'Tis the Season for those special moments and special stories for our favorite blending family. Here's one story for starters, which takes place on a cold, December morning, as they're only just beginning to settle into some of the smaller holiday delights.
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Chapter 1: The Perfect Kiss
Elizabeth Grant's eyes fluttered open as the morning glow of the sun's rays spilled through the bedroom window. Before her brilliantly blue eyes had decided to embrace a new day, she shuffled under the covers to find her favorite source of warmth as she registered the wintery chill that had settled in through the night. When she discovered Nathan wasn't exactly where she thought he'd be, her eyes took on a more needful purpose in opening.
What Elizabeth focused on instantly brought a smile to her face.
"Good morning, Sweetheart," she giggled softly.
"Good morning, Mrs. Grant," Nathan chimed in, scooting in against his wife and laying an arm across her hip, a perfect positioning that allowed his hand to rest along one of his favorite curves of her figure.
While she'd been sleeping, Nathan had apparently been watching. At a small distance, his tall frame was stretched out on the bed. Though fully dressed, having already finished his early morning rounds, he'd returned to the bed, where she'd discovered him just now, propped up on his elbow, his head resting in his hand, totally enraptured with his view.
As husband and wife, Nathan and Elizabeth no longer had to secretly watch each other from afar with binoculars or sneak a glance across a crowded room. Only three weeks into their marriage, their eyes continuously found new ways to find each other throughout much of the day, though morning or night, in this bed had certainly become one of their favorite places.
"Don't you look distractingly good, this morning, Constable," Elizabeth teased, her hands fiddling with the fastened buttons of his Henley.
"I could say the same about you, my love." Nathan answered, running his hand along the soft silk of her pink nightgown.
As Elizabeth sighed into her wedded bliss, something new caught her attention. Her gaze snapped back to Nathan, whose eyes sparkled mischievously as he struggled to hide the grin spreading across his face.
Mistletoe.
They'd talked about hanging mistletoe yesterday, and made quite a game of listing off places they might put their two sprigs, an exercise that left them laughing until tears came to their eyes. In the end, it was Nathan who took on the mission, telling Elizabeth he wanted their placement to be a surprise.
Her eyes settled on the first she'd found, though it wasn't at all difficult. Sometime, while she'd slept, Nathan apparently had fastened a sprig of mistletoe to a branch and attached it to the headboard he'd made as a wedding present in some pretty impressive handiwork. So, her morning was off to a good start. She hadn't even left the comfort of her cozy bed, and she was under the mistletoe with none other than Nathan Grant, her very own Constable.
As Elizabeth undid a few more of his buttons below his characteristically unbuttoned two, Elizabeth commented on Nathan's surprise, a seductive smile dancing on her lips. "So, you didn't think enough kissing happens already in this bed?"
"I've loved every single kiss in this bed," Nathan assured her. But, after gently tapping the mistletoe, which caused it to swing ever so slightly, he added, "I just thought this bit of greenery might encourage us to spend more time here."
"Ah," Elizabeth said, as she slid her hands beneath his shirt, spreading them freely across his warm skin. "I like the way you think, Constable."
"I thought you might," he whispered, brushing her cheek with his thumb.
"I love you, Nathan," she murmured, the blaze in Nathan's eyes suddenly drawing her out of her sleepy state.
"I love you more, Mrs. Grant."
Under the mistletoe, their soft lips molded to each other as their bodies did the same. For this bundle of mistletoe, kissing was only the beginning.
Although this weekday morning held little time to spare, Nathan was right. Rather than rushing off, the newlyweds made the most of this uninterrupted time, willing for now to let other things slide. Instead of wholesome breakfasts, they were becoming repeat customers of Minnie's amazing muffins. Nathan purchased them nearly every day on his lunch hour, hopeful to prioritize their morning time toward something other than cooking.
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While Nathan and Elizabeth were lost to one another inside, an interesting conversation was developing outside. Despite the patches of snow scattered about on this frosty December morning and the natural tendency of teens to sleep in to the last possible minute, Robert and Allie sat side by side on the bench out back, the only ones currently ready for the day.
Anticipating some dewy moisture, Robert had brought along a blanket, which served as an additional cushion beneath them.
"I know this is new for us and all, Allie," Robert began, "but I really think we should tell your parents."
While generally it is a good thing to keep parents informed, for Robert, his blossoming relationship with Allie was different. This was Constable Grant they were talking about. He was the last person on earth Robert wanted to keep in the dark, especially about his own daughter. The thought of the formidable Mountie in this context made him shudder, though, perhaps, he reasoned, it was just the cold.
"How about tonight?" Allie suggested, realizing Robert was right. She would have to let her mom know first, though. Allie was sure she'd have some good ideas of how best to break the news to her dad.
When Robert's heart immediately raced, thinking this pivotal conversation might only be hours away, he accepted that his shudder had been entirely related to the significance of dating a Mountie's daughter. Still, he thought, his eyes taking in Allie's pink cheeks and red lips, the color drawn out by the chill, any apprehension he felt about announcing their relationship was worth it for her.
Catching Robert's gaze, Allie's cheeks deepended to a rosy red.
"Tonight sounds perfect." Robert answered, the first of many commitments to come.
As was typically the case with teens, the two settled on the general plan, without thinking to nail down any details.
"Tonight, then." Allie sighed, smiling shyly as her gaze locked with Robert's, her heart pounding with a mix of jitters and joy at how real this was becoming. She'd long cared for Robert, and now their hearts were finally aligned. Her initial feelings toward him, she readily admitted now, were nothing more than a crush. But after his graduation and the end of their daily meetings at school, the ache in her heart in his absence spoke volumes—her feelings had become something much more.
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As the two teens talked on about Christmas traditions and life choices, Nathan and Elizabeth, bound by the demands of adulthood, forced themselves to leave their special sprig of mistletoe behind to face the work that awaited them.
Elizabeth padded downstairs in her slippers to tackle the dishes she and Nathan had set aside the night before in favor of more pressing matters. He'd join her soon, but was deep in serge buttons and boot laces.
After filling the sink with warm water, Elizabeth picked up the first dish and began scrubbing. Her steady hands, familiar with the daily chore, went to work, allowing her mind to drift back to her mistletoe moments. Tucking in her lips at the memory of her man beneath the serge, she found herself wondering where Nathan might have hidden the second sprig of mistletoe.
With her distracted gaze no longer fixed on the dish, a movement outside the window above the sink caught her attention. Elizabeth's eyes widened in shock at the sight, and she almost let the dish fall from her grasp. Thinking Allie was still snug in her bed, Elizabeth was taken aback to find her daughter dressed and bundled in a coat, sitting on a bench in the icy morning air as if it were perfectly natural for a teen to rise early and wait for school this way.
The tell-tale motivation was the curly headed boy sitting beside her. Watching them interact, Robert and Allie were unusually animated for this time in the morning. Typically, Elizabeth was met by Allie's groggy grumbles across the breakfast table during their routine meal time just ten minutes from now. As Elizabeth's soapy hands continued to work methodically, she shook her head in wonder, imagining Nathan knew nothing of this.
As a mother, her watchful eyes remained on the two brunettes, chatting away happily, their breaths visible as little white puffs in the crisp air as they braved the chill for each other. Elizabeth knew Nathan was aware of the crush Allie had on Robert a couple of years ago. However, this situation was vastly different. These older teens were past the days of flirtatious glances and notes exchanged between classes. At this stage in their lives, lasting relationships were beginning to take root. Watching Robert and Allie now, nestled close together, Elizabeth realized that what she was seeing was more than just a fleeting fancy—it was something far deeper.
Although still surprised with the actual reality unfolding before her eyes, Elizabeth had sensed their pairing off was only a matter of time. She'd seen Robert occasionally walk Allie home from school or spotted the two getting ice cream. Occasionally, he helped her "study," though, if anyone knew Allie, that was a clear ruse considering Allie was one of the brightest students she'd ever encountered as a teacher.
Trying to open up a conversation, Elizabeth had casually asked about Robert a couple of weeks ago, assuming she'd be the preferred parent in these matters of the heart. It wasn't that Nathan didn't understand love. She smiled as her thoughts again floated back to the mistletoe. Quite the contrary. But, from Allie's perspective, a mother-daughter heart to heart was far more likely than a father-daughter chat about romance. In the case of Allie, Elizabeth imagined Nathan would jump into full Mountie mode once his daughter started dating.
Though Elizabeth didn't press for an explanation about Robert, Allie merely shrugged and insisted, "Oh, we're just friends." But, of all people, Elizabeth knew friends don't look at friends that way. And here she was, standing at the window, with supporting evidence.
So, it wasn't entirely unexpected seeing them together now, sitting on the bench in the back. But, Elizabeth smiled knowingly; their body language left no doubt—they were most certainly not just friends. For one, they were scooted right up against each other, without even a space for a half dollar. Second, even from here, Elizabeth could see the young love in their eyes, the way they'd lock gazes for a moment longer than felt comfortable before shyly glancing away.
The tell-tale sign, though, was when Robert took Allie's hand. What surprised Elizabeth was that it seemed as if it were a familiar gesture between the two. The ease with which they held hands hinted at a bond that was already well-established. This wasn't the first time they'd held hands.
Suddenly Allie stood, pulling Robert along. Perhaps they were going for a walk, Elizabeth thought. When they only covered a short distance before stopping beneath their maple tree, her brow furrowed with curiosity.
Though she couldn't hear the words from inside, a sweet, but hesitant, conversation unfolded outdoors.
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"Why are we stopping here?" Robert asked, wondering why they'd only walked twenty feet in what he'd thought would be a morning stroll.
"Oh, I don't know," Allie said, a hopeful twinkle in her eyes. "It's just a beautiful tree, don't you think?" she said with an air of mystery.
In a moment of confusion, Robert did accept that maple trees were stunning in two to three seasons of the year. But winter, with its barren branches, was not one of those. As he glanced up, though, a flash of green caught his eyes.
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Could it be? The second sprig of mistletoe?
Once Elizabeth saw Robert look up, she, too, noticed something unusual about the tree. She squinted, trying to make out the shape of the leaves and berries from a distance through a glass pane. Sure enough. There, dangling from a tree branch, in the privacy of their yard, was the amorous bunch of berries and leaves.
It wasn't Elizabeth's story to tell, but as both Robert and Allie leaned in, Elizabeth couldn't help wondering how Nathan might take the unexpected surprise that the first kiss under that mistletoe was not between the newlyweds.
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Robert's heart started pounding, a rush of realization sweeping over him as he understood why this extraordinary girl, who'd become so important to him, had led him to this very spot.
Mistletoe.
It so happened, Allie had seen her dad poking around the tree earlier this morning when she'd been getting ready. Later on, while waiting for Robert outside, her curiosity drew her to its branches. The moment she'd spotted the symbol of romantic love, Allie developed a plan. She wasn't sure she'd go through with it, but with all that she and Robert had already shared, and with years of friendship as their foundation, she felt ready to take a leap of faith, and believed he was, too.
Once Robert mentioned talking to her parents, Allie saw it as a clear sign that the depth of their feelings for each other was mutual, an indication that they were ready to explore what this could become and see where their connection would lead them as a couple. Remembering Elizabeth's bravery as she approached their rowhouse, Allie channeled the same strength when she decided to set her plan in motion and led Robert to this tree.
So now, as she stood face to face with Robert, the space between them felt charged with the significance of this crossroads, though the world had stilled around them. Their eyes met, as did their anxiously beating hearts.
Robert reached out, taking Allie's other hand gently in his, his touch warm and grounding, even through the barrier of their knitted gloves. Allie's heart thumped loudly in her chest, her cheeks flushed pink as she looked up at him with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
"Are you sure about this?" Robert whispered, the edges of his lips turning up into a warm, affectionate smile. Allie exhaled through one of her forceful heartbeats before she nodded, already anticipating the feel of his soft lips.
"I'm sure," she said, her voice barely louder than a wintery breath.
Slowly, Robert leaned in, narrowing the distance between them until nothing existed in their world beyond each other. Allie's eyes fluttered closed as she felt his warm breath against her face. Their lips met in a tentative, sweet kiss, soft and full of promise. Time seemed to hold its breath as they shared this first, intimate moment, with Allie's pulse racing and her skin newly glowing from the heat of their kiss. When they pulled away, Robert's face was lit with a shy smile, his eyes searching Allie's, hoping she felt as overcome as he did.
"Perfect," Robert said softly, savoring the tingle in his lips from Allie's touch. His words were filled with both relief and awe. Allie responded with a blush that spread from her cheeks to her ears, her lips curving into a smile that spoke of years worth of affection left unsaid.
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It was a perfect kiss, Elizabeth thought, feeling a little guilty now for not looking away. In contrast to their earlier familiar handhold, that was definitely Allie and Robert's first kiss, she concluded with an affectionate chuckle, the innocence of it clear in the slow tentative touch. Their lips met, lingered, and then separated, followed by bedazzled smiles. Elizabeth knew the spellbinding effect of those first kisses all too well. Immersed in a sudden sense of swooning and excitement, she suddenly felt like Rosemary, wanting to blurt out, "He kissed you!"
"What are you smiling about, Mrs. Grant," Nathan asked, noticing how Elizabeth's gaze seemed frozen on something outside.
Instantly, Elizabeth spun around, startled and disoriented by Nathan's sudden appearance. Uncertain as to whether Allie and Robert might enjoy a second kiss or even a third or fourth, she understood as the mother of a teenage girl the urgent need to distract the overprotective father.
"Just enjoying the view," she said as calmly as possible. "But I like this one better," she replied with a flirtatious smile, pulling her husband in by his suspenders.
Engaging in a kiss of their own, their bodies and lips immediately shaped to one another, familiar with the way they perfectly fit as soulmates who'd finally become one. Though Elizabeth was quite distracted by Nathan's increasingly heated kisses, his arms roaming across her back and down her bottom, squeezing her to him, the tiniest part of her mind couldn't help but think of Allie.
Although the new mom clearly hoped it would be a while until her daughter was in a similar position, Elizabeth was delighted thinking about the love that awaited her as Allie launched into this new, exhilarating, and all too often tumultuous phase of her life. Today, she'd find a quick moment to talk to Allie, to help her navigate how to tell her dad. That was going to be one interesting show that Elizabeth secretly hoped she could watch, even from the sidelines.
All it took was the word "show," to pull every single one of her thoughts toward Nathan, remembering the impactful viewing he'd accidentally given her before they were even courting of his bare, muscular torso.
Just as the two newlyweds were kissing in a such a way that likely should be reserved for the bedroom, the sound of clunky feet startled them both when Little Jack suddenly bounded down the stairs, revealing the exact purpose Nathan felt the need to install mistletoe in two wonderfully private places. Well, Elizabeth mused, one such location turned out to be not as private as originally thought. But after years of loving Nathan Grant without the luxury of always being in his arms, every touch of their lips felt like the perfect kiss, even the ones that were interrupted.
"Hi Mama! Hi Daddy!" Little Jack said, greeting his parents. Still just as thrilled with the new affection between him and his dad as Elizabeth was with her husband, Jack jumped up into Nathan's only recently empty arms for a hug. "Hi Jack!" Nathan said, wrestling him around first before wrapping him in an embrace.
"Good morning, Honeybear," Elizabeth said, ruffling their son's hair as Nathan squeezed him tight.
After Nathan set Jack down, who settled into playing with toys, he brushed his hand over Elizabeth's shoulder. "We'll need to head on, soon." Then, whispering in a low voice as he passed by, he added with a lopsided grin, "I've got to get my uniform back on."
"That's a pity," she quietly shot back, slapping playfully on the rear. As much as Elizabeth longed to participate in the dressing of Nathan Grant, time was slipping away, and she still had dishes to finish. Being a schoolteacher, she firmly believed in the importance of punctuality, both for herself and for her students. Lately, though, a certain constable had impacted how strictly she upheld that value. Still, she always aimed for perfection when it came to the start of the school day.
Just as Elizabeth was drying the last dish, Allie opened the front door and popped only her head in. "I'm going to walk to school now," she announced, giving no further explanation.
Elizabeth intuitively knew not to paint Allie into a corner by asking questions as to why she wouldn't be walking with the family, imagining a newly kissed curly-headed young man standing only steps away. But, knowing how critical nutrition was to a working brain, the mother in her asked, "You don't want breakfast?" Realizing that sounded like more of a commitment than she'd meant, she referred to the baked goods they'd relied on more recently. "A muffin, even?"
"Sure," Allie beamed, grinning and grateful for both the food and the freedom from questioning. "Thanks, Mom," she said, grabbing the muffin from Elizabeth's hand. "I'll see you soon at school." And with that, Allie was out the door.
Elizabeth could picture Allie and Robert walking away, holding hands, and couldn't help but wonder when their second kiss might be, though maybe that had already happened since Nathan's voice had abruptly pulled her from the window. With an air of nostalgia, Elizabeth's eyes were now fixed on the door, pondering on how that sassy ten-year-old she'd first met had grown up so quickly, and into such a stunning human being, both inside and out. From the moment they met, she'd always held a soft spot in her heart for Allie, a love that had grown to be just as profound and unwavering as the bond she shared with her own biological child.
Young love, Elizabeth thought, sighing with delight, although it was her next thought, about her lifetime love, that instantly consumed her heart.
As her entire focus drifted to her greatest love, soon to return downstairs, she found herself imagining their next kiss. Perhaps there was something in the backyard that needed attention this morning—maybe a few long-forgotten fall leaves that needed to be raked.
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Author's Notes:
A big thanks to Instagram's HeartieMusings for her inspirational prompt. Without her organization of Tis the Season Tuesday, I wouldn't have written this story. Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear your thoughts if you have a moment to share. It was beyond sweet to think of what love story might be Allie's first. Though, with the challenges Elizabeth faced over the last 11 years of finding love, how perfect would it be for Allie's first love to be her lifelong love?