Chapter 113- Circle of Love

Leaning in the doorway, Nathan watched her get ready. Charlotte was wearing the cream-colored lace blouse and deep burgundy skirt she had worn to the Christmas dance in town last year and then again to Fred's adoption ceremony this summer. It was the perfect outfit for a Valentine's Day wedding, he thought. Charlotte was looking in the small mirror on top of their bedroom dresser, twisting and pinning pieces of her chocolate brown waves into a simple updo. He realized she hadn't heard him come up the stairs and he appreciated the opportunity to take in her beauty. It wasn't only the physical attraction he felt, what captured Nathan's attention was a glow that came from inside her that simply stole his breath away whenever he was nearby.

Nathan and Charlotte hadn't even been married two months yet, and it felt like both a lifetime and a blink of an eye. They had filled each and every day with so much love that there was times Nathan thought his heart may burst with the overwhelming happiness he felt with his family and home.

It was the happiness he felt when they took their time and sat together as dawn was breaking across the valley, a steaming cup of coffee in their hands. It was the happiness he had when they moved in sync around the house in the morning, getting ready for their day ahead. It was the laughs they shared as a family on the ride or drive to town for work and school. It was the parting kiss before each heading into their respective offices with promises of seeing each other soon. It was the time they spent together over lunch before playing with the children at recess. It was the way he, Charlotte, and Allie would all work together around the house and property when they got home. Feeding and taking care of the horses, starting new projects in the workshop, and completing household tasks like laundry, cleaning, and cooking dinner. In the evenings, most of the time they would read together in the living room, but occasionally Nathan would play the guitar, or they would turn on the gramophone before getting ready for bed. It was the happiness he felt as they sat together in Allie's room for nighttime prayers and goodnight kisses before he and Charlotte also retired for the evening.

But it was also the happiness Nathan felt waking up in the middle of the night for no reason, shifting under the blankets and feeling the heat of her next to him. The happiness of turning around to see Charlotte in her most peaceful, innocent, and vulnerable state. Watching her breathe as though the weight of the world lie on anyone's shoulders but hers. It always caused Nathan to smile and kiss her face in the most gentle manner so as not to wake Charlotte from her dreams. He'd turn onto his back and close his eyes until an involuntary grin formed on his own face as he felt her arm wrap around his waist as she curled into his side, and he knew life didn't get any better than that.

"What are you smiling at?"

"Huh?" Nathan shook his head, bringing him back to the present.

Charlotte grinned at him in the reflection of the mirror and continued her task of getting ready for Carson and Faith's wedding, putting on her mother's pearl drop earrings. "I asked what you were smiling at."

Instead of responding with words, Nathan took a few steps forward, removing the distance between them, he wrapped his arms around Charlotte's waist. Pulling her back against his chest he peppered a flurry of kisses from her cheek to her jaw, and then down the length of Charlotte's neck accompanied with playful smacking noises that earned a cheerful laugh from his wife's lips as she squirmed at his fun-loving display of affection.

"Nate!" She gasped, turning in his arms. "Honestly, you are such a distraction."

"I could say the same thing about you, Charlie," Nathan grinned, now planting sweet kisses along the other side of her face and neck so it wouldn't feel left out.

Charlotte pulled back slightly, placing her hands on either side of Nathan's face. "As much as I wish we could continue this, I promised I would help Minnie finish setting up the food for the reception, and you sir, I believe are supposed to be taking pictures for the happy couple."

Nathan sighed. His wife was right. They should finish getting ready.

"What took you so long in town this morning anyway? I thought you were just going in to do your rounds a little early."

"Well, I brought Allie home from the Canfield's. She forgot to pack shoes for the wedding and before I went to pick her up, I had a call come in when I stopped at the office to finish some paperwork." Nathan said, taking a reluctant step out of Charlotte's arms as he pulled his suspenders off his shoulders and removed his shirttail out of the waistband of his trousers.

"Who called?" Charlotte's eyes followed his movements as he began undressing, but soon she was helping him with the buttons of his shirt. A masculine smirk spread across Nathan's face at his wife's subconscious actions.

"Gabe."

Charlotte's gaze moved from his bare chest to his eyes. "Did he finally?"

Nathan nodded his head. "Last night. Gabe and the children surprised her. Seems as though Lillian had no idea Kinslow had been holding onto that ring for over two weeks now, just waiting for the proposal to be perfect."

"And she said yes?"

"She said yes." Nathan confirmed which earned a squeal of delight from his wife as well as a giddy little jig she did in front of him.

"This is so exciting! Another wedding! And another reason for a family trip to Brookfield. Did Gabe say when they thought the wedding would be?"

"They aren't for sure, but they are talking about this summer."

"This summer? That's months away! Can't they get married sooner?"

"Sounds like one of the little girls in their care has possibly found a home through their sister orphanage in England and Grace will travel with the child there and then back. She most likely won't be able to return much before summer and Lillian says she can't imagine not getting married without her sister by her side. Especially after they had missed so many of these moments together when they were separated growing up."

"I guess that's as good a reason as any. Selfishly, I wish it was sooner."

"I think Gabe feels the same." Nathan chuckled. "Not that I blame him, those few months we had between the proposal and the wedding were some of the slowest of my life. I couldn't wait any longer to call you my wife and for us to be able to love each other in every way possible."

"I think we've done pretty well at making up for lost time." Charlotte combed her fingers into his hair and pulled his head down while rising up to kiss him.

"Mooooom!" Allie's voice cried out from down the hall. "Do you know where my new shoes are that we bought in Calgary?"

Nathan's lips curved in a smile over Charlotte's as she tilted her face slightly away from his to answer their daughter. "Did you check in your closet? Or downstairs in the hallway?"

"Yes, and I didn't see them. Will you come help me… please?"

"I'll be right there."

"Nothing is truly lost until a mom can't find it, right?" Nathan laughed against her cheek.

"We shall see," Charlotte wiggled her eyebrows and then gave him a quick kiss before turning out of his arms and heading down the hallway to help Allie.

Thankfully Allie's lost shoes were indeed found in the back corner of her closet right where Charlotte had predicted they would be. Soon enough, the trio had finished getting ready and made their way back into town for Faith and Carson's wedding.

For the second time in just a few months, the Hope Valley church was filled with members of the community, as well as many of the couple's family and friends who had traveled in from out of town to celebrate the joining of two lives.

During the ceremony, as Joseph began leading the couple through their vows, Nathan reached over and took Charlotte's hand. They shared an understanding look and without saying a word, both of them knew that they were repeating their own vows to one another that they had shared on their wedding day. No matter how many other couples through the years they would bear witness to becoming husband and wife, Nathan and Charlotte knew they would always share this moment together. Reliving their own special day.

When Joseph moved on to the exchanging of the rings, Charlotte found herself idly twirling Nathan's silver band on his finger in her hand. Pastor Canfield repeated the same line he had shared at their wedding.

"The ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love that is freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May this ring always remind you of the vows you have taken."

Charlotte turned slightly to look over at Nathan. His thick lashes over lidded eyes kept her from seeing into the sea of blue she'd grown so fond of. Sensing her watching, he grinned and squeezed her hand in his as they both returned their focus to the ceremony for Joseph's final prayer before he announced Hope Valley's newest husband and wife, Dr. Carson and Dr. Faith Shepherd. As the bride and groom shared their first kiss as a married couple, the rest of the congregation stood and cheered when they walked hand and hand back down the aisle through their friends and family.

"What are you thinking about?" Nathan leaned over and whispered in Charlotte's ear, having noted the change in expression that came across his wife's face.

Charlotte took a deep breath, relishing in how attuned to her thoughts Nathan seemed to be. "The future." Nathan gave her a quizzical look, so she explained. "We weren't the first Hope Valley wedding, and we certainly won't be the last, but do you know what I dream of? That our kids will be married in this little white church, just as we were. That they find their community right here in Hope Valley, too. I know that's wishful thinking. Especially when there is a whole wide world out there for them to explore and make their own mark in, but a part of me will always hold onto that hope that here is where they will always find home." Charlotte wrapped her arms around Nathan's waist and leaned her head on his chest. "Just as we have."

"I think that is a beautiful dream, sweetheart." Nathan agreed, kissing his wife's forehead. "A beautiful dream."

After the wedding and a fun-filled evening eating and dancing, the town saw the newlyweds off as Lee drove them to the train station to begin their honeymoon to Niagara Falls. As guests slowly filtered out of the reception, the Canfields and Grants stayed behind to help clean up. Putting away the leftover food, taking down the decorations, and sweeping up the dirt and debris that had collected on the floor.

Allie had fallen asleep on the drive up the mountain situated between Nathan and Charlotte in the front seat. She curled into her mother's side and now her head draped lazily over Charlotte's shoulder. Charlotte held her close and steady, brushing a hand through Allie's hair as they bumped along the road leading back to the ranch.

It was nearing midnight when Nathan parked the car in front of their house. Charlotte helped move a sleepy Allie to Nathan. He picked her up and carried her in his arms up the stairs to where Charlotte changed her into a nightgown and finished tucking their daughter in. Allie had barely stirred in the whole shuffle from the car to her bed and looked peaceful in the low light of the room as Charlotte brushed her hair to the side and placed a goodnight kiss on the girl's forehead.

"It appears there wasn't much sleeping at that sleepover last night with the Canfield's." Nathan commented, taking Charlotte's hand as they left Allie's room and closed the door.

Charlotte chuckled softly. "Minnie did say there were plenty of giggles coming from their living room until the wee hours of the morning."

"I should have given Joseph my sympathies today."

"It was a beautiful day for a wedding," Charlotte said as she and Nathan walked into their bedroom.

"A very, long, beautiful day," Nathan added, noting Charlotte's big yawn and his own exhaustion.

"Is every wedding we attend going to remind me of our own?"

"I hope so. Not that I need any help remembering how special it was." Nathan turned towards Charlotte, pulling her to him. "It was a lovely wedding, Charlotte. Your dress was beautiful; did I ever tell you that?"

"And here I thought, no one would notice."

"I almost didn't," Nathan admitted. "Not with the way your cheeks were glowing and your eyes shining. I could hardly take my eyes off your face." His thumb began to stroke across the back of her knuckles where he held Charlotte's hands. "Then I remembered a note of advice from Bill. 'Be sure to take a good look at the dress,' he told me. 'She will expect you to know every detail, each row of lace, and the number of buttons.'"

"You know I would have never asked that," Charlotte dismissed. "Remember I had every intention of wearing this blouse and skirt to our wedding."

"I would have loved you in whatever you chose to wear. And while I didn't count all the buttons on your dress when I had you here in front of me that night, all I could think about was there sure were a lot of them."

Charlotte tilted her head back and laughed at her husband's admission then flushed at the memory of their prelude to becoming one.

"As beautiful as your dress was, do you want to know what I will always remember about our wedding?" Nathan reached up and lifted her chin, tipping Charlotte's face slightly so he could look into her eyes. "The look on your face when we said our vows. The way your eyes said that you meant every word of them."

"I did," she whispered. "I do."

"I'll always remember the dimple in your cheek when you smiled at me and the way your hair glistened when it caught the light from within that little white church."

She waited for more.

"The softness of your hands when I held them." He caressed her hands now, looking down at it as he did so.

"The beautiful color of your eyes, so deep and glowing."

"You seem to remember more than most grooms I know." She looked at him teasingly. "Are you sure you didn't count all the buttons on my dress, Sarge?"

"Maybe." He laughed. Both completely relaxed and at ease with one another. This long, beautiful day was behind them. Much like their own wedding, as lovely as it had been, it was now a part of the past. But before them lie the promise of their whole future together. Both Nathan and Charlotte seemed to want to make their marriage even more special than their wedding had been.

Nathan cupped Charlotte's face and kissed her, taking his time. When he raised his head, they both found it difficult to breathe. His eyes were so dark and sultry as he removed the pins from her hair, he had watched her put in that morning. Charlotte could feel her hair loosen and slip down her back, but just as Nathan fingers moved down to her chest and began to unbutton her blouse, headlights moved about their room at the same time they heard a car pull up outside.

They stared at one another; concern paled both of their faces instantly. Leaning over to extinguish the oil lamp on the table, Nathan held a finger up to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet. Charlotte's heart was in her throat, as she watched her husband deftly move with only the aid of the moonlight to where his Sam Browne belt hung on a hook. He pulled his pistol from the holster and then turned back to look at her. She knew what he was thinking.

No one just came visiting in the middle of the night.