"Allie, what would you think if Mrs. Thornton and I got married?" Nathan asked his daughter once they'd sat down at the table. He had been both surprised and relived to find her sitting on the couch reading a new book when he burst through the front door a few minutes ago. Surprised that she was actually home, and relieved for the same reason. Taking her hand, he pulled her to the table and sat down across from her.
"Well, as I've said before, I think it will be great, and I love the idea, but Dad, why are you asking me again? What's going on? Wait…" she stopped for a moment, seeing the pure joy in her father's face, "Are you saying…?"
"Yes, Allie, I am." Nathan answered, his smile getting even bigger.
"You actually asked? And she said yes?" Allie cried, jumping out of her seat and running around to where her dad was sitting.
"I did." He answered, "Are you surprised?" he added in a teasing voice.
"Well, yes, actually, I am surprised. I mean, come on, you aren't always the best with words. It's only because I've known you for so long that I knew what you were saying even without you actually saying it."
"What do you mean, kiddo?" Nathan asked, a little confused.
Allie, rolled her eyes and said, "Come on, dad. You still haven't exactly said Mrs. Thornton agreed to marry you."
Nathan thought for a moment, then laughed and pulled her onto his lap. Something he hadn't done for a very long time. He became very serious and said, "You're right Allie, I think the older you have gotten, the harder it's been for me to acknowledge it. I am not very good when it comes to emotions and those kinds of things, and I've taken for granted that you just understand what I am bumbling around trying to say. I am very lucky to have you in my life, kiddo, thank you for letting me be your awkward dad." He pulled her close and placed a kiss on the top of her head, and, like he had done a hundred time before, pulled her in tight for a hug.
"Allie, you know this won't change anything about you and me, right?"
"I know dad, but really I think it will change some things, and I am okay with it. You deserve to be happy again, and if that means sharing you with Mrs. Thornton and Jack, then I am perfectly fine with it. Just promise me, I will always be your first little girl?" She tried to keep the waiver out of her voice, but knew her dad heard it.
"Allie, you will always be my first little girl, no matter what. Nothing will ever change that, nothing." He stopped and gently placed his finger under her chin, surprised to see the tear in her eyes when she looked at him. "I don't know how this is going to work exactly, and I am sure it's going to be really hard for all of use to adjust to these changes, but your place in my heart will never, ever change." he assured her, tapping her nose with each word.
The tears finally overcame her, and she buried her head in her dad's shoulder, embarrassed she let her emotions show. When the tears had stopped, she pulled back and looked into his eyes, "I love you daddy." she whispered, and placed a kiss on his cheek.
Nathan was overcome with emotion at her last word, daddy. She had called Dylan that when she was first learning to talk, but had never used it again, until now. Odds are she didn't know the significance of what she said, but he knew, and once again father and daughter held each other while they cried.
Soon, Allie stood up and smiled at her dad, "So, when does this wedding take place?" she asked.
Nathan laughed and stood up as well, "How does today sound?" he asked, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice.
"Really?!" Allie cried, jumping up and down, "Today, as in today?" she asked.
"That's the plan." He answered.
"Can I come?"
"Can you come?" Nathan repeated the question, then paused, pretending to think about it, "Of course you can come. We are a team, remember. You and me, together, always."
"EEEEEEE!"" she screamed again, dancing around the kitchen. After a moment, she stopped and looked over at her dad, her face serious, "But what does this mean exactly?"
"Don't tell Mrs. Thornton, but your guess is as good as mine at this point. I know what I'd like, but really it's her day, so Mrs. Thornton gets to choose."
"Come on, dad, it's your day too. Tell me what you would like?"
"Let's go get Jack from day care, and we can talk on the way." Nathan suggested.
"Dad, you need to get Mrs. Thornton flowers, oh and do you have a ring? Where are we going to live? What do I call Mrs. Thornton? Does this mean we have to move again? What about school? Does this mean you are going to leave for a while on a honeymoon? What's going to happen to me and Jack?"
Nathan couldn't keep the laugh from escaping his lips as he listened to Allie's questions. He knew, from experience, it was better to wait until she was finished before trying to answer them.
"Allie," he said, gently pulling her to the side of the road, "Trust me when I say, I don't know the answer to any of those questions, or any other ones I am sure you'll come up with, but for now, how about we just get Jack from daycare and go back to Mrs. Thornton's house. Then we figure everything out, okay?"
"Alright," she agreed reluctantly, as they approached the daycare building. "Oh, there's Angela." she said, seeing her friend walking down the street with Opal. "We had plans to write some music this afternoon. Can I run over and tell her I can't today?"
"Of course. But Allie," Nathan warned, grabbing his daughter's arm before she could dart off.
Smiling, "I know dad, not a word. See you in a minute." and with that she headed off towards her friend.
As he approached the daycare, he heard a familiar voice call to him, "Mountie Nathan!" turning around, he watched as Jack ran ahead of his friends, straight to him.
"Hey Slugger." Nathan said, bending down just as Jack came up to him. "I was just coming to see you."
"We went to the park, but now are coming back." Jack explained as Nathan stood up and smiled a greeting at Mrs. Henderson, who had caught up with them, holding a sleepy Goldie on her hip.
"Well Jack, if it's okay with Mrs. Henderson, would you like to come home with Allie and me?" Nathan began.
"Allie?!" Jack shouted, looking around. Hearing her name, Allie looked over from her conversation with Angela and Opal and waved to Jack. She quickly hugged her friends and began making her way over to Jack and her dad.
"Betty," Nathan began, addressing Mrs. Henderson, "Elizabeth asked that I come get Jack for her, I hope that's okay."
"Of course Constable." Mrs. Henderson smiled as she began slightly bouncing Goldie, who was starting to whimper. "I think Ms. Goldie is getting another tooth, and is ready to go home as well. If you see Lee or Rosemary, would you let them know?"
"No problem, Betty, but I am sure Rosemary is with Elizabeth and would be happy to take her back with me, if that's okay with you?" Nathan offered. "She and Allie are great friends." he added.
Allie smiled and reached out for the young girl, who willingly went into her arms, a small smile on her face.
Mrs. Henderson waved as they left and went back inside the daycare.
Rosemary had gone back to her house, giving Elizabeth some time to collect her thoughts before Nathan and Allie arrived home with Jack. She was sitting at her desk, staring down at the blank page in front of her. There were so many thoughts and emotions running around in her mind, and she was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed at the implications of what her and Nathan were planning to do. Not that she had any regrets or fears, in fact it was quite the opposite. She knew marrying Nathan was the right thing to do, and she couldn't wait until that moment arrived. It was her practical side she was struggling with. The one asking, where were they going to live, how were they going to pull this off. How was Jack going to respond to this change? What about Allie? Did it make sense to jump right in and get married, or should they wait and see how things played out? Was she really and truly ready to share her life again, with a man and his daughter? The questions kept coming, but the answer always was the same. Yes. Yes, she was ready for this. Ready for, not just a new chapter in her life, but a brand-new story. One that was shaped by the past, but not going to be influenced by it. This was her life, and she, would make it what she wanted it to be.
Life is what you make of it. She began writing in her journal, not very profound she could admit, but it felt right for her. I love Jack, and always will. He is part of who I am, and I treasure the memories I have with him, but I also know it's okay for that story to come to an end, and for a new one to begin. A life with Nathan, and Allie and Jack, it's what I want more than anything. I know it will be messy, and hard. Full of fights and misunderstandings, adjustments and compromises, but I also believe it will be beautiful and worth the hardships. In fact, the more I think about it, the more excited I get, which helps to know that this is, in fact, the right direction for me and my son.
Elizabeth smiled as she reread what she had written. It might not be eloquent, or even make sense, but to her, it was exactly what she needed to take the next step. She closed her journal, tied a ribbon around it, and took it upstairs to her room. There she placed it in the chest at the foot of her bed, on top of her wedding gown. Standing back up, she noticed the picture on her nightstand, of her and Jack, the day they arrived at Fort Clay. Walking to the table, she sat on the bed and picked up the frame. Smiling at the memories, she gently traced her finger along Jack's handsome face. Slowly, she raised the picture to her lips and kissed it one last time, before placing it in the chest along with her journal. There were other photos that she'd add to this chest, not because she wanted to forget Jack, but because she was ready to have new reminders of the memories they'd make going forward.
She heard the door open, followed by the familiar sound of her son running into the house. Laughing, she stood back up, closed the lid and went to meet her family.
"Jack, no running in the house, please." Elizabeth called as she began walking down the stairs.
"Okay, mama." he called back automatically, causing Nathan and Allie to laugh.
As she reached the bottom step, she smiled at the sight of Nathan instructing Jack to wash his hands and take a seat at the table. Allie, already at the table, swinging her legs back and forth with excitement, and Nathan drying his hands on the towel and placing it back on the counter.
Elizabeth walked to the chair Allie was sitting in and reached down to give her a hug. Allie lifted her arms up and hugged her back, whispering, "This is so exciting." Hardly able to contain her giggling.
"What's so exciting?" Jack asked, confused by the energy that was building in the room.
Nathan had made his way to the table and pulled out a chair for Elizabeth to sit in. She shook her head and, instead, placed her arm around his waist, and leaning into him. Feeling Nathan's arm go around her waist and pull her close, she looked up in time to feel a quick brush of his lips on hers.
"Jack," Elizabeth and Nathan began together.
"You go." Elizabeth said, pointing to Nathan and then sitting in a chair. She was surprised to feel the chair move with her, realizing that Nathan was helping her with it.
"Jack, would it be okay with you if I asked your mom to marry me?" he said, knowing the little boy wouldn't really understand but wanting to be honest.
"Sure." Jack answered. "But what does that mean?"
Nathan cleared his throat and sent a prayer to heaven, asking for guidance to help him find the right words.
"Well, I love you and your mom very much."
"We love you too, Mountie Nathan. Oh, and Allie too." Jack told him.
"And because I love you, and your mom, and Allie so much, I would like us to be a family, the four of us together. And the way that would happen is if your mom and I get married."
"That means, Jack," Elizabeth jumped in, "That Mountie Nathan would be your daddy, and Allie would be your sister."
"But, I already have a daddy." Jack told them, "He lives in heaven, with Allie's mommy."
"Yes, honey bear, and he will always be your daddy, but what this would mean is that Mountie Nathan would also be your daddy." Elizabeth tried her hand at explaining.
Seeing the confusion in the little boy's eyes, Allie decided to try to help him understand. "Jack, do you remember when we were at my house a few days ago, as we talked about how you were sad that you didn't have a dad, and I told you how you could borrow my dad when you needed him?"
"Yes," Jack answered, hesitantly.
"Well, when your mom marries my dad, that means you won't have to borrow him because he will always be there for you."
Jack looked at Allie, then at his mom, then at Mountie Nathan, not sure of what to make of this conversation. After a moment, he said, "Does that mean I will have two daddies? One in heaven and one in my house? And it would be Mountie Nathan?" The awe in his little voice was unmistakable.
Elizabeth looked over at Nathan and, seeing his struggle to contain the tears in his eyes, and the constant bobbing of him Adam's apple, decided to answer for him. "That's exactly what it means, honey bear."
"But what about Allie? Does she get two daddies too?" he asked.
"Well, slugger," Nathan said, finally able to get his emotions in check. "Allie won't get two daddies, but she will get two mommies. She will have her mommy in heaven, and she'll have a mommy in her house too. She'd also be getting a little brother."
The excitement in Jack's eyes was undeniable by this point. "She told me she always wanted a little brother. Can I be her little brother?" he asked, jumping up and down in his seat.
Allie scooted her chair closer to Jack's and put her hand on his, the one that was laying on the table. He immediately put his other hand on top of hers, and she did the same with her other hand, just like they did each time they sat at a table together. It was their special thing and Jack loved it. "That's exactly what it means, Jack."
"Mountie Nathan," Jack said, his hands still between Allie's, "Come put one hand on top of Allies. Now mama, you put your hand on top of his. Now Mountie Nathan, your hand is next, now mama's."
Once everyone's hands were where they should be, he leaned down and placed a kiss on the top hand, then looked at the other three, indicating for them to do the same. Once they'd done that, he happily shouted, "Family" And threw his hands up, causing everyone to laugh as they broke apart.
Once the hugging and laughter died down, Jack hoped down from his chair and headed to the stairs.
"Where are you going, Jack?" Elizabeth called after him.
"To pack my toys to take to Allie's" he said, running up the stairs.
The three people, left at the table, looked at each other with amused expressions on their faces. "I guess that means Jack's on board with this. Now to figure out the rest of it." Elizabeth said with a chuckle. Turning to Allie, she continued, "Allie, will you stay and help us figure things out? I wanted Jack to be here as well, but it seems he's occupied at the moment."
Allie grinned as she scooted her chair closer to the adults, happy to be included in the conversation, just as a knock was heard followed by the Rosemary coming in, Lee close behind, carrying Goldie.
"Thanks again for bringing her home with you, Nathan." said Rosemary. "She gets extra fussy when a tooth is coming in, and Lee is the only one who can keep her calm. Well, that and a frozen piece of apple" she added with a smile, while sitting down at the table. "Now, how can we help?" She looked at Nathan and winked, saying, "You'll get used to it."
Just then, the conversation was interrupted by Jack calling out, "Okay, I am ready" followed by the thump, thump, thump, of him dragging something large down the stairs.
"Oh my, Jack." Elizabeth laughed, watching her son proudly make his way down the stairs, "What do you have there?"
"All my stuff so we can move to the family house." He explained.
"Where is the family house, Jack?" Nathan asked.
"With Uncle Lee and Aunt Rosemary and Goldie, that's where the mommy's and daddy's live together." He had finally made it down the stairs and turned to see the additional people, and grinned at them.
"Oh, Jack, we don't need to live with Uncle Lee and Aunt Rosemary and Goldie. That would be pretty crowded, don't you think?" Elizabeth asked.
"But then where do mommy's and daddy's live then? Only mommy's live in this house and only daddy's live at Allie's house, and both mommy's and daddy's live at Goldie's house." He was beginning to get really confused and not liking this idea much anymore.
Jack's last question brought Elizabeth up short, as she realized that maybe Jack didn't really understand what it meant to be a family, or how families worked. Realizing that was probably something she needed to help her little boy understand, she tried to direct the conversation in another direction, but Nathan, recognizing her expression, beat her to it.
"How about this, Slugger," he began, "What if Goldie, Auntie Rosemary and Uncle Lee stay in their house, and the four of us, live in our own house, together?"
"We can do that?" the little boy, asked, looking at the adults in the room, the surprise evidence on his face.
"As soon as Uncle Bill says it's okay, that's what we will do." Elizabeth jumped in, reaching out to take Nathan's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, to say thank you.
"That sounds like a good plan." Jack exclaimed as he jumped up and headed towards the door, eager to see his Uncle Bill now.
Lee couldn't help but laugh at the young boy's excitement and hurried after him, "Come on guys." he said, "Uncle Bill is waiting for us."
"Now wait just a minute Jack Thornton, and Lee Coulter, there are a few things that need to be taken care of first. Why don't you and Goldie take Jack outside and the four of us will finish making plans." Rosemary said, knowing Lee would much rather not be involved with this part of the planning. "Nathan," she added, turning towards him with a grin, "You are welcome to join him too."
Not sure what the right response would be, he decided to let Elizabeth decide. If she let go of the hand she was holding, he would follow Lee outside, if not he'd stay. Feeling her hand hold on tighter brought a smile to his face, "I'll stay, for now at least." he said.
"Okay then, Elizabeth, what's your plan?" she asked, surprising everyone, including herself, at allowing someone else to take the lead.
"If I am honest, I just want a very simple ceremony, with just us and the kids there. No fancy clothes or decorations or tons of people, just our family. Followed by dinner at the café, and then more family time afterward." she explained.
"And Nathan," Rosemary asked looking at him, "What do you think?"
"Perfect." he answered, kissing Elizabeth's hand once more before turning to Allie, "Allie, this is for you too, is there anything you'd like to include?"
Feeling the blush rise in her cheeks, Allie looked down at the table for a moment before saying, "Can I stand up there with you?" Glancing at her dad and Mrs. Thornton, she added with a giggle, "Maybe this time won't be quite so awkward."
Both Elizabeth and Nathan snickered at the memory of Allie's adoption ceremony.
"Yes, of course you can Allie, I want you and Jack up there with us, and I am sure your dad does too." Elizabeth told her.
"You bet I do, kiddo." he assured her, with a smile.
Rosemary clapped her hands together, "Alright, then it's all set. How about clothes?"
Both Elizabeth and Nathan looked at Rosemary for a moment before Nathan said, "Well, I am not sure if that's optional, Rosemary."
Rosemary, realizing what she'd actually said, began to squirm, "You know that's not what I meant."
Allie tried to keep a straight face, but knowing Mrs. Thornton and her dad were teasing, Mrs. Coulter broke into giggles, with the others following right behind.
Rosemary shook her head after realizing she was being teased. "What I meant," she emphasized, "was I assume you want to get a little dressed up?"
Elizabeth couldn't help the blush that came to her cheeks. "Well I'd love it if Allie, you and your dad, wore your birthday party outfits?"
"Only if you and Jack wear your Easter egg hunt outfits as well." Nathan answered, with a grin.