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Nathan & Elizabeth: An Epic Love
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Chapter Fifty-seven
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Saturday & Sunday Surprises:
Family Matters
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Part II
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After a delicious lunch served family style at the Café with lots of laughter while getting to know each other even better, all of Hope Valley stopped by the Grant's large table to specifically chat with the Thatchers, further welcoming the three to town, but also wishing to talk about plans for the upcoming Wedding and extend their congratulations and well-wishes.
By the time Elizabeth's family had cordially spoken with everyone, making Nathan and Elizabeth's friends a priority, the elder couple finally decided to return to their hotel to rest part of the afternoon and get caught up on some Wedding planning of their own. Nathan and Elizabeth had finally agreed in full to let them not only host their Wedding but also plan their reception, which thrilled both William and Grace to pieces.
Still, Elizabeth had been privately adamant with her parents.
"Nice and even elegant are okay, Mother. Nathan loves French food, believe it or not, and has been very meticulous about exposing Allie to all kinds of fancy restaurants wherever they've lived and traveled. So, you can make the menu as fancy as you want. The only thing we ask is that you please draw as little attention to the Bride and Groom as possible. We wish our whole celebration to be about the people we love instead!"
"But, I don't understand, Darling," noted Grace. "A Wedding is always about the Bride and Groom!"
"I think I do understand, Mother," interjected Julie in an attempt to help. "Nathan and Elizabeth are both all about serving others, and they prefer their wedding reception to reflect that, without any more attention directed at them than is absolutely necessary!"
"Exactly that, Jules!"
"But please be a little more specific, Lilibet," advised her Father. "So that we don't mistakenly get this wrong!"
"Well, instead of the traditional focus being on us, we just want to share our special time with everyone we love. For example, instead of a head table for just the Bride and Groom and Attendants, put the two of us smack in the center of everyone surrounded by our two families, then let our Attendants spread out to sit with their loved ones. Everyone will relax and have a much more splendid time!"
"I actually like that idea, Elizabeth! What about cutting the cake?" Grace asked, concerned about pleasing her adult children but also wanting to show them off in other, more traditional ways.
"Of course, we'll cut the cake, and since Nathan will be in his dress uniform, we'll have to use his saber to do so, which will be quite impressive, Mother!"
"Oh, that sounds lovely, Dear! And how do you wish the Wedding Toasts to be handled?"
"We prefer that the two fathers take care of the toasts. Which means we need to include Bill in making the toasts as well. Oh, but Nathan also reminded me that since Hal is an Officer attendant above him, he may also be required to make a toast. We'll check to make sure."
"Lilibet, I know the Deputy Commissioner, Bill, and his Mountie friend, Gabe, are standing up with Nathan, but I personally know Conrad is coming too, which according to protocol means he will also be standing first beside Nathan and based on what you just explained, may also need to offer a toast. Can you come up with an extra Attendant?"
"Oh, my goodness! I'll call Lillian right now to get her size, as she's a dear friend and Gabe's fiancée. I'll also have Rosemary order her dress the same as the others, though in a different color, so crisis averted!"
"So, back to the toasts, Dear?" prompted Grace.
"Well, that means we change the order of the toasts to first Bill, then Hal, then Conrad, then our two fathers! That is if necessary. If not, let's just do the three fathers! Either way, that's more than enough. We don't want any Attendant speeches other than those toasts, Mother!"
"That works perfectly, Elizabeth! I completely understand. I always found the Attendant speeches rather silly and out of place. This will be much more elegant. But don't forget to tell Nathan that Conrad will also be standing up with him! Let me think! Oh, what about the dancing? I was so hoping we would have lots of dancing!"
"Absolutely, there will be dancing and lots of it! Nathan is a very, very excellent dancer, Mother, and he enjoys it very much. His own mother was once a famous dancer in London, and believe me, she taught him very, very well! He's also told me Colleen was always making him practice with her when they were growing up! So, if you don't mind, after the Bride and Groom's dance, can you have Allie dance with her Papa and Jack to dance with me? Then I'm sure Nathan will want to dance with both of you mothers, as well as Julie. Just make sure you leave plenty of time for the two of us to dance together."
"Well, thank goodness we'll all be dancing! Now, I can't wait to dance with my new son! But what about a receiving line?"
"Why don't we just let us all mingle with each other? I promise it works, Mother, every bit as well! If not, better! Nathan and I will make our way around the area as much as possible."
"It's a novel idea, but I can see where that would be much more organic! Actually, I'm okay with that!"
Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief, but before she could relax, she called Lillian, who was delighted to be included as an Attendant. With Rosemary in charge, the new Bridal Attendant gown, along with shoes and accessories, would be added to the others by morning.
Ever the Wedding Planner, Rosemary also instructed her husband to add more carriages, as by now, both Grace and she knew the entire town was planning to attend the Wedding, and she, for one, didn't want any wagons to be appearing in the middle of what she had deemed a fairy tale transit to and from the private, though now not so private, Wedding location! And so poor Lee had reserved all the carriages within a two-hundred-mile radius, with William happily paying for whatever was required.
"Flowers, I have to order one more bouquet!" remembered Rosemary, and she quickly did so, calling the Florist at home.
With all that finalized, everyone finally felt calm once again!
After today's Sunday dinner, Julie decided to walk back to Nathan's rowhouse with the children so that Allie could show her all of her artwork in more detail.
At the same time, Nathan and Elizabeth, who were trying to act very nonchalant about their Sunday afternoon plans, were actually elated to finally be getting a few hours alone to enjoy their favorite pastime—riding together, which they had only gotten to do on their first date!
Plus, Nathan was beyond excited to show Elizabeth the plots of land available for their choosing!
"Darling, is it okay if I go home first and change into something special?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'll take you home now, then run on and change myself at my place so we're both comfortable! How's that?"
"Sounds perfect, Love…"
In a very short time, when Nathan appeared at Elizabeth's, both fully changed, he was literally gobsmacked.
He had never told her his thoughts, that long ago day when both of them had inadvertently ended up at their log.
But he remembered it like it was yesterday!
The love of his life had been wearing a tan riding habit that he had adored her in, but everything had gotten upended that same day with news of Lucas's shooting, and there had been no time for him to tell her how stunning she looked. Though, even if there had been, it wouldn't have seemed at all appropriate, and he knew he still would have refrained from sharing the compliment that was so strong within him.
And so there had been no words exchanged about the matter at all.
Something major had definitely shifted that day, though.
But, even in the remembering, Nathan felt sorry for all the hurts and losses of all three involved.
Still, he had kept that stunning picture of Lizbeth in his mind all this time.
Finally, today, she was wearing the tan riding habit once again, looking every bit as beautiful as she had on that most important but thwarted day of their past!
Now, he was beyond thrilled to be able to finally tell her just how touched he had been.
"Hello, Beautiful! And I do mean Beautiful! Do you realize how many thousands of times I've dreamed of you in this very outfit?"
"Why, Nathan Grant, I do believe you like your women, quite modern with a rather strong slant!"
"I don't know about my women, but I do know about this woman, who happens to be the love of my life! And you better believe I want her as formidable, as modern, as powerful, and as strong as they come!"
And then his voice softened.
"I love all that about you, Lizbeth – I love your strength as well as your softness too! I love all of you!"
Little did Nathan realize, though, that Elizabeth was just as gobsmacked as he was.
At the same time, she was remembering a different day, much further back in time.
The day Nathan had borrowed Sergeant to race against Lucas on his motorcycle.
She had been a bundle of nerves inside, but if she were being truly honest with herself, her nerves had not been for Lucas nor the race, though she had tried with all her might to steer them back where she thought they had belonged.
Yet no matter how hard she tried, it had been Nathan in his blue striped shirt, broad suspenders, and that fedora of a taupe hat, cuffed down over his beautiful cerulean eyes to shade them from the sun, who had completely and unmistakenly taken her breath away.
Her fear had been strong, and the false walls she had built almost insurmountable, yet still she was drawn to him, even in awe of him, and never more so than on that day of all days.
She remembered talking to him about Jack teaching Sergeant how to bow and how only Nathan understood what a lovely memory that was of hers. She remembered his look of total understanding, then that automatic sweep of his eyes over her that he probably wasn't even aware of, though he was completely unable to stop. As much as she was fighting what was between them, it was simply there, existing, even with both trying so hard for it not to be.
He was wearing that same outfit today, and she wasn't at all sure she could breathe normally because of that fact.
"I have a confession, Nathan."
"A confession? Sounds serious, Love!"
"Oh, but it is! I am so sorry for all the many ways I fought you, fought us, fought our deep, deep love."
"Lizbeth…"
"No, let me finish! The last day I saw you dressed just like this I remember everything about it, every single second, and you need to know how it was you who impacted me. One glance at you and my heart practically stopped beating in its tracks. My breath was lost, trapped somewhere within me, and I couldn't get it out, no matter how hard I tried. My stomach was in literal knots, though it had nothing to do with the race and everything to do with you, Nathan. I knew that I had never, ever seen such a handsome man before, nor would I ever see a more handsome man in the future! But I also knew that I had never before been seen by any man in the same way that you saw me that day. In all my life, I had never experienced an exchange of a more intimate look, even with both of us trying so hard to be proper, given the circumstances I had created. And that look between us occurred right there on the street in front of everyone. You came so close to breaking me that day while at the same time giving me the strength to begin seeing my heart again, though I know it was ever so slowly! What I'm trying to say is it was you who meant everything to me that day despite my fear, despite my walls, despite me fighting so belligerently everything I knew to be true."
"Lizbeth…"
He held her as she cried, but this time not with sad tears but with tears of joy regarding that day's miraculous shift within her.
Suddenly, she began realizing the answer to her all-important question, which she had previously journaled. And now she finally knew. It had been Nathan that day who had made her feel joy again and gratitude again for Jack's love and importance in her life.
"Yes, my Darling Nathan, that was the exact moment the pain of grief for Jack lessened, and I was able to be thankful for him instead of only grieving him. And it was all because of you! Thank you for giving me that beautiful gift, even when I wasn't at all worthy of your compassion."
He tilted her beautiful face to him.
"You have always been and will always be worthy of my compassion, my Darling! But only happy tears today, my Love, for this is the week we wed…"
They walked contentedly to the Livery, arm in arm, while Julie and the kids, along with their guards, stood waving to them from the meadow where they were gathering wildflowers.
The Bridal couple enthusiastically waved back, giving everyone a huge smile as they turned to continue, refusing to be deterred from their all-important Sunday afternoon plans.
In the stables, Nathan assisted her as she mounted Sergeant, and even though both knew she didn't need the help, it still felt wonderful for Elizabeth to be pampered with his strong hands around her waist, lifting her ever so easily. The truth was, every single little thing with him felt like the most beautiful dream, and suddenly she couldn't for the life of her even think of what her fears had ever been. She needed this man most in her world, and that was more than enough, as truthfully, he was her everything.
Once securely mounted before she let him go, she bent to his uplifted face, ever so lightly grazing his lips in sheer adoration.
Her action elicited a smile of extreme wattage and impassioned love written all over his face.
"Where are we going first?" she asked curiously.
"You'll see," he chuckled. "A man has to have some secrets! Although, believe me, with you, Elizabeth Rose, it's rather difficult!"
Before mounting Newton, Nathan hugged his horse's neck, then mounted his steed in one fell swoop, both the masters and their horses happy to be together again, not to even mention the excitement of the couple finally getting real alone-time while doing their favorite pastime together!
They brought their horses slowly outside, then, with one look at each other, brought them into a side-by-side cantor.
However, at the edge of town, with joyful smiles on their faces, they both moved their horses into a full-on gallop, laughing while loving the cascade of wind it created around them, almost as much as their horses were enjoying the same…"
After having ridden for quite a few miles, with their Security team keeping as much distance as possible, Nathan slowed Newton, the afternoon sun shining down on them.
"This, Elizabeth, is property #3. What do you think?"
"It's fairly far out but lovely, though I don't need to see more, Darling, as it's missing the river and brook I've heard you talk about so wistfully. I just want a glance at your #2 choice, but what I really want is to spend the bulk of my time riding over your #1 choice, seeing as much of it as I possibly can before it gets dark!"
"Fair enough! Then that's exactly what we'll do. Though I need you to think about something very important while we ride. Leave it to Bill to overlook telling me the most important fact of all, which explains why I didn't know this till recently, but apparently, my #1 choice borders yours and Jack's land along one side. Are you okay with that, Love? Really okay with that? Because if there is any hesitation at all, we'll forego that choice completely and start over with a new #1."
"No, Nathan! I actually love that idea! We can just save that land for Allie and Jack to use someday!"
"Really?" asked Nathan, puzzled and very surprised she wouldn't want to gift all of the land to Jack from his father.
"There's more than enough for the both of them to share. It's quite a large bit of acreage, you know. Much more than either one of them would ever want to take care of as part of a couple. Beautiful, too, no matter how they would want to split it up. And more than enough for two extremely large farms, or even ranches, if they are so inclined."
"You don't say! But, Elizabeth, I can purchase something else close by to whatever land we decide on to invest in as a possibility for Allie, should she ever want it. That's not at all a problem."
"No, Baby, that's not necessary. See, the original intent was that we purchase enough for Jack and me to use, with an equal amount of acreage left over for our firstborn. So, the parcels were always meant for two families and are pretty much identical, as the river runs along both properties, I believe along the back! So, there should be no fussing over who wants what, which was another reason we chose what we did! I want, and I believe, Jack would want me to do this, as well. Since we won't need my portion, and since Allie and Jack are as much a real brother and sister as though they came from our same gene pool, I want to gift the land from Jack Senior and me to both my children!"
"What a lovely gesture, Lizbeth, if you are absolutely certain! However, I do believe both will be elated over the idea…"
As Nathan pulled up onto his #2 choice of land, Elizabeth smiled, pleased with what she saw.
"I see why this is your 2nd choice, as opposed to your 3rd, Darling, as this is even closer to town and an even lovelier lay of land! But now, I'm more excited than ever! Please take me to your #1 choice. I am so ready to see our home!"
"You sound awfully confident, Love!"
"Oh, but I am most confident, and I can't wait to see with my own two eyes!"
"Then we need to turn back toward town a bit!"
"And that's all the hint I get?"
"That is all the hint you get!"
"Nathan," called Elizabeth.
"Yes, Babe?"
"Riding with you is even better than I imagined! And I imagined it was quite spectacular even before the first time, for our first date! But I'll admit, I was a bit nervous that night, and now that we are both totally relaxed and a couple, this is perfection!"
"Same, Love. This feels heavenly with you riding by my side!"
Then Nathan cheekily added.
"You may have to start wearing those boots all the time! And, oh, by the way, just so you know, that outfit is coming with us on our honeymoon!"
She chuckled low.
"Oh, my Darling, you're getting lots better than these old boots," she cooed. "But only if that shirt and hat of yours is coming too!"
Most intentional words that caused her fiancé to break out into chuckles too, understanding perfectly what his fiancée meant…
On their way past Elizabeth's land, she stopped Nathan.
"We have something we need to do, my Darling! Well, if you don't mind, you need to do!" she prompted.
He smiled, nodding, knowing exactly what she was referring to.
As they came to their log in front of that small body of water, they slowed their horses, and Nathan helped her down from Sergeant.
"Let me secure them next to the water. They've worked hard for us!"
Once that task was done, Nathan handed Elizabeth one of their thermoses.
"In case you'd like me to pour you some coffee, Love, while I get busy!"
He took out his pocketknife as she beamed.
"Where do you want this to go, Babe?"
She thought a moment, though she didn't have to think long.
"Jack was my first love, but you are my forever love, so why don't we put it a bit larger, angled at the tip of Jack's engraving as our stories are so intermingled, like this log is a timeline, and our love is moving forward across it through our entire lifetime!"
"I think that's perfect, and I think Jack would agree! I know I would if the situation were reversed."
She shuddered despite herself at the thought, unable to bear thinking of her life without him, but also knowing God was with them, ensuring their perfect love together would overcome any seeds of remaining doubt and fear.
She hovered over Nathan as he worked, needing to see each second of what was happening, marveling that with each cut, her spirit was somehow becoming free from all the pain.
It was such a simple, and perhaps some would even think childish act, but not to them.
This was a necessary progression, a continuous story of a love not only worth fighting for, but their love that had always been meant to be, and no matter what interruptions, twists, and turns had been thrown at it, had existed still, and was truly forever, never failing.
As Nathan finished the last cut of their initials, he carved the larger angled heart around them just as Elizabeth had requested, but without an arrow cutting through time, leaving their story, their love open yet now recorded for all to see.
He pocketed his knife and reverently stood up behind her, wrapping her in his arms so that both could see. She lifted her own arms, wrapping her hands around his arms, both filled with their love, both knowing a lovely and full transition had just taken place. But out of reverence for Jack and their past love, he didn't kiss her, nor did he speak.
It was like Jack was standing there with them, together respectfully marking this transitory moment, all three full of honor, love, respect, and finally, complete peace…
As they neared Nathan's favorite parcel of land in Hope Valley and beyond, Elizabeth grew silent along with Nathan. The bride was literally awestruck for the first time upon viewing the land, and the Groom was awestruck all over again upon revisiting it and observing it through Elizabeth's eyes.
"The lush rolling meadows, with the pink and purple mountains in the distance beyond the ebbing and flowing sounds of that almighty river looming close by, are simply beyond spectacular, Lizbeth. I remember experiencing this alone for the first time, and I couldn't wait to share it with you!"
"Spectacular, my darling Nathan! There is no other word!"
"Notice the sun starting to dip overhead, Lizbeth, just below the horizon lying beyond us. The sky is filling with the most beautiful, striking hues of the same flowing pinks and purples as though they are being reflected perfectly from the surrounding mountains, in shades I've seldom before seen in nature, all tinged in a light of pure gold."
"I believe my husband-to-be is a poet!"
"No, God is the Poet of all this, Love! And the Artist!"
The couple watched together in utter amazement as Nathan continued.
"It's like the colors are being majestically painted by the hand of God, Himself, right before us into a singular masterpiece, as though He is offering a special blessing to this perfect part of his creation, and I like to think, as well to us as a family who wish to borrow it from Him to live on."
"Look at that chain of rolling hills, Nathan, sitting just below the mountains, stretching out as far as the eye can see! Those hills are filled with patches of the most picturesque wildflowers dotting them while it appears the same flowers spread out even more luxuriously in the meadows below them! And they are all swaying randomly, ever so gently!"
"All choreographed by the evening breezes lifting off that rambling river that luxuriously borders most of this entire property, Lizbeth. I've never seen anything like it!"
With a sense of God's utter majesty flowing over them in a way they had never experienced before, Nathan slid down from Newton as he hurriedly assisted Elizabeth down. Both needed each other's touch in sharing this most special once-in-a-lifetime moment, their blue eyes sparkling with dreams of their future along with that of their family's future in this most special place they both already knew deep in their hearts was meant to be their home.
Nathan gathered his Lizbeth closer, and this exquisite world around them suddenly and officially became their new world, their new home.
Though as stunning as their surroundings all were, for a few moments, its splendor faded slightly as their focus shifted to the living of it all, each leaning in closer, their hearts racing with delight and a new excitement full of joy.
"We've already found our most important home, Lizbeth, in each other as soulmates. But just think, we are now finding our physical home together as well! That special place we will bring our family to and raise them is right here! The place that will remain home to all of us our whole lives through, no matter where our children go!"
Their bodies overflowed with that knowledge along with the sheer wonder of the many delights that would await all of them right here on this very land.
"It's like the gift of all our dreams come to life, Nathan, right here in the palms of our hands!"
"I know, Lizbeth, like they are snatched from our future and placed firmly in our present as the most wonderful of gifts possible!"
Time literally stood still for them both, as their lips became beautifully and softly entangled, while lingering tenderly, even gloriously on the other, celebrating this new promise of their shared future together on this most special spot of earth.
Both were filled with hope like no other as they could already see the home that was in their hearts become a living edifice for them and their children together.
In this kiss, so full of their deep, intense love, one for the other, they heard the laughter of their family and visiting friends that echoed down its long halls from the first floor to the second, filling the space with joy!
They saw the quiet evenings shared on the double swings of their huge wrap-around porch, front and back.
They heard the precious cries of their newborn children, their tears as they grew into infants, then toddlers, experiencing the inevitable cuts and scrapes of life, along with their joys as they took their first steps and spoke their first words.
Nathan and Elizabeth tasted the many foods in this kiss, which they would share around their huge table as a family. The table would always be left open, welcoming all who needed sustenance.
The couple sensed all the joys of the many Holidays to come when the Grant Family would share what they had with all those they loved.
They felt the cool water, as their family took dips in the calmer, lower lying areas of the river during the hot summer months.
And they could only imagine, feeling the cool breezes washing over them, when they chose to sleep outdoors as a family on their second floor sleeping porch in the summer's scorching weather.
They flinched at the bite of the snowy cold, when they went sledding together on those hills, the children begging: "Just one more time, please, Papa!"
They sensed the magic of watching an early morning sunrise from one side of the house, followed by watching a magical sunset like this evening's own from the other side, but painted in a myriad of different color shades of God's choice, each and every single time surprising and thrilling them.
In this kiss, they dreamed of watching the brilliant moon and sparkling stars that would surely cover these skies to guard this home throughout the night while also leading the way home for those away, yet returning again.
And in this now earth-shattering kiss, full of the knowledge of the hope and promise lying in their brilliant and bright future together, both were experiencing their every dream in an onslaught of color, feeling, and emotion, as though each and every single one of those dreams was now a living part of them.
Breathless, Nathan turned her to watch the rest of the sunset together, wrapping his arms around her while resting his chin on the top of her head.
"This isn't just a parcel of land, my Darling. This is a canvas of our cherished desires, dreams, hopes, and wants, including those we can't possibly yet know we possess. And though it's difficult to imagine it is possible, this is where our love for each other and our family will continue to grow by leaps and bounds. It is here where our lives will be lived together as the Grant Family with all our wonderful memories that will come to life, bursting with love!"
"All of this is so exquisite, so stunning! It reminds me of Rose Valley, Darling, almost like it too, is a piece of our home! I don't even have words," began Elizabeth. "Except that I know deep in my heart, this is the place! This is our forever home, my Love…"