Chapter 155- Someday

February blew itself out in an angry snarl of wind and another snowstorm; then March's arrival promised better things. As the month progressed the snow began to melt into lacy crystals, the sun took on new warmth, and patches of green gradually appeared in sheltered places.

Letters from Warren arrived the first Friday of the month. As usual, he wrote individual messages to each of the Grants, including a fourth letter this time addressed specifically to 'Baby Grant'. Nathan had been anxious to read the update from Tremblay. The man was at the forefront of his thoughts and prayers since leaving Hope Valley to return to his posting up North.

Nathan's concerns were put to rest, when Warren's letters to the Grants brought news of his engagement. He and Nimi were to be married, but they were determined to wait until Warren's posting in Cadotte Lake was complete. Possibly another year or two. In that time, they both hoped Tremblay's continued service with the Mounties would not only be a benefit to the community, but also solve who was behind the murder of Nimi's grandfather. After all the stories Warren shared with Nimi about Hope Valley and its people, she agreed that it sounded like the perfect place for them to settle down in, someday.

The countdown to the baby's arrival was on. The townspeople placed friendly wagers on birth dates and whether the child would be a boy or a girl. Now, with Charlotte's increasing size, there were even bets on if she'd have twins. Or triplets!

Though she looked ready to burst, Charlotte didn't let carrying the baby stop her from teaching these last few weeks with her students. Nathan kept a watchful eye on her activities and workload, but he tried to be supportive rather than smothering, and Charlotte at the same time indulged in his moments of excessive protectiveness. Her husband did have a point though, at this stage in the pregnancy, Charlotte was tired and uncomfortable all the time. At the end of the day, she'd sink wearily into a chair and rest her hands on her protruding belly. Falling asleep almost immediately. Staying there until Nathan carried her off to bed.

They still hadn't settled on a name. Everyone around them seemed to have an opinion. Nathan and Charlotte thanked them for their suggestions and promised to take all ideas into consideration, but every combination they tried didn't feel right or appropriate for their child. They'd been through the name book what seemed like hundreds of times, made a list, narrowed down the options, only to start all over again. Exasperated from their search, and some of the recommendations they received, Nathan joked that Zebedee Zechariah Grant no longer seemed like such a bad option.


The morning of Nathan's birthday, he sat in the rocking chair by the fireplace in their room and watched Charlotte sleep. She was curled on her side, her knees drawn up and her hand resting protectively on their unborn child. An embrace. Nathan thought to himself.

They made plans the night before to get an early start and make a trip up to the meadow like they did the year prior, before picking Allie up at the house and driving into town for the annual baseball game.

Nathan knew if they were to keep to that plan, he and Charlotte would have to leave soon, but something told him to let his wife sleep. She tossed and turned most of the night trying to find a comfortable position, and just drifted off a couple hours ago. They could go to the meadow another day; it was more important that Charlotte get the rest she needed and not get worn down by a day full of activities with the baby's birth looming.

"Mornin'," Charlotte's groggy voice floated to him across the room.

Nathan rocked forward and rested his forearms on his legs, smiling at the way she peeked out at him under the curtain of her unruly bedhead. "Mornin'."

"What time is it?" Charlotte struggled to prop herself up, the baby causing the once easy movement to become a task. "I'm guessing we should already be on our way to the meadow if we are going to get back in time for the game in town."

Nathan wrapped an arm around his wife and helped her rise to a seated position, propping pillows behind her for support. "I was just thinking that we should stay home this morning and let you sleep in some more. The meadow can wait for another day, I know you had trouble finding a comfortable position last night and are probably tired."

Charlotte's hand cradled Nathan's cheek, her thumb tracing the dark circles under his eyes. "I'm sorry if I keep you up with my tossing and turning. Maybe for these last days of pregnancy one of us should sleep in the guest room so at least you can get a full night's rest."

"I'll be fine, I promise."

"If you're sure."

"I'm sure." Nathan's eyes sparkled with love and a sprinkle of mischief. "I'd miss your snoring and kicking too much."

She tossed her head back and laughed. "Oh, great. I snore now?"

"I'd describe it as more of a cute whistling sound."

"Well, lucky you." Charlotte poked Nathan's ribs playfully. "Your wife snores. Happy birthday, Sarge."

"It is happy," Nathan kissed Charlotte's forehead and caressed her belly, "And it has been since you've come into my life. Snoring and all." He winked.

"Are you sure we can't go to the meadow? Even just for a few minutes? There is no way I'll be able to find a comfortable position again to fall asleep before we need to leave for the baseball game. And I would like for you to open your birthday present from me at our special place."

Nathan studied her and thought better of the idea, but still, he could deny Charlotte very little. "Fine. But only if it is quick."


It didn't take Nathan and Charlotte long to get dressed and loaded into the car for the drive to the meadow. The road was clear of snow, but muddy in places, making the drive a slow slog that took a lot of Nathan's concentration. He would have turned the car around if there'd been a place to safely do so before reaching the meadow. He stopped the vehicle at the edge of the clearing and came around to help Charlotte from the front seat. Looping her arm through his, they started their meandering walk towards the lake, commenting on the signs of spring around them.

At a pause in their conversation, Nathan smiled down at his wife and her waddling gait. She caught his grin from the corner of her eye and asked, "Is it just me, or have I been pregnant for ten years?"

Nathan chuckled. "It won't be much longer."

"And you've been saying that to me for ten years, as well." Charlotte sighed and rolled her eyes. "I know I'm being dramatic, and I don't want to sound like I'm not thankful for this little one, but I have to admit, I'm tired of being tired… Fat…. Ugly."

Nathan stopped their progress towards the lake and turned to face Charlotte. "You're not fat." He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "And you're certainly not ugly." He kissed her temple and wrapped his arms around her. "You're pregnant and that's a good thing. Remember?"

"You're right, I'm just ready to meet our baby. Well, I guess except for the fact that we still haven't decided on a name and the more I think about it, I like Allie's suggestion from the other night."

"That if it is a girl, you choose the first name and I choose her middle name and if the baby is a boy we swap? I choose the first name and you choose the middle?"

Charlotte nodded as they began walking again. "It's not such a bad idea."

"It's one way for me to save my partner there from being named Zebedee."

They both laughed and talked about what Charlotte planned for her last days of classes, Dylan's visit in a week for Easter Sunday, and their ideas for the garden and possibly starting an orchard this year with apple, cherry, and maybe a few apricot and plum trees.

"We should be getting back to the house," Nathan said after looking at the sun's placement in the eastern sky. "Afterall, I said this needed to be a quick trip, and with how muddy the road is, it will take us a while to get down the mountain to the ranch."

"Not before I give you your birthday present." Charlotte reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a rather large envelope, presenting it to Nathan.

"A letter? For my birthday?" He raised his brow in a joking manner.

"Just open it."

Nathan turned the envelope over noting the return address in the corner.

Ryerson

299 Queen Street

Toronto, Ontario

"Do I know a Ryerson?" Nathan was having fun teasing Charlotte and her dwindling patience. "Is he wishing me a happy birthday, too?"

"Nate, I told you. Just open it."

Nathan decided to humor his wife and carefully ran a finger along the envelope's seal and pulled a packet of papers from within. On top was a cover letter addressed to him.


Sergeant Nathan Grant,

I am pleased to write today, informing you of Ryerson Press' wish to publish your children's picture book titled 'The Adventures of Nate and Charlie'.

Your wife contacted me soon after Christmas and sent our office a copy of your work along with some of Constable Warren Tremblay's drawings. Both are exactly what our team is looking for in the company's expansion into children's literature.

Ryerson Press feels passionately about showcasing original Canadian works and your story represents the entire culture and landscape of the western frontier and the people who make a life there. 'The Adventures of Nate and Charlie' is a story, in our opinion, that needs to be shared with a wider audience.

Included with this letter is a packet of information, terms, timeline, contract, and details of your advance for publication. We have sent Constable Tremblay's paperwork to Cadotte Lake for his contribution and work in the book through his illustrations.

We are very excited for this opportunity to make your book the cornerstone of Ryerson Press' children's literature program. Please contact our offices in Toronto as soon as you have made your decision.

Sincerely,

Lorne Albert Pierce

Chief Editor

Ryerson Press


Nathan was at a loss for words. A company wanted to publish his book?

He could be an author?

Finally, he drew his gaze from the letter to see his wife intently watching him, trying to guess his thoughts on what he just read.

"I know, I know," she began nervously. "I should have talked to you about this first, but once I read your book, I instantly saw how special it is, and I knew others needed to experience that too. It may have started out as a beautiful gift to me and our children, but it can be so much more. It is a book that parents all over the country -maybe all over the world- can read to their children someday. To have those moments and memories together as a family. Imagine the impact your writing could have on the next generation of Louisa May Alcotts, or Mary Shelleys, or even Dickinsons. But… Only if that's what you want too."

"Warren knows about this?"

"Yes. I told Tremblay about the idea before he left town. He will be compensated and receive a portion of the proceeds as well. In his letter the other day, he wanted me to make sure you knew he would only move forward with the idea if you wanted to."

"I just never thought of myself as an author. Let alone a published author."

"Well, you don't have to make a decision right now." Charlotte's eyes sparkled with mirth. "Let that idea of someday being a famous published author marinate for a little while."

They mulled along the lake shore a few minutes longer before Nathan turned them back towards the path leading to the car. Charlotte had one hand in Nathan's, the other on her back, trying to work out the knots and pains there from tossing and turning all night in an attempt to find a comfortable position to sleep.

Though the landscape was still bare, with only a few patches of soiled snow left in hidden places, the first flowers were slowly lifting their heads to the sun. Returning birds occasionally made an appearance on a tree limb. But the surest sign of spring to Charlotte was the feeling within her as she breathed in the warm, fragrant air.

It was during one of those deep breaths that Charlotte stopped in her tracks.

"Come on, slow poke," Nathan tugged gently on her arm, but she pulled back out of his grasp.

"I- ah…"

"Stop dilly-dallying or we won't have time for breakfast before the baseball game." He finally turned back to see his wife slightly stooped over, a look of alarm upon her face which instantly set his heart racing.

"Ummm, Nathan… It's not breakfast, I'm concerned about." Charlotte straightened slightly, but she still clenched at her stomach. "Remember the night Patricia was born, and we were both so full of emotions and prayers for expanding our own family?"

"Yeah…" He unsteadily answered.

"You looked me in the eyes that night and told me the only thing I needed to hear. You simply said someday. And in that moment, I believed you, with all my heart, that someday, our baby would come." She reached over and slipped her hand into his. When Nathan looked at her, she returned his gaze. He must have read the difference in her face, and the big hand firmly squeezed her smaller one. Charlotte knew he shared her joy. "Well Sarge, I think our someday is going to be today."