Chapter 64- Dad and Mom

*Sorry, it has been a while since I've been able to post. I'm working at finishing up my last major week of work travel for the year. Which makes me excited because hopefully a bit more of that time spent on the road and in planes can now be dedicated to this story. Especially with some of my favorite parts I've envisioned from the beginning, set to come up here soon(ish).

"We haven't done this in a while. Just the two of us."

"Charlotte… I mean, Ms. Thompson pointed that out as well," Nathan replied to Allie as the two rode together. "That's why she suggested it just be us today. Things have been a little busy around here and you and I haven't been able to spend much time together just the two of us since you and grandma came back to Hope Valley this summer."

"I like having Grandma here."

"Me too," Nathan reached over and squeezed Allie's hand.

"I really like-like having Ms. Thompson in our lives as well," Allie's eyebrows wiggled with her statement, causing a laugh to escape from Nathan.

"I really like-like her too," Nathan confirmed.

"That is what I thought," Allie smiled as she turned her attention back towards the trail in front of them.

Charlotte had suggested to Nathan that he and Allie take a ride up into the mountains after school in order to spend some time together. Nathan and Charlotte had spent a few hours every day so far this week, after school, pouring over notes and details together about Beck McEntire. They were mentally exhausted, but both felt as if they had done everything they could to that point in order to prepare. Now it was just a wait and see game until Nathan left next week to help Gabe with the arrest.

"Dad?"

Nathan's heart swelled. It had been less than a week since Allie had begun calling him dad, but Nathan wasn't sure if he would ever get over the feeling of gratitude that washed over his soul every time Allie used the term in reference to him.

"Yes?"

"Have you ever thought about asking Ms. Thompson to marry you again? I know you asked her over a year ago when… well, you know. Have you wanted to since?"

"So many times," Nathan answered in a matter of fact way.

"Then why haven't you?"

"It just never seemed like the right time. Or when it was the right time, something else would come up and we were interrupted."

"Ugh," Allie rolled her eyes. "It shouldn't be that hard. When you love someone, you should just be able to say it, get married, and start being a family."

Nathan chuckled. Allie always thought love and life were so cut and dry. This is how you feel. So do something about it. Stop wasting time.

"What if I asked Ms. Thompson to marry me? Would you be okay with that?" Nathan knew what Allie and Charlotte meant to each other, but he waited with bated breath to hear confirmation that this is what Allie wanted too.

Allie pulled back a little too abruptly on Bandit's bit, causing the horse to toss his head and stomp his hooves in irritation before coming to a halt on the path. Nathan pulled up on Newton's reins to stop beside them.

"You really have to ask me that?" Allie cocked her head to the side, a flabbergasted expression painted across her face.

"Yes. This is as much your choice and decision as it is mine. If Charlotte said yes, she wouldn't just be my… my wife," Nathan's voice broke unexpectedly at Charlotte's name and the term "my wife" being used in the same sentence. He had not been emotionally prepared for the effect the word pairing had on him. "She… she would also be your…"

"My mom." Allie proudly stated.

"And you would be okay with that?"

"I've wanted nothing more. To have you and her… together. For me to have a dad and mom…" Allie's eyes glistened. "It's something I've prayed for, for a very long time."

Allie's eyes drifted to the Claddagh ring on her finger, Nathan's gaze followed. He remembered Allie and Charlotte's conversation last Christmas Eve…

"It is an old Irish tradition handed down from a mother to her daughter. This was my grandmother's ring. Grandma gave it to my mom before she came to this country from Ireland. And then when I was about your age, my mom gave it to me. I was hoping you would do me the honor of accepting this gift from me. From a mother to her daughter."

"Really?" Allie's voice had been full of disbelief. "You want me to have your mom's ring? But what if in the future, you have your own daughter and want to give it to her?"

"Allie, I meant what I said the other night. I think from the very first moment we met, I felt the love of a mother for you. I am not here to replace you mom, because no one ever could. But I hope, with time, you will allow me to love you like you are my own daughter."

"It's something I've prayed for as well," Nathan answered.

"Then what are you waiting for?" Allie questioned.

"I guess one reason was that I wanted to make sure that it was something you wanted too," Nathan replied. Another, more pressing issue, was the pending arrest of McEntire. If things went wrong. It would be one thing for Charlotte to lose him. It would be another for her to lose a fiancé. Or... a husband. Nathan worked to swallow the lump that had grown in his throat.

Allie noted the change in Nathan. She reached over to touch his arm in reassurance. "Dad. All I have ever wanted was for you to be happy. Ms. Thompson makes you happy. She makes us all happy. You love each other more than any couple I know. It's not because you go on fancy dates to the city or give each other big opulent gifts, but it's those little things you do every day to show you care. Going out of the way to show that you are thinking of them. Holding each other's hand in reassurance. Sharing the last piece of cake. Brushing a stray piece of hair off their face. Wanting to know about the pains of their pasts and the hopes for their future. It's them you want to share the little details about your day with. Them you want to laugh at your jokes. Romance isn't about buying, it's about giving. Giving your time. Ms. Thompson challenges you in all the right ways and takes care of you like you deserve. In return you guard Ms. Thompson's heart and make her feel safe."

Tears welled in Nathan's eyes. When had Allie become such an expert in romance and love? No matter when it happened, Nathan knew Allie was right. Even through some of the rough patches he and Charlotte had experienced with their personal doubts and fears, their love for one another always drew them back together. Stronger. More resilient. Their story was one of forgiveness, growth, and healing.

"I want this just as much as you do," Allie continued. "I'm ready to have Ms. Thompson officially known as my mom. Just like you are my dad. We are ready to be a family. Me, Ms. Thompson, and you. Please ask her again to marry you. For the both of us."

Nathan beamed a smile at Allie, one that she returned in its equal.

"I'm also ready to have a little brother and sister, so…" Allie added, lifting her eyebrow in suggestion.

"One step at a time, Allie," Nathan felt a flush rise in his cheeks when his thoughts went to what Allie was insinuating. "One step at a time."

"Hey. I have to start asking now, knowing how slow you two have been."

Nathan smiled and shook his head slightly. This girl of ours. He thought.

He picked up Newton's reins and started directing the horse down a different path. "Speaking of next steps, there is something I've been meaning to show you for a while. Let's go this way."

"Wait. We aren't riding to the meadow today?" Allie's confused voice came from behind as she squeezed her heels, urging Bandit to follow Nathan and Newton.

"Nope," Nathan called back to her. "I have a surprise for you. One that I think you'll be excited about given what we just discussed."

"Working late Ms. Thompson?"

Charlotte's eyes shot up from the stack of papers on her desk.

"Maise! I wasn't expecting you to stop by," Charlotte answered, setting down her pen from making notes on her student's homework. "I haven't had much time to work on my lesson plans and grading this week, so while Allie and Nathan went on their ride this afternoon, I hoped to get caught up."

"Are you almost done? I was wondering if you would come with me to the mercantile. I hope you don't mind, but I offered our baking services for tomorrow's reception celebrating the 'Grand Opening' of the Hope Valley Hospital. I was going to make a couple pies, Minnie of course is bringing her chocolate cake, and we were wondering if you could make a few dozen of your snickerdoodle cookies."

Charlotte looked back to the various stacks of papers and books on her desk. She really did have so much to catch up on after spending most of her time this week with Nathan. The past few days, as soon as she finished with classes, Charlotte would make her way to Nathan's office. They would close the door and spend the next hours pouring over the details of notes Gabe and Nathan had collected on Beck. Charlotte would add information here and there that she believed would be of assistance to better understand what the two Mountie's could face in the arrest.

When Charlotte had agreed to help Nathan last weekend with Beck's case, she honestly wasn't sure how she would feel in going over the details. Charlotte had spent the last year of her life trying to forget everything from her past before coming to Hope Valley. She had tried to slowly box up all the pain Beck had caused her and store it away deep inside. When Charlotte had found out about Nathan's plans to arrest Beck, all those carefully stowed feelings erupted from hiding, causing her fears to take hold of her life.

While their conversations about Beck had been difficult, there had also been something incredibly healing about talking through it with Nathan. As she told the story of Beck in detail, Nathan had been there. Probing deeper when needed, but mostly listening. Always supporting. The few times that Charlotte became overcome with emotions from reliving the past, he would stop them. Instead of being Constable Grant, he quickly shifted to Nate. Sweet, loving, Nathan. Pulling Charlotte to him, comforting her, telling them it would all be okay.

And it was. With Nathan she would always be okay. More than okay. Charlotte knew she was cared for, safe, and loved. He and Allie were her future. She had to have faith that God would protect Nathan and bring him back to her so they could begin their life together without Beck McEntire always lurking in the shadows.

"I'd be happy to help," Charlotte finally answered. "Let me just put these papers away and we can go get some supplies at the mercantile."

"Wonderful," Maise flashed a smile, waiting for Charlotte to clean off her desk before the two made their way out the front door.

The women naturally linked their arms together on the walk. Even before what they had experienced together last weekend, Charlotte had realized how incredibly thankful she was to have Maise Grant in her life. The elder Grant woman had filled a motherly void Charlotte had been missing over the past few years.

Charlotte and Nathan both noted the change in Maise since she had arrived in Hope Valley this summer. While Maise still have forgetful 'spells' they seemed to come less and less and were not as severe. Charlotte hoped it was because Maise was now surrounded by her closest family members who would take care of her, no matter what.

Charlotte was also thankful, Maise felt welcomed enough to continue her time in Hope Valley past the beginning of the school year, when she had originally planned to return to her home in the city. Charlotte hoped and prayed that Maise would make a permanent move to town, and maybe, just maybe, one day Archie would join them as well.

"Henry, Jesse, Mike," Maise called out, noting the three men walking into town together from the west.

"Good Evening Mrs. Grant. Ms. Thompson," Henry returned in greeting, removing his hat in a gentlemanly gesture.

"What have you all been up to today?" Charlotte asked, nodding in the direction of the boxes of tools and equipment each man was carrying.

"Ah…" Jesse and Mike both stumbled while looking towards Henry.

"These?" Henry lifted the tools in his hand. "We were just working on a small platform project for the oil pipeline."

"Yeah," Mike answered. "That's exactly it. A platform."

"Platform?" Jesse asked in a very confused tone. "What platf…"

Jesse was cut off from finishing his sentence when Henry jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow.

"The platform," Henry said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, yeah," Jesse turned back to the two women. "The platform."

Charlotte squinted her eyes, and was about to probe the men further when Maise continued, "That sounds like it was a big day, so Charlotte and I will leave you all for the evening. We need to be getting to the mercantile before it closes anyway to pick up some supplies for tomorrow's grand opening."

"Good night ladies," Henry said, replacing his hat and tipping the corner in Charlotte and Maise's direction. "See you both tomorrow at the party."

"Good night," Maise and Charlotte called out in unison as they continued down the path to the mercantile.

"Charlotte," Florence exclaimed as soon as Charlotte pushed open the door to the Yost's store. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."

"I was just in here last week and I saw you at church on Sunday," Charlotte answered as Mrs. Yost quickly made her way over to her.

"I know. I know, but Molly and I were just wanting your opinion on something," Florence gently pulled on Charlotte's arm and directed her to the far side of the store, where Molly Sullivan was looking intently at some items laid out on a table.

"Good Charlotte, you're here," Molly said as soon as she saw Charlotte come around the corner. "Florence and I are at odds with this. Look at these paint samples."

"Why am I looking at paint samples?" Charlotte asked.

"Well..." Florence looked over to Molly. "Because Molly is thinking about repainting the inside of her house and was wondering what color she should choose. I think this grey color would go with anything."

"No!" Molly exclaimed. "Grey is far too dull and depressing. I was thinking this yellow color would be cheerful and bright. What do you think, Charlotte?"

"Molly, if you like the yellow. Choose the yellow. It's your house that's being painted," Charlotte answered.

"I know. I know…" Molly rolled her eyes, "But if it was your house. What color would you paint the interior?"

"If it was me, I'm not sure... I would maybe go with this nice creamy white color," Charlotte replied, pulling forward another sample. "Neutral, but still warm and inviting."

"Wonderful idea," Florence stated. "You are right. This color would go with almost anything.

"Thank you so much for your input," Molly added, winking in Florence's direction.

Charlotte caught the gesture and was about to comment, when Maise spoke up. "If you're done looking at paint samples, what kind of pies do you think I should make for tomorrow, Charlotte? I was thinking of Saskatoon berry, pumpkin, and a couple apple."

"They all sound delicious, but you don't think that will be too many?" Charlotte asked, slightly concerned with Maise taking on the extra work.

"Nonsense. It's not every day that your town opens a brand-new hospital that could rival anything in the biggest cities. We need to celebrate. Plus, Nathan and Allie should be back from their ride later and can help."

"Maybe don't have Nathan help with baking the pies, Maise," Molly commented, overhearing the conversation. "You heard what happened on Charlotte's birthday, right?"

Maise gave Molly a confused look, to which Charlotte just patted her arm. "I'll tell you about it some other day. Maybe tonight though we should just put Nathan in charge of peeling the apples."

"Wow! It smells amazing in here!" Allie exclaimed as she and Nathan walked through the Grant's front door from their ride. She strode over to the kitchen table to inspect what her grandmother and Charlotte were working on. "Pies!"

"And snickerdoodles," Nathan added, walking directly towards Charlotte.

He lightly placed a hand on Charlotte's hip and looked over her shoulder as she rolled a dough ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Nathan heard Charlotte's breath catch as his hand moved slightly up her side when he leaned in closer to place a gentle kiss on her forehead and whispered, "My favorite."

"Unfortunately, those aren't for you dear. Charlotte is helping Minnie and I with baking some of the refreshments for the "Grand Opening" party at the hospital tomorrow night," Maise explained.

"Don't worry," Charlotte whispered to Nathan. "I think I can save a few for my favorite."

She raised herself onto her tiptoes and placed a return 'welcome home' kiss on Nathan's cheek.

"Especially if my favorite helps me make the cookies," Charlotte added, handing Nathan a drinking glass. "I'll roll the dough in the cinnamon sugar, and you flatten them with the bottom of that glass."

"Deal," Nathan beamed in return.

They fell into a steady rhythm of rolling and flattening, while Allie and Maise worked away on the remaining two pies.

"You know," Nathan leaned towards Charlotte. "This was the same job Nan gave me the few times I helped her make snickerdoodles."

"Your mom told me that Nan used to bake these for you and Colleen when you went and stayed with her and Pop."

"The snickerdoodles you left for me that night after I came back from Brookfield, were the first ones I had since Nan last made me a batch. That was years ago. I bit into that cinnamon sugar on your cookies and was transported right back to their happy home."

"I remember you telling me how much Nan and Pop meant to you. I'm happy to help keep their memory alive," Charlotte reached over and gently squeezed Nathan's hand.

"Nan and I were especially close. She had the kindest heart and funniest sense of humor. At the same time, she was extremely strong and brave. Nan had this way of bringing out the best in our family. I remember the look that Pop would always give her. It was one of pure love and amazement. Like Nan had hung the moon and stars. I always wondered what it would feel like to love a woman in that way."

Nathan stopped squishing the dough in front of him and looked over at Charlotte, who blushed under his intense gaze.

"The thing is. I don't have to wonder anymore," Nathan's voice was low so that only Charlotte could hear what he said.

"You know, Nathan. Pop may have thought Nan hung the moon and stars, but she would have only been able to accomplish the feat because his love made her feel as though she could do anything," Charlotte's grey eyes glittered in the soft light of the room. "I know that from personal experience, too."

They stared at each other a few moments longer. Complete understanding passed between the two, before Charlotte broke the silence. "So how was your ride with Allie this afternoon? What did you two talk about?"

"How much homework her teacher has been assigning lately," Nathan joked, returning to his task of helping with the cookies."

Charlotte scoffed and playfully bumped her hip against Nathan's.

Nathan laughed at her reaction, "No, we both said early into the ride that there was going to be no talks about school or work."

"So, what was there to talk about then? The weather?"

"You."

"Me?" Charlotte questioned. "What in the world would you have to discuss about me? I thought you weren't talking about school."

"Don't you see? You are so much more to all of us than just Allie's teacher. Or our neighbor."

Charlotte beamed one of her brilliant smiles at Nathan, prodding him to continue, "Charlotte, I don't want us to just be Dad and Ms. Thompson to Allie. In the future I want us to be Dad and Mom."

Nathan noted the look of surprise that came across Charlotte's face as he allowed his words to ruminate through her. She swallowed repeatedly as the confession sat between them and for a distraction her hands busied again at rolling the cookie dough.

A few moments passed before Charlotte's voice, barely audible, finally confessed. "Nathan, I want that more than anything else in the world."

Nathan's heart beat faster as he leaned to his side and pressed a gentle kiss on Charlotte's cheek. "Soon. I promise we will be that way soon."