Elizabeth walked among the shelves at the mercantile, placing items in her basket that she needed for dinner. She felt tired again, but at least there was no nausea today. It had been a struggle to get through class. The children were excited about their upcoming Christmas break, and Elizabeth had barely had the energy to keep them focused on their lessons. She was looking forward to the break, time to spend with her new family. They were planning on celebrating Jack's birthday Christmas Eve with Bill, Faith, and the Coulters. Christmas Day would be spent together. As a family.
Her mind drifted to yesterday, to the tree decorating they had done. She smiled softly as the memory crystallized in her mind.
"How are you feeling?" Nathan asked as Allie and Jack dug through the boxes of Christmas decorations.
"Much better," she replied, giving him a grateful smile. "Rosemary came by and brought soup. It cured the nausea." She let out a soft chuckle. "I'm going to have to ask her for the recipe."
Nathan smiled back. "I'm glad you're feeling better." He looked around the room. "And you've been busy."
Christmas decorations lit up the small rowhouse. She and Rosemary had gotten the boxes of decorations and ornaments from the attic and set out making the house ready for Christmas. By the time Nathan and the children returned, the only thing left to do was set up and decorate the tree.
"Rosemary did most of it," Elizabeth admitted. "She wouldn't let me do anything major. Said I should take it easy so the sickness didn't come over me again."
Nathan chuckled, placing an arm around her and giving her a light squeeze. "Good for her. I'm glad she's looking out for you."
"She's a good friend," Elizabeth said. "The best."
"Come on, Uncle Nathan and Aunt Elizabeth!" Allie said, her eyes dancing with excitement. "Let's get the tree decorated!"
The lights were first. Nathan and Allie carefully wrapped them around the tree. Jack "helped" as best he could. Nathan was very patient with him, allowing him to wrap the lights on the lower branches. Elizabeth felt a pulling in her heart as she watched Nathan with her son. The love he bore for the child was plain as day. It made her feel things that hitched her breath and accelerated her heart rate.
Before she had time to analyze the feeling, Allie approached with a smile, taking Elizabeth's hand. "Why don't you put the first ornament on the tree?"
The peace offering warmed Elizabeth's heart even more. She let the girl lead her to the tree. Nathan had Jack on his hip, but he lowered him to the floor. "Why don't you choose the ornament for Mama to put on the tree?" he suggested to the toddler.
Jack clapped his hands in excitement and went to the first box. He carefully looked through the ornaments before pulling one out. "Birdie!" he exclaimed, holding it up to Elizabeth.
She and Nathan both froze. In Jack's hand was the cardinal that they had hung together two Christmases ago. Elizabeth had felt Nathan behind her that day as he reached up to hang the bird on the tallest branch, his body brushing against hers. The attraction that had sizzled between them had been so powerful she'd immediately escaped his proximity, afraid of what she'd have done if she stayed.
Now, two years later, they were in entirely different circumstances. She smiled lightly, taking the cardinal from her son. "Thank you, Jack," she said. He grinned, sitting down and helping Allie sort through the other ornaments.
Elizabeth tilted her head, looking at Nathan. "I think I'll need help to get this guy on the tallest branch," she said, a touch of teasing and a lot of shyness in her tone.
Nathan looked surprised, but then he smiled. Together they walked to the tree. Elizabeth reached up, unable to reach the top branch as before, and she felt Nathan's solid presence behind her as he gently took the bird from her hand, attaching it to the correct branch. Instead of turning, Elizabeth leaned back into Nathan's arms, letting the back of her head rest against his chest. "It's perfect," she said, her voice low.
Her husband's arms came around her, holding her close. "It is," he agreed, his voice a sweet murmur in her ear. She tilted her head to look up at him, their faces only inches apart. Time stood still as they gazed into each other's eyes. Elizabeth felt shivers of attraction and something more powerful sliding up and down her spine. What was that other feeling? It almost felt like...like…
Nathan shifted slightly, interrupting Elizabeth's thoughts. His gaze drifted to her lips and he moved infinitesimally closer. Elizabeth's heart thudded hard in her chest, but she didn't move. He was going to kiss her, and she was going to let him…
"Uncle Nathan, where are the reindeer ornaments I made with my friends?"
The moment was broken. Nathan sighed quietly, but he pulled away and let her go, leaving Elizabeth feeling surprisingly bereft. As he stepped away to answer Allie's question, one thought whirled through Elizabeth's mind.
What would his kiss feel like…?
Her name brought her back to the present. The voice was hushed and whispered, but she could hear it clear as a bell.
"There's something fishy about this whole thing," the woman said. "Mrs. Thornton was courting Mr. Bouchard. Then he ups and leaves without warning, and the same day she marries Constable Grant. There's more to this than meets the eye."
"I agree," another voice said. "It's very suspicious behavior."
Elizabeth froze. Everything screamed in her to hide, to avoid the gossiping biddies, but she found she couldn't move her feet. Apparently the other women had no problem moving. She could hear them shuffling along the aisle beside hers.
"Before they married, my Kathy said the constable walked Mrs. Thornton to school every morning for two months. Two months! While she was still courting Mr. Bouchard!" The woman - who Elizabeth now recognized as Mrs. Bethea, the grandmother of one of her students - sniffed. "That was downright indecent behavior. Poor Mr. Bouchard! It's no wonder he left town." Her voice lowered, but Elizabeth could still hear her clearly. "I wonder just how far things went between her and the constable, if you know what I mean. They married awfully sudden-like."
Cheeks flaming and heart pounding, Elizabeth had to fight to keep from bursting into tears. The implication of the woman's words added to her raging pregnancy hormones made her more emotional than usual. Their words shouldn't hurt, but they did.
How could they assume the worst of her and Nathan? Kathy had been in Elizabeth's class for three years. She had considered Mrs. Bethea a friend.
Elizabeth had known this was coming. She just hadn't thought it would come before her pregnancy was obvious.
A flurry of movement caught her attention. Florence swept past her, shooting a sympathetic look her way before marching into the other aisle. "Ladies," she greeted them, her voice even and welcoming. "Are you ready to check out?"
"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Yost," Mrs. Bethea said. Florence positioned herself in front of Elizabeth's aisle as the women walked by, shielding her from view.
Elizabeth could have wept for gratitude.
Minutes later, the women were gone. Florence came into the aisle once more, and the sight of her friend's compassionate face broke through Elizabeth's fragile emotions. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Florence folded her into a hug, gently patting her back. She didn't say anything, just held Elizabeth as she cried. Once Elizabeth had her composure, Florence pulled back. "There, there," she murmured. "Those women were being awfully harsh and judgmental." Her eyes hardened. "I have half a mind not to let them in here again."
Elizabeth sniffed, thankful for her friend's support. "It's alright," she said, eyes cast down. "I'd be wondering too if I was in their shoes."
"Anyone who knows you and Nathan knows that you are honorable," Florence said, escorting Elizabeth to the cash register. Ned looked up from his spot behind the counter, nodding at his wife's words. "Florence is right," he said. "We don't know why you and Nathan got married fast, but we know there must be a good reason for it. And it's not for the reason those gossiping ninnies think."
Elizabeth hesitated, watching Ned as he tallied up her items. The Yosts were her friends. They had been there from the beginning, ever since she'd come to Hope Valley all those years ago. Maybe she could trust them with the truth. Florence might be known as a gossip herself, but she never let truly sensitive information pass her lips. Especially not when it came to her friends.
There was no one else in the store, so Elizabeth let the truth be known. "I'm pregnant."
Ned and Florence both looked at her in surprise, but they patiently waited for her to continue. Neither one had judgement in their eyes.
Elizabeth struggled to say the words out loud. "Three months ago, I was...raped." The word came out in a choked whisper. "Nathan arrested the man who assaulted me. He was my rock as I recovered physically and emotionally. Then when I found out I was pregnant, he offered to marry me so I could keep my job." She sighed. "He was also hoping to protect my reputation, but it looks like that has already been tarnished. If Mrs. Bethea thinks what she does, others do too."
"Oh, my dear," Florence said, pulling Elizabeth into another embrace. "You don't have to carry this burden alone. You have friends who will be there for you." She smiled and then looked at her husband. "We'll be there, won't we, Ned?"
The store owner bobbed his head, his kind smile radiating from his face. "If you need anything, Elizabeth, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you," she whispered. "I appreciate that."
Florence kept an arm around her waist as Ned packed up her groceries. "Oh! I almost forgot. Your items from the catalogue came in," he said. "Let me get those for you."
Elizabeth felt a smile make its way to her mouth. The Christmas presents for Nathan and the children had arrived in plenty of time for the holiday. Ned placed the brown-wrapped package on the counter, then stuck a bag of peppermints into her basket. He winked. "For the expectant mama. I hear peppermint is good for soothing the stomach. It's on the house."
Blinking back tears, Elizabeth leaned across the counter to place a kiss on Ned's weathered cheek. "Thank you," she said. She looked between him and Florence. "Your kindness and support mean the world to me." Picking up the package, she carefully put it under her arm, then slid her arm under the handle of the basket. Florence held the door for her, and Elizabeth made her way down the steps.
Absorbed in thought, Elizabeth found herself outside her home in no time. Just before heading up the stairs, she heard someone call her name. Glancing up, her heart dropped to her feet as she saw Lucas striding toward her from the opposite direction. He looked a little out of breath as he stopped in front of her.
"I was just at your house," he said, panting slightly. "I was hoping we could talk."
The sight of him was a surprise, but her heart pumped in the same steady rhythm as before and no spark of attraction hit her body. She nearly sagged with relief. She'd told Nathan last month in the schoolhouse that Lucas wasn't the man for her, and her feelings - or lack thereof - when seeing him again confirmed that. She did feel guarded as she looked at the man before her. Their last conversation hadn't been a happy one.
"We can talk," she said, trying her best not to sound wary. "About what?"
"I need to apologize," Lucas said, sincerity in his eyes. "I treated you horribly when you told me about the baby. I am so sorry for my reaction. Can you forgive me?"
Letting out a breath, Elizabeth nodded, managing a small smile. "Yes, Lucas, I forgive you." She shrugged lightly. "You were honest. I think we both knew for a long time that we weren't right for each other, but that moment just confirmed it for us." She shifted, the package suddenly feeling like it was going to slip.
Lucas noticed and reached for it. "Allow me," he said, taking the package from her arm without touching her.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said. She held the basket in front of her stomach with both hands. "Where did you go?"
"New Orleans," Lucas said. "I spent some time with my parents." He smiled, looking down. "Their marriage has fully recovered."
"I'm glad to hear that," Elizabeth said softly. She liked Helen Bouchard. She was glad the woman had reconciled with her husband.
Lucas nodded, shuffling from foot to foot. He seemed at a loss for words, something rare in their acquaintance. Elizabeth remained quiet, waiting for him to speak. Finally, he looked at her again.
"I know you said we aren't right for each other, and I think you're right, but…" He cleared his throat. "I want to help you. It was selfish of me to leave town and leave you to your own devices. I'm done running, Elizabeth. I'll face this with you, whatever that looks like."
Elizabeth tilted her head, studying him. "How?"
Lucas swallowed. "I don't know. But we can figure that out." He glanced down the road. "Can I walk you home? Maybe we can talk more about that on the way."
He didn't know about her marriage. Elizabeth opened her mouth to tell him, when she felt a hand touch her back. She glanced behind her to see Nathan, resplendent in his uniform, his eyes taking in Lucas's presence.
"Lucas," he said, giving the other man a genteel nod.
Lucas returned the gesture, no malice in his eyes. "Nathan." He looked at Elizabeth again, not missing the fact that Nathan's hand remained on her back. "Were you about to say something?"
She nodded, feeling strangely comforted with Nathan's touch between her shoulder blades. "I live here now," she said, tilting her head toward the house. "Nathan and I…"
Understanding dawned in Lucas's eyes as he looked between the two of them. "You're married." It was a statement, not a question.
Elizabeth and Nathan nodded in unison.
Lucas let out a breath, a plethora of emotions radiating from his face before he could mask them. The strongest one was relief.
As he looked between Nathan and Elizabeth, he gave a barely perceptible nod. "I can't say I'm surprised," he admitted quietly. He looked Nathan straight in the eyes. "You did what I couldn't. You're a better man than I am, Nathan." He held out his hand. "Thank you for protecting her."
Nathan reached out, and the two men shook hands. When they released, Lucas put his hands in his pockets, scrunching his shoulders and pressing his lips together. "I know you have no reason to trust me, not after what I did, but I do want to help in any way that I can," he said. "Just let me know what you need."
Elizabeth smiled at him. "Thank you, Lucas." She glanced back at Nathan. "For now, we're just trying to keep things quiet. When my pregnancy is noticeable…" She sucked in a breath, lifting her chin. "Well, we'll just have to deal with that when the time comes."
Lucas nodded again. "Alright." He dipped his head in a farewell, handing Elizabeth's package back to her. "I'll let you two get back to your evening." He paused, looking at the ground for a moment before meeting their eyes once more. "I'll see you around town."
As he made his way back to the saloon, Nathan's hand slipped from Elizabeth's back to her waist, pulling her closer to him. "Are you alright?" he asked, his warm breath tickling her ear.
She looked up at him with a smile. "Yes," she said honestly, placing a hand on his cheek. "Lucas has no hold on my heart, Nathan. I want you to know that."
He smiled back, leaning down to press his lips to her forehead, lingering for several moments. "I know," he said softly.
Elizabeth's heart warmed. It felt like another hurdle had been removed. She had seen Lucas again, and she regretted nothing about ending things between them. She was grateful that he wanted to help and was glad to see that he didn't want to run anymore, but her feelings toward him were much like her feelings toward Jesse Flynn or Mike Hickam.
The man beside her, however, was another story entirely.
Christmas Eve arrived amidst a whirlwind of activity. Allie and Jack were nearly beside themselves with excitement. The birthday boy was treated to a breakfast of pancakes and syrup at his request. Elizabeth was weepy most of the morning, constantly kissing her son and murmuring that he was getting so grown up. At three years old, he was beginning to lose the cuddly toddler look and developing more mature features. The little family spent the day together, playing games, reading books, and baking a birthday cake.
At one point in the late afternoon, Elizabeth disappeared. Nathan let her be for a time, but when she didn't reappear after half an hour, he began to worry. Leaving Jack in Allie's capable hands, he climbed the stairs and knocked gently on the bedroom door. Elizabeth's muffled "come in" barely reached his ears. He pushed the door open to see her facedown on the bed, shoulders shaking.
Alarmed, Nathan hurried to her side. "Elizabeth, what's wrong?" he asked, resting a hand on her back and trying to see her face.
Her sobs continued, but through them he made out her response. "Stupid...pregnancy...hormones."
Nathan bit back a laugh. Somehow he knew that wouldn't be appreciated in the moment. He rubbed Elizabeth's back gently, trying to give her a measure of comfort. "Is it just the hormones?" he asked.
Elizabeth sniffed and rolled to her back before sitting up. She slumped against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "No," she admitted. "My baby boy is three years old, Nathan. Where is the time going?" She sighed. "Soon he's going to grow up and find his own way in this world. What will I do then?"
Placing a hand on her knee, Nathan bent his head to look into her eyes. "Elizabeth, you have at least fifteen more years before you have to worry about that. Even then, Jack will always be your son. He'll always come home to you, no matter where life takes him."
She buried her face in his neck. "How do you always know what to say?" she mumbled. Her lips brushed against his throat as she spoke, and Nathan had to fight to keep his mind on their conversation.
"Call it good instincts," he rasped. Elizabeth sat up and looked at him through her tear-stained eyes. Nathan pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped her eyes and cheeks. His voice felt a little steadier the next time he spoke. "Our friends are due to arrive soon. Do you think you'll be able to come downstairs?"
Elizabeth sniffed again, but she nodded. They stood together, and Nathan couldn't help drawing her into his arms. "It's going to be okay," he whispered against her hair.
Her arms tightened around him briefly before letting go. She found a smile and took a deep breath. "I know. Thank you, Nathan." She reached down to take his hand, intertwining their fingers together. "I'm ready."
They walked down the stairs hand in hand. Allie glanced up from her spot on the floor with Jack, taking in their closeness to each other. A small smile played on her lips. Nathan knew Allie was softening toward Elizabeth, and a lot of it was because of the affection she saw between them. Elizabeth's willingness to let him near seemed to be helping Allie's heart as well as her own.
"There's my big boy," Elizabeth cooed, all traces of her crying session gone. In its place, love shone from her as she scooped Jack into her arms and settled with him on the settee. "Are you ready to see Aunt Rosie and Uncle Lee?"
"And Uncle Bill and Miss Faith?" Allie chimed in. She grinned. "Dinner is going to be so much fun!" She proudly stood. "I helped Uncle Nathan make the roast."
Elizabeth smiled, patting the seat beside her. Allie sat willingly. "Did you now?" Elizabeth asked, laying a hand on Allie's shoulder. "Did you hear that, Jack? Your sister helped make your birthday dinner with your daddy."
Nathan's heart skipped a beat. Elizabeth continued to talk to the children, but all he heard was the sound of rushing in his ears. He'd never heard Elizabeth refer to him as Jack's daddy before. She'd always called him "Nathan" when she spoke to her son. He wondered if she even realized she had said it. He had to sit on the stairs as he let her words sink in.
Allie and Elizabeth were engaged in a conversation, and Jack climbed down from Elizabeth's lap. He toddled over to Nathan, coming to a stop in front of him. His bright blue eyes studied the man before him, a question in them along with the innocence of a child. Taking a step forward, he put his hands on Nathan's knees. "Daddy?" he asked.
Nathan's heart burst in his chest. He and Jack stared at each other for a moment. Nathan was unsure how to respond. He didn't want to step on Elizabeth's toes in any way. Up until now, Jack had been calling him by his given name.
Elizabeth answered for him. She came around the settee, crouching in front of Nathan beside Jack. "Yes, Jack," she said, running a hand through his downy hair. Her eyes met Nathan's, shining brightly. "Nathan is your daddy."
Tears welled in Nathan's eyes. With a look of pure thanks aimed at Elizabeth, he wrapped his son in his arms and pulled him close. Jack returned the hug, his arms going around Nathan's neck and holding on tight. "Daddy," he said again, resting his head against Nathan's shoulder. This time it wasn't a question.
Nathan let the tears flow, unashamed. Jack might be the birthday boy, but Nathan had received the gift.