Chapter 99- Returns

*Here is the "Season 11 Premiere" of WCTH 'So This Is Love' Edition!

What you can look forward to in this chapter- Returns… Returns to Work and Returns to Town

Also- I put in a couple 'Easter Eggs' from a few of my favorite scenes in Kevin's movie 'The Wedding Veil'… They aren't too hard to find.

Enjoy!

Lying on his side, Nathan stirred, burrowing further under the blankets. His arm instinctively reached over to feel the warmth of Charlotte beside him. Her muffled giggle, stirred him awake and he slowly blinked open his eyes, revealing his wife facing him, a blissful smile on her face, her chocolate brown waves spilling over their pillows.

"Hi," he croaked, his voice heavy with sleep.

"Hi," she grinned back. Nathan realized Charlotte must have been awake for a while as her eyes were bright and her sound; clear and sweet. He knew the mornings she woke up before him, she would often lay beside him; content just to watch Nathan sleep. He asked her once why she didn't wake him up and she blushed before answering 'because I'm filled with so much gratitude for you and an aching humility that you chose to love me. I'm happy to take a few extra minutes each morning to thank God that you're my husband'.

Rousing a bit more from his slumber, Nathan stretched slightly before wrapping his arms tighter around his wife, bringing her closer to him, their noses brushing lightly against one another as their limbs became entwined.

"This is a nice way to wake up," he breathed against her cheek. "Good morning."

"Good morning," she replied, shifting slightly to pepper slow, sweet kisses along his stubbled jawline and then down his neck to his collarbone.

"Charlotte," he rasped, threading his fingers into her already tousled curls. "What time is it, sweetheart?"

She stopped her kisses and leaned up on her elbow to look into his eyes, brushing back a piece of hair from his forehead. "A little after seven, I believe."

"That late?" He groaned. "I should have been up by now. I need to get going."

Charlotte ran her fingertips lightly over his brow and down along his cheek. "Are you sure I can't convince you to stay here, with me, a little longer?"

"I have no doubt in my mind you can convince me," Nathan grinned, his arms tightening around her waist. "I just don't want to be late for my first day back to work in the office. I'd never hear the end of it from Bill."

Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "And I would hate for you to have to explain to Bill… why… you were so late for work."

They both laughed as Charlotte placed a loving kiss to Nathan's lips, before sweeping to the side and grabbing her dressing gown from the foot of the bed, wrapping, and tying it around her waist. Nathan leaned back against the pillows and watched as she moved gracefully around their room, placing a log on the fire, then walking to their dresser in search of clothing for the day.

"The burgundy one," Nathan commented, seeing Charlotte debate between two different blouses. "I've always liked that color on you. Although, you look beautiful in anything… and… nothing at all."

She twisted towards him and blushed, folding up the other shirt and returning it to the drawer, she closed it with her hip. "I thought, you sir, were in a hurry to get ready for the day."

"I'm too easily distracted it seems."

"Well, you can no longer blame me for your tardiness."

"Can't I?" Nathan raised his eyebrow. "I've determined I'd rather stay right here. You're much prettier to look at than Bill."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Charlotte chuckled, making her way to Nathan's side of the bed. She leaned over and placed another kiss to his lips. "But in all seriousness, you should probably get moving. The sooner you get to work, the sooner you get home to us."

"I want nothing more."

"Good," she kissed him once more. "I'll go get the coffee started."

"Thanks for making breakfast," Nathan gently squeezed Allie's shoulder as he walked past her in the dining room on his way towards the door.

"It was just oatmeal and an apple, nothing special," Allie replied.

"It was special to me," Nathan answered with a sweet smile, as he relished the sight of his daughter and wife finishing the rest of their breakfast at the table.

Seeing he was ready to leave, Charlotte stood and came over to him in the doorway. "We plan on being in town later this morning. Allie and I are going to work in the classroom for a while getting it ready for the students to return next week. Still planning on having lunch with us at the café?"

"Of course! No one else I would rather be with than my girls. You want to come and get me at the office around noon and we can walk down to the café together? I should have my morning rounds done by then and have met with Bill to get caught up to speed on everything I've missed over the past few months." Nathan took his serge down from the hook in the hallway and turned back towards Charlotte, shrugging the garment into place.

"Please," she begged, bringing her hands forward to the lapels of his jacket, pulling the sides together so she could begin buttoning it closed. "Remember to not overdo it. You may have been cleared to go back to work, but I'd appreciate if you eased into active duty. Nothing too adventurous today, okay?"

"How about tomorrow?" Nathan joked, earning a scolding look from his wife.

"I'm kidding… I'm kidding…" He placed a reassuring kiss on her forehead. "I promise. I will behave, Mrs. Grant. I'll probably spend the next week digging out from all the paperwork and reports Gabe and Bill didn't want to do while covering in my absence."

"You better behave. Because if I hear anything different, I'll…"

"You'll what?" Nathan wrapped his arms low around Charlotte's back.

Charlotte furrowed her brows. "I'll be very upset with you, Constable."

"Hmmm…" Nathan hummed, drawing her closer to him. "I think I've heard somewhere that making up is the best part of any disagreement."

Charlotte couldn't keep her straight face any longer and she giggled. Leaning up on her tiptoes she placed a kiss on Nathan's cheek. "Good thing you're cute, Mr. Grant. It seems I can never hold a real grudge against you."

"Thank goodness," Nathan laughed, moving his hands to cradle Charlotte's face, he pressed a passionate goodbye kiss to her lips. "See you later, love."

"See you later," she responded breathlessly, following Nathan towards the door.

Nathan had already saddled Newton and the horse was tied to the banister on the front steps. He paused at the bottom of the stairs and glanced back at Charlotte whose hip was leaned against the main porch post, her arms crossed in front of her, a look he had come to know so well, painted across her face.

Charlotte grinned when she realized Nathan had caught her studying him. "Hate to see you go, Constable Grant."

"But you love to watch me walk away?"

Charlotte tilted her head back and laughed. "Yeah, something like that."

Her husband did have a tempting backside.

She floated down the stairs to join him on the ground, wrapping her arms around Nathan's torso, she pulled him into a hug.

"Please be careful," she whispered softly against his shoulder. "Remember, I love you."

"I love you," Nathan leaned back out of her embrace just enough to give his wife one more kiss. "I'll see you two soon."

"You weren't kidding," Charlotte gasped as she came into Nathan's office around noon. "Did Gabe and Bill do any paperwork while you were on leave?"

His desk was stacked with piles of books, mail, papers, and reports so high Charlotte could barely make out the top of Nathan's head on the other side.

He groaned and pushed himself up from his chair. "Tell me about it." He racked both hands through his hair until it stood half on end, accentuating the cowlick near his forehead. "If I'd have known this was the state my office would be in when I returned…"

"Don't worry," Charlotte reached up and fixed her husband's hair where he had skewed it moments earlier. "You'll get through this in no time, Mr. Order of Merit recipient."

"Thanks for the confidence," he said, leaning over to place a kiss on her cheek. "I hope your morning in the classroom has been more productive than mine here."

"Allie and I are all but finished. I just need to do a little lesson planning this afternoon. Maybe we should see if Allie would like to spend a few hours here after lunch, helping you organize some of…" Charlotte waved her hand in the direction of the desk. "This."

"That actually is a really good idea." Relief flooded Nathan's face. "Have I told you lately how brilliant my wife is?"

"Don't thank me just yet, Constable," Charlotte chuckled. "You still have to convince our daughter that it's a really good idea."

"You know… I may not be above bribery on this one, if it comes to that point," Nathan admitted. "Speaking of Allie… Where is she?"

"She offered to go to the café and get us a table, while I swung in here to grab you."

"Grab away, Mrs. Grant," Nathan wiggled his eyebrows, wrapping a strong arm around Charlotte's shoulders as she encircled her arms about his waist. Walking out of his office, side by side, on their way to join Allie at the café.

"Hi Minnie!" Charlotte exclaimed as her and Nathan joined Allie in the café, taking their seats at a table.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Grant," Minnie warmly smiled. "You both are positively glowing in that newlywed bliss."

Nathan and Charlotte shared a coy glance, both feeling the heat rise to their cheeks.

"What are the lunch specials today, Minnie?" Charlotte asked in an attempt to change the subject at hand.

"Minestrone and chili."

"I haven't had chili in a while," Nathan commented.

Minnie grimaced. "It's Aunt Ozelle's recipe."

"Bill's Aunt Ozelle?" Nathan's face fell.

"Should I know something about Bill's Aunt Ozelle's chili recipe?" Charlotte questioned, her gaze shifting back and forth between Nathan and Minnie.

Nathan looked at his wife, "Not if you can help it. Minnie, can you bring us three bowls of minestrone?"

"Good choice. Three minestrones coming right up."

Charlotte leaned across the table and whispered to Nathan. "What's the story on the chili?"

"It's a secret recipe in the Avery family, and I think most of the town agrees with Molly. It should stay a secret."

"Noted." Charlotte giggled, just as Minnie returned carrying a tray with two mugs of hot coffee for her and Nathan, and a cup of cider for Allie.

"Here you go," Minnie commented, adding a basket of biscuits to their table. "I'll be right back with the soup. Laura is dishing it up now."

"Laura? Laura Campbell?" Charlotte questioned. "I didn't know she was helping out at the café. When did she get back to town? I thought she was still on the book tour with Elizabeth."

"Yes, she's helping me a couple hours a day with the lunch and dinner rush. She's been back for a few weeks now. Returned on Christmas Day, so she was able to spend the holidays with her family, while Elizabeth stayed in Hamilton."

"Oh, I didn't know that. I'm happy she was able to spend Christmas in Hope Valley. Did she happen to say when Elizabeth was planning on being back?"

"Not that I recall, but I can ask Laura if she knows."

"No, that's not necessary. With classes starting on Monday, I imagine they will be back any day now."

"You are probably right," Minnie said, turning to head back into the kitchen. "I'll get your soups and be right back."

"Dad, how is your first day back?" Allie asked.

"Funny you should mention it," Nathan took a big bite out of a biscuit. "Do you want to help me out this afternoon?"

Allie studied Nathan. "Why do I feel like this is a trap?"

Charlotte tried to hide her smirk, turning her attention to butter one of the biscuits. Allie could read them both like an open book.

"Not a trap," Nathan continued. "It just seems that neither Gabe nor Bill did much of the paperwork while I was gone. I could use your help organizing things and cleaning up the office."

"What's in it for me?"

"Is my appreciation enough?"

Charlotte spoke up. "How about when you are done helping your dad, you and I go to the mercantile. I need to pick up some supplies and Mrs. Yost said that the book we ordered before Christmas is in. She also mentioned that Mr. Yost got a shipment of new puzzles the other day, maybe we could pick out one as a thank you for helping me this morning and your dad this afternoon."

Allie took a deep breath as if weighing her options carefully. "Alright. I'll do it."

"Wow! It looks so much better in here," Charlotte commented as she entered the NWMP office later that afternoon. "Great job, Allie!"

Nathan cleared his throat as he came to stand beside Charlotte. "Oh, and of course, you too, Constable."

Charlotte gave him a side hug and a peck on the cheek as she took in the space. What only a few hours earlier were mangled heaps of papers and records, had since been organized and filed in their appropriate places.

"I couldn't have done it without Allie's assistance," Nathan said. "It wasn't so bad helping me out, was it?"

"No, it wasn't bad," Allie smiled. "It reminded me of when I was younger and you couldn't find someone to watch me, so I would come with you to work. I became really good at filing and sweeping the floors because of that… And learning how to draw mustaches on wanted posters."

Charlotte turned towards Nathan and raised her eyebrow in question. "You taught her how to deface official Mountie documents?"

"No!" Nathan scrunched up his nose. "Well… maybe once or twice."

"More than that!" Allie chimed. "He called it art class."

"Interesting," Charlotte smirked. "I think I should have you come in and teach some lessons on art for my students this spring, Mr. Grant."

"But am…" Nathan stuttered. "Am I the most qualified person for this?"

"Yes. From what Allie says, I believe so." Charlotte joked, enjoying seeing her husband slightly frazzled.

"Because I don't feel like I'm the most qualified person for this."

"You have a hidden passion for art and a generous desire to share it with kids. How much more of a qualification do you need?"

"Okay, but how long is this though? Is it a long thing?"

"It would only be an hour or so… Maybe a few times a month."

"What happens if there's like the next Remington or Picasso in your class and I send them to dentistry?"

"You got this," Charlotte smiled broadly. "We'll start you out easy and see if it's a good fit."

"Okay… I got this." Nathan tried to read Charlotte's face, but she was indecipherable. He hoped she was just joking, as he really didn't have much of a background in art, but if Charlotte asked for his help, he doubted he could tell her 'no'.

"Do you want to come to the mercantile with us?" Charlotte changed the subject.

"I'd love to, but now that Allie and I are done here for the day, I think I'll make my evening rounds and then I can be home early."

"That sounds good to me. See you soon." She leaned up to give him another kiss before turning to head for the door. "Allie, are you ready?"

"Yeah, just let me grab my coat," Allie replied, shrugging on her jacket before joining Charlotte as they headed down the boardwalk towards the store.

The pair had only made it past Fiona's shop when Rosemary bounded out of the Coulter's office.

"Charlotte!" Rosie called out, coming to hug her friend. "I thought I saw you milling about town today."

"Allie and I worked in my classroom this morning and then she helped Nathan while I did some lesson planning for next week. Now we are on our way to the mercantile for some groceries and a few other supplies. You look fantastic by the way! Are you and the baby still doing well?"

"Oh, we're wonderful," Rosemary rubbed a loving hand over her ever-growing belly. "There is something special about January isn't there? A new year. New beginnings. Everything seems to have endless possibilities."

"That it does," Charlotte agreed.

"I feel like I haven't seen you in so long."

"We saw each other yesterday at church."

"I know… I know… But it's just not the same as you all living in town."

"You, Lee, and Fred should come out to the house. You were all such a big part of making it a home, I'd love to have you over for dinner as a thank you and to catch up."

"That sounds wonderful!" Rosemary clapped her hands together in anticipation. "Would tomorrow night be too soon?"

"Tomorrow would be perfect. How about I make chicken and dumplings? If I remember correctly, it's one of Fred's favorites."

"He will be so excited. Well, I better let you two ladies get on with your day. We'll see you tomorrow night."

The women said goodbye and hugged before Rosemary returned to her newspaper and the Grant woman to their errands at the merc.

Charlotte and Allie just finished packing up their purchases and had stepped out onto the porch of the mercantile when the stagecoach came around the corner.

"Look!" Allie called out, racing to the stage platform. "It's Jack!"

Charlotte followed her daughter and watched as Jack and Elizabeth climbed out of the stagecoach. "Welcome back!" She greeted, warmly embracing Elizabeth.

"Ms. Thompson!" Jack cried, bounding over to Charlotte who expertly swept him up in her arms for a hug, before perching him on her hip.

"Jack," she said, placing a kiss on the boy's cheek. "Look how much you've grown over these past few months. I don't know if we can keep calling you Little Jack anymore."

"I five!" The boy answered, proudly holding up his hand to show Charlotte exactly how old he was now.

"Five, whole years old!" Charlotte pressed her palm to his and then entwined their fingers, before giving the boy another peck on the cheek. "How's that possible when the last time I saw you, you were only four?"

"My birthday!" Jack said, squeezing Charlotte around the neck again as though he had no intention of ever letting go.

"Ah yes! That's right. Did you have a good birthday, sweet boy?"

He crinkled his nose. "I didn't get chocolate birthday cake."

"No chocolate birthday cake?" She glanced over to Elizabeth.

"Mother and father wanted a more traditional dessert for the holiday celebrations with the extended family," Elizabeth explained. "The cook made Christmas pudding."

"It tasted like dirty socks," Jack commented. Allie and Charlotte tried to keep a straight face at the child's candor.

"Jack!" Elizabeth scolded, her eyes growing wide.

"Sorry, momma," Jack turned and hid his face in the crook of Charlotte's neck.

Just then Charlotte realized that it had only been Elizabeth and Jack who exited off the stagecoach. "Where's Lucas?" She asked quietly.

"He had some business with his father in London to work through. When my book tour finished in Europe, he stayed there, and we came back to spend a few weeks with my family in Hamilton," Elizabeth answered.

"That had to be nice to spend Christmas with them for a change, but I will admit I'm happy you are both back in Hope Valley."

"It's good to be back, Ms. Thompson," Elizabeth answered, reaching down to pick up one of their travel bags.

"Mrs. Grant." Allie spoke up. Her sharp tone earned a sideways glance from Charlotte.

"Oh, yes. Forgive me," Elizabeth straightened.

"Mrs. Grant?" Jack leaned back in Charlotte's arms. A very confused look on his face.

"You remember, Mountie Nathan, right?" Charlotte asked, trying to connect the dots for the young child.

Jack nodded his head.

"Well, Mountie Nathan and I got married on Christmas Eve. I'm his wife now and he's, my husband. Allie is our daughter."

Jack's gaze drifted from his mother, to Allie, and then back to Charlotte. "So, you're now… Mrs. Nathan?"

"Yes," Charlotte sweetly smiled, running a hand through Jack's soft hair. "I'm Mrs. Nathan."

Charlotte then turned her attention to Elizabeth. "I know you both are probably very tired from your trip, but would you like to join us and the Coulter's tomorrow night for dinner at our home?"

Charlotte caught the subtle twitch in Elizabeth's cheek.

"Well… ah…" Elizabeth stuttered. "Like you said it's been a long journey and we're quite tired."

"I not tired!" Jack claimed. "Let's have dinner with Mrs. Nathan. Please, Momma!"

"I'm sure Lee and Rosemary would be happy to have you both ride with them up to the ranch," Charlotte offered.

"Up to the ranch?" Elizabeth's face turned quizzical. "Aren't you living in Nathan's row house?"

"Oh! I thought Rosemary would have told you. Nathan surprised me. He, with the help of so many others from the community, built a house for us out west of town. On Bill's land. I guess I should say our land. Bill gave it to us this summer. Nathan designed the home and we've been living there since the wedding."

"Bill's land?" Elizabeth murmured.

"Yes," Charlotte confirmed. "Nathan has loved that property since he first saw it years ago. We rode up there together a few weeks after you left on your book tour."

"Did Nathan ever tell you that… he and I…"

Charlotte reached out and touched Elizabeth's forearm. "I know."

And she did. Nathan had told her long ago about when he first confessed to love Elizabeth and that he even considered purchasing Bill's land as a place for them to settle down.

"But from what I was told," Charlotte continued gently, lowering Jack down slowly and directing him towards Allie. "You wanted no part in the 'he and I' you just referenced. Even after Nathan told you how he felt."

Charlotte watched Elizabeth pale, struggling to swallow the lump that had grown in her throat. "He told you… all of that?"

She nodded. "Of course. A long time ago. Before I even visited the property. I knew about Bill's land from Nathan telling me everything about that day."

Charlotte hadn't brought up the topic of the ranch to pain Elizabeth. She had genuinely wanted to welcome her and Jack back to town, and dinner with the Coulter's seemed like the easiest choice. But it was quickly becoming not her best decision.

"Mrs. Nathan?" Jack broke through the awkward silence that had fallen over the stagecoach platform. He hugged Charlotte around the legs and looked up at her pleadingly. "When we come to dinner tomorrow night, will you bake me a chocolate cake?"

Charlotte glanced over at Elizabeth, searching for her answer. Elizabeth paused a moment and then nodded in approval. "We'd be happy to join you all and the Coulter's tomorrow for dinner."

Charlotte ruffled the boy's hair, misplacing his meticulously manicured look. "Sounds like you're getting that birthday cake, Jack!"

*I loved giving Charlotte the name "Mrs. Nathan" in this chapter as a slight nod to a book I read this summer "Mrs. Mike", where guess what? The Mountie gets the girl!