January 1920

When the Grant family returned to Hope Valley, Jack and Allie were thrilled to welcome Millie into their home. The puppy was sweet and well-behaved. Lucas had trained her well. Nathan thanked him profusely, to which Lucas simply smiled and said he was happy to help. Elizabeth found it was surprisingly easy adjusting to life with a puppy, even if they had to redirect her from time to time from biting the furniture. All the kids were fascinated by the puppy, but Millie seemed to have a special affinity for Aurora. When the baby was on her blanket on the floor, Millie would curl up beside her and stay put until someone picked Aurora up.

A week after New Years', little Aurora was baptized. Lee and Rosemary served as her godparents, and all their friends celebrated the happy event with the Grant family. Elizabeth marveled at how different this christening felt from Jack's. While his was a happy time too, there had been a sense of sadness inside as she stood up at the baptismal font alone, no husband by her side. This time, she had Nathan and their two children in addition to Aurora. She felt incredibly blessed by her family.

Despite the feeling of being blessed, a restlessness grew inside of her as she considered going back to teaching. After Aurora's birth, Elizabeth had chosen to take the fall semester off. Katie Yost had moved back to Hope Valley, and she took over teaching duties for Elizabeth. The young woman wanted to remain in teaching, and she and Elizabeth had decided to talk about what it might look like to have two teachers in the classroom after Christmas.

But Elizabeth found herself wondering if she wanted to return to the classroom at all. In staying home with Aurora and Jack for over seven months, she realized she loved being a stay-at-home mother. She hadn't thought anything would surpass her love of teaching, but her children did. She didn't like the thought of leaving her babies at home.

She also sensed a shift in her calling. As women continued to seek her out for emotional support in their own trauma, she wondered if perhaps her ministry was moving from children to adults, women like her who had suffered greatly at the hands of a man. The thought took hold of her and refused to let go. Elizabeth mulled it over for a time before deciding to voice it to someone else.

One wintry night, as she and Nathan sat by the fire after their children were in bed, she found the courage to bring it up.

"Nathan?"

"Mmm?" Her husband was resting his head against hers, his arms wrapped loosely around her body. He was warm and comfortable, and judging from the timbre of his voice, a little sleepy. Elizabeth wondered if now was a good time to bring up something so life-changing. As her silence lengthened, Nathan raised his head to look at her. His eyes gazed into hers, fully awake. "What is it, sweetheart?" he asked.

Swallowing, Elizabeth began. "Nathan, you offered to marry me so I could keep my job as a teacher."

He clearly hadn't been expecting that. He nodded slowly, looking slightly confused. "True. Among other reasons."

"And I'll always be thankful for that," Elizabeth said sincerely. Her hand found its way to his chest, curling a fistful of his shirt in her grip. "What would you think if I left that job?"

A slow smile filled her husband's face. A knowing look lit his eyes. "What did you have in mind?" he asked, a twinkle appearing in his blue gaze. Elizabeth had a feeling he knew exactly what she wanted. Though that wasn't possible. She had barely begun to realize it for herself.

She squinted at him. "Why do I get the feeling you know what I'm going to say?"

He chuckled. "Because I've been wondering for months if your calling was starting to change," he said. "Even before Aurora was born. You've had women coming to you ever since you shared your story publicly." He smiled tenderly. "You have a way with those women, Elizabeth. They trust you and they share their own stories with you, finding healing in the process." He paused, drawing in a breath. "And I've been watching you as you've stayed home with our children. You love it, sweetheart. It's obvious. You've barely mentioned anything about teaching since Aurora's birth, except that it would be hard to leave her and Jack at home once you took on your job again." He cupped her cheek. "Your heart is no longer with teaching, my love. It's with our children and with women who have suffered as you suffered." His thumb moved back and forth against her jaw. "Am I close to the mark?" he asked, the twinkle in his eyes growing.

Elizabeth laughed softly, relief flooding her. "You hit the bullseye," she said. "That's it exactly." She peeked up at him, biting her lip. "What do you think about that?"

His response was immediate. "I think you should follow your heart," he said simply. "Whatever that looks like."

"But you married me because I was going to lose my job," Elizabeth said, feeling a spark of doubt. "I almost feel like it would be a betrayal toward you if I leave teaching."

Nathan snorted, then covered his mouth. "Sorry," he apologized. "That just slipped out." He recovered quickly. "I don't mind at all if you change jobs," he said. "At the time we got married, your heart was still with teaching. Now it's not. It's as simple as that." He grinned. "Besides, I'm quite happy that your love of teaching led to our marriage. We might not have found our way together otherwise. But I would never want you to feel trapped in a position you don't want to be in simply on my account. I stand with you completely, Elizabeth. If that means you're a stay-at-home mom, I will support you. If that means you host women here or in town to help them overcome trauma, I will support you. If you want to do both, I will support you." He kissed her gently. "You've supported me as a Mountie even though I know my job scares you. Consider this my way of doing the same for you."

Elizabeth wanted to deny that his job worried her, but she would be lying. She was just thankful he'd been safe so far. He never took on assignments that would take him from Hope Valley. The few times he'd had to go out of town were due to circumstances outside of his control. Thankfully they had been few and far between.

She was glad the two of them were able to support one another. Nathan's immediate acceptance of her fledgling new dreams warmed her heart. She leaned up to kiss him, letting her lips show her gratitude. Nathan's arms wrapped around her, pulling her close to deepen the kiss. They sat there for a long time, sharing kisses and whispering hopes for the future. When the fire finally died down, they rose from their spot on the floor and walked hand in hand to their bedroom, where they fell asleep swiftly, happy and content.

When Elizabeth handed in her resignation to the school board, it surprised her to discover that none of them seemed surprised. They simply accepted her decision and turned all teaching duties over to Katie. The younger woman invited Elizabeth to the classroom to explain her decision to her former students. Elizabeth agreed, and one day in mid-January, she stood before children she'd taught for years, telling them that she would not return as their teacher. It was harder than she thought it would be, but she also felt an overwhelming sense of peace. She'd made the right decision. Her students gathered around her, hugging her and wishing her well in the future. They also made her promise to continue coming to school events. Elizabeth promised wholeheartedly. She might not be their teacher any longer, but she did want to remain a part of their lives.

At peace with the new direction her life had taken, Elizabeth and the children walked Allie to school one morning, then headed to the cafe for some of Minnie's famous scones. The woman was a talented baker, just as adept at baking treats as Abigail had been. Elizabeth settled into a chair, placing Jack next to her and Aurora in her lap. Minnie came by with a smile, taking in the three of them.

"Good morning," she said warmly. "How are my favorite little ones today?"

Jack grinned and returned her good morning, while Aurora squealed with happiness and reached for Minnie. Elizabeth relinquished her daughter. Minnie settled the little girl on her hip, cooing at her. "Would you like to help me get Mama and your brother a sweet treat?" she asked, grinning first at the baby, then at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth laughed and nodded. "Surprise us with one of your scrumptious cones, Minnie," she said.

"I want chocolate!" Jack proclaimed.

Minnie chuckled. "I'll see what I've got fresh from the oven," she said. "I'll send out Clara with some tea."

"Thank you!" Elizabeth called as her friend disappeared into the kitchen. She smiled at Jack. "Chocolate, huh?"

"Mrs. Canfield makes the best chocolate scones!" Jack proclaimed, licking his lips. "Yum!"

Elizabeth chuckled. Clara came with tea for her and milk for Jack. Thanking her friend, Elizabeth engaged her son in conversation until Minnie returned with Aurora and a platter of scones. She placed it on the table, then sat across from Elizabeth. "I'm experimenting with some new flavors," she said. "Would you like to be my taste tester?" She grinned. "They're on the house."

"I won't say no to that!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

Minnie laughed, taking the chocolate scone from the platter and putting it on a napkin in front of Jack. "Enjoy, sweetie," she said.

"Thanks!" he replied, digging into the scone with gusto.

Minnie pointed to the various scones on the tray. "Maple chai, ginger orange, lemon strawberry, and blackberry," she said.

Elizabeth's mouth watered. "I don't know which one to try first," she said, inhaling the heavenly aroma wafting to her nose. Closing her eyes, she reached out, picking up the first scone she touched.

Minnie was grinning. "That's one way to do it," she said, amusement in her tone. "You chose ginger orange."

The flavor combination sounded strange, but Elizabeth trusted Minnie's baking abilities. She took a bite. An explosion of flavor flooded her tongue. Closing her eyes, she savored the sharp spice from the ginger and the sweetness from the orange. "Oh," she murmured. "This is heavenly."

"Can I try, Mama?" Jack asked, eyeing her scone. She obliged him. Jack chewed for a couple seconds before wrinkling his nose. "Yuck!"

Both women laughed. "Well, he's honest," Minnie said, chucking Jack gently under the chin.

"I think it's delicious," Elizabeth replied. She nudged her son. "Jack just doesn't know what he's missing."

Jack looked at her dubiously. "Yes, I do," he retorted, returning to his chocolate scone.

The rest of the scones were just as delicious as the first. Elizabeth finished her tea after taking one last bite of scone. "These are amazing," she said. "You've outdone yourself, Minnie. I'd put them all on the menu."

Minnie smiled, clearly pleased. "Thank you, Elizabeth. Was there one that was your favorite?"

Elizabeth knew the answer immediately. "Lemon strawberry." She chuckled. "But that could be because it reminds me of summer in the middle of winter."

"That's my favorite too," Minnie confided. She leaned back in her chair. "How are you feeling about no longer teaching?" she asked, turning the subject. "Cooper was disappointed to know you won't be back, but he likes Katie, so it all worked out."

"I feel good," Elizabeth admitted. "I never thought I'd say that about ending my teaching career, but it was time. I want to be with my kids." She smiled at Aurora, who smiled back happily from where she was chewing on her fingers in Minnie's arms. Looking back at her friend, Elizabeth wondered if she should confide in her about opening a clinic for abused women. Before she could say anything, Minnie shocked her.

"I love baking," Minnie said softly. "But I understand feeling a different calling. I've been thinking lately of trying to work with battered women again. I did that for a long time before coming to Hope Valley. I needed a break from it for a time, but my heart is calling me to do so again." She sighed. "I'm just not sure how."

Elizabeth stared at her, gape-mouthed. "Are you serious?"

Minnie nodded, clearly noting something in Elizabeth's tone. "What is it?"

A little gasp escaped her as she spoke her own dream. "I've been thinking about doing something similar," she said. "I've had women coming to me, sharing their abuse and trauma after they found out about mine. I want to open a clinic to help these women. Just something small to begin with."

Minnie's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Something small…somewhere these women could feel comfortable and open. Somewhere they could share their experiences without others knowing."

"Yes!" Elizabeth felt her own excitement well up inside. "Minnie, what would you say to praying about this together? I don't want to rush into anything, but I can't believe our similar desires are coming to light at the same time for nothing."

Minnie nodded eagerly. She grinned. "Prayer just so happens to be something I love," she said, winking. "Why don't we both think and pray on this further, say for a week? At the end of the week, we can decide if this is something to pursue."

Holding out her hand, Elizabeth nodded. "It's a deal." They shook on it, then Minnie handed Aurora to Elizabeth and headed back to the kitchen. Elizabeth let Jack finish his treat. Once he was done, they began their trek home.

Elizabeth began praying silently, asking for wisdom to do the right thing and the strength to follow through on whatever that ended up being.

A week later, both Minnie and Elizabeth arrived at the same answer: they were meant to open a clinic for abused and battered women. Joseph and Nathan were on board with the idea. Since both were good at woodworking, and since Elizabeth wanted to be home with her children, they built an addition to the Grant barn specifically for the new mission their wives had.

It was going to take about a month for the addition to be built, the space to be set up, and the women to figure out what they wanted their clinic to look like. Rosemary advertised it in The Valley Voice. Elizabeth received several inquiries for time and availability after opening. She was thankful for the telephone in her home, but she soon realized that the clinic would need a phone as well. She made a mental note to ask Florence about getting one installed once the addition was finished.

Other changes were happening around them. Lee and Rosemary had built a home near the Grants about six months before, and Carson and Faith had just finished building their own home nearby as well. Faith was newly pregnant and glowing with excitement to bring a little life into the world. Elizabeth and Nathan were thrilled to have two wonderful neighbors. The three families shared dinner together once a week, and there was always the movement of children between the houses. Jack, Allie, Danny, and Reagan even went to the Shepherds' house frequently, delighted with the stories told by Carson and the hot chocolate provided by Faith. They had a little community within their larger community of Hope Valley, and Elizabeth loved every minute of it.

As the little clinic came closer to completion, Elizabeth felt an ever-growing sense of anticipation. One evening, Nathan found her wandering through the mostly-built addition. He leaned against a post, smiling at her. "Everything to your liking?" he asked.

"Almost everything," she said, looking at him playfully and crooking her finger in a come here gesture. Nathan obliged, and Elizabeth wrapped her arms around him, pulling him down for a kiss. When they finally separated, she smiled up at him. "Now everything is to my liking," she said softly.

Nathan chuckled, pressing another kiss to her lips before looping an arm around her waist. He looked around the room they were in. "I'm so proud of you," he said, pulling her a little closer. "You've taken something that was an unspeakable tragedy in your life, and you're using your experience to help others." He kissed her head. "That takes strength and courage, Elizabeth. You are going to bless the lives of so many women because of your generosity and saying yes to this new call on your life."

Elizabeth blushed at his praise. "It's just a small way for me to give back," she said, trying to deflect some of the attention from herself.

"It's more than that," Nathan said softly. Elizabeth moved closer to his side, looking around the room as well.

"You and Joseph are doing a wonderful job," she said.

He smiled. "Thank you. You and Minnie came up with good floor plans. We simply made it a reality."

Elizabeth laughed. "I seem to remember you making most of the plans, my dear husband. All we did was tell you what we wanted. You drew the blueprints."

Nathan leaned his head against hers. "It was a group effort."

Smiling, Elizabeth nodded. "That's a good compromise." After a few more minutes, she tugged his hand. "Come on. Let's go back to the house. I'm guessing Allie is wondering where we are. I asked her to watch Aurora and Jack for a few minutes, and it's been more like fifteen."

Nathan chuckled, taking her hand and leading her toward the house. "When I stepped out, the kids were playing with Millie by the fireplace."

As if summoned by his voice, a barking ball of fur barreled its way toward them when they reached the house. Elizabeth crouched down, petting the puppy's soft coat. "Hey, Millie," she crooned. "How's my good girl?"

Millie barked in response, almost looking like she was smiling. After Elizabeth had pet her, she turned to Nathan for his greeting. He lifted the small dog into his arms, ruffling her coat. Elizabeth went into the kitchen, where the children were drinking mugs of warm milk. Allie wasn't ready to relinquish her baby sister, so Elizabeth set about getting Jack ready for bed once her son finished his milk.

When all the children had been put to bed, Elizabeth snuggled in Nathan's arms in their own bed. As she fell asleep, she whispered a prayer of thanks that everything was falling into place. She couldn't wait to get started on this new chapter in her life.