July 1922

Life with six children proved easier than Elizabeth had been anticipating. While still difficult, she found Nate and Ella to be the easiest babies she'd had yet. She knew it wasn't just their sweet temperaments – both babies slept for hours at a time during the night and only fussed when they were hungry or in need of a new diaper. Elizabeth was sure the fact that she had a supportive husband and four "helpers" in her older children made a huge difference this time around.

Her clients were very happy to have the twins in their therapy sessions. Many times, the women would hold one of the babies while talking with Elizabeth. It brought about a sense of trust that went deeper than previous sessions, as if holding a baby helped words come out better. Elizabeth noticed the women would talk to her, but their eyes would be on one of her children. It helped them to be more open and honest.

Since it was summertime, Elizabeth had all six children at home. Allie was her biggest helper. She loved cuddling the babies or watching her other siblings when needed. Jack showed his support by helping to clean the house, while Mia and Aurora would help Nathan cook dinner each evening. Things ran smoothly. Elizabeth half wondered when things were going to get difficult, but they never did. Besides the typical issues of runny noses and minor sickness, the summer passed in a blissful, happy manner. Nathan took the four older children fishing often, allowing Elizabeth time to nap while Nate and Ella slept in the afternoons.

Robert was proving to be a capable, responsible Mountie. Elizabeth noticed Allie looking at him longingly when they went through town, staring after him as his red serge disappeared into the distance. Elizabeth knew how her daughter felt. Allie hadn't confided in her about her feelings for Robert, but she knew they existed. She only wondered to what extent they ran.

She found out one day at the end of August. Nathan was watching the children while Elizabeth and Allie had a mother-daughter date at the cafe. Her sixteen-year-old seemed nervous, but she gave no indication of what was on her mind until they were seated at the table and had their food in front of them.

"Mom, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Allie," Elizabeth replied, taking a sip of her tea. "Anything."

Allie swallowed, her eyes fixed on her plate. When she spoke, her voice was barely distinguishable. "How did you know when you were in love for the very first time?"

Elizabeth immediately recognized why Allie was asking the question, but she managed to keep calm. Her mind turned to her first husband, back when they had been courting. "I'm not sure, exactly," she said slowly. "I had an instant attraction to Jack. We spent time together and learned various things about each other's lives. When we started courting, it was just a natural progression to love, even though we faced some hardships along the way."

Allie nodded, though her eyes remained on her plate. "So there wasn't one big moment where you just knew?" she asked.

"No," Elizabeth replied. "Not with Jack. Actually, not with your father either. There were many small moments that led to the big moment when I knew I was in love with him." She smiled softly. "Your father warmed a towel for me after a bath, and with that small act of love from him, I realized all at once that I was finally in love with him."

Allie looked up then. "Dad did that?"

Elizabeth nodded, her smile tender. The memory was a precious one to her. "Yes."

Biting her lip, Allie clasped her hands together. "I suppose you're wondering where these questions are coming from," she said.

"I might have an idea," Elizabeth said gently.

Allie glanced up. "You do?"

"Is it about Robert?" Elizabeth asked.

Her daughter blushed, but she nodded. "Yes. I think I'm in love with him, Mom."

Elizabeth took another sip of tea, deliberately remaining calm. She was glad Nathan wasn't here. If he knew his little girl was in love, he would probably freak out a bit. "Tell me more," Elizabeth said, hoping Allie would talk.

She did. It seemed once the initial question was out of the way, Allie couldn't wait to get out what had been hidden for so long. "Robert and I exchanged letters while he was at the academy," she said. "We even wrote to each other once he was posted in Union City. They were long letters, ones where we shared our hearts. But Robert was always very clear about the fact that we were deepening our friendship. He never once indicated that he saw our exchange as a romance. If anything, he was very careful to keep things platonic between us." She sighed. "Since he's in his twenties and I'm still a teenager, he didn't want anyone to be able to accuse us of impropriety."

Elizabeth was impressed. Robert had a tendency to be impulsive and impish, but it sounded like he truly was caring for Allie's heart. "That's very admirable," she said.

Allie nodded. "I know it is. I know he's protecting me. But in writing these letters and becoming better friends, I've fallen in love with him. Now that he's home in Hope Valley, it's so hard seeing him and knowing all we can be is friends. I'm in school, and he's responsible for our town. There are only five years between us, but it might as well be five hundred. Even if he does return my feelings, he can't do anything about it until I turn eighteen. That's a year and a half away. And that's assuming I don't leave Hope Valley to go to college." She sighed, tears forming in her eyes. "What do I do, Mom?"

"Oh, sweetheart," Elizabeth said, her heart going out to her daughter. She rounded the table, taking the seat beside Allie and slipping an arm around her shoulders. "I know it's hard, Allie. Falling in love is beautiful and scary all at once. When it's unrequited love, it's all the more difficult. You're right that you and Robert can't do anything about your feelings right now. He's an adult and you're not." She tightened her hold slightly. "But you have a powerful foundation, Allie. Friendship is an amazing gift. Try to focus on that for now."

"But what if I can't handle that?" Allie whispered, sniffing. "What if my love for him makes me hurt when I'm around him? It's already started. Sometimes we'll be talking in town, and suddenly I'm overtaken with a desire to throw my arms around him and ask if he loves me as much as I love him." Her cheeks turned bright pink at the admission. "I would never do such a thing, but the thought has crossed my mind."

Elizabeth chuckled. "I remember feeling that way a time or two with Jack's father," she said. "I think that is a part of being young and in love." She looked her daughter in the eye. "Allie, do you believe everything happens for a reason?"

Allie nodded, though she looked confused. "Yes."

"Then trust the timing," Elizabeth said softly. "If you and Robert are meant to be together, you will know down the road. It might take years, but one day this will make sense. And if you and Robert aren't meant to be, you'll have learned lessons about love that will carry you into your forever relationship."

Allie leaned her head against Elizabeth's shoulder. "I hope you're right," she said with a little sigh. "Thanks for listening, Mom." She hesitated for a moment. "Do you mind if we keep this between us? I don't want Dad to know that I'm in love. Not yet."

Elizabeth pressed her lips together. "I don't like keeping things from your father, but I can keep this to myself for now. Maybe you'll be able to share your feelings with him before long."

"Maybe," Allie agreed. "Or he might freak out and lock Robert in jail forever."

Elizabeth chuckled. "I don't think your dad would have that extreme of a reaction," she said, amused at the visual. "You can trust him, Allie. He just wants what is best for you."

Allie was quiet a moment. "I know," she said finally. "I probably will. Just not yet."

Nodding, Elizabeth gave her daughter another squeeze before standing and going back to her side of the table. "It will all work out, Allie," she said. "You'll see."

Allie smiled. "Thanks, Mom."

September came once more, and with it another year of school. Nathan couldn't believe Jack was in his second year while Allie was in her second-to-last year. His daughter was talking about visiting certain colleges, a new desire brought on by an invitation from her grandparents in Hamilton. Allie had written to her grandfather, expressing her interest in math, and William had written back with an open offer to pay for her schooling in Hamilton if she decided to go to business school. Though women weren't generally accepted, William had enough power and influence to get his granddaughter into one of the best schools in Canada. He'd even offered to let her live with him and Grace for the four years it would take to complete her college education.

Nathan could see that his daughter was intrigued by the idea, but there was something holding her back. He knew she had time to figure out her options. She still had two years of schooling left in Hope Valley, after all. Nathan suspected Robert had something to do with Allie's reluctance, though his daughter had said nothing to him about that. Robert himself was interested in Anna, whom he'd had a crush on since their school days. Nathan could still remember Allie's disappointment when she told him that Robert "like-liked" Anna instead of her. Just this morning, Robert had casually mentioned that he planned to ask Anna on their first official date while he and Nathan worked on filing papers in the NWMP office. Nathan had encouraged him to do so, knowing Robert deserved happiness. He only hoped he wasn't crushing his own daughter's dreams in the process.

It turned out he was wrong. Allie came home one afternoon, tears streaming down her cheeks. She went straight to her room, slamming the door behind her. Elizabeth and Nathan looked at each other in stunned silence. Since Elizabeth was feeding Ella, Nathan stood from his spot beside her on the settee. "I'll see what's going on," he said.

His wife nodded. Nathan made his way to Allie's room, knocking gently on the door. "Allie? Can I come in?"

"No!" she exclaimed, sobs sounding in rapid succession. "Go away!"

Torn between honoring her wishes and needing to know what was wrong, Nathan stood for a few moments trying to decide what to do. Before he could decide on a course of action, Aurora heard her sister crying and came over. She knocked on the door. "Allie? Can I come in?"

Mere seconds later, the door opened. Allie gathered her little sister into her arms. Aurora nestled against her, wrapping her arms around Allie's neck and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Allie didn't even acknowledge Nathan, turning aside before shutting the door in his face. Stunned at her blatant rejection, Nathan stumbled back a step, wondering what in the world he had done to deserve her wrath. He went back to Elizabeth, sitting beside her slowly. "I don't think I'll ever understand the female mind," he said wryly, looking down at their infant daughter. "To think this little princess will one day be a teenager with reason to hate me…" He shook his head. "Oh dear."

Elizabeth leaned over, placing a tender kiss on his cheek. "Allie is sixteen, sweetheart. She probably had a bad day. I doubt it's something you did."

Nathan leaned back. "She welcomed Aurora's comfort but rejected mine, Elizabeth. I had to have done something."

Ten minutes later, Allie emerged from her room. She went straight to Nathan, standing in front of him as he was trying to rock Nate to sleep. "How could you?" she asked tearfully, hands splayed over her hips.

Nathan blinked, sharing a look with Elizabeth. "How could I what?" he asked cautiously, looking up at his daughter.

"How could you encourage Robert to ask out Anna?" she practically shrieked. "They were on their way to dinner when I was walking home. He told me to thank you for giving him the courage to ask her out!" She dissolved into tears, burying her face in her hands.

Nathan handed little Nate to Elizabeth, then stood. He wrapped Allie in an embrace, expecting to be pushed away, but his daughter pressed her face into his chest as she cried. Her siblings watched her curiously, knowing she was upset but too young to realize why.

"Come with me," Nathan said softly. He guided her to the front porch. Allie followed without protest. When Aurora started to follow them, Elizabeth stopped her with a gentle hand to her arm.

Nathan shut the front door behind them, then led Allie to the porch swing. They sat, and Allie immediately burrowed into his arms, her sobs coming faster and harder. Nathan held her, feeling horrible. Apparently Allie's feelings for Robert ran deeper than he'd thought.

Eventually, Allie stopped crying. She slumped against Nathan, drawing in deep, ragged breaths. "Why does it hurt so much?" she asked, trembling.

Nathan shook his head. "I don't know, Allie. I wish it didn't."

She sniffed, still not lifting her head. "I thought Robert and I had something special. He's always insisted that we were friends, though. Any interest was solely on my part."

Nathan felt equal parts relief and sadness. Relief because Robert had not led Allie on in any way, and sadness because his little girl was in pain. Nathan knew well the pain of not being loved in return. When Elizabeth dated Lucas, Nathan's hopes and dreams for the future had come to a screeching halt. He'd been hurt badly by Elizabeth, and though he loved her still, he'd tried to let her go in order to let her be happy. Thankfully, everything had worked out for them, though it had been a hard fight to get there. He knew Allie was hurting now like he'd been hurting then, but he couldn't assure his daughter that she would get a happy ending like he had. Robert was quite a bit older than her, and it was very possible he would settle down and marry before Allie finished college.

At a loss for what to say, Nathan pulled her a little closer. "I'm sorry you're going through this, Allie," he said gently. "And I'm sorry for the part I played in it."

She sighed. "It's not your fault, Dad. You didn't know. Even if you did, Robert and Anna make sense. They're the same age and they're both ready to find love." She sniffed again. "How can I compete with that?"

"It's not a competition, sweetheart," Nathan said. "It's love. It's choosing to put another's good over your own, even if it hurts."

Allie let out a long breath. "Like you did with Mom?"

Nathan paused. "I suppose so."

She looked up at him. "How did you do it, Dad? When Mom was with Mr. Bouchard – how did you face each day?"

Nathan rested his head against hers. "I had to," he said softly. "Your mother's happiness was ultimately what mattered most to me. Even if it didn't include me. I knew with time, the pain would pass."

"At least it all worked out," Allie said quietly. Nathan could hear the despondency in her voice. He knew it wasn't because things had worked out for him and Elizabeth, but because she didn't know if Robert was meant to be in her future.

"It's just one date, Allie," Nathan said gently, wanting to reassure his daughter. "One date is not a lifetime commitment."

"I know," Allie admitted. "But I have a feeling in my heart, Dad. I don't know how I know, but I get the sense that Robert will…will marry her." She frowned. "He has liked her for a long time, while I've simply been his buddy." She grunted. "I hate being seen as only his friend!"

Nathan empathized. "I know how you feel, Allie," he said. He hugged her close. "You know you can talk to me anytime, right? Robert and I work together, but you are my little girl. I want you to feel free to tell me anything and know that I will listen and help you through whatever you might be feeling."

Allie smiled at him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I know," she said. "I'm grateful to have a father like you."

"And I'm grateful to have a daughter like you," he replied.

They sat together for a few minutes quietly before Allie spoke again. "I love him, Dad."

Nathan's heart clenched in his chest. He knew there were a couple reasons for that. One, it meant his daughter had experienced her first love. She was growing up. It also meant she was experiencing her first heartbreak, and that pained him. He wished he could take away the pain, but he couldn't. All he could do was be there.

"I understand," he whispered, holding her tight. "I love you, Allie. You'll get through this. Your mom and I will be here for you every step of the way."

He could feel her smile again against his chest. "I know," she replied. "That gives me some peace."

They stayed on the porch swing for a long time, simply rocking back and forth. At one point, the front door opened, and Millie came trotting out. Nathan guessed Elizabeth let the dog onto the porch, knowing she could be a comfort to Allie. Indeed, Millie made her way straight to the teenager, jumping onto the swing beside her and curling up with her head on Allie's lap. Allie rested one hand in Millie's soft fur while reaching for Nathan's hand with the other.

No more words were spoken. Nathan was there for Allie in the way he knew best: silent but present, providing what strength he could.

It was all he could do.