Thursday, January 6, 1910


Elizabeth turned towards Nathan as he entered the house with her aunts and father. Noticing something in their expressions, she asked, "Is everything okay, Nathan?"

He set down the packages he was carrying and approached her. "Everything will be fine, sweetheart. We can talk about everything later after Allie goes to sleep. Then, kissing her cheek, he moved towards the table with the others as Elizabeth brought the last of the food to the table.

All through dinner, the adults in the room were aware of an underlying tension, but thankfully, Allie helped keep everything light and made dinner enjoyable. Elizabeth loved watching her father interact with Allie. It was evident to everyone that he was clearly enamored of his new granddaughter and that love was returned in full. But then that was Allie's gift, and she had her Grandpa Thatcher wrapped around her finger. No one seeing him now would recognize him as Hamilton's stern businessman and society patriarch. After Allie modeled her new clothes, had her bath, and was put to bed, they all gathered in the library.

An awkward silence fell on the group until Nathan said, "Who wants to go first?"

"I will," Williams said as he turned to his daughter. "Your mother called this afternoon, Beth."

"Why? What did she want?" Elizabeth asked nervously.

"To talk with you. She's read your letters and truly wants to make amends," Her father stated.

"Then, after hearing from Moira, Catherine, and myself about what's going on, she and Julie want to come here to support you," Agatha said.

"Really?" Elizabeth said. Though hope was shining in her eyes, fear also lingered. Not wanting to get her hopes up, she replied, "I would need to think about it a little. Is that all right?"

"Yes," Nathan said before anyone else could respond, his tone making it clear it was non-negotiable. "Take whatever time you need, Love."

"Nathan is right, Beth," William said. "Your feelings are what matters most."

"If it helps, dear, I think your mother is sincere," Agatha said. "After I observed today at the cafe, I believe she should come."

"I agree, Elizabeth," Catherine said.

"Well, this afternoon at the café was only the tip of the iceberg," Nathan growled.

"What else happened?" William demanded. "Did it involve those young women again?"

"Worse, it was their mother's. They came to the dress shop and confronted Helena after hearing a completely different story from their daughters," Elizabeth said with a grimace.

"I think you better tell us the details, dear," Catherine said, coming to sit beside her. By the time Elizabeth finished, everyone was angry once again and even more determined to do something. William also shared what he found out with them. After hearing everything, Elizabeth decided to allow her mother and sister to come. As they began to discuss how to put those ladies in their place, she informed them of her decision.

"We can call tomorrow and set it up. I'm sure Grace and Julie can leave Hamilton the day after tomorrow and arrive on the tenth." Agatha said.

"I think we should schedule the ceremony and reception for Saturday the 15th," Moira mused. "We could hold it in the church so it's a private event, and then the reception at the cafe, which will be closed for a private event by invitation only,"

"I think when they arrive, it should be announced that William Thatcher, his wife, and daughter are arriving. I can arrange for that to appear as if you arrive with them." Nathan suggested. "I have an idea how we can make that happen, although they will arrive later than originally intended."

"I don't understand," Elizabeth said.

"Simple. They will get off at the stop just before Aberdeen, and we can bring them by car to the ranch for a couple of days. It's only an hour more, and we can pick them up in the car. Then we drive them back there on the 12th or 13th when they board the train and arrive together in Aberdeen with no one the wiser. Gabe can help since he and Faith will be home on the 11th."

"OH," Elizabeth said with a big smile.

"I think we can go one better." Moira said, "William, you should call and reserve the executive suite at the Patterson's hotel. I can have Joe put something in the paper about you being in town to look at potential business investments."

William chuckled, liking the plan. "I just might have my friend join us. I'm sure Grace and Julie would love to meet Martin's new fiancé."

"Sounds like our plan is coming together," Elizabeth said, feeling slightly better as the plan began to unfurl.

William saw an opportunity to talk with his daughter when the conversation began to lag. "Beth, may I speak with you alone?"

Knowing she would soon speak with her mother in the morning, she agreed. After giving Elizabeth a reassuring squeeze, Catherine followed Moira out the door. Then her aunt Agatha hugged her and whispered, "It will be alright. Trust me, Moira and Catherine, if not your father."

Elizabeth gave a subtle nod in response. She saw her father wince over her aunt's shoulder at her nervousness at being alone with him. Nathan was the last one out after casting a warning look at William. Once the door shut, Elizabeth squared her shoulders, mentally preparing to protect her family from him.

"I like that young man of yours. I could never imagine anyone who deserves you, but it appears you have found him. William chuckles fondly.

Since she hadn't relaxed her stance, he stood up and embraced her with tears in his eyes. Bessie, please relax. I mean you and your family, no harm. I want you to know I am so proud of you. Not that you need it, but I fully support this marriage. Just one day of watching the two of you, I can see the love, especially with sweet Allie. Please forgive me, Beth, for not being the father I should have been. If I could, I would go back and never make that horrible demand of you in the first place. I love you so much, sweetheart." The tears in his eyes and the raspiness of his voice let her know how remorseful he was.

"Oh, father, I love you too." She finally felt like everything was right in her world again upon feeling her father's arms around her. The only thing that would make it better would be reconciling with her mother, but she was afraid to hope.

As if sensing her thoughts, her father led her to the settee. "I truly believe that your mother has changed. If I didn't, I wouldn't even suggest that she come. Although Agatha knows, I want to tell you something I hope will stay between us. But please understand. I'm not trying to make excuses; I want to give you a little more insight. I'm certainly not proud of what I have to say."

Elizabeth looked at her father for a moment, searching his face before she agreed, "All right."

"When I was a young buck, and your mother and aunts were debutantes, I was in love with your Aunt Catherine. Her father attempted a similar tactic that I did to get her to marry me after she rejected my proposal." Raising a brow, William smirked and said, "I think you know how that turned out."

Elizabeth giggled, which erased the remaining tension between them.

"Anyway, your mother became the one I pursued next." A sense of unease began to fill Elizabeth as William continued. "Sadly, she loved me from the start, but I…. While fond of her…." He paused, finding it difficult to continue.

"You didn't feel the same," Elizabeth finished for him. This situation was common even in her generation.

William nodded. "I was unaware, but somehow, my preference for Catherine got back to your mother. However, my feelings for her have grown through the years to genuine affection, even love, though recent events have tested that for both of us."

Elizabeth suddenly began to see a bigger picture. My close relationship with Aunt Catherine hurts her, doesn't it?" Elizabeth exclaimed.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she put herself in her mother's shoes. It would break her heart if she and Allie were in that position. She also vowed that Colleen's memory would remain at the forefront of their lives. "Does she think I chose Aunt Catherine over her and don't love her?"

"Bethie, she knows you love her, but she has never been able to find something in common with you as your aunts have. If I'm being honest, I felt the same about your Uncle James and Uncle Robert."

"I'm so sorry, Father," Elizabeth said softly, reaching for his hand to comfort him.

"Don't!" William interrupted. "You don't owe me any apologies, Beth. You have such a capacity to love that it's hard not to want all your attention, and I was jealous." William admitted sheepishly. "I don't know what I did to warrant you for a daughter, but I am so thankful I was blessed to."

Elizabeth smiled as old hurts were healed and embraced him. "Father, no one could ever replace you or mother. Thank you for coming to see me."

"My dear, I couldn't stay away. It would be like losing a piece of my heart." William acknowledged gruffly.

"I missed you so much, Father," Elizabeth said. William knew she was talking for much longer than Christmas.

Knowing they were both overwhelmed, William decided to change the subject. So, pulling back a little as he passed his handkerchief to her, he said. "Now, let's talk about what is happening in town."

Elizabeth frowned. "Do we have to, Father? It's already bad, and you know it will be worse in Hamilton."

William gave her a smug look. "No, it won't. It's already spread that you have fallen in love with the son of a friend of your Aunt Catherine."

Elizabeth looked at her father. "Really?" Elizabeth said skeptically.

"Really!"

"Well, thank you."

"Don't thank me, Beth. Thank your mother and Julie, with the help of friends of your aunt's as well.

"What about Viola?"

She will keep it quiet, and her friends won't go against her. But Beth, you and Nathan have nothing to be ashamed of. As far as I'm concerned, you DID fall in love with the son of a friend of your aunt's. Anyone who sees the two of you together will believe it as well. A Mountie at that, so in a way, you followed in your Aunt Catherine's footsteps."

"I don't know that it could be so easy, Father. If anyone wants to investigate it, they would figure out pretty quickly what happened. Secrets are hard to keep in Hamilton.

"You let your mother and I worry about that. Those ladies will wish they never messed with Grace Thatcher's daughter." William retorted, then leaned over and added, "By the way," William said with a wink, "Those are your mother's words."

Suddenly, Elizabeth looked forward to talking with her mother.

Later that evening, as they lay cuddled together, Elizabeth shared her conversation with Nathan.

"Well, it sounds like it was a good conversation, so why do you seem to be thinking hard about it?"

While the conversation was great, it gave me a little more insight than I had expected," Elizabeth said sadly.

"Oh? What would that be?"

She reached for his hand, delicately holding it in hers, and began to share a poignant memory. "When I was a child, my mother enchanted us with whimsical tales she made up. Her influence ignited my passion for reading at a young age. However, reflecting on my upbringing, I realize that I gradually lost touch with her. Now I realize I lost sight of her as the pressures of societal expectations slowly began creeping into my childhood.

"Everything shifted when my sisters and I were primed for our societal debuts. While they embraced it wholeheartedly, I found myself resenting the process as I grew older. It felt like I didn't belong and that I was disappointing my parents. The grand balls and society teas were enjoyable initially, but their artificiality and pretentiousness of it all wore on me. The pervasive air of pretentiousness only exacerbated my discomfort. Looking back, I see that I had projected the same judgment onto my parents, failing to recognize who they really were underneath. Does that make sense to you?"

"I believe you're saying that you painted your parents with the same brush as you did with high society, am I right?"

Elizabeth nodded. "I was drawn to Aunt Agatha and Aunt Catherine because they were like the mother of my childhood and remained that way. But in no way could they ever replace my parents." She yawned before thoughtfully adding, "Maybe mother and father aren't the only ones with amends to make."

"Don't beat yourself up, Elizabeth. If you feel that way, talk with your mother in the morning or when she arrives. However, I think everyone has done that at one time or another. Look at me. I was completely ready to give up on love simply because of Alice. I even admit I had concerns about your wealthy family, and it almost prevented me from saying yes to our marriage. Although, let me assure you, it was only for a moment," Nathan added worriedly.

Elizabeth chuckled, "It's alright. I don't blame you after meeting Alice."

Afterward, Elizabeth yawned heavily, so Nathan pulled her closer, kissed her temple, and said, "Let's just get some sleep and see what tomorrow brings, my love."

A few moments later, her breathing slowed, and he could tell that she had listened. After gathering her a little closer, he followed her into a deep, restful sleep.


Authors Note: Dear Gentle Readers ; ), Thank you for your kindness, patience, and lovely remarks on the latest chapters. Now that this story is up and running again, my goal is to update it on Tuesdays while turning to my next story, REGRETS AND HINDSIGHT. My hope is to have the next chapter posted by Sunday evening. Over the next several weeks, I plan to get all of them back up and running. Feel free to PM me if you have ideas or thoughts you would like to share on my other stories or even new ones because I love hearing from you. If you're not already a member, please consider joining the Sunday Serge Nathan Grant Fanfiction group, and as always, you can comment on the actual posts. I do see them all and will respond. God Bless.