Fifteen minutes before the grand opening of the Amaryllis was set to begin, Archie Grant stood on the boardwalk across from the saloon, turned hotel. He had his hands in the pocket of his dress pants and was trying to ignore the feeling of the tie around his throat. It had been a long time since he had been this formal. The times he had gone to church he had stopped short of a tie. It had been too reminiscent of his time working for the bank in Calgary. Even now, despite Lee's coaxing, Archie had put his foot down with wearing a suit jacket. Those days were behind him. Dress shoes, pants, fancy shirt and tie was just going to have to suffice.
Lee had finally given up, though that had not stopped Rosemary from showing up with a second suit jacket. Archie had kissed the back of her hand, thanked her for thinking about him, but told her that he was as dressed up as he was going to get before heading out here.
Now, he looked across the street at the new sign for the hotel and event venue that he had helped make a reality. Archie felt a sense of pride in that. Looking at the sign, he felt another source of pride in it. Nathan had designed and made the sign for the new business. Not only was he proud of his son's talent, but Archie felt pride in the fact that despite all the mistakes he had made, his son had grown up to be the kind of man that could not only forgive him but allow him back into his life.
Though he may have forgotten what number of chances he was on, Archie prayed every night for the Lord's guidance so that he didn't screw things up once again.
"Nathan did a great job with the sign, didn't he?"
The question from Gabriel brought Archie's attention from the sign to the man now standing beside him. Gabriel was dressed in a black suit, which made Faith's dark red dress even more stunning as she stood beside him. Faith had her arm looped through Gabriel's.
"He did," Archie agreed. "My son has talents that I am grateful that I am getting to find out about. Hopefully, both of our businesses do well."
"Well, as this building has been the location of a lot of community events since I came to Hope Valley, I think the Amaryllis will be successful," Faith said. "As for Nathan's upcoming business venture, I have a feeling that sign, is going to speak for itself."
Archie nodded in agreement. "She is one smart lady, Gabriel," he told his son's best friend. "Don't let her get away."
"I do not plan on it," Gabriel replied, turning his head to smile at his fiancé.
"Young love," Archie commented with a sigh, his own mistakes in love coming back to him. "You two ready to see the inside?" he asked, nodding his head in the direction of the hotel.
Gabriel and Faith agreed and the trio headed across the street. Others were starting to arrive by this time. Lee and Rosemary were outside the front entrance welcoming the guests. Knowing that Lee was probably better suited to the job of greeting people, Archie walked inside planning to keep things running smoothly inside.
Though the only thing on the outside that had changed was the sign, Faith and Gabriel joined other guests looking around the newly designed interior. The walls, floor and stair case had all been stripped, sanded and stained a dark mahogany. Ivy trailing up the stair case and second floor banisters was obviously Rosemary's feminine touch. Gone was the bar and wall of alcohol that had taken up the back wall of the main room. In its place was a smaller reception desk and an area to serve drinks. Cabinets in the same dark mahogany hid the alcohol from sight when not needed. Tonight, the small bar was manned by one of the bartenders who had been employed at the Queen of Hearts. The tables and chairs had been refurbished as well. A proper piano had been placed on the raised part of the room near the entrance. Several low tables with comfortable looking wing-back chairs were located near the piano. A long table occupied the wall to the left of the entrance and tonight was spread with a buffet for the guests to enjoy.
"I never knew this place could look so sophisticated," Faith commented, looking around in awe.
"That was Rosemary's vision," Archie told her. "Lee and I were only responsible for making that vision come to life," he said, a certain amount of well-deserved pride in his voice.
"Well, you both out did yourself. I think this place is going to host many community events."
"That is our hope," Archie replied. "Come this way," he added.
Faith and Gabriel followed Archie toward the back room area of the building. The kitchen was still where it always was as were the storage room and cleaning closet. Those were not what Archie wanted to show off though. Opening a door, Archie motioned the couple inside. This room had been done in a cherry stain. An ivory curtain of heavy material currently blocked the room's window. Lacy curtains of the same ivory, bordered the window. A Victrola sat on a small stand in one corner. The lone table in the room was a long rectangle table surrounded by chairs.
"The table is currently set up to accommodate a larger private gathering or business meeting, but the middle sections can come out, so the room can also host a private dinner for two," Archie told them. "Something that perhaps a couple such as yourself might want to make use of, on occasion."
Faith blushed prettily at the suggestion but Gabriel grinned.
"I may just have to talk to you about a reservation, Archie," Gabriel told the man. He leaned his head closer to Faith's. "We could even practice our first dance for the wedding," he told her softly.
"I would be open to that," Faith told him.
The three of them returned to the main room. Faith and Gabriel spotted Bill and made their way toward the man. Archie glanced around the room, deciding where he should start with his mingling when the front door opened. His son stepped into the room, holding the door for his family. Archie beamed as he watched Jack enter the room in a suit matching Nathan's down to the tie. Elizabeth and Ally followed, both looking lovely. The fact that his granddaughter's hair style matched Elizabeth's, told Archie that Elizabeth had done Ally's hair. Archie was grateful that Ally would have a woman in her life as she reached her teenage years.
Archie started across the room. Ally spotted him before the others did.
"Grandpa!" Ally said, rushing through the gathered guest to throw her arms around Archie. "This place looks great!"
"Thank you," Archie told her as he hugged her close. "You look beautiful my dear."
"Thank you, Grandpa," Ally said, blushing slightly. "You look handsome. Where is your suit jacket?"
Archie laughed. "The tie was enough of a concession. It's not like I have reason to look good to impress a woman."
"Neither does Dad, but he's wearing a proper suit," Ally replied.
"Ah, but your Dad has a wife and daughter that would be disappointed if he didn't," Archie said, looking from Ally to Nathan and giving a wink.
"And if I were still a single man with no kids, I would not even bother with a tie," Nathan replied.
Archie smiled as his granddaughter gave her father an eye roll. It was a gesture he had seen from Colleen on many occasions.
"The place looks good, Dad," Nathan said, holding his hand out in greeting.
"Thanks, son," Archie said, shaking his son's hand. He then looked to Elizabeth. "You look lovely, my dear."
"Thank you," Elizabeth replied, a small blush coming to her cheeks.
Archie looked down at Jack. "You look very sharp there, Jack."
"I match, Dad," Jack replied proudly.
"You do, but I think you wear that suit better than your Dad," Archie teased. "Want to be my assistant for the night?"
Jack looked up at Elizabeth. "Can I, Mama?"
"You may," Elizabeth told her. "Stay with your Grandpa though."
"I will," Jack replied, reaching up and taking his grandfather's hand.
"Looks like I am stuck with the two lovely ladies for this evening then," Nathan said, offering one arm to Ally and the other to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth and Ally both slipped their arms through Nathan's. The trio headed in the direction of Gabriel and Bill. Archie watched them for a moment, happy for his son. There might be struggles ahead of them yet, but Nathan had found love. Archie could see that even if Elizabeth was not quite ready to accept that yet. She would in time though. Archie was sure of that.
Looking away from Nathan and the ladies, Archie looked down at his grandson. "Are you ready to greet some guests, Jack?"
Jack nodded excitedly. Even with the restrictive dress clothes, Archie knew he was going to enjoy the evening with his grandson at his side.
Elizabeth picked up a glass of punch. Turning she took a sip and watched as Nathan danced with Ally among the other couples. Both wore smiles and Elizabeth knew that these were memories that would stay with Ally for the rest of her life. Her own dances with her father when she was growing up had remained with her.
Though she would not have denied Ally this time with her father, Elizabeth did have to admit she felt very self-conscious on her own in a room that though changed felt too familiar for her liking. More than once, a memory with Lucas would start to surface before Elizabeth would push it away. She was not going to remember him tonight. Tonight was about celebrating something good. Something that a dear friend and her father-in-law had put their time and effort into creating, for the benefit of the community they lived in.
A community that Elizabeth once felt very much apart of, but felt uneasy out among them now. Yes, she spoke briefly with those who approached her and more extensively with Rosemary and Clara but mostly she had tried to stay by Nathan's side. Nathan helped her feel brave.
Looking around the room, Elizabeth spotted Bill sitting alone in one of the wing-backed chairs by the piano. Though she had spoken to Bill during group gatherings, she had not had a chance to speak to him alone since before Lucas' had been released from jail. She had not had an opportunity to apologize to Bill for the way she had treated him.
Elizabeth took another sip of the punch before heading in Bill's direction. Ever watchful, Bill noticed her approach. The older gentleman got to his feet as she approached.
"Do you mind if I join you?" Elizabeth asked softly as she came to a stop in front of him.
"Not at all," Bill told her, motioning to the chair next to him. Bill waited for her to be seated before resuming his own seat. "Looks like tonight was a success," he commented, lifting the bottle he held to his lips. Elizabeth noted that it was sarsparilla that he was drinking and not beer.
"It does. I am happy for Lee and Archie, especially Archie. He seems to have taken a sense of pride in this project and I know he is happy to be near Nathan and the children. Jack is already calling him Grandpa."
Bill nodded. "I've noticed the two seem inseparable tonight," he commented.
Elizabeth nodded, looking away as her gaze sought out Archie and Jack. The two were currently sitting at a table with plates of food in front of them. She smiled as she watched Jack feed Archie something from his plate.
"Lucas' lack of interaction with Jack should have told me something right away but I was too focused on myself. I didn't see how my actions were affecting those around me, not even my son." Elizabeth paused for a moment as she looked back at Bill. "Or you. I am sorry for hurting you, Bill. I know that you were simply trying to look out for me."
Bill looked down at the bottle he held in his hands. "I did a lousy job at that," the older man said quietly. "I had a bad feeling the evening when we released, Bouchard. I should have gotten you and Jack somewhere safe beforehand."
"I probably would not have gone. Not then," Elizabeth admitted. "Bill, you did what you could. You asked the right questions. I just did not want to admit to the answers. You could have just thrown up your hands and been done with me. Instead, you continued to be a role model for Little Jack. You were civil to maintain the peace. You tried to get me to accept help. It was my choice to refuse that help and when I did finally find rock bottom, you were right there with Nathan to help pick me up. Thank you, Bill."
Bill looked up then.
"Even without my apology, you have been a source of support for me, Nathan, and the kids. You helped me get free of Lucas. You have supported my unconventional marriage to Nathan. I know if we ask, you will be right there to help us. There is a comfort in that and I am finally asking for your forgiveness now for not showing you the appreciation that you deserve."
Bill placed the sarsparilla aside and reached for the hand not holding her glass. Clasping her hand in both of his, Bill looked her in the eye. "You were forgiven before you even asked, Elizabeth. You have been like a daughter to me, and a father's love is unconditional. No matter what pain you caused me, my love for you forgave those actions. I just wish I could have done more to protect you."
"You did what you could, Bill. I know that," Elizabeth assured him. "Thank you for loving me, even when I had given up on myself."
"Always," Bill told her. He looked past her and Elizabeth had a feeling his gaze was seeking out Nathan. His next words reinforced that feeling. "Just remember that Nathan has become like a son to me as well. Be careful with his heart, Elizabeth."
"I will," Elizabeth assured him.
Bill nodded and released her hand. "Would you like to dance?" he asked her.
"I would like that," Elizabeth admitted, placing her glass next to Bill's bottle. She took a hold of the hand Bill held out to her and let him help her to his feet.
Bill led her out into the group of dancers so that they were close to Nathan and Ally. When the song came to an end, Elizabeth was not surprised at all when Bill suggested they change partners. As Ally shared a dance with her 'Grandpa' Bill, Elizabeth found herself wrapped in Nathan's arms. As they swayed to the music, she realized that she no longer felt self-conscious. She did not care who was looking. She felt loved and protected and those were the best feelings she could possibly feel.
By the time Henry dropped them off at home, Jack was fast asleep and Ally didn't look to be far behind. Elizabeth didn't blame them. She was tired herself. Both Elizabeth and Nathan thanked Henry for the ride as they climbed from the car, the sleeping Jack nestled safely in Nathan's arms. Elizabeth put an arm around Ally's shoulders as she guided the sleepy teen toward their home as Henry drove off.
While Nathan took Jack into his room and helped him get ready for bed, Elizabeth went with Ally to help the girl take out the hairstyle and brush out her hair for her.
"Dad use to brush my hair for me every night until I told him I was getting too old for it and could brush it myself," Ally commented, as the two of them sat on the bed.
"Just because we can do it ourselves, does not mean it isn't nice to have someone do it for us on occasion," Elizabeth admitted. "Whenever I was upset about something when I was a teenager, I remember my mother use to brush my hair while we talked. Her brushing my hair was just as comforting as her words."
"Perhaps I will ask Dad if he could brush my hair out sometimes before bed," Ally said. "Simply for no other reason than I miss him doing it."
"That is all the reason you need," Elizabeth assured the teen.
After finishing with Ally's hair, Elizabeth placed a kiss goodnight on the girl's forehead and promised to send Nathan in to say a goodnight. Leaving Ally's room, Elizabeth made her way to her son's room. Jack was already in his pajamas and tucked in. She crossed to the bed and placed a kiss on his forehead. Glancing around, Elizabeth noted that Nathan had put the dress clothes away before leaving.
Going to the master bedroom, Elizabeth found Nathan gathering his pajamas and robe.
"How was Jack for you?"
"He never even woke up," Nathan said. "Being Grandpa's assistant for the night wore him out."
"It will be good for Jack to have a grandparent nearby," Elizabeth commented.
Nathan nodded. "Ally is happy about it too. Speaking of Ally, I am going to go say goodnight to her and then change in the bathroom. You can get ready for bed right here. I will knock before I enter the room," he assured her.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said, though it wasn't as if the arrangement was anything different from what had happened plenty of times before. Despite sharing the bed with Nathan, changing in front of him was something that Elizabeth had not been able to bring herself to do. Nathan had taken to changing in the bathroom if she was present, she knew out of respect for her feelings.
As Nathan pulled the door shut as he left, Elizabeth began to get ready for bed. She was sitting on the edge of the bed brushing her hair when there was a soft knock on the door. At her permission to enter, Nathan came inside. Elizabeth stopped brushing her hair and watched Nathan as he put his own dress clothes away properly.
"You must think I am being silly not wanting to change clothes in front of you?"
Nathan turned from the closet and looked at her sympathetically. "Why would you say that, Elizabeth?"
"Because I am sharing your bed. You see me in my nightgown all the time," Elizabeth said. She stopped brushing her hair and let the hand holding the hairbrush rest in her lap. "And you have already seen more of me than most people have that night you rescued me," she admitted quietly, heat rising in her cheeks.
"Elizabeth sharing a bed with your husband and changing in front of him is two totally different scenarios even for someone who has not been through the trauma you have been through." He pointed to the foot of the bed. "May I sit?"
Elizabeth nodded, marveling at the difference between this relationship with her husband and her previous one. Lucas probably would have laughed, told her she was being silly, and climbed into bed. If she was lucky, he would have gone to sleep without forcing himself on her when she wasn't in the mood.
Nathan asked for permission just to simply sit near her on his own bed.
That last part brought her up short. Though she was thinking of the house as her home now, she realized then that she still felt like this was Nathan's bedroom. That he was allowing her to intrude on his private sanctuary.
"Elizabeth, there is nothing silly about the boundaries you need to set so that you feel comfortable in this relationship," Nathan told her softly, having settled on the bed facing her. Elizabeth noted that though he had sat close, he had left a little room between them. "Yes, you may need to tell me where those boundaries are, but I will respect them because I love you and I want you to respect me. I do not ever want to give you a reason to regret entering into this union."
Elizabeth met his concerned gaze. "Thank you for understanding," she told him. "Not just tonight either. Even about what happened that night. Even through my pain and embarrassment, I was grateful for your care and respect for me. Grateful that you have not tried twisting the events of that night in an attempt to make me feel wrong for my reserve."
Nathan reached out for her hand, and with the hand not holding the hairbrush, Elizabeth took the outstretched hand.
"You have every right to have whatever boundaries you need to feel safe and respected, Beth," Nathan told her, looking into her eyes. "If I ever cross one of those boundaries unintentionally, please speak up. I know the meaning of the words no, stop and all the synonyms."
Looking into his eyes, Elizabeth could see the sincerity there. Nathan meant the words that he said. He was not just saying what he thought she wanted to hear.
"Nathan, how did it end up being you that found me that night?" Elizabeth asked, finding the courage to finally voice a question that had been with her since the incident.
"Are you sure you are ready for the details, Elizabeth?" Nathan asked. There was no refusal in the words, simply the desire to be sure she was ready for the unpleasant truth.
"Yes," Elizabeth told him, knowing that the vocalization of the answer would mean more than the gesture.
"Ally and I were walking home from the Weise's that night. We came across Jack wandering alone."
Elizabeth gasped. Though she had known about Jack's injuries inflicted by Lucas, no one had given her any further details. Nor had she asked. Until right then, Elizabeth wasn't sure she would have been ready for details that she did not recall.
"He was frightened but as soon as he recognized me, he put his arms around me. I saw the bruises in the light of the lantern I had. When I asked who hit him, he told me Lucas and that he was hurting you again. I knew I didn't have all the details but I had enough to arrest Lucas for child abuse and I intended to do just that. At the time, part of me wondered if I was going to have to argue with you on the subject when I showed up, given how you had been protecting him."
Elizabeth looked down at their clasped hands. "I was a fool."
"You were a victim of abuse," Nathan stated firmly. "When I got there, Lucas answered the door. I wasn't sure where you were but little Jack wandering alone and his statement of Lucas hurting you had me worried. When you had not made an appearance after I had put Lucas under arrest, I knew something was wrong."
Elizabeth watched as Nathan took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"You do not need to go on if it is too hard," Elizabeth told him, dropping the hairbrush in her lap and placing the hand on her cheek.
"Do you want to know the rest?" Nathan asked.
"Not if it is too hard for you," Elizabeth told him.
"Elizabeth the hardest part of all of this for me was walking into that bed room and seeing you hurt and tied to the bed. I felt like I had failed you and the only way I could help at that point was to cover you properly and hold you until someone else came. Though I will admit that holding you was not just about giving you comfort. It was also to keep myself from doing something I knew I would regret, because I knew if I left your side at that moment I would have gone downstairs and hit a restrained prisoner. Lucas may have deserved it, but it would have been wrong and I would have regretted it later."
Elizabeth heard the icy steel of his anger, but she also heard regret in Nathan's words.
"Then I am glad that you stayed with me," Elizabeth told him. "Then and later," she told him. "I do not want to think what may have happened to me or Little Jack if it hadn't been for you Nathan," she said, moving the hand resting on his cheek to wipe away a few tears that leaked from his glistening blue eyes. "Thank you for being my strength when I needed it."
"You are welcome, Elizabeth," Nathan told her. "No matter where life takes us, I will always be there for you or Little Jack. You have my vow of that."
Elizabeth could not find her voice so she simply nodded in acknowledgment.
"Are you ready to try to get some sleep?" Nathan asked, after a few moments.
Elizabeth nodded, letting her hand fall from his cheek. Nathan gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting go of it. As Elizabeth got up to place her hair brush on the table, Nathan climbed into his side of the bed. Returning to the bed, she put out the lamp and climbed in beside him. Without hesitation, Elizabeth moved in close to Nathan's side, and she rested her head on his shoulder, she felt his hand come to rest gently on her arm, present but not confining her.
"I promise to always do everything in my power to keep you and Little Jack safe from now on, Beth," Nathan told her softly, before pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
Elizabeth knew he meant the words. Knew that they meant he would put himself in danger if it meant keeping her safe. That knowledge scared her because she didn't want Nathan hurt any more than he already had been through all of this. However, the words also made her feel cherished, just like being with Jack had. Jack had always put her needs before her own, in the same way that she had seen her father put his needs before those of his family. Her mother had accepted those actions and showed her appreciation through her support of her father.
Laying there, Elizabeth made a silent promise to try her best every day to be a source of support and comfort to her husband even if she was still struggling with returning the love she showered upon her every day.