GETTING TO KNOW YOURSELF - CHAPTER 12

They sat on the plain, where a huge tree stood with a fallen trunk in the shape of a bench. There he placed the towel and picnic baskets that Nathan had prepared on the ground and they prepared for a nice meal. It was a delicious meal, between potatoes baked with cheese, broccoli, sliced and sealed carrots and delicious roast beef with homemade bread that Bill had made for Nathan. He was a great cook, his seasoning was wonderful, when asked where he learned to cook that way, he only timidly replied that with his mother, with the mountie and by Alien, who also forced him to learn a few more things. Elizabeth told him all about her failure in the kitchen when she moved to Hope Valley and how poor Jack too much burnt or raw food. Elizabeth and Nathan laughed so hard at their stories. Each of these told something about his life, they were beautiful times in the past. Elizabeth's stories, at the beginning of her teaching career, made Nathan die of laughter, to the point of lying down with so much laughter.

— Nathan; You don't get angry when I talk about Jack?

"Of course not Lizbeth!" He is part of your life. He was your first love and will never stop being. I feel privileged that you trust me to share your stories.

And Elizabeth, rising, called to him:

"So baby, come here, I'll show you something." She led him a few steps forward, where they sat down on the log bench.

"Me and Jack, we've been here a few times and made plans, lots of plans. I thank you for letting me tell you this part of my life, know that Jack was my great love, but that doesn't diminish you, because today you are my great love and everything I want most in life. And pointing to the trunk, he showed a heart, where inside it were the initials JT & ET.

She continued to speak thoughtfully:

"Shortly after returning from the Northern territories, he made this for us. He told me that as long as our love lasted, it would be here with me. He also said that he was doing that end there, because if one day something happened to him, I should find and give chances to another love and he would also mark here how much he loved me.

Nathan swallowed hard, never in his life had he imagined a love as pure and strong as that between Jack and Elizabeth. He... If he could, he would have changed places with that man, so Elizabeth would have a happy and complete family. She knew how to read people, her training as a teacher taught her very well, she noticed several feelings going through that man's head; even after a year, after that serious talk, you could still see that he felt guilty.

"Nathan, I've told you before and I'll tell you again. You weren't blamed for Jack's death. That was an accident...

"But Elizabeth!" It's just that sometimes I think, that it should be me...

— Nathan, and what about Alien? An orphaned child? I never accepted Jack's death, it was unfair to him, it ended his dreams and his youth, and it was unfair to me leaving me alone and as a single mother, and it was even worse for little Jack who never knew his father. But look, I'm an adult, I suffered a lot, but I had many friends who helped me overcome the pain, but think… what if it was an Alien? A child? ... What would become of her? Where would it be thrown? Would they treat her right? Would she be safe, with good people?

- But...

"Love, understand one thing. I loved Jack like I never thought possible and will always have him in my heart. He was my first love and will never cease to be. We had our fights and disagreements, and yes I very much regret that we waited, almost five years between long courtship and that year of engagement when he went to war, maybe if we had gotten married sooner we would have enjoyed our married life and our child . I was only married to him for fifteen days, and he ended up accepting that mission. We were supposed to go on our honeymoon, our trip, everything was ready and paid for, but he agreed to replace you, he wasn't obliged to do anything, he accepted it of his own free will. It was an accident, a fatality, he himself told me when he left, that there was no risk, only the risk that he would lose his voice from shouting so much at the recruits. And Elizabeth laughed, when that memory crossed her mind, the first time she didn't feel so much pain, she remembered her husband's smile going to the mission, doing what he loved so much.

— But Nathan, I understand better than anyone, I always knew and was aware, that I would always be second on Jack's priority list, because in first place would always be the mounties...

"Elizabeth, never doubt his love for you, I've seen things and heard a lot about you, and I realize that this man was totally in love with you, as much as I am. For me you and our two children are the most important thing in my life, I wouldn't know how to live without either of you.

And giving a peck, Nathan felt Elizabeth, put her hand on his waist, while she deepened the kiss; his hand wandered over his skin, touching the waistband of his pants, causing a wave of shocks in his body, his fingers touching lightly, leaving a trail of heat on his skin.

"Lizbeth! What are you doing, my love? Nathan spoke in a voice hoarse with desire.

She laughed, making butterflies fly in her stomach and said softly in his ear:

"Just picking this up; Love of my life... It's time for you, too, to tag our love here. And so he handed her the switchblade she had just taken out of her waistband.

Nathan drew a heart in the middle of the bench and put the initials inside NG & ETT, and even added MY ONLY LOVE next to the heart.

And with little kisses they stayed there, watching the sunset. Nathan already knew that woman's place was in his arms, he just didn't know that Elizabeth, at that moment, had the same thoughts as him.