Chapter 136- No Place Like Home
*Hi friends… Ouch. I hear ya… It's hard to get through the idea of Allie being taken away from Nathan, Charlotte, and Hope Valley.
I don't purposely do this sort of thing to cause distress or heartache. I do it to tell a story and show again some real-world issues and how they affect families. How many of you have seen children used as "pawns" in divorce settlements or even sometimes the foster care system? How sometimes the best choice of guardian or parent is passed over because "the law says" or because of some other family dynamics.
I know many of us use fiction, especially Hallmark to escape reality and I'm sorry if these harder chapters don't allow you that (for the moment). There are steps/scenes I need to cover before things start looking up for these three. Because of that… I understand if you want to hold off reading until happier times come along- it may be 3-4 chapters before things start looking brighter and for sure we have happier times in the finale that I have pegged at around Chapter 143. I wish you'd stay on the "rollercoaster of emotions", but I understand that's not everyone's cup of "tea" right now. So here is my disclaimer and warning of what's to come.
I will try to write my little heart out as quickly as possible to get us back to the good… hopefully this short little chapter keeps us move along. I can't promise daily postings until the finale, but I do have some time here this weekend before I get back on the road early next week for my job. We'll see what I can do to quickly get past the rough bits…
Nathan felt as if he had experienced every emotion possible in the few hours since Judge Cameron had handed out his verdict. Shattering his family, and his heart, into what felt like a hundred tiny pieces.
With quick thinking by Lee, persistent pleading of Rosemary, and spiritual guidance by Joseph, the trio petitioned Cameron to allow Allie to come back to Hope Valley for the night to collect her things and say goodbye to the place she had called home for the past five years. The judge agreed to allow it if Parks also gave his permission.
Dylan was against the suggestion as he had been planning to return with Allie to his job and new apartment in Edmonton as soon as the trial was over. It was Seth Drake who finally ended up convincing Dylan it would be in his best interest to agree.
"Parks, do you really want the first night in over a decade your daughter is in your care to be this night? Give her time to settle and wrap her head around it all. To have a chance to say a proper goodbye. She at least deserves that."
With his attorney's guidance, Dylan begrudgingly agreed that Allie would be able to return to Hope Valley and spend one last night in the Coulters' home while he and Drake stayed at the Queen of Hearts before leaving with her the next morning for Edmonton.
While Nathan, for some time, had known his days with Allie living under his roof were limited and growing ever fewer, the idea of mere hours with her felt like a rug had been ripped out from under his feet.
How could he and Charlotte fill the flitting moments with everything they needed to say and do with their daughter that they had hoped to have years to accomplish? It simply seemed impossible. How could he tell her that no matter what this judge said, they would never stop fighting to bring her home?
Especially with the numbness that he himself, Charlotte, and Allie seemed to be feeling. They spoke very little on the ride home. None of them could plan or process what needed to happen once they all returned to Hope Valley.
Thankfully Rosemary Coulter took charge on the train ride, orchestrating the townspeople to various errands and tasks to prepare for Allie's travel, while at the same time planning for a private dinner at the Coulters' home for Allie, her parents, and grandparents. She knew they would need the opportunity to talk about their family's future without any spectators.
It had been a simple evening. Without much fuss or fanfare. Clara and Bill prepared their dinner while Minnie made her famous chocolate cake. Lee and Rosemary drove out to the ranch to fetch Remi and pack up any of Allie's few remaining possessions they thought she would need for her journey to Edmonton. Saving the Grants from being bothered with the trivial task, when their limited time together was so precious.
After dinner, they played a few games of checkers together, while Archie and Maise told stories of when Nathan and Colleen were growing up. Later, Nathan brought out his guitar that Lee had remembered to pick up from the ranch. He played all the happy, upbeat tunes he knew to help keep the evening as light as possible.
Finally, it was time for Allie to go to bed. Archie and Maise bid them all goodnight and then Allie went to wash up, brush her teeth, and change into her nightgown with Charlotte's help, while Nathan exchanged some hollow pleasantries with Lee in the kitchen. Lee, Rosemary, and the children had returned from their dinner at the café about an hour prior to put Fred and Patricia to bed for the night as well.
"Dad," Allie's voice came from the base of the stairs. "Will you come up and read me a bedtime story… like always?"
Nathan's throat tightened and tears clouded his vision. "Yeah, Al. I'd love to."
She led the way up the stairs to the room she had been given in the house. Charlotte sat on the chair in the corner and gave him a solemn smile when they came in. Allie settled under the covers of the bed and prompted Nathan to sit beside her. He followed her directions and positioned himself on top of the blankets with his back braced against the head of the bed. Allie shifted slightly and pulled out 'Cowboy', her teddy bear, from behind her pillow and sat him between herself and Nathan.
"There," she said. "Now we're ready for a bedtime story, Dad."
Nathan's gaze caught Charlotte's across the room. He could see tears welling about her cloudy grey eyes as she took in the scene between father and daughter.
"What are we reading tonight?" Nathan finally asked.
"I thought this would be appropriate. As a reminder that… There's no place like home." Allie handed an old, ratted book to him and Nathan's heart clenched when he recognized the worn cover in his hands. "Do you remember that it was the first book you ever read to me?"
Nathan's memories flashed back to that stormy night all those years ago. He had been reading a chapter in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" when four-year-old Allie knocked on the door to his room and asked to stay with him until the storm passed. Admitting to Nathan how much she missed her mom and all the times Colleen would read her bedtime stories.
"Of course, I remember…" Nathan choked out his reply.
"Is that okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah, that's way better than okay." Nathan wrapped an arm around Allie's shoulders and pulled her into his side, kissing her hair before opening the book to begin reading.
He covered the tale of Dorothy's adventures from the cyclone to the witches, and the path on the yellow brick road. But Nathan felt particularly struck when he came to the part about the lion requesting courage from the great wizard…
"But how about my courage?" asked the Lion anxiously.
"You have plenty of courage, I am sure," answered Oz. "All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The True courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty."
"Perhaps I have, but I'm scared just the same," said the Lion. "I shall really be very unhappy unless you give me the sort of courage that makes one forget he is afraid."
"Very well, I will give you that sort of courage tomorrow," replied Oz.
When Nathan turned the last page of the book and finished the story with Dorothy back home safely where she belonged, he looked over at Allie. Her eyes were heavy with sleep.
"It's late," Nathan placed a kiss on her temple. "I think it's time for you to get some rest."
Allie tilted her face up to look at him. Her eyes filled with so many emotions. He knew she was trying to delay the inevitable, just as much as he wanted to.
"Okay," she finally answered. "But will you sing me one more song before you go?"
"Al, my guitar is downstairs, and Fred and Patricia are already asleep. I don't want to wake them."
"Don't worry about any of that."
Nathan looked up to see that Lee and Rosemary had joined them in the doorway to Allie's room.
"I thought you may need this again, so I brought it upstairs with me," Lee said, handing Nathan's guitar to him. "And don't worry about Fred or Patricia. They've had a long day and I don't think even your singing is going to rouse them tonight."
Nathan looked to Rosemary for confirmation that it was indeed alright.
"Please, Nathan." His friend answered the silent question between them. "I think we could all use another song."
He held the guitar in position and strummed a couple loose chords, but no tune came to him. None quite seemed appropriate.
"Play 'Red River Valley', Dad." Allie suggested. "It's one of those old cowboy songs that Mom says Grandpa Sean always played out on the trail during cattle drives. I know you've learned it. And tonight, I think it would be… fitting."
Nathan's stomach churned and his heart raced. Any song, but that, he silently thought. "Allie, honestly… I don't know if I can play that song. Not tonight."
Allie's face dropped in obvious disappointment, but she nodded in understanding.
"Nathan," Charlotte softly whispered as her hand touched his on the neck of the guitar. "If you play the song, I'll try to sing it with you. I think we can make it through this… Together."
Nathan swallowed the lump in his throat and then with shaky hands began to strum the chords to the song's opening melody as he and Charlotte sang the lyrics together.
From this valley they say you are leavin'
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are takin' the sunshine
That has brightened our pathway awhile
Come and sit by my side, if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the one who has loved you so true
For a long time, my darlin', I've waited
For the sweet words you never would say
Now, at last, all my fond hopes have vanished
For they say that you are going away
Come and sit by my side, if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the one who has loved you so true
Do you think of the valley you're leavin'?
Oh, how lonely, how drear it will be
Do you think of the kind heart you're breakin'?
And the pain you are causing to me?
Come and sit by my side, if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the one who has loved you so true
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the one who has loved you so true
*You can find the duet version of 'Red River Valley' I envisioned Nathan and Charlotte singed by going to YouTube and searching 'Suzy Bogguss Sings Red River Valley at the Ironwood (with special guest Ian Tyson). The first verse of the song is cut off from the recording, but it still is a fitting rendition of what I had pictured. The Ironwood is a music venue in downtown Calgary, and Ian Tyson is a well-known Canadian Country/Cowboy singer so I thought it would be appropriate here.
(Virtual Hugs)