The next day Elizabeth was back at school but her mind was elsewhere. She was thinking about all the things that she had talked with Rosemary last night. Normally she would stay after school to plan lessons for the following day but she had everything packed up and ready to go to leave right after her students.
Elizabeth had walked to school that day and on the way home she passed a church with a small cemetery next to it. She walked past a few of the headstones looking at the names and the dates. Since she had moved to Hope Valley, she had only been back to Chicago a few times and visited Jack's grave. Right now she wished she could go there because there were some things she thought she should say. There was a bench in the center of the cemetery with plants all around. Elizabeth sat down and looked over the cemetery with the church in the background.
She looked around and saw no one was walking through the cemetery. She was all alone with her thoughts so she felt comfortable talking out loud to Jack. "Hi Jack, I know it has been awhile since I visited. I think you would understand why I had to leave and why it is difficult even now to go back there. We had a life planned and all that changed that night." Elizabeth felt herself take a deep breath at the memory. "It was so quick. I have so many questions. What if it hadn't been raining? What if I was awake and I could have talked to you while you were driving?"
Elizabeth looked down at her hands, clasped in front of her. "I still can't handle anything when it rains. I just shut down at the fear of what could happen to someone else I care about when it rains like it did that night. I think that is why I stay in the house on those days. What if I lost someone else I loved?" Elizabeth's thoughts went to Nathan. No, she wasn't ready to admit her feelings for him but there was definitely something there. Elizabeth stood from the bench and started to walk back down the street towards her house.
As she walked a little further towards her house she passed the park. There was a woman standing near the swing set watching as a little girl played with a large ball. The girl was throwing it in the air and catching it and then she would throw it a little in front of her and chase it laughing. Elizabeth smiled. The little girl reminded her of the kids in her class. It also made Elizabeth think of having kids of her own one day, although that dream seemed far away after Jack's death.
Elizabeth saw the ball start to come towards her. She took a couple steps faster to intercept the ball. The little girl came running towards her and Elizabeth rolled the ball back before she could get too close. She saw the woman, who she assumed to be the little girl's mother, watching her and then the woman smiled as Elizabeth rolled the ball back. Elizabeth waved at the little girl as she heard a small 'thank you' and waved at the woman. The girl ran back towards the swing set.
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Colleen watched as a woman walking along the street caught Allie's ball and rolled it back to her. Allie said 'thank you' just as Colleen had taught her which made Colleen smile. Allie came running back over with the large ball. The ball Allie had insisted to get the last time they were at the store even though it was half her size.
"Mama, mama, did you see her? She looked like one of the princesses in my story book!"
"I did see her Allie. Why don't we go home and we can make some cookies before dinner?"
"Yay! Cookies!"
Colleen took the ball from Allie and held her hand as they walked to the car.
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Elizabeth sat at her kitchen table with her kindle which dinner was cooking. She had cried for a while when she got home and there was a box of Kleenex next to her. She had calmed down for now but her eyes were still red. She heard her doorbell ring and she wondered who would be here. She wiped her eyes again and walked to the door.
"Oh Elizabeth," Rosemary said when Elizabeth opened the door.
"I'm ok, really," Elizabeth said as she let Rosemary in and headed to the kitchen.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, thank you. I went to a cemetery and thought about everything that has been going on recently. Everything was right at the surface when I came home but I think I'm better now."
"Ok, if you are sure. Have you talked to Nathan?"
"Not yet, but I think I will try to go see him tomorrow."
"I talked to Lee and he said Nathan has a shift tomorrow so he will be at the hospital." At Elizabeth's wondering look, Rosemary said, "I thought you might want to talk to him so I checked before I got here."
"You are such a good friend. Is there a reason you came by other than to check on me?"
"Actually there was. I have the final totals for the bake sale and I was also doing some research on the location and vendors for the ball. Do you have some time to look over things?"
"I do, do you want to stay for dinner? I made plenty," Elizabeth asked.
"You know, I think I will. Lee is working tonight so I was just going to pick up something on my way home."
Rosemary started to set out the files she brought with her on the table as Elizabeth checked on dinner. The two of them laughed and talked as they shared dinner. It was just what Elizabeth needed.
