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Nathan & Elizabeth: An Epic Love
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Chapter Eight
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Coming back to earth was impossible as Elizabeth was still floating. And had Nathan not been holding her up, she would have been a mere puddle on the ground.
"Why? Why, did we wait so long for that?" asked Elizabeth, still barely able to breathe.
With twinkling eyes, he raised his eyebrows as if to say something, but his better judgment kept him from going there even in a teasing vein.
"You know," he drawled with a wink and the start of his famous lop-sided grin, "As of tonight, Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton, you're perfectly faultless in my book, though I do love that melody, along with most of the words!"
She giggled like a schoolgirl.
"And here I thought you were chastising perfect little old me!" she teased.
"Never," he chuckled, then grew serious. "Oh, Lizbeth, I would love nothing better than to stand here and keep kissing you all night long! But let's just say, we're getting into fairly dangerous territory, my Darling! Besides, we also have dangerous terrain to navigate, and need to get back home before the sun fully sets."
She grinned, completely understanding his double entendre.
"Yes, my Dearest, we're definitely in dangerous territory all right! Nathan Grant, did you just move the earth out from under us?"
He chuckled once more.
"Oh, I think you did that!" he teased.
She smiled knowing that for her it was all him, but suddenly turned serious.
"Nathan? Just like that, and you've forgiven me for all my transgressions?"
"Elizabeth, don't you see? I forgave you back when they happened. Each and every single time you were uncertain, I just doubled my resolve to be certain enough for both of us. That's what love does."
She stood on her tiptoes.
"For the record, Nathan Grant, I know I don't deserve you, but I love you so. And beyond the shadow of any doubt, know that I am madly, deeply, and forever lost in love with you!"
He had waited so long to hear those words, yet all he could do while his heart soared, was to tenderly place that wayward wisp of her hair back where it belonged.
Though a thousand love letters were written in his sky-blue eyes.
"I adore you, Lizbeth! You are my everything and have been from the moment I met you. But you must promise me one thing before we leave our special place."
"Anything. What is it, Nathan?"
"All of these things we've discussed tonight from our past, stay in the past, never to be talked about again. I know we have the children to discuss when we get home, so part of that past will undoubtedly come up again, there. But when that is done, that too stays in the past, leading us into conversations solely about the present and the future. Our present and our future. Promise?"
"Yes, if that's what you think is best! Though honestly, that feels like you're letting me off the hook too easily, Nathan."
"There is no hook, Elizabeth. Life happens. We can't control it. We even make mistakes. Sometimes big ones. But we learn from them and move on. This is our time and there are too many wonderful things to look forward to, not backward."
He cupped her chin between his thumb and index finger.
"Don't you see? There is no blame in love. Not our love. The truth is I have loved you through all of this, believing our love would prevail. And now I am the blessed man who gets to love you every single day of our future together. I only want you happy, Elizabeth. And I believe with all my heart that our happiness lies together, here with us now and later, ahead of us."
She took in her breath, full of sublime contentment, happiness, and peace, then was helpless to do anything but reach up and kiss him once more, thanking God above for this man's benevolent and forgiving heart, not to mention everything else that was so extraordinary about him.
Her hand went to the nape of his neck, where she tangled her fingers in his silky hair.
"I promise, Nathan. With all my heart, I promise!"
And suddenly the biting sting of her guilt was gone.
"I promise I will do everything in my power to be in the present and look forward. I'll also do my very best to concentrate on showing you and the children all my love every single day!"
Her smile was different, unfettered, and free, and seeing the difference filled Nathan with such joy!
"Now, that's the noble, purposeful woman whom I've always known can move mountains. The one I know best in this world, and love with all my heart..."
With Little Jack finally asleep in their makeshift 'camping tent' in the living room, Allie walked to the back door to check on Scout and her Uncle Bill.
"Uncle Bill, is Scout alright?" she worriedly asked.
"He's still a tad sick, but he's gonna be just fine, Allie Girl! One more throw-up, he should be ready to come back inside. We probably ought to give him some alone time right now, though," suggested Bill, heading back inside to the kitchen.
"Are you sure he'll be okay alone?"
"I'm sure. We're way past the worrisome stage, thank goodness. But I tell you this, after a whoppin' dose of charcoal, I doubt that dog ever opens another picnic hamper!"
"I bet it was all that spicy Italian meat Dad ordered for Mrs. Thornton. Especially since Scout ate all four sandwiches."
Bill guffawed.
"All four? No wonder that dog's sick! But about that other thing, what can I say? Love makes you do some pretty crazy things, Allie. How did your old Dad come up with that one?"
Allie poured her Uncle a cup of coffee and rolled her eyes, then went to join her Uncle Bill as he sat down at the kitchen table so as not to wake up Little Jack.
"A long time ago, Mrs. Thornton said something about her favorite sandwiches being Italian ones that their Cook fixed for her and her sisters growing up. So, Dad got the bright idea he should fix her some for their picnic. And boy, did he ever go all out. Called Hamilton and everything!"
"Well, he isn't wrong there. Women love it when you pay attention to what they say, and they love it even more when we men go to a whole lot of trouble on their count!"
"But Mrs. Yost over-ordered from Union City and we're going to be eating Italian food for months on end! That meat's spicy too."
Bill chuckled.
"Anything for love! You'll know soon enough. But hey, how's this? Maybe I can help you out and eat some of that spicy stuff, too, so we can get rid of it together!"
"Sure, Uncle Bill! But can I ask you something?"
"Sure thing, Kiddo. Anything."
"Well, this is pretty serious, and it has to stay in our family. Dad said so. But you're family, so here goes. I love Mrs. Thornton, I truly do. And I believe she loves my Dad, but how do I know she won't do the same thing to my Dad she did to Mr., I mean Governor Bouchard?"
"Pftt! 'Mr.' works there too. He was a 'Mr.' long before he became Governor. Besides, the man needs to stay humble. But back to your question. Well, for one thing," started Bill, then realized he was talking to a teenager and not an adult, so he regrouped a bit.
"Allie, I'm just gonna be straight with you. I know Elizabeth better than just about anybody in this town. Her first husband was like a son to me. You know, sometimes when really bad things happen, like it did with Elizabeth when she lost Jack, well it changes you. And you do things you normally wouldn't do."
"Like date Mr. Bouchard?"
"Bingo! In my view, those two were never much of a match. Not a long-term one anyway.
But your Dad, now that's a different story. Your teacher truly loves your Dad."
"How do you know that?"
Bill took a slurp of his steaming coffee to think a bit.
"Aw, well, I know it in all sorts of ways. First, she's told me so several times, just like she's told me how much she loves you. And she never once told me that about Mr. Bouchard when she was with him. But I see it, too, Allie. I never once saw that same kind of love we're talkin' about with Mr. Bouchard. And believe me, I tried. Do you understand what I'm sayin'?"
"Maybe a little, but Uncle Bill, what I'm really worried about is this. I know she kissed Mr. Bouchard. Lots of times. She doesn't know it, but we kids saw it. A lot! And it was really gross."
"Amen to that! You are very intuitive, Allie. Well, now I'm not sure we should exactly be havin' this talk, but the truth is sometimes people try to talk themselves into bein' in love, so they kiss to try to make it happen, but just like with Elizabeth and Mr. Bouchard that never lasts. And so, it might have seemed "gross" because the right type of love was missin'. Maybe they were tryin' to force a love that wasn't from the heart. Now I do believe she grew to love Mr. Bouchard in a deep friendship, respectful sort of way, because he was very generous and good to her. But they never seemed to have that really deep sort of connection like she has with your Dad. I don't know, it always seemed to me, and most of the town if I'm bein' completely honest, that even when Elizabeth was with Mr. Bouchard, your Dad was the one who still owned her heart. As a matter of fact, he still does, because she fell deeply in love with your father a long time ago. And I honestly believe that deep down, Mr. Bouchard knew that. I think that's why on some level both Elizabeth and Mr. Bouchard knew they wouldn't last as a couple for the long term."
"I know Dad and Mrs. Thornton have always been close even when she was mad at him. I guess I can understand what you're saying."
"See a real love takes a whole lot more than just kissin'. And both Elizabeth and your Dad are at the point where they want that 'whole lot more.' In other words, they want to commit to each other and be a real family and once they do that, we're talkin' a whole different ballgame for better or worse. If Elizabeth commits to your Dad, she would also be committin' to you, Allie, and you better believe she's gonna be stayin' through thick and thin."
"You're sure?"
"As sure as the sun's gonna rise in the mornin' and set at night!"
"I guess that makes me feel better."
Bill suddenly thought of another way to help Allie understand.
"Allie, do you think Elizabeth would ever leave Little Jack?" asked her Uncle Bill.
"Never."
"That's right. She wouldn't do that in a million years. It would be the same thing with you and your Dad if she marries your Dad."
"But Uncle Bill, she'd just be marrying Dad. She wouldn't be marrying me."
"Allie, if I know Elizabeth. She would become your Mama just like she's Jack's Mama if you allow her to be."
"But she couldn't possibly love me the same as Little Jack. I mean, he's, her son."
"Well, I disagree. If Elizabeth commits to your Dad, she commits to you and there's no way in this world she'd make a difference between her two children, son or daughter."
Bill watched as Allie tried to assimilate what he was saying, then tried yet another tack.
"Let's look at this from another way too. Allie, do you think your Dad would ever leave you?"
"No! Not ever! He's always loved and protected me, no matter what. And I know he always will!"
"That's absolutely right! Now, let me ask another question. Do you think your Dad would ever consider marryin' a woman who would love you any less than he does?"
"No…he wouldn't," admitted Allie as she finally began to fully understand what her Uncle Bill was trying so hard to get her to see. "They'd have to love me every bit as much as he does."
"Exactly! I've never seen a Dad love his daughter so much, Allie. You are his number one concern, and if he marries Elizabeth, you and Little Jack together become both your Dad's AND Elizabeth's number one concerns."
"I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right. It's just that I could tell Mrs. Thornton used to really love me, but then she got busy with Mr. Bouchard, and I don't know, I think it just felt a little like she threw us away."
"She was just tryin' to make somethin' work that wasn't gonna work no matter how much she tried. Deep down, she loved you the same, Allie. Like I said, I don't think she ever stopped lovin' you or your Dad."
"Before you got here, Jack and I picked a big bunch of wildflowers for her. I felt so bad about Scout messing up Dad's flowers. So, I thought maybe this would kind of fix that for Mrs. Thornton and Dad too."
"That was a really sweet thing to do. Elizabeth will love that Allie, especially comin' from you and Jack. Your Dad will be pleased too, to have his flowers replaced! You know, you and Little Jack have gotten really close. He loves you an awful lot, Allie."
"I love him an awful lot too! He feels more like the little brother I've always wanted than just somebody I babysit."
"You two even look like brother and sister! You see that's another perk if Elizabeth and your Dad get together."
Allie beamed.
"I know! Wouldn't that be great? Uncle Bill, will you do me a favor? Can you not tell Dad we talked about this? I don't want him to worry. And I especially don't want him to know about Mrs. Thornton kissing Mr. Bouchard."
"I give you my word, I won't tell him we talked. But Allie, Sweetie, you don't have to worry about that kissin' stuff, you hear?"
"Why not?" she asked innocently.
"Well, your Dad already knows about all that."
"And he's okay with it?" asked a shocked Allie, unable to understand that at all.
"I'll be honest. It hurt him a lot when it first happened. But he loves Elizabeth, and he's forgiven her. You know it might help if you forgive her too."
Allie sighed heavily.
"I know. I'll try, Uncle Bill, especially if you're sure she won't leave us."
"I give you my word, Allie! I'm a hundred percent sure. And just for the record, I'm also sure about Elizabeth lovin' you and Little Jack the same too!"
Allie got up and hugged her Uncle Bill.
"Wow! That helps a lot, Uncle Bill. And I'm super glad I don't have to keep any 'kissing' secrets from Dad! Do you think Dad and Mrs. Thornton will be back soon…"
TO BE CONTINUED