As we continue this never ending journey of combining our families, our lives, our hearts, I am always and forever grateful for the day I finally listened to my heart. Oh what I could have missed if I had continued to allow fear to rule my decisions. It seems we have been knit together in an even greater way these last few months. Just when I think I can't love Nathan any more than I already do, I find my love has grown once again. And with the Christmas season upon us, I'm reminded daily that love is the very best gift to give and receive.
Elizabeth set her pen down and reached for her steaming cup of cinnamon apple tea, a nostalgic, seasonal blend she loved to pull out around Christmastime. The mornings were now far too chilly for tea and journalling on the steps. She took a comforting sip of the hot drink and glanced out the window as large snowflakes lazily made their way to cover the earth. With only a week to go before the big day, it would be a white Christmas in Hope Valley. It was virtually every year but it never lost its magic.
Inside she wrote at her desk, in their cozy living room, a warm fire crackling in the corner stove. The scent of banana bread hung in the air, a special treat for breakfast once her children awoke and joined her downstairs.
Nathan was already on rounds, hoping an early start would allow him more time with his family this evening. Elizabeth smiled dreamily at the memory of warming his serge by the fire before he left that morning and the passionate, loving kiss they shared after she helped with his buttons.
"Now I'll have no problem staying warm today," he had said with a wink before stealing another sweet kiss and heading out the door into the softly falling snow.
It was the first real snowfall of the season and Elizabeth knew what that meant. Allie and Jack had decided that whenever the first snowfall arrived in December, they would decorate their home for Christmas.
Elizabeth's mind wandered back to the very first Christmas Nathan and Allie celebrated in Hope Valley and the tree they had decorated together. A little glimpse at her future life. She would never forget the effect his closeness had on her as he helped her hang an ornament on a hard to reach branch. Only tonight, given the chance, she would allow herself to savour his nearness and maybe even bestow a kiss on the man she now called her husband.
The sound of little feet clamouring down the stairs brought Elizabeth's mind back to the present.
"Mommy!" Little Jack cheered as he rounded the corner and came down the final steps. "It smells like banana bread!"
"That's because I made some this morning for our special breakfast!" Elizabeth replied with a smile. It was the first day of the school's two week Christmas break. She moved toward the oven to check if it was ready and it was! Time to take it out and let it cool.
Allie made an appearance soon after, awakened by her little brother's footsteps.
"Oh it smells great in here!" she remarked appreciatively, taking in a big sniff of the fresh baking. "What's with you and dad and banana bread anyway?"
Elizabeth was caught off guard by the question. She laughed remembering how she had kept that loaf pan just in case. Good thing she did! Elizabeth couldn't help noticing Nathan frequently brought home extra bananas from the produce stand leaving her with no choice but to bake their favorite dessert often. Of course she didn't really mind. It was a silent and sweet reminder of their love and how far they had come together.
Before she could come up with an answer, Jack looked out the window and exclaimed "It's snowing! Allie! It's snowing!"
Allie moved across the room to join him by the window. "Yes it is! And you know what that means right?"
"Christmas tree!" Jack shouted, dancing around the living room. He ran toward the door and haphazardly threw on his hat and mittens.
"As soon as your dad gets off work today, we'll go and pick out the perfect tree and bring it home to decorate. He left extra early hoping that will allow him to get back to us sooner." Elizabeth explained, trying to help her excited boy understand they'd have to wait a little longer before this adventure could begin. "For now, let's have some banana bread!" She set out a plate with thick slices and a crock of fresh butter.
The rest of the morning passed happily with Jack only asking a handful of times if it was Christmas tree time yet. Elizabeth also secretly watched the clock and hoped for Nathan to return home early, anxious for this merry new tradition they were creating together.
Morning turned to afternoon and when the clock struck 6 and Nathan still wasn't home, it had become clear his hopes to get back early were not working out. Elizabeth called Allie and Jack, who were outside playing in the new snow, in for a cozy dinner.
"Dad isn't home…" Allie said simply but with marked disappointment in her voice.
"No, you know how his job is. He hoped to be back with us by now but someone must have needed him." Elizabeth replied, trying to soothe the disheartened faces around her table.
"But it's Christmas tree day." Jack moaned.
"I know, and it still is. Mountie Daddy will be home soon I'm sure." Elizabeth used the affectionate name Jack had chosen on their wedding day.
Meanwhile, a little ways outside Hope Valley, Nathan had just gotten a young family back on the road. The first snowfall had made the road slick and they had found themselves in trouble, skidding off toward the trees, spooking their horses and damaging their wagon.
It had already been a long day and much slower going on his rounds. Shovelling the steps of a young widow and an elderly couple, checking in on a patient for Faith who was busy in town, and now calming the horses, completing a makeshift repair job, and helping push the wagon back onto the road for this family. He was completely worn out.
He had left home early this morning with the best of intentions. The snow was already falling then and he knew from weeks of chatter that this would be the day the children would want to get their Christmas tree in the woods and decorate.
He thought back to the first Christmas tree Allie had chosen for them in Hope Valley. Elizabeth had known the perfect place to find the best tree and now she would be at his side, choosing every Christmas tree for the rest of their lives.
But it was supposed to be today. He knew his kids must be disappointed. Truthfully he was too. He loved his job, serving and protecting his community, but he loved his family more.
Nathan hoped with his whole heart that this would be the last of his work for the day and he'd be able to get home soon. He relaxed and let Newton lead the way back to the livery, knowing he knew the way well.
After arriving back in town, Nathan untacked and brushed his faithful companion. It had been a long day for Newton too but all he demanded was an extra apple and a little attention. Settling him into his stall with food and water and a pat on nose, Nathan bid Newton a good night and headed back out into the snow.
Turning to head toward home, he breathed deeply the crisp, cold air, and let go of his long day. Nathan turned his mind to walking through the door to see his family. A renewed energy filled his mind and body.
Rounding the corner he saw it. The lights glowed through the windows of their home like love itself was a beacon drawing him back. Nathan's pace quickened and before long, he was up the steps and through the door.
He was greeted with hugs and smiles and a kiss from his bride. She whispered in his ear. "They're pretty sad about the Christmas tree."
"I have an idea for that. Can you get the decorations and a couple lanterns?" He responded for only Elizabeth to hear. With a quizzical look on her face, she slipped away as he gathered the kids.
"It's Christmas tree day!" he announced, hoping to dispel their sad faces.
"It's already too late." Allie replied, unenthused.
"Ya, too late." Jack repeated.
"It's not too late. Trust me," he encouraged, taking both of their hands. "And get your coats on."
Unconvinced but obedient Allie and Jack got their winter gear back on as Elizabeth descended the stairs, two boxes of Christmas ornaments stacked in her arms, one from the Grant home and the other belonging to the Thornton's. Nathan moved to take them from her and allow her the chance to get bundled up as well.
"Pretty dark in the forest dad," Allie said glumly.
"Well good thing we aren't going to the forest then." Nathan answered with humour, wrapping his free arm around Allie's shoulders for a quick squeeze. The kids headed toward the front door when Nathan stopped them. "No, this way!" He waved them toward the back door.
With Nathan leading the way, the family walked behind the row of matching houses, and headed toward the back field, just beyond the glow of the windows. Nathan and Elizabeth lit lanterns. He still hadn't explained his plan to Elizabeth either but she was following along anyway, every bit as curious as their children.
"Here we are!" Nathan stated, standing in front of a fir tree. Everyone looked back and forth, waiting for something more to make clear what was going on.
"Allie, do you remember the first Christmas we celebrated in Hope Valley? The tree we planted from the seed of the perfect tree you picked that year?" Nathan explained, a look of love in his face.
"You mean this is our tree?" Allie asked, wonder in her voice. She threw her arms around her dad before he could even answer.
"This is our tree. It's put down roots, strong and growing, just like us, Allie girl." Nathan said, still holding her close.
Elizabeth was overcome with the great significance of this moment. The freezing air bit at the unshed tears clinging to her eyelashes. This tree had meant that Allie had a place to call home for the first time in her life. And now, together, as a family, they would decorate it as their first Christmas tree.
"And I promise, we'll still go to the woods and find the perfect tree again for our home. And in the Spring, we'll have a new tree to plant right here beside this one, the seedling of our first Christmas tree as a family of four. But for tonight, we can decorate our first Hope Valley Christmas tree."
While the deeper meaning of the moment was lost on Jack, he was thrilled at the idea of decorating an outside tree. He excitedly dove into the box of decorations and pulled out a red apple with one hand and a red cardinal in the other. Nathan and Elizabeth noticed both and smiled.
"I think that one goes up top," he told Jack, pointing to the cardinal, and winking at Elizabeth. Elizabeth smirked and blushed knowing he remembered that moment together as well. Nathan scooped up Jack and lifted him to hang the bird on one of the highest branches.
Before long, the tree looked as beautiful and festive as any Christmas tree ever did. They stepped back and admired their work, cuddled together against the cold before turning back to the house.
"Bedtime for you, little man," Elizabeth said as she helped Jack take off his boots.
"Hot cocoa and then bedtime?" he replied with a mischievous grin that always reminded her of his namesake.
"Fine. Hot cocoa first," she answered in mock exasperation and then smiled. Nathan was already putting the kettle on the stove and Allie was digging out the marshmallows. Hot cocoa all around.
The next morning, Rosemary was preparing breakfast when she glanced out her back window.
"Lee! Oh Lee you have to come see! Quickly Lee!" she proclaimed through the house.
Lee raced down the stairs, imagining some kind of calamity.
"What is it, Rosie?"
"Look! A Christmas tree!" she announced, her voice full of childish wonder.
"Well I'll be. Wonder how that got there!" Lee smiled, feeling the infectious joy of his wife.
"Look Goldie, a Christmas tree!" Rosemary held her little miracle in her arms and pointed across their back yard. Goldie smiled and clapped her hands in response.
Next door, Elizabeth and Nathan were pouring their cups of coffee before their kids had awakened after their exciting evening. Rather than sitting at the table, they took their hot mugs over to the couch and sat close together.
"Thank you for making last night so special for the children, for all of us. I know you had a long day." Elizabeth spoke sincerely.
"This first Christmas together should be full of special memories. I think last night was a good start." Nathan replied, avoiding any praise for his actions. "And speaking of Christmas traditions and happy moments…"
Nathan reached behind his back where he had hid something. He pulled out a small bunch of mistletoe.
"I've been dreaming about kissing you under the mistletoe, Mrs Grant." he said in a low voice, playful and flirtatious. He held the bunch over his head.
"Oh is that so, Constable?" Elizabeth teased. Setting down her coffee, she slid over closer to Nathan and leaned in for a kiss. After a few moments, Nathan tossed the mistletoe aside and wrapped both arms around his wife pulling her in even closer, never breaking their kiss.
This would truly be a Christmas season to remember.