Chapter 45- Homecoming
Charlotte turned abruptly at the sound of her name.
The person in front of her looked so familiar.
"I'm sorry. Have we met?" Charlotte asked the visitor.
"We haven't met officially, but from everything my granddaughter and son have told me about you, I knew instantly you had to be Charlotte."
Charlotte tilted her head in question.
"I'm sorry. Where are my manners?" The woman in front of Charlotte reached a hand forward in greeting. "I'm Maise Grant. Allie's grandma and Nathan's mom."
"Yes of course!" Charlotte squealed as she brought Maise into a big hug. "I'm so happy to finally meet you! I've heard so much about you."
"And I, you!" Maise stated, squeezing Charlotte back in return.
"All good things I hope!" Charlotte inquired, as she took a step back to closely inspect the woman in front of her. Maise Grant was beautiful. Her features and hair were a grown-up version of Allie. The only thing that was different between the two women were their eye color. While Allie had the richest brown eyes, Maise's eyes were a crystal blue color. The same shade as Nathan's. It was clear to see the relation and why the woman had looked so familiar to Charlotte.
"Of course. All I've heard over the past month from Allie was how Ms. Thompson is this and Ms. Thompson is that. She is head over heels for you. And from what Allie has said and what I suspect from the letters Nathan has sent me, you are exactly what they both have been looking for in their lives. A woman of value. A woman of strength. A woman to complete their family!"
Charlotte blushed. "That is very kind of you Mrs. Grant."
"Please call me Maise!"
A chuckle escaped Charlotte. "Alright Maise. That is very kind of you, but I'm not sure if I will ever be enough to deserve the care and devotion your granddaughter and son give me. They are the two most precious people in my life. I thank God every day, for bringing me to Hope Valley and making Allie and Nathan my neighbors."
"From what I hear, they are much more than just your neighbors." Maise winked in Charlotte's direction.
Again, a flush poured over Charlotte's cheeks.
"Wait! What brought you to Hope Valley? Is Allie with you?" Charlotte's eyes glanced over Maise's shoulder to look out the mercantile windows.
"Yes, yes. Of course she is," Maise answered, squeezing Charlotte's hands in reassurance. "As soon as we jumped off the stagecoach, she ran down the street. Allie wanted to surprise Nathan in his office while I came into the mercantile to pick up some supplies I forgot to pack."
It was at that moment, Charlotte remembered they were not alone in the mercantile.
"Maise, I would like to introduce Mr. Ned Yost, the owner of this store," Charlotte put her arm around Maise and pointed in the direction of Ned who stood behind the counter.
"Ned," Maise nodded across the counter. "So wonderful to meet you!"
"It is wonderful to finally meet you as well, Mrs. Grant."
"Please, call me Maise."
"Alright, Maise. You should know, Allie is such a wonderful young lady. She works on the switchboard here occasionally. And Nathan is an excellent Mountie. We are so fortunate to have him in Hope Valley. He and Charlotte here are quite the pair."
"So, I hear. I can't wait to see them together myself."
Charlotte disliked being the center of attention, so she quickly directed Maise towards Elizabeth.
"And this," Charlotte began. "This is Elizabeth Thornton. Oh. I mean Elizabeth Bouchard."
"Ah… yes. Elizabeth." Maise coldly stated as her eyes raked up and down Elizabeth. "I've heard plenty about you as well."
"Maise, it's so wonderful to finally meet Nathan's mom," Elizabeth took a few steps forward and leaned in to hug Maise.
Maise stopped Elizabeth's advances by holding out her hand in greeting. "Elizabeth, please call me Mrs. Grant."
Elizabeth's body stiffened, but she shook Maise's extended hand.
"It is good to finally put a face and name together for Allie's other teacher."
Elizabeth swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. Charlotte sensing the tension between the two women, tried to diffuse the situation.
"I'm sure Allie told you, but Elizabeth is quite the accomplished author," Charlotte stated as she placed a hand on Elizabeth's arm in comforting reassurance. "She was actually just telling me about the opportunity she has to do a book tour back east, into the states, and then also possibly over to Europe."
"Congratulations. That glamorous lifestyle seems to suit you a bit more than a small town like Hope Valley."
Charlotte was a little taken aback by Maise's candor. Obviously there had been no secrets about Elizabeth's past with Allie and Nathan. And Momma Maise was none too happy about the woman's treatment of her son and granddaughter.
"Maise, why don't you and I go and find Allie and Nathan. We can come back later for your supplies and mine," Charlotte said as she directed Maise towards the front door. "Ned, if you can just hang onto those items in my basket. I'll be back shortly to pick them up."
"Of course." Ned answered as he and Elizabeth watched the other two women exit the store.
"Mom!" Nathan exclaimed as he wrapped Maise into a large hug.
Charlotte and Maise were right outside of the Coulter's office when Nathan bounded out of the jail and jogged over to his mother. Their sweet embrace made Charlotte's eyes a little misty.
"It's been so long," Nathan stated. He put his hands on either side of Maise's face and leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on his mother's forehead. "I've missed you."
"And I've missed you!" Maise answered. "I figured since it didn't seem to work into your schedule to come visit me, I thought I could come and see you in Hope Valley."
"I'm sorry about that. Things came up last year about the time I was going to visit."
"I know." Maise squeezed Nathan's hand, before leaning forward and whispering in his ear. "And I fully approve of the reason why you couldn't visit. She is exactly how you and Allie have described her."
Nathan beamed as he again leaned forward and placed a kiss on his mother's forehead. He and his mother turned just in time to see Allie almost knock Charlotte off her feet when she ran into her side for a hug.
"Ms. Thompson!" Allie squeezed.
Charlotte returned Allie's embrace. "Oh, my goodness, Allie! You've only been gone a month and look at you." Charlotte stepped out of their hug to take a closer look at the young woman before her. "You are so grown up!"
"Right." Nathan agreed as he and Maise took a step closer to Charlotte and Allie. "I almost didn't recognize her when she walked through the door to my office."
Nathan then turned to his mother beside him. "Mom, I realize you have already met, but I want to properly introduce you to Ms. Charlotte Thompson."
Then Nathan turned to Charlotte. "Charlie, this is my mom, Maise Grant."
"Charlie? Who is Charlie?" Allie questioned looking back and forth between her uncle and her teacher.
Nathan and Charlotte both threw back their heads in laughter.
"It's the nickname I gave Ms. Thompson. I guess I had become so used to saying it over the past few weeks, it just kind of came out without thinking," Nathan answered.
Charlotte caught the knowing looks that flashed between Allie and her grandmother.
"So, mom," Nathan looked over to Maise. "How long are you planning on staying in Hope Valley?"
"Why? Are you wanting to get rid of me already?" Maise joked.
"No. If I had it my way, you would never leave."
"Well. Right now, I'm still unsure. I figured we would just see how long before I outstay my welcome."
"You could never outstay your welcome."
"Don't be so sure of that. I figured I would maybe stay at least until Allie went back to school. That is, if there are any rooms available at the saloon for that long."
"You are not staying at the saloon!" Nathan cut in. "You can have my bed and I will sleep on the couch in the living room."
"Nonsense. I am not displacing you from your bed, Nathan."
"Stay with me," Charlotte offered. "I have an extra room in my house. You are more than welcome to use it for as long as you are in Hope Valley."
"Thank you, Charlotte. That is very kind of you, and I think that sounds like the perfect solution," Maise stated. "I'll still be right next door to Allie and Nathan, and I can get to know you better. The woman who has come to mean so much to my family."
"Great!" Charlotte exclaimed. "It's settled then. How about we go back and purchase those supplies you need from the mercantile, while Nathan gets your bags and delivers them to my house.
"Wonderful!" Maise beamed as she and Allie made their way across the street and into the mercantile.
"Thank you," Nathan's hand reached for Charlotte's. Easily threading their fingers together.
Charlotte smiled at Nathan. "You are more than welcome. I'm excited to have a house, well I guess in our case… two houses, full of family again. I've missed that."
"I've missed that too," Nathan agreed.
Well, I'm guessing that wasn't the visitor to the mercantile you all were expecting ;)
I hope you aren't too angry with me for leading you a bit astray with the cliffhanger from the last chapter. It felt a little mean, so I quickly wrote up this next section to hopefully cause a little more peace and a little less anxiety.
I'm excited to explore Maise a bit more and what her character can bring to this story.