I am grateful to all those who read and enjoy my story. I wrote this because I hate the big split between all the Hearties who love When Calls the Heart. I wanted to express how fear can change a person, cause them to make the worse choices or no choice at all. How it is the real enemy. This story is about healing and growing. It's also about knowing that a story is just a story. As readers, listeners, and watchers it's our job to follow the story to the end. To learn the lessons that a good storyteller strives to teach us no matter how disappointed we are at how it ends. I appreciate a good story. Yes I am TeamHopeValley because I started watching this show accidentally in fell in love with the feel good atmosphere it created.
Chapter 7-Courage to Accept (Another Wedding-Another Bouquet)
Mike Hickam and Mei Sou were returning from their honeymoon. It had been 6 months now since Elizabeth's speech at the church. Another wedding was taking place in another three hours. Dr. Faith Carter and Dr Carson Shepherd would soon be husband and wife. Their rendezvous at the cafe turned out quite different than the last. They ate dinner, talked and laughed, and then he placed the box with the ring on the table. Looking in her eyes he said, "I know you weren't ready for this the first time I'm hoping now you are. Faith I love you and want us to be together. Will you marry me?" Her vision was clouded with tears and the glowing smile on her face reflected the words that flew out of her mouth without hesitation, "yes Carson, I love you, I always have and I want to spend my life with you." Now with all the planning behind they were about to step into their future together.
Why aren't you nervous? You should be nervous. I know I was shaking in my tux when I was about to marry Rosemary." — "Leave him alone" Bill's gruff voice came from the door to the church." Lee gave a sideways glance at the judge "He's getting married in a short while and he's not the least bit jittery, that's not normal." "He's a surgeon, he is trained to have nerves of steel, kinda like us Mounties." Bill said with his usual dismissive understanding. Carson looked between the two men "I love her and I have waited a long time for this moment. I am filled with love, happiness, and joy—and I am a little anxious but it's a good feeling. As a matter of fact it feels wonderful."
The church began to fill up with the expectant guess. Although the decor was exquisite, no one noticed once the bride made her way down the aisle. Faith made a gorgeous bride and there was no denying the love that radiated between her and Carson as they stood before the altar and declared their love for one another; pledging to love and cherish one another throughout all the good and the bad for the rest of their lives. There was a small quaint reception afterwards in which all of Hope Valley gathered and wished the newly married couple congratulations. Toasts were made and everyone mingled and danced until the bride and groom bid them farewell and left to begin their life together beginning with a luxury honeymoon cruise.
"Why does this keep happening?" Elizabeth smiled as she accepted Faith's bridal bouquet from Nathan. "I have no idea, Faith gave them to me to give to you. She said she thought you would enjoy them." There was no Serge to warmup and no rounds to make; so Elizabeth offered Nathan a glass of grape juice. The two sat and talked and drank grape juice with no uncomfortable awkward pauses. There was nothing unsettling between them. They were good friends and whatever else was between them was accepted and acknowledged but not rushed. They laughed and shared ideas and advice unhampered by romantic expectations. Sure, would Nathan like to kiss her sometime? Yes. Did she think about Nathan kissing her? Yes. However, now they could both wait and hope and drink various beverages or share some banana nut bread muffins while having deep meaningful intimate conversations at their own pace. The world of Hope Valley had accepted that whatever happened between the school teacher and the mountie was really quite frankly none of their business. As a matter of fact the town folk were so busy trying to find out what was going on between the lovely meddling Fiona Miller and Governor Lucas Bouchard that they hardly even noticed when a certain mountie walked a certain school teacher around and about the town. In those moments when new and lost loves were found and friendships rekindled
It took courage to accept the transforming power of forgiveness, the solace of hope, and the peace of knowing that life could be normal, chaotic, and beautiful all at the same time.