living alone for too much longer Quinn, not having seen you and Nathan together."
"We haven't talked marriage Sam, except to tell Allie we weren't getting married." Quinn blushed. She admitted she had thought about marrying Nathan a lot. Quinn would love nothing more than to spend the rest of her life with him and Allie, adding to their family and spending their lives in Hope Valley.
Sam's eyebrows shot up, "This is a story I want to hear; sit down, tell me as we eat."
Quinn laughed as she took a seat at the table opposite her friend, "you should have seen Nathan's face when Allie asked if we were getting married." Quinn proceeded to tell Sam the story laughing along with her friend. As they continued with their breakfast, Quinn grew serious, her thoughts turning to Nathan and their future. Did he feel the same way she did? He loved her, she knew but did he see marriage in their future, and if so, when?
Nathan entered Lee's office, glad to find his friend alone, he had checked a few times over the last couple of days, and he was rarely by himself. "Good Morning, Lee," he said, filled with excitement. "I am here to collect my package."
Lee looked up at Nathan, a grin spreading across his face, "that's fantastic, Nathan; Not that I minded keeping this safe for you, but it's time someone else had it." Leaning forward, looking past Nathan to the door to make sure no one was coming, he opened the top drawer of his desk and drew out a parcel.
Nathan took the parcel from Lee and set it down on the desk, opening it. He had asked his friend to place the order for the ring he wanted for Quinn. Nathan had trusted Lee with selecting the Jeweller after he asked for advice. Lee had used him many times when buying jewellery for Rosemary, and Nathan trusted Lee.
As Nathan peered into the ring box, he caught his breath; if possible, the ring was more beautiful than he had imagined when he had seen the picture. As he tilted the ring box back and forth, the heart-shaped diamond in the centre of the gold filigree band caught the light and reflected it brilliantly; he could imagine the diamond flashing on Quinn's hand and hoped she would say yes. Suddenly nervous, he dropped the box back onto the desk and looked at Lee, swallowing.
"Don't get cold feet now, Nathan, the two of you are perfect for each other, no doubt," Lee said emphatically. He stood next to Nathan as they looked at the ring; he slapped his friend on the shoulder. "I can't wait to tell Rosie I knew before her when it happens, of course. I swear she knows I have been hiding something."
"Thanks again, Lee. I appreciate your helping me with this. If she says yes, you will be the second person I tell, I already promised Allie she would be the first." Nathan said, smiling, still staring at the ring. Now to make sure the rest of his plan went as well as the ring design.