Chapter 128- Abundant Blessings
*Just a quick chapter update on this one. I didn't want you to have to wait too long to find out the answer to Henry's interruption at the jail, and since I will be on the road most of the rest of this week for work travel, I didn't know when else I could get this posted.
While on the shorter side, this is a pretty faith heavy chapter. I know it may not be everyone's cup of coffee (I can not bring myself to say tea for obvious reasons), but it's a part of who I am and why I chose to share it in this format is because I have not shied away from real life situations. Some of what Nathan and Charlotte talk about at the end may be questions you have asked before. I know I have. A lot! If you are going through one of those times in your own life, I hope you can find some hope and truth in Charlie's explanation to Nate that may also fit your own struggles and hardships.
That being said… there IS good in this chapter and something that I think has been missing for some time on the actual WCTH show. A sense of community and maybe more so… an appreciation for our favorite Mountie and his selfless service to those around him.
Nathan and Charlotte hurriedly put on their shoes and followed Henry out the door of the RCMP office to see what the matter was. As soon as they stepped onto the boardwalk though they knew what had caused such a stir and their hands instinctively sought one another.
Looking down the street, towards the Coulter's house was a flurry of activity. Cars, delivery trucks, horses and wagons flooded around the worksite bearing the much-needed supplies and people power to finish the home.
"I…" Nathan's voice broke. "I don't think I understand. Where did this all come from?"
Henry looked at Nathan for a moment, seemingly overcome with his own emotions he struggled to swallow and explain. "It seems you have had more of an influence in this territory than what you ever realized. You're a good man, Nathan Grant. All these people, they came to help. To pay you back for everything you've done for them. Do you remember last summer when the town of Buxton had flooded, and you and Charlotte rounded up a group of us from Hope Valley to go and help clean and rebuild? Well, when the town found out what was needed here was for your family and the Coulters, they decided to return the kindness. And over there…" Henry pointed to some men dressed in serge. "Those are a couple of the Mounties from Benson Hills. They figured after all the help you have given them over the past couple of years in different cases, they would come here today and lend some assistance to this cause." Henry placed a strong hand on Nathan's shoulder and squeezed it before continuing his explanation. "And all those supply trucks and wagons. The Yosts spent all yesterday afternoon and evening calling every store they knew in the area for the extra building materials and supplies they had run out of. Mr. Hoffman, over there, owns the biggest hardware store in Union City and personally loaded up what he thought you would need and came as soon as possible."
"I know we prayed for this," Charlotte said. "But it seems more than I could have ever imagined or allowed myself to hope for."
"This is too much," Nathan's grip tightened in Charlotte's hand. "All these people? I've never done anything to deserve this."
"I think they would disagree with you, Sergeant. When two people, like you and Charlotte, see the good in a community or when the community sees the good in you that you can't remotely see in yourselves, I figure that is a gift. Treasure it."
"A community to treasure. I like the sounds of that." Charlotte beamed a smile at Nathan to which he returned in earnest. "What do you say, Sarge? Should we go help them before we miss out on all the fun?"
Nathan kissed Charlotte's forehead and nodded in agreement. "I think that's a great idea."
They were just walking past the café when Allie spotted them from down the street and came running. "Dad! Mom!" She cried before jumping into Nathan's open arms. "Did you see? They are all here to help finish the house so I can stay in Hope Valley!"
Nathan's throat tightened as he stared at Charlotte over their daughter's head while holding Allie tight in his embrace. He was unable to speak.
"Yeah, Al," Charlotte stroked the girl's back, not breaking eye contact with Nathan. "Mr. Gowen explained it all to us. That's very kind of everyone. Should we go around and thank them? I'm guessing Minnie already has some coffee and muffins made up for breakfast. Maybe we can help her hand them out."
"Okay," Allie said, following Charlotte off to where they had spotted Minnie carrying baskets loaded with refreshments for the working crews.
Nathan watched his girls for a moment longer before turning his focus back to the house. There was still so much to accomplish, but with the dawn, came a glimmering of hope he hadn't allowed himself to feel until that moment.
"Quite the scene, isn't it?" Joseph's strong voice sounded from beside Nathan.
"Yeah, it is." Nathan shook his head in disbelief. "I still don't understand it though. I mean why?"
Joseph gave a deep laugh, "Nathan, remember God doesn't want us to lean on our own understanding, but rather that we trust Him with all our heart. Acknowledge Him and He will make straight our path." Joseph smiled at the sight in front of them. "Also, we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. This is a community working together for the good. That's why we both chose to bring our families to Hope Valley, is it not? Because we believed in the spirit and kindness of those we get to call our neighbors."
"Joseph, I'm not sure if I've ever told you, but I'm thankful you and your family came to town. I don't know what Charlotte and I would have done without your help over the past couple of years."
"Your family has become very special to us. To all of us," Joseph gestured his large hand. Drawing their attention to the wide variety of people who were there to show their support for the Grants. "I like to think that we are all a family. Maybe not in the traditional sense, but a family, nonetheless. One that comes in all shapes and sizes. Because I know during tough times it's nice to be around family, and this community is your family too, Nathan. You have it right here. A family that always has your back. Just like you've always had ours. But now it's our turn to show you how much you mean to this community."
Nathan was speechless. His mind swirled with so many thoughts and emotions. He felt his jaw clench and unclench as he worked to hold back his tears.
"Come with me," Joseph patted Nathan on the back. "I think there is one more thing you need to see before I put you to work."
"I don't know how many more surprises I can take this morning." Nathan chuckled but followed Joseph around the back side of the house. Nodding and thanking the newest arrivals as he passed them by.
Rounding the corner of the porch he saw Charlotte and Allie helping unload a supply wagon. Charlotte spotted him first and called out. "Guess who we just found?"
"Nathan Grant."
Nathan turned to his side. "Gabe…"
"Good to see you," Gabe extended his hand to shake Nathan's.
"Likewise, although I do wish it was under better circumstances."
"Yeah." Gabe gave a tight smile. "I'd agree with that. Bill gave me a call yesterday and filled me in on things after the hearing with the case worker. Said that you may be needing supplies, so Joe and I loaded up some things in this wagon from his store and we hit the road together to Hope Valley."
"Thanks Gabe. I really appreciate it." Nathan felt himself getting lighter with every passing minute. They were going to accomplish the impossible. He just knew it.
As Gabe and Nathan turned towards the wagon to help Charlotte, Allie, and Joe finish unloading its cargo Nathan asked. "So how are things in Brookfield? Wedding plans coming along? You're less than a few months away."
"Things are good." Gabe said, but Nathan noticed his jaw clench before his reply.
"Why do I feel like you're not telling me everything?"
Gabe paused a moment before answering. "I will… It's just that we have more pressing matters at hand right now. But you're right. You and I need to talk about some things before I leave town."
With all the people and the final deliveries of extra supplies, the Coulter's house was all but finished late Saturday night. Well ahead of Mr. Carl's deadline, much to everyone's relief. Other than a few odds and ends, that a select few had volunteered to work for a couple hours on Sunday to finish, everyone else planned to use Sunday for a day of rest before helping to move the Coulters and Allie in on Monday.
To thank everyone for their time and help in finishing the house, Rosemary had planned a picnic following morning services at church. Nathan, Charlotte, and Allie stayed only for a short while, enough time to share their own thanks to everyone who had volunteered and shown their family such love and consideration.
Selfishly though, with so many unknowns surrounding Allie's adoption case and Dylan Parks, Nathan and Charlotte had made the decision to spend the rest of that Sunday as a family of three. They rode Newton and Bandit up to the meadow, with Remi tagging along and spent the afternoon lazily fishing and splashing around on the lake shore. They talked. They laughed. They reminisced. They prayed. All three, secretly vowing to not let the dread of tomorrow, and Allie's leaving, steal their joy of the present.
As the afternoon turned to evening, they rode back to the ranch for a dinner of some of Allie's favorite foods. Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, peas straight from the garden that Nathan and Allie picked and shelled on the front porch while Charlotte cooked in the kitchen. Then for dessert, they had shortcake made with strawberries that had been hunted for in a patch by the meadow that afternoon.
Even though they were all tired from the past few days, following dinner they worked together on a puzzle at the dining room table that they had started earlier in the week. When it was finished, they moved outside to enjoy the summer evening sitting on the front porch steps and watching the stars appear in the night sky. Allie begged Nathan to play his guitar, which he obliged. Trying to strum all the upbeat, happy songs he knew to stave off the melancholy mood he felt encroaching on his heart.
They stayed up late, all seemingly wanting to cling to this moment of bliss. Of normalcy. Of being a complete family for as long as possible. Finally, though, Charlotte reached out and touched Nathan's arm, drawing his attention to her and where Allie had fallen asleep against her shoulder.
"I think it's time, Nathan." She whispered and they both knew it meant more than just being the hour to put their daughter to bed.
Nathan nodded his head. Setting his guitar aside, he picked Allie up into his arms and carried her to her room where he and Charlotte tucked the girl in. Their goodnight kisses to Allie's forehead that night seemed to pour forth extra love and silent prayers that this wouldn't be the last time they were able to do this seemingly small ritual with their daughter.
Even with the physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion Nathan and Charlotte felt, once in their own bed, sleep was hard to come by that night. They talked. They prayed. They cried. But it all did little to rid themselves of the deep pain within.
In the early morning hours, Charlotte groped lazily across the comfortable span of their bed, reaching instinctively for Nathan's broad shoulders and warm body. When her arm only found an empty mass of linens, she woke with a start. She glanced about the room, searching for him, but he was nowhere to be found.
Instinctively she knew where he might be, so she rose and quietly crept out of their room and down the upstairs hallway to Allie's bed. Sure enough, Nathan was already there, leaning in the doorway watching his daughter sleep in the darkness. The moonlight through the windows sending shivery little shadows over his face.
Charlotte went to Nathan's side and wordlessly took his hand. Again, the tears fell between them. They loved Allie so much. While she wasn't biologically their daughter, deep down, they had always known her as their own. They had planned their future together as a family. A lifetime made up of special moments like they had shared today. They had dreams of what their daughter would do with her life. The impact she would make in this world. The love she would share with others. The possibility of not being a part of that tore deeply into them.
Silently they both sat down on the floor in Allie's bedroom and held one another. Swaying slightly in the embrace. Remi seemed to understand that something was wrong. She came to them and pressed her muzzle into Nathan's hand, whimpering deep in her throat.
"Is it horrible I keep asking God why he is allowing this to happen?" Nathan mumbled where his face was buried in the curve of Charlotte's neck.
"Not horrible. Understandable and a very human response." Charlotte said as she pulled back slightly out of his arms to look into Nathan's eyes. She smoothed the shadows sagging below them before kissing his forehead. "He's heard that same question from me a time or two as well." She tried to give him a small smile. "Nathan, I don't have the answers for 'why', and to be honest, we may never fully understand 'why', but what I will do is this… I will have faith in the good. The good of His promises. We've seen that, right? Just think of the past couple of days. Mr. Carl could have sided with Dylan and given him immediate custody. Or Mr. Carl could have taken Allie away to an orphanage in Union City on Friday and we wouldn't have had a chance to prepare her or properly tell her goodbye. Or what if we didn't have family and friends ready and willing to help find a solution. Or what if we would have slaved all weekend with just a few helping hands and no supplies and been unable to finish the Coulter's house. Or we could have not been granted this extra time with Allie today, to just be with one another as a family. These are just a few examples of the everyday blessings hidden in this messy world. Sometimes we have to look really hard to find them, but they are still there." Charlotte reached forward to touch the side of her husband's face. "You've taught me that, Nathan. Your love has shown me that. How even in the darkness of this world, having someone love you and being able to give them that same love in return brings light and a glimmer of hope when things look rather bleak. No matter what hardships come, no matter the brokenness we feel, His love and the love we share together and as a family gives meaning to our lives and blesses it so abundantly."
She kissed him then. It wasn't passionate or sweet, but rather she wanted it to be tender and healing. Her trying to pour support, reassurance, and strength physically into him. To give herself. To fill the broken places of both their hearts.
"How can you be so sure?" Nathan whispered against her lips. "About Him showing us the blessings in this hurt?"
Charlotte threaded her fingers into Nathan's hair and rested her forehead against his. "Because he always has before. We just need to find the strength within us to believe it will be true for this season of our life as it has been in the past. It's not going to be easy. This challenge will test us and our marriage, but I'm going to have faith we will come out stronger and better parents because of it."