Chapter 80- Wedding Planning
"I'm sorry, sir," Charlotte fumbled. "Have we met before?"
"No, I'm sorry. Where are my manners?" The gentleman came closer to her, and Charlotte could finally see his face more clearly. He extended a hand forward in greeting. "I'm Archie…"
Before Archie could finish his introduction, Charlotte jumped down from her steps and enveloped the older man in a hug. "Yes, of course, Archie! It's so wonderful to finally meet you."
"This is quite the welcome," Archie chuckled, a sound so similar to Nathan's.
"Oh," Charlotte stepped back slightly. "I'm sorry. That probably wasn't the most proper of greetings for two people meeting for the first time."
Archie smiled, "This may be our first meeting, my dear, but from everything Allie, Maise, and Nathan have told me, I believe I know you better than most."
A flush came to Charlotte's cheeks. "I feel the same way about you."
"I am so happy to finally meet my future daughter-in-law."
"I like the sound of that. Daughter-in-law." Charlotte giggled. "Maise had told me she called you a few times with updates about Nathan, but we didn't expect you to be arriving in town so soon. The wedding isn't until Christmas."
"Well, I hope you don't mind, but I decided to come early. I need my family."
Charlotte gave a sympathetic smile in understanding. "Did Maise or Allie know you were coming today?"
"No, they didn't. I thought I would surprise you all and just show up, but that doesn't seem to be the best plan since no one is at home."
"Maise and Allie are at the Coulter's tonight for dinner, and I was just packing up food for Nathan and I to have together. There is more than enough to share if you would like to join us."
"I couldn't impose. I'll just get something to eat at the saloon or cafe tonight."
"It is no imposition! Let me go in and pack an extra place setting. I'm sure Nathan would love to see you tonight."
"If you're sure…"
"I'm sure. We are family." Charlotte squeezed Archie's hand in reassurance, before the pair headed inside to finish packing their dinner to share with Nathan.
"Finally," Nathan said as Charlotte opened the door to his hospital room. "My mouth has been watering for hours. I swear I could smell that soup cooking from here."
Charlotte tilted her head back and laughed. Lifting the basket filled with their dinner and placing it on the table beside Nathan's bed as she removed her scarf and coat to lay them on the back of the chair. "I have a surprise for you."
"Did you bake snickerdoodles, too?"
Charlotte twisted her head, "How in the world did you know I made snickerdoodles?"
Nathan's eyes glimmered as he smirked. "Because I know you."
"That you do," Charlotte leaned forward and placed a kiss on Nathan's forehead. "But that wasn't the surprise I was referring to?"
Nathan's brow raised in question, his eyes following Charlotte's to the doorway, where Archie now stood.
"Dad!?" Nathan's eyes grew big with surprise.
"Son," Archie strode across the room to envelope Nathan in a hug. "It's so good to see you. It's been too long."
They held one another for a long time. Charlotte's heart grew watching the scene in front of her unfold. Knowing so much about the tumultuous past between the two and being able to witness the loving embrace they shared now, brought tears to her eyes. Nathan Grant was a lot of things, but his obvious forgiveness of his father and his ability to move their relationship forward without hanging onto sins Archie had committed, confirmed to Charlotte how blessed she was to be marrying such an amazing man. A man who felt so deeply, but still strived to see the best in everyone, was a beautiful thing to behold and be a part of.
"You look good, son," Archie leaned back from their embrace.
"I've had a pretty great nurse," Nathan glanced over Archie's shoulder and winked at Charlotte.
Archie laughed. "I can see that."
"Dad, it seems as though you have already met, but there is someone very important to me I want to introduce you to."
Nathan reached over to take Charlotte's hand, pulling her gently to his side. "Dad, this is Ms. Charlotte Thompson. My fiancé. Charlotte, this is my dad, Archie Grant."
Archie extended his hand in greeting to Charlotte, to which she took. "So nice to finally meet you, Ms. Thompson. My son is a very lucky man."
"I'm the lucky one, Archie," Charlotte corrected. "And it is so wonderful to finally meet you."
The trio talked and laughed over their meal together. Archie told stories of Nathan's childhood. Nathan and Charlotte filled him in on their relationship over the past year.
As they began into the cookies Charlotte had baked, Nathan noticed a peculiar expression on Archie's face.
"Dad," he whispered. "What is it?"
"Oh," Archie acted as if he had been caught off guard. "I was just thinking."
"Thinking about what?" Nathan asked.
"About how much she would have loved her."
"She?" Charlotte questioned.
Nathan smiled. He knew who Archie was referring to.
"My daughter, Colleen," Archie answered Charlotte's question. "I was just thinking, how much she would have adored you. Your personalities are so similar. It's almost like she's still here with us.
"Colleen is always here with us," Nathan reached over and touched Archie's hand when he noticed the tears collecting in the corner of his father's eyes. "And I agree. Colleen would love Charlotte becoming a part of the family.
Nathan's eyes fell on Charlotte, noting she was also struggling to control her emotions. She caught his gaze and gave a supportive smile as she reached over to rub a hand lovingly over Nathan's upper arm.
"Archie," Charlotte turned her attention to her future father-in-law. "I know we just met, but I was wondering…" Charlotte's voice cracked. "Would you mind walking me down the aisle on Christmas Eve?"
Archie and Nathan both looked flabbergasted, urging Charlotte to continue with her explanation. "I know you weren't able to be at Colleen's wedding or walk her down the aisle, and since my dad is no longer here… I was hoping you would be by my side when I make my way towards Nathan on our wedding day?"
"Are you sure?" Archie's voice was so soft, Charlotte strained to make out the words. "I mean… There must be someone more suited for the position."
"You are perfectly suited. This is what I want, Archie. We have both lost people who were very dear to us. I think my dad would love knowing it was you stepping into this role for me. Nothing would make me happier than having you not only at our wedding but being a very important part of it."
Archie turned his attention from Charlotte to his son. "Nathan, are you okay with this? I won't do it if this isn't what you want as well."
Nathan glanced at Charlotte, searching her face to confirm this was indeed what she wanted for them and not just her trying to be nice to his father. When she gave him a grin and nod in understanding, Nathan turned back to Archie. "Dad, we would love it if you would walk Charlotte down the aisle on our wedding day."
A beaming smile spread across Archie's face. "Then the answer is yes! It would be my honor."
A little later, Nathan, Charlotte and Archie heard footsteps coming down the hallway. Soon enough, Allie and Maise were produced in the door to Nathan's room.
"Grandpa!" Allie called out as she bounded over to Archie and enveloped him into a tight hug.
"Archie," Maise gasped. "I didn't know you'd be here. When did you get into town?"
"Late this afternoon," he answered. "I thought I'd surprise you all, but no one was at home when I got here. Thankfully Charlotte found me on the front porch and invited me to join her and Nathan for dinner."
"We were just down the road at the Coulter's house planning the..." Allie paused to look over at her grandmother before continuing. "Planning the wedding."
"Ah! I see," Archie brought Allie to sit on his lap. "The wedding."
Charlotte looked over at Nathan with a quizzical expression. He just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Hoping that being held up in this room for over a week, disguised his own involvement in the wedding planning Allie was referring to. Judging by his father's reaction, Maise had let him in on the secret which could also explain Archie's early arrival into Hope Valley. He was here to help with the 'wedding planning' while Nathan was still recovering.
Joseph had been able to sneak into his room a few times while Charlotte was out running errands or at her house for an hour or so. He would give Nathan updates as to their special project's progress and explain how various townspeople were coming together to help while Nathan was still in the hospital. Earlier, he had a feeling when Charlotte mentioned that his daughter and mother would be at the Coulter's tonight for dinner it had more to do with plotting than actual wedding planning.
"Soooo," Allie drawled. "Where are you two going for your honeymoon?"
Nathan could feel the heat instantly rise in his cheeks. He quickly turned towards Charlotte to gage her reaction to Allie's very blunt and direct question, expecting to see some ghosts of her past at their daughter's suggestive tone.
"Are you all planning that too?" Charlotte joked, her eyes sparkling with humor.
"No, no, no. Nothing like that," Maise jumped in. "Tonight, when we were discussing the reception, we started wondering if you two planned on leaving early to catch a train somewhere?
"I guess we really hadn't discussed that," Charlotte looked over to Nathan. "Personally, I would be happy to just stay in Hope Valley. It is Christmas after all."
"But it is also your wedding day!" Maise chimed in. "Don't you want to go somewhere... romantic?"
"What do you say, Nathan?" Charlotte asked. "This isn't just my wedding… it's yours as well. Did you ever envision going somewhere… romantic on your wedding night?"
Nathan worked to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat.
"If you would like to take a trip, we can do that," Nathan offered. "Or given our discussion this afternoon about being simple people, what if we just stayed closer to Hope Valley? Bill was telling me the other day that the Canfield's old cabin is vacant again after the most recent tenants moved out a few weeks ago. Maybe we could clean it up a bit and stay there for a few nights. Just the two of us."
"That sounds perfect," Charlotte gave him an intimate smile. "All except one thing."
"What's that?" Maise questioned.
"Since we are getting married on Christmas Eve, if we stayed a few nights at the cabin, that would mean Nathan and I would not be with you all on Christmas Day. What about opening presents together or the annual fishing trip?"
"We go fishing all the time," Allie stated. "Christmas comes every year. The day you and dad get married is once in a lifetime. You shouldn't postpone your honeymoon. Not when the only present on my Christmas list this year is a little brother or sister and that can't happen if you two don't…"
"Allie Maise Grant!" her grandmother scolded. "You shouldn't talk so freely about things like that."
"What? I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking."
The room erupted in laughter.
"What do you say, Charlotte?" Nathan whispered softly. "Do you want to spend a few days in the mountains with me warming up in front of a fireplace?"
"Hmmmm," Charlotte hummed. "That does sound nice."
Charlotte slipped her hand into Nathan's. His fingers closed over hers, returning her clasp with a masculine strength tempered by heartbreaking gentleness that set her body aflame.
"Good thing you chopped all that wood this summer to keep us warm," Charlotte quipped, her grey eyes dancing with playfulness.
Nathan squeezed her hand a little tighter. The idea of spending a few days, and nights, alone together in the mountains made his heart race. Since the morning he woke with Charlotte curled by his side and they shared their first kiss, Nathan found his thoughts floating to other more intimate activities that he hoped would keep the two of them warm on the cold winter nights.
"One question," Allie broke through Nathan and Charlotte's heady fog. "I know I just said that a sibling is the only present I wanted, but since they take a few months, do you still think I could have a present for this year? If it wouldn't be too much?"
"Not to worry, Allie," Charlotte winked. "I think we will still be able to find some time to have a bit of a normal Christmas even with all the wedding planning."