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Nathan & Elizabeth: An Epic Love
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Chapter Forty-two
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Family Night
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Part II
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When the Grant and Thatcher Families, though for all practical purposes it was already the Grant Family, finally reached Rose Valley, coming in from the back side as they were arriving by carriage, Elizabeth was struck all over again with the intense beauty of the area. From their higher vantage point, it was like looking down over the valley and every single majestic detail.
"It's just as glorious as I remember, if not more so! Look at those roses, Nathan. I believe they are even more beautiful than before. I've never seen such a splendid place ever! When we marry, I want it to be here! It has to be here!"
Nathan looked at Elizabeth so lovingly.
Had he heard her right? Had she said, 'When we marry?'
The very thought amazed him, and he swallowed hard, given the reason for this outing, which only he knew.
It took him a moment to say the words, though he finally got them out, pulling her face to his as their lips began that dance of love by now that they, and even the children, knew so well.
"It's our place, Lizbeth; the perfect place for us to marry!"
"Papa, this is the most beautiful valley I've ever seen!" exclaimed Allie, feeling fairly awe-struck.
"That it is, Allie Girl! Named for two beautiful Ladies who both happen to have Rose as their middle names!"
"Isn't it spectacular, Allie! I told you you'd love it!" smiled Elizabeth.
"This is really perfect, better than anything I imagined! I can't believe I've never seen it before! Look at Scout! He sure loves it!"
Scout had jumped down from the carriage and was already chasing butterflies ahead of his family.
"It's real pretty, Papa!" agreed Jack.
"You want to go play, Jack?" asked Allie.
"But what would we play? And can Scout play, too?"
"Oh, lots of things. We can race, we can explore, we can…"
"Do lots of new things," finished their Papa. "I may have a few surprises in that department. Let me pull the carriage closer, and we'll disembark to set everything up so I can find those surprises. Surely, they have to be here somewhere! Unless I forgot them…"
"Papa!" called out Allie, who completely knew he was teasing them and now couldn't wait to see what special things they had waiting for them.
"Allie, I'm hungry. Can we eat first?" begged Jack.
"We need a little time to set all our picnic food out, Jack!" reminded his Mama.
"Okay! But Mama, where did all the flowers come from? There's so many," asked Jack, always having questions he needed immediate answers to.
"They are all a spectacular gift from God, Jack! And because there are so many roses together growing wild, it's called a wild rose garden. Isn't it beautiful?"
"I love it!" declared Jack, ready to explore.
"It's the prettiest rose garden I've ever seen, Mama! So romantic, too! Can we take pictures?" asked Allie.
"Lots of them. I'll show you how to use the camera too, Allie!"
"I'd love that!"
As Nathan drew the carriage to a level spot, getting them closer to the best options for their picnic, he brought the horses to a stop.
After lifting everyone down, he moved the wicker hampers and tub of iced Italian Crème Sodas down to the ground and then began the task of unhitching the horses so they could drink by the stream.
After the horses were settled comfortably, he returned to his family.
"Okay, the two youngest get to decide where we set up our picnic together! But keep in mind you are going to be seeing the most gorgeous sunset you've ever seen!"
"That will be in this direction, Jack, so we need to be able to look this way. How about here on this knoll of green grass?" suggested his Mama.
"It looks comfy for Scout too."
"It sure does. Then that's settled: the grassy knoll is our spot, and I, for one, think it's perfect! Let's get everything set up so we can watch the show as the sun starts to set," urged Nathan with a wink.
Nathan then carried the largest hamper he had packed, while Elizabeth and Allie together carried the smaller one. Jack helped by carrying one quilt at a time, then Nathan carried the tub of Italian Crème Sodas, and the rest carried all the pillows.
In no time at all, everything was ready.
"Phew, thank goodness! That looks like everything to me!" teased Nathan.
"Papa, remember, you mentioned surprises!" reminded Allie.
"I did?"
"You did," laughed Elizabeth, Allie, and Jack together.
Nathan got up, chuckling, and made the short walk to the carriage with every eye on him.
He located his hidden gifts and then loaded up his arms till he couldn't have possibly held another thing.
"Since this is a special family night to be remembered, I thought some special gifts were in order! Scout is first! Scout! Come! Who wants to help him open his box?"
"Me, Papa! Me!" exclaimed Jack.
Allie grinned, happy for Jack to do the honors.
Scout came running, and when he realized the gift was for him, he even helped Jack to rip off the bow. Jack ripped at the paper and in no time at all, Scout (along with Jack) was exploring his box of goodies. There were bones, a rag toy, several whittled sticks that were just right for Scout's mouth, some sock toys, and a couple of bowls so he could have food and water along with the family. But best of all, there was an assortment of balls because Scout loved nothing more than playing fetch!"
"Look, Scout, you got everything!" and Jack threw the first ball, calling out.
"Fetch, Scout!" which was exactly what the beyond excited dog did!
"Papa, where's mine?" asked Jack.
"Jack," warned his Mama. "We wait for our gifts till they are given, remember?"
"Your Mama's right, Jack! But I'm as excited as you and Allie. Why don't you two open your gifts together so your Mama and I can see too!"
Without the children noticing, Elizabeth took her camera and started snapping away!
"Three boxes each?" asked a shocked Jack.
"Three boxes each, Jack! Papa, this is the best!" declared Allie.
Jack ripped into his boxes while Allie was much more careful, doing her best to save her ribbons and bows, then her paper.
"I got a baseball bat! And look, Papa, I got a glove," and Jack was dancing a jig, attempting to fit his little hand into the cumbersome glove. "Now I just need a ball. And…and…I got a ball and a baseball cap too! Look, Papa, I got everything. But I don't know how to play."
"That's alright. I'm going to teach you, Son! Here, let me show you how to fit your hand into your new glove!"
Jack ran to his Papa, who had sat down where Elizabeth had been sitting before she started taking her pictures. Jack hugged his neck tight.
"I love it, Papa! I love it all. Will you show me?"
"I sure will," grinned Nathan as he finished securing the glove on Jack's small hand and then placed his cap on his head. "Look how official you look, Jack! But, first, let's watch as Allie finishes opening her presents!"
"Oh, Papa! This is the best surprise ever! Look, Mama, I got a French Easel. I've been wanting one forever. It will hold my canvases really sturdy so I can paint better! Oh, and I got canvases of all sizes and that new paint set full of all the pretty colors I don't have. You even got me an extra-large wooden palette to mix my paints on with new brushes. I've wanted one forever. It's everything I've needed and wanted. And even more! Oh, here's a canvas apron! Now, I feel like a real artist! Thank you, thank you! Thank you so very much! I love it all, but I love you so much more!"
Allie hugged her Papa like she couldn't let go as Nathan did the exact same, unable to keep his eyes from glistening, and neither could Elizabeth.
In so many ways, Allie had saved her Papa for the three of them, and none of them would ever forget that.
That fact only served to move father and daughter into an even closer bond, and after what had happened with Dylan, both Allie and Nathan had needed that more than they realized.
Now, their bond would never ever break, and that was the real gift of forever being between them.
"Mama, I want to paint the sunset, but first, let me help with getting all the food out while Papa shows Jack how to throw the ball."
"Are you sure you don't mind, Allie?"
"I want to help, but you better get your camera ready again before we do so that you can snap Jack's first throw!"
Elizabeth wrapped her arm around her daughter while Nathan kissed the top of Allie's head, then took Jack to an open area in which to throw his first ball.
"Wait, Nathan – Allie says I need to get my camera ready again!"
"Then I'll coach my boy a little first," winked Nathan as the two started to powwow together.
Allie pointed the idyllic scene out to Elizabeth who began snapping the two guys earlier than she had expected, capturing several great shots without them knowing it.
"These are going to be so great, Allie! You have a good eye! All of these are going to be keepers. Though I got a few of you two opening your presents that are going to be every bit as great!"
"You keep doing that, Mama, and I'll start getting the food out!"
"Thanks, Sweetheart…"
After lots of laughter learning to throw a baseball for the very first time, Nathan and Jack were hungrier than ever!
"Dinner is ready," called Elizabeth, as the two got in one last throw, then a starved Papa and son came running.
"Our boy's a natural! Just you wait, with a little practice, I'll make him a star!"
"Looks like the big guy is having as much fun as the little guy," laughed Elizabeth.
"Hey, I'm just glad I remembered my cap and glove!"
"Ty Cobb, huh?"
"You better believe it! He's the best there is!"
The family sat down on the quilts they had spread out, though Nathan casually stretched out, propping himself up on his elbow, preferring to eat his food more comfortably without his long legs tangled beneath him.
"Who wants to say Grace?"
"Me," called out Jack.
"And me, too! Can we both?"
"I think that's perfect," smiled their Mama.
"Thank You for our trip, and thank Papa for our presents, and thank You for our food!"
Then Jack cutely opened one eye to let Allie know it was her turn, which caused Allie to have to fight to hold in her giggles.
"Dear Father, thank You most of all for saving Papa! And thank You for us finally getting to be a family. It feels so wonderful. Thank You and Papa for our special gifts – they are perfect. And we are really grateful. Thank You, too, for all the special Italian food we'll be eating from now till Christmas since poor Mrs. Yost ordered a ton by mistake, trying to speak Italian when she doesn't know a single word! Just please don't let Scout eat any paninis ever again! Amen!" (*99)
"Great job, you two," smiled their proud Papa. "Scout, you come to eat by me so I can make sure you only eat your food from home and not our Italian meal for tonight!"
Surprisingly, Scout came and began happily eating and drinking from his bowls, almost like he knew to stay completely away from anything whatsoever that remotely looked like or smelled like Italian food!
"I think Scout has learned his lesson, Nathan."
"I think you're right, Lizbeth. Thank goodness!"
"Let's see, we have paninis with all different kinds of Italian meats; we have hot Italian Wedding Soup in the thermoses, and there's one for everyone; we have a huge assortment of Italian cheeses and handmade crackers; we have four different Italian salads: one bread, one fruit, one pasta, and one veggie; and an even larger assortment of chilled Italian Crème Sodas in every flavor imaginable, though cherry is my favorite hands down. And just as an incentive to eat all of your meal, when we finish eating, we have more Italian cakes and cookies than you've ever seen to finish our spectacular Italian meal with!" nudged Elizabeth.
"Sounds perfect! I'm starved," admitted Allie.
"I'm more starved, Allie!" insisted poor little Jack.
"And I'm hungrier than a bear just out of hibernation," grinned Nathan, which caused everyone to laugh.
"We'll just call you Papa Bear," laughed Elizabeth, which caused the children to cackle.
Nathan playfully pulled her close, kissing her lovingly while playfully not letting go.
"That will teach you to mess with us, Papa Bears," he winked.
"But I don't want to go, Papa Bear! I want to stay right here in my Bear's arms!"
Everyone began filling their plates.
Nathan shifted, sitting up more in order to wrap his free arm around his Lizbeth for a moment, then the two very romantically began sharing their plates of food she had prepared for them with each other.
Throughout the entire scrumptious meal, there were moans of delight, lots of flirting, and incessant happy chatter from the kids, making the evening already perfect…
After eating till they were full, Elizabeth decreed a change in plans.
"Thank goodness I haven't unpacked this smaller hamper of desserts yet because I think we are much too full to eat another bite right now, and there are two children and their dog who are more than ready to play with all their new presents. How about we wait and have a moonlight dessert together?"
"I think that's perfect – that is, if you can find me one small sweet to tide me over?" asked Nathan pitifully.
"You and your sweet tooth! Okay, one small sweet for everyone. Then we will wait for the huge spread after the sun goes down. Deal?"
"Deal!"
She passed around a small tray of Italian cookies, and each took one except for Nathan, who bravely snuck three, which he quickly stuffed away into his mouth without anyone but Elizabeth noticing!
She just rolled her eyes.
"I see you're my biggest child of all!" she laughed.
"What can I say," he chuckled. "You love me anyway, right?"
"An affliction I simply can't seem to get over! In fact, to my demise, that particular affliction happens to grow bigger and bigger each moment of every day."
He kissed her again, playfully, yet lovingly and passionately, too, as the children spread out to enjoy their new presents.
Nathan jumped up and helped Allie set up her easel so she could paint the sunset, and then moved Jack's and Scout's boxes so Jack could easily access them to play with whatever struck his fancy.
"This is perfect, Papa! Look at all those gorgeous colors. Do you think I can match them?" asked the artist in their family.
"With that new paint set of yours, I know you can, Allie, just like your mother used to do. Though I do know one of her tricks."
"You do? What's that?"
"She muted all of her colors by blending them with white!"
"Really?"
"Yes, she did! It was her signature for all her paintings. She said that gave them an impressionistic feel, and I have to agree, it really worked! But you'll have to play with it as to how much. I know she spent hours and hours doing what she called 'playing with her paints!'"
"Thanks, Papa! That's a great trick to know. Do you think she would mind if I used it too?"
"I think she would be thrilled for you to use her trick, too, Allison Rose! Who knows, you might even come up with your own tricks to add to hers."
Nathan moved back to Elizabeth, positioning himself behind her on the grassy knoll with his back next to the pillows propped up in front of the rising portion while wrapping his arms snugly around her.
She leaned back into him, both watching their children play under the stunning sunset.
"I'm not sure it gets better than this, Lizbeth."
"No, I don't believe it does. You were right, you know. They are so happy. They both love you so much and their gifts, well, they are just perfect! But so much more important than their gifts, you give them so much love and care and patience. And all that's priceless, my Love!"
He kissed her neck from behind, cherishing her, cherishing her thoughts.
"You know, Jack has never had this kind of male attention before, and it's clear the more attention and love you give him, the more he craves, like he was missing it desperately all along but didn't know what it was."
"He has all of that now, my Darling!"
"I am so grateful."
"As I am so very grateful Allie has you. All those laughs and giggles coming from that Parisian bargain room yesterday filled my heart with so much joy. She's been missing a mother all this time, and you are giving her your maternal love, just as you do with Jack. Thank you isn't enough to say, but I am saying it. There's a calmness about her that wasn't there before. A stronger feeling of belonging, I think."
"Our daughter is growing up, just as is our son."
She shifted enough to turn her head, searching for his lips.
Once found, he ran his large hand along the length of her turned neck, holding her as close to him as he possibly could, both relishing each other's touch.
"I love you as big as that sky over us, Nathan Grant."
"And I love you as colorfully as that golden sunset and just as richly, Elizabeth!"
Yet he couldn't say her last name this time.
He had to change that, and he had to change that now.
His breath was warm on her neck as he whispered in a guttural tone.
"Come walk with me, Darling..."
He helped her up, exhibiting so much love and so much tender care, all equaling total adoration.
And so, they walked together as he led her into the wild rose garden, the sun splaying its magical colors all over from above.
Suddenly, she broke their handhold, thoroughly lost in exploring the various scents of the most beautiful roses.
He leaned over her and picked one, the lavender one, which he knew was her favorite, and this one he spotted was absolutely perfect.
She smiled lovingly, while continuing her search of varied scents.
But right there in the middle of this magical wild rose garden bathed in an ethereal glow of the purest gold, at the very moment she least expected it, she turned and gasped.
Her hand went to her mouth, and tears immediately sprung to her eyes as Nathan was down on one knee.
He reached into his pocket and drew out a worn red leather box, the exact color of his Serge, had he been wearing it.
And then he spoke in a voice that couldn't have been more filled with adoration, certainty, devotion, and a pure love that knew no bounds.
"Lizbeth, you are my reason for living, my North Star, my home. You make me whole and add the gold to my life in a way nothing else has ever been able to do. My love for you is endless and true. My love for you is eternally everlasting. My immense love for you is all-encompassing, made up of everything that is great in this world and beyond. I know God made you for me, and I know God made me for you. A simple touch from you is the most heavenly thing that transports me to a magical world that belongs only to us. You have given me the great honor of allowing me to court you this past most remarkable week, and our courtship together has been so life-altering and so exceedingly wonderful. But here we are one week later, at a crossroads, and I no longer wish to continue to court you to marry you. I simply wish to marry you and then court you every single day for the rest of our lives together, pampering you like no other. My Love, say yes, and do me the greatest honor by dancing through life with me. My Darling Lizbeth, will you please marry me?"
She dropped to the grass with him, falling into him in every way, as her past, her present, her future, her forever, and her greatest of loves, her lifelong love, forevermore!
After so much running and so much pain, she was consciously stepping into the glorious life that had always been meant for her and for him, as well as their children.
She could only nod yes as tears sprang to her eyes and ran down her cheeks, with him most sweetly and tenderly wiping them away until they both had to kiss no matter what, both their tears now intermingling with each other's.
A kiss that took them beyond where any other kiss before had taken them, for they were now committing to be one in the sight of God forever, and there was no going back.
Their hearts and bodies were filled with a joy that couldn't be expressed. It simply existed. And it was theirs alone.
This was their extraordinary moment, an extraordinary moment that would be cherished by both all their lives long.
"Is this a yes?" he teased, flashing his lop-sided grin.
"This is a million yeses, my Darling! A million times over and over again!"
"Don't you want to see your new ring?"
"And here I thought I wasn't getting a present!"
"You're getting a present all right, my Darling! But only one of the rings tonight, along with the most perfect lavender rose in existence!"
He handed her the rose, then opened the beautiful worn box where clearly not one, not two, but three rings had resided, all the while, now holding her, and she was totally speechless, her breathing rapidly increasing in rate.
Purposefully, tonight, there was only one front and center – a gorgeous Engagement Ring like no other! Little did she know her Groom had deliberately hidden the other two.
"Don't you like it?"
"Like it? Darling! It's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen! But how did you know?"
"Know what?"
"It's my Great Grandmother Thatcher's ring from England!"
"No, actually, it's my Great Grandmother Grant's ring from Ireland!"
"But…but that can't be! It's the same ring. I inherited it, but it got lost when it was shipped, and I never received it."
They both started laughing.
"This is another sign, isn't it?" he asked her with glee.
"This is so totally another sign!" she beamed. "I can't wait a second longer! Aren't you going to put it on my finger?"
"Talk about impatience," he teased back, resulting in her copious giggles.
He removed the 24K gold engagement ring with the beautiful oval diamond in the center and all the substantial halo diamonds around it and placed it on her left ring finger where it fit as though it had been made just for her, and perhaps it had all those many years ago! (*100)
Once placed, Nathan kissed the ring that was now his fiancee's engagement ring, then he kissed the love of his life who was now officially bearing a brand-new title.
"Now, when I introduce you, at least for the next two weeks, I get to proudly say 'my fiancée!' It was so awkward at the dress shop yesterday because there was no appropriate title to use."
"Girlfriend?" winked Elizabeth.
"Not a chance! You, my Lizbeth, are so much more than that. You are my everything, and that trite little term doesn't begin to do you justice. But fiancée? I think that just might work, at least for the next fourteen days or so!"
They kissed once again, their love and joy spilling over each other and out into the universe.
Then they both watched the ring, sparkling and twinkling as though dancing on the hand of its destined owner, washed in a golden transcendent glow like no other.
"Even the band is made of diamonds! This is the most beautiful, most perfect ring I've ever seen! And I love our story! I also love that it belonged to your Great-grandmother from Ireland and that the same-styled ring belonged to my Great-grandmother from England. Only to us could that happen, my Love!"
"I'm glad you love it! It looks perfect, exactly where it's meant to be!"
"But where are those other two rings, and what are they for?" she asked curiously.
"Oh, no, you don't! Those went back in my pocket, exactly where they've been since that first day at the log when I told you I loved you, that I was in love with you. I still do, Lizbeth, and I still am. I always will and always will be!"
"You have carried three rings in your pocket every single day since that first day at the log?" she asked incredulously, deeply touched.
"How could I not? I had faith, my Love! I just somehow knew deep inside, that everything would eventually work out."
She touched his face ever-so-gently, loving him all the more.
"I will be thankful forever, Nathan Grant, that from that day forward, you had enough faith for the both of us! Look at us now. Here we are…engaged! You are now my much-loved and very handsome fiancé!"
"And you are now my much-loved and very beautiful fiancée!"
"I can't believe this, Darling! Because you are such a treasure to keep the faith and see us through all our obstacles, and now we are engaged with the promise of getting married! Oh, when can we get married?" she pled as though she couldn't possibly wait.
"I'm ready now, so that decision is entirely up to you, Love!"
"Well, I've done some research, and the roses here should be at their peak in two weeks. Can you give me two weeks?"
"I think since this is one week since our first date here, that a marriage in exactly two weeks in this same 'Lizbeth's Wild Rose Garden' is absolutely written in the stars above us!"
"I adore you, Nathan Grant!"
"And I adore you, Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton, soon-to-be Grant!"
They kissed once more ever so passionately, dizzily overjoyed, by their vast love and this new commitment that was everything to the both of them!
"Quick! Let's go tell the children!" she beamed, as excited as a child herself.
He chuckled and got up, gently lifting her up into his arms, carrying his Elizabeth Rose, who was holding her perfect lavender rose in her now perfectly ring-bequeathed hand…
As Nathan carried Elizabeth back out into the clearing where Allie and Jack were playing, neither could contain their excitement.
"Allie! Jack!" called their Mama. "Your Papa and I are engaged!"
"We're getting married?" asked Allie, quickly moving her painting to lean against the carriage trunk so Scout couldn't knock it over.
Immediately, she ran to hug her Mama and Papa, where Jack already was.
"Jack, Mama and Papa are engaged, and that means we're getting married, and we're going to be a real family and live together," shrieked Allie, unable to contain her excitement.
"It does?"
"It does, Baby!" his Mama assured him.
"Yay! Yay! Yay!" responded Jack, leaving no doubt about his feelings.
"Mama, let me see your ring!" begged Allie.
Elizabeth held out her hand as Nathan kissed her and gently sat her down.
"Oh, it's so beautiful on you! I love it! I mean, I don't think I've seen a prettier ring anywhere!"
"Oh, Allie, neither have I! I absolutely love it! There's a special story I'll tell you someday, too!"
"How about a family toast to celebrate," asked Nathan, going to retrieve the chilled Italian Crème Sodas. "Who wants what flavor?"
"I want grape, Papa! It's so yummy!"
"Grape, it is, Son! What about you, Allie?"
"I love the lime one!"
"Here we go, grape for Jack Bear, lime for Allie Bear, cherry for Mama Bear, and pineapple for Papa Bear!"
Everyone laughed as they took their favorite flavored sodas.
"Papa, may I do the toast this once?"
"I think that would be lovely, Allie!"
"To Mama and Papa, may you be the happiest couple ever! And to Mama, Papa, Jack, and me, may we be the happiest family ever, forever!"
"That is a beautiful toast, Allie! Just beautiful," cried her Mama.
The four clinked their Italian Cream Soda bottles as confirmation of their beautiful future together, both as a resplendent couple in love and an even more resplendent family of four, overflowing with boundless love!
While God smiled above them as He watched over them, pouring out his infinite blessings on the soon-to-be Chief Inspector and Mrs. Grant, as well as the beautiful Grant Family that already was…
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99. "Italian Panini Pressed Sandwiches," Though Paninis did not become popular in the US till 1960, there are many references to them in Italian history as early as the 1600s. Before the late 1900s, their recipes weren't found in cookbooks but were simply passed down verbally from family member to family member. Public Domain.
100. "24K Gold," pure gold is notated as 24K, the highest karat level that exists for gold, meaning it is 100% pure gold; 18K is 75% purity level, 14K is 58.3% purity level, and 10K is 41.7% purity level. Public Domain Information.