Chapter 42/Epilogue Part 1
It was June 26th, exactly six months since he had set off from Brookfield in the hope of being reunited with the woman he had loved and lost. Now Lucas could feel the excitement building as the train pulled into the station in Hope Valley, knowing that this time he was returning for good.
He had in fact been back quite a few times in the intervening period, mainly for business. Although Gustav had managed to take over the reins at the hotel as well as could be expected for a slightly neurotic French chef and others were always on hand for the times when he required extra help he had still needed to deal with some matters. Then there had been Bill and Abigail's wedding, the only time Rachael had accompanied him and he had revelled in seeing how easily she had gotten on with his friends.
Mary and the girls moving here was going to make their life happier and easier, for he knew how much it would mean to the two sisters to be together. Since her return from a visit to see them only a few weeks ago Gustav had slowly been introducing her to the role of managing the hotel, something for which he said she showed a natural aptitude, and he was looking forward to teaching her more so that very soon she could take over completely.
But for now he was just happy to be home and he was glad that along with the woman he loved he was bringing news that would please many people, not the least of whom were Elizabeth and Nathan.
As he collected their luggage from the train he took a moment to observe the expression on Rachael's face, still uncertain as he was that this was what she truly wanted. He was worried that she was giving up a lot to be here with him but her look of happiness quickly quashed any doubts he had.
They had discussed him staying in Vancouver but once his mother got word of his presence in the city he had been bombarded with requests for visits to see his father whose health was failing. He struggled with the decision for some time until eventually it was Rachael who guided him in what he should do. "You have nothing to lose from going Lucas, but everything to regret if you don't as once he is dead there will not be another chance." She had spoken gently, her words full of love and understanding, seeing the turmoil he was going through as he wrestled with the decision. "What he did to us can never be forgiven but at least we can start our life together knowing that you did the compassionate thing. He will know that you are the better man, that you always have been.
She had been right of course and when his father passed away shortly after their one meeting he had been glad he took the opportunity to show him how his life with Rachael had turned out despite what he had done to them. But to stay there, where his mother expected everything between them to be as though the betrayal all those years ago had never happened, was impossible and he knew that it was time to leave that part of his life behind for good.
Now he looked around the crowd thronging the station wondering who Gustav had sent to collect them. His own car would be arriving on the train in the morning, along with the rest of Rachael's belongings and some other very special people who were coming.
Abigail was running late and hoped that perhaps the train was also but she was just putting on her outdoor shoes when she heard the whistle that heralded its arrival into the station. Little Bessie was showing all the signs of a summer cold and had taken longer than usual to settle for her afternoon nap. No-one else could do anything as the child refused the ministering of both Mary Dunbar and Nancy Tucker. One or the other was usually able to calm her but not today. Abigail suspected it perhaps had more to do with teething than a cold so made a note to give her gums a good rub when she got back.
As she pulled the car up outside the station and raced through to the platform she could see Lucas's head above all the others. Thank goodness he was a tall man, almost the same height as Nathan, which made spotting him so much easier. The wide grin on his face when he saw her said so much about how far he had come from the arrogant gambler who had first arrived in Hope Valley, determined to have things his way. Now, despite having been absent more over the past six months than actually being here, he truly was a much loved part of the community.
"Lucas, Rachael, I am so sorry! Bessie is teething I think, and…" Before she could say anything more Rachael wrapped her in a warm hug, the affection between the two women having been formed during her previous visit. "I've enjoyed standing here watching the comings and goings and it was lovely to see how many people seem genuinely glad to hear that Lucas is back for good. It gives me a warm feeling about how our life here will be."
Lucas was busy directing the baggage porter to the car as the two women linked arms to walk back through the station building. "Is everything ready for the wedding? Gustav keeps telling us it is all under control but I know Lucas is nervous. He wants….no, needs…it to be absolutely perfect. This is so important to him."
Abigail gave the young woman a warm smile, patting the arm that was joined with hers. "Gustav did a wonderful job of getting the ball rolling and once Rosemary was on the case then everything has been done, checked and double checked. And there's the dress, which I have to say was very difficult to finish properly without the bride being there for fittings but once we got the exact measurements she was confident it would be exactly right. Of course, last minute adjustments can always be made and she is prepared for that. You will love it."
"And the bridesmaids and flower girls? With my sister Mary things are always easy but I know from experience that not everyone is like that. You know how quickly young girls grow at that age and finding a colour they all like can be difficult."
A look of pride came onto Abigail's face, "Chloe has been a wonderful help with that. She took the task upon herself and made sure everyone quickly agreed. Your suggestion of turquoise blue met with Rosemary's approval too."
Lucas was half listening to the conversation, relieved that all seemed to be going to plan but he knew he would not be entirely satisfied until he could sit down with everyone involved and go through his list. Or as Rachael kept reminding him, his multitude of lists.
"Well, just one day to the wedding," he muttered as he held the car door open for them, showing more confidence than he felt, "and it sounds as though we're all set."
The hands of the clock above her desk seemed to be moving slower than normal today, Elizabeth thought. Or perhaps it was because the children were more anxious than ever to hear the bell ring for the end of the day. The end of the school year. For the summer.
Her mind was distracted thinking about how much she too was looking forward to these weeks ahead although there was still that one thing hanging over her that meant she was not able to enjoy the happiness for which she truly yearned.
No matter how many pleas and arguments she had made to Mr Landis, that the whole town had made, there still seemed to be no way around the rule that said a woman was no longer allowed to teach once she was married. With no-one else available or willing to come to Hope Valley she had been adamant that she would not leave the children in the lurch. How could she face the town every day knowing that they were missing out on their education? And so six months had now gone by without Nathan and her being able to get married and no end to the problem was in sight.
She was trying so hard to be positive about Lucas's upcoming nuptials, for she truly was happy for him and Rachael, but as each week passed with no resolution for her problem it was becoming harder to stay that way.
Of course Nathan tried to keep her spirits up, teasing her that this was simply the courtship they never had and doing everything he could to make each day special for them. They spent most of their time together with the children in her house, eating together every day, but it was at night when they had to say goodbye to each other that she knew he struggled. They both did.
But Nathan was a patient man, something he had proven time and time again as he had waited for her head to catch up with her heart. Now just the thought of him made her knees go weak, I'm like a teener* with a crush on the boy next door", she thought and then found herself laughing out loud as she realised he almost was, with him and Allie living just along the row houses.
Suddenly she remembered where she was and looking up quickly found that the class had gone quiet and all the children were staring at her. Allie caught her eye and Elizabeth saw the amused expression on her face. She knows I'm thinking about her father. It wasn't the first time she had been caught out.
Finally the clock struck the hour and before she even had time to ring the bell there was movement from the seats. "Have a wonderful summer everyone", she called out. "Don't forget to do as much reading as possible and to think about which of your experiences you are going to write about when you come back for the new school year."
Allie waited until everyone else had gone before coming to stand beside her on the top step. "Can you remind Dad that Little Jack and I are helping you at The Queen of Hearts tonight, please Mum." Hearing that word from this girl she loved as a daughter brought tears to her eyes every time. It had been a strange conversation when they discussed what the children should call them for nothing anybody said was going to make Little Jack change his mind. As far as he was concerned it was Daddy Nathan and that was that! Allie had pondered for a moment until shyly admitting that she would like to call Elizabeth mom, even though she wasn't officially that yet. "Only in private though", she quickly added. "At school and when we're out I will still use Mrs Thornton. Is that ok?"
Nathan had been surprised but happy with Allie's suggestion, the bond between her and Elizabeth that was growing stronger every day was something they both deserved and cherished. The closeness of being mother and daughter, of sharing conversations and time together would be a big part of the woman Allie would become and he knew there was no-one he would rather have help her on that journey than the woman he loved.
His love for Elizabeth grew deeper with every moment spent together as they spoke of their most personal thoughts and beliefs, whilst building a family life with their children in every way they could under the circumstances. He dreamed of the day he could go to sleep and wake up beside her, let their passion for each other be properly fulfilled and live the life for which they were both destined. However much he tried to keep her optimistic that this would happen soon, the longer they went without resolution the harder he was finding it. And yet he knew that if their happiness was based on abandoning the Hope Valley children, leaving them without a teacher, then the guilt of what they had done would doom their marriage from the very beginning.
Now as he looked out over the town from the boardwalk in front of the Mountie Office he caught glimpses of the bustling activity that went with organising a wedding for the next day. Flowers had been arriving at The Mercantile all morning, coming in from all the surrounding towns as Lucas seemed to have bought up everything available. He knew that Gustav had called in help for the wedding meal and even the café had been commandeered, the sign on the door saying only tea, coffee and cake would be served for the next few days.
Rosemary was everywhere, organising her troops like a commander and he had to say he was impressed. There was not a hair out of place on her head and no sign of being ruffled in the slightest by the magnitude of the event.
This kind of extravaganza was not for them though. When Elizabeth and he were finally able to walk down the aisle it would be a simple ceremony. Neither wanted a great fuss, just to become husband and wife in front of God, their families and friends. It was the life together after that promised the riches.
He spotted Abigail at the wheel of Bill's car as it turned onto Main Street, the two familiar faces with her looking as happy as two people about to be married should. Watching Lucas glance around from the back seat, his body wedged in amongst cases and parcels, Nathan took pleasure in how far the man had come. It was a testament to what love could do for a person who wanted to change, whether that came from friends or finding your true love. The metamorphosis that had begun over Christmas in Brookfield was completed when Rachael forgave him for the past and opened her heart to a future together.
By the time the car pulled up outside The Queen of Hearts Nathan had made his way across, wanting to greet his friends and make sure that there was nothing else he should know about the impending wedding, no additional surprise Lucas had forgotten to tell him that would require his input or extra vigilance. He preferred it when his town was quiet, the streets full of people he knew and with no undercurrent of uncertainty to keep him wondering if something bad was about to happen. Elizabeth had laughed at him when he said how he felt about crowds but had eventually come to understand why, once she saw just what the responsibility of keeping Hope Valley safe meant to him.
He widened the smile on his face, knowing this was a special time for them and wanting to show that it meant a lot to him as well. When Lucas had asked him to stand up for him, to be his best man, he had been both surprised and honoured. The new suit that was hanging in his wardrobe was actually something that he would have picked himself and even Elizabeth had commented on it, saying that it was going to be difficult for her to look across at him wearing it as it was exactly what she had envisaged for their wedding. He understood and was secretly glad that the turquoise dress that had been made for her would never be a match for the dress she would wear the day they were eventually married.
He had promised her then that when it happened he would make sure that everything was exactly as she wanted it to be. He knew that she and Rosemary had it all planned out already but he stayed quiet, knowing that too much discussion was only upsetting for her as they waited for their time to come.
Now as he looked at the happiness showing on the faces of his friends as they clambered out of the car he called out, "Lucas, Rachael! How are the nerves for the big day tomorrow?"
Lucas reached out to shake Nathan's hand before replying with a quiet confidence in his voice, "Surprisingly good, although I will be much happier once I can see with my own eyes that everything has been done. I know so many people have worked hard on this so I am confident but there is always the fear that you may have forgotten an important element".
Rachael had smoothed her skirt and turned to Nathan, glad to see the man whom Lucas said had been his mentor and greatest support in recent months. She was looking forward to getting to know both him and Elizabeth now that she was here to stay and hoped that the friendship that had been started on her last visit would continue to grow.
"It's so good to see you again Nathan. I cannot believe just how much everyone here is doing for the wedding. Hope Valley really is a special place."
Nathan looked back along the street, seeing people who meant a lot to him. "It certainly is and the longer you live here the more you will see that. We look after our own in Hope Valley and yet strangers are also welcome if they are willing to embrace the life of a frontier town. You may find yourself missing the hustle and bustle of Vancouver at first and if you do then Elizabeth will be more than happy to talk to you, she's been through those emotions herself."
Lucas looked from his bride to his friend, knowing that he had made the right decision about the wedding and grateful to be here sharing this occasion with people who mattered.
"Have Gabe and Lillian arrived yet?", he suddenly asked, his other groomsman having promised that they would be here in plenty of time to go over what was required of him for the next day.
Nathan nodded, "He has. I believe Gustav has sorted them out with a room in the hotel, as per your instructions. Lillian was going to join the ladies in getting the church decorated now that school is out." He smiled at both Abigail and Rachael as he continued, "In fact I was just heading over there to help Elizabeth clear away all her teaching materials so that you can get started. Rosemary will be gathering the rest of the troops for that as soon as you have freshened up from your journey so I had better get a move on or I'll be in trouble."
Lucas couldn't help but notice the look on Abigail's face and gave her a slight nod before calling out to Nathan's retreating back. "That is great Nathan, thank you. Then you just need to concentrate on keeping this town safe so that nothing disturbs what we have planned for tomorrow. It is going to be one of the most important days of my life so I don't want anything to go wrong."
Abigail watched Nathan walk away, seeing in the slight slump of his shoulders how much effort it was taking for him to keep up his positive attitude. She knew that Elizabeth would be feeling the same and yet neither one of them would want to do anything to cast a shadow over the happy day for their friends.