Chapter 37- Summer Nights

"That was delicious!" Charlotte commented as she finished her last bite of their family dinner. "I would have never known that was the first time you made beef tenderloin."

"Confession? Gustave made dinner tonight. I hope you are not too disappointed that it wasn't homemade."

A laugh escaped Charlotte. "No, I'm not disappointed. That just gives me a reason to teach you how to make it some time."

Nathan thought back to his earlier experience in the café as he started to clean up their meal. "I'm afraid I may be a lost cause in the kitchen."

Charlotte grabbed two plates of her own and followed Nathan. Slinking her body beside his at the sink. "Maybe you just haven't had the right teacher."

The feel of Charlotte's body pressed against his side along with the quick wink she flashed him caused Nathan to almost drop the dishes in his hands at her flirtatious gestures. He felt the draw to lean down to kiss her. Charlotte again bit her lower lip. Was she feeling the same magnetic pull he was?

"Uncle Nathan," Allie interrupted. "It's a beautiful summer night, why don't we go for a walk to the pond?"

Allie with the save. Nathan thought.

"That sounds like a great idea, Allie," Charlotte beamed. "What do you say Nathan? Shall we go on a bit of an evening stroll?"

Before waiting for his answer, Charlotte reached down and took Nathan's hand into her own. "Don't worry. The dishes will still be here when we get back."

The sound of people's laughter was the first thing Charlotte noticed. Then it was the smell of campfires. As the trio came further down the path, Charlotte realized that this intimate evening stroll was going to be anything but.

"Happy Birthday!" A roar came forth from the large crowd gathered by the pond.

"Did you two know about this?" Charlotte asked, turning back and forth between Allie and Nathan beside her.

"Well, not exactly. Dinner was our plan. This is…"

"Rosemary," Charlotte finished Nathan's sentence.

"Yes. Rosemary," Nathan smiled as they walked towards the crowd and Charlotte was immediately greeted with warm wishes for a happy birthday.

Soon enough the Coulters' gramophone was playing festive music and people filled a makeshift wooden dance floor that had been constructed beside the pond.

Like the Christmas dance, Charlotte and Nathan seemed to be pulled in opposite directions throughout the night. Still their eyes always seemed to search the other out. Staring across the crowd, keeping them connected.

At one point when the song selection changed, Nathan saw Charlotte move towards the punch bowl on the table beside the dance floor. He excused himself from Minnie and Joseph's company to head in the same direction. But before Charlotte could reach their shared destination, a hand touched her arm.

"Ms. Thompson, would you honor me with this dance?" Timmy Lawson asked.

"Of course. I would love to," Charlotte answered, giving the young man a sweet smile.

As Timmy led his teacher out to the middle of the dance floor, Charlotte glanced over at Nathan who had stopped in his tracks when he saw Timmy's approach. Charlotte shrugged in Nathan's direction and mouthed the words "I'm sorry" over her dance partner's head.

Nathan gave her a small wave and smile, showing that he would be alright. Charlotte could dance with whomever she wanted to, as long as her last dance tonight was saved for him.

Timmy's invitation to dance was only the beginning for Charlotte. Because throughout the rest of the evening, her school children had all made it a point to dance with their teacher. Sometimes one on one and other times as part of a larger group. All the while, Nathan kept a watchful eye from his spot on the edge of the dance floor. Thinking to himself how beautiful Charlotte was. It wasn't just her appearance. Because her stunning looks never stood a chance compared to how breathtaking Charlotte's soul was. She always had a way of making the people around her feel incredibly special and loved.

Currently Fred was Charlotte's partner. She shuffled and twirled him all around the dance floor, picking him up for little dips, and then setting him down on top of her feet to teach him the steps of a proper waltz. Both laughing cheerfully into the night.

"You are a lucky man." Bill said as he came to stand beside Nathan.

Nathan looked over to Bill. A mentor. Father figure. Friend.

"That I am," Nathan agreed.

"Make sure to stop by my office in the next couple of days to sign your guardianship paperwork and bill of sale I drew up today."

"Bill of sale? What are you talking about?"

"Your land."

"My land? Bill, what's going on?"

"That property of mine you looked at a couple years ago. I know how much it means to you. And I think now you have dreams of being there with Charlotte. A place to raise your kids together. A place to grow old with Charlotte, sitting on the front porch in your little rocking chairs. You can see a future on that land. Am I right?"

Nathan's throat went dry. He couldn't formulate a response, only a simple nod of his head as his focus again turned to Charlotte on the dance floor, currently surrounded by what seemed like all the children of Hope Valley, including Little Jack.

"After everything you told me this morning, I realized what it is I've seen between you two this past year. It's the connection. The one that comes from two people who have such broken pasts. You have a mutual need to be there for the other. To save the other from ever having to feel that pain again. You make Charlotte feel safe and protected. She makes you feel appreciated and loved. Together you already have a family. A home. I'm just giving you a place to build on that foundation. To grow."

"I can't accept it. This is too big of a gift."

"Yes. You can accept it," Bill smiled and clasped a strong hand onto Nathan's shoulder. "Nathan. You are the closest thing I have to a son. This is my legacy I want to leave to you and your family. I saw how happy the thought of settling down on that property made you. I figured you needed something to look forward to after McEntire's arrest. And creating a home with Charlotte and Allie I think is just the thing."

"Thank you, Bill."

"Now stop being a wallflower and go ask that girl to dance, would you?" Bill quipped as he gave Nathan a playful shove onto the dance floor.