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Nathan & Elizabeth: An Epic Love

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Chapter Fifty-eight

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Saturday & Sunday Surprises:

Family Matters

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Part III

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After the couple had shared intimately with each other their thoughts and innermost feelings overseeing what would be their forever home together for the first time, Nathan spread out their blanket and poured them each a cup of coffee from the thermoses he had filled, then set his own coffee down, so he could sit with his arms wrapped around Elizabeth, his legs to her sides, both now able to face where they instinctively knew their home would sit.

"Tell me exactly what you want in our home, Lizbeth."

It didn't take Elizabeth long to think before she began rattling off her well-thought-out list.

"I want a huge white farmhouse, Love! I don't care if it's wood or brick or even stone, as long as all the trim is painted white."

She paused to contain her excitement and gather her many thoughts to make sense.

"I want a series of round plain columns, though not fancy ones at all, and I want a huge wrap-around porch that goes around the entire house for the children to be able to play outside even if it's raining. I want two rambling stories with the biggest rooms and fireplaces everywhere, on both levels! Oh, and I would love built-in closets and bathrooms with indoor plumbing because you've now spoiled me immensely!"

This time, she paused to reach back and soundly kiss him.

"On the first floor, I want a library that serves as an office for us to share, if that's possible. If not, then two offices back-to-back might be nice. I want a huge master suite on the first floor with a nursery so we can have a bit of privacy, and the children, as they get older, can have theirs as well."

"What about the living and dining rooms?" asked Nathan.

"Oh, I want a massive living room and dining room across the front of the house, if possible, with huge floor-to-ceiling bow windows to let in all the light possible!"

"That actually sounds beautiful," agreed Nathan. "And if we do the rounded windows in the front, we probably should carry them throughout the house as well, on both floors!"

"I love that," agreed Elizabeth. "Oh, and I want a garden room downstairs, with a sunroom for everyone to gather in upstairs. And, oh, Love, I want the biggest and happiest kitchen in all of Hope Valley with a huge keeping room attached and the most massive fireplace for us to gather around, no matter the season!"

"How does an outer room or enclosed utility porch inside our wrap-around porch, all the way across the back of the home, sound?" asked Nathan. "It could house a huge pantry, a place to do laundry, and serve as a mud room of sorts to shed boots for rain and winter wear. Might even make a home for Scout, too, when he's not inside with us."

"And all the kittens that are sure to come," she laughed. "I love all of that! Although I'm not sure, I can see Scout not being inside with us! Oh, and just so you know, Mother will never accept a house without a huge 'Butler's Pantry' between the dining room and kitchen, which we'll need because I better warn you, Hamilton will send more than enough Wedding gifts of that sort, which we will have to have enough storage space for in case they ever visit!"

"Now, I did not know any of that! So, let me get this right. You're telling me that if we add a 'Butler's Pantry,' we garner your Mother's approval, plus we'll have a place to store our Wedding gifts?" Nathan asked, thoroughly amused.

"Exactly!"

"And I take it this is absolutely necessary even though we won't have a Butler?"

Elizabeth giggled.

"Yes, my Love! Just take my word for it. Absolutely necessary!"

He grinned that lop-sided grin of his, shaking his head.

"But, Elizabeth, I don't even know what a 'Butler's Pantry' is!"

Elizabeth giggled.

"Think of it as a combined service and storage room, Darling, for fancy dining service items when we entertain!"

"Hmph! And to think I've lived without one all my life!"

"Astounding, isn't it, Love?" she teased, leaning her head back on his chest.

"Here, let me go get something for you. Given what you've requested, Babe, something I think you'll like very much, though perhaps minus the 'Butler's Pantry' since I didn't know of their existence!"

She laughed that beautiful laugh of hers.

Hating to leave her, he rushed back to Newton and Sergeant, who were watering by the brook where he had left them, and pulled a set of rolled plans he had tentatively drawn from his saddle.

He walked back to Elizabeth, admiring her amidst all her excitement.

"Seriously, since I have never even heard of a 'Butler's Pantry' before, I'm afraid that will have to be added in by someone more knowledgeable than me," he chuckled. "But I think you're going to be very surprised otherwise!"

He unrolled the plans and lit a couple of lanterns, knowing they'd have to leave soon.

"Nathan! How is this even so? You drew my dreams before I even told you what they were?" she asked incredulously. "Look at this entry and staircase! It's positively exquisite!"

"I think it's safe to say, we're pretty much in sync, my Darling! Though I did throw in a second-floor sleeping porch, which is something I've really always wanted! We had one at the Ranch, and it was Colleen's and my favorite place to read and sometimes even to sleep during the hot summer months!"

"Truthfully, me too! I just forgot to mention it! My Grandmother Thatcher had one!"

"Add in a workshop somewhere in all of this, and I'm a very happy man, indeed!"

"What are all these buildings drawn in, Love?" she asked.

"Let's see! We'll need a carriage house for our cars and that carriage we plan to buy to take to Rose Valley, not to mention the sleigh we'll need for winter. Then there's a Livery/Barn. We can do them together or separately. Whichever way you like, along with a chicken coop of some sort. And at some point, we need to talk about a guest house or two for our parents! We also have to have something to house Security, which dawned on me after I drew these plans up, so that's got to be added!"

"Nathan, do you think we might add a greenhouse of sorts where we can grow things year-round?"

"Now, that is one great idea! And one I also hadn't thought of. We'll have to talk to Lee to see what our options are, as I haven't seen a lot of those!"

"Nathan," exclaimed Elizabeth, setting the plans aside. "I love this land so very much. I love your extraordinary plans unbelievably so. And I am so deliriously happy for the two of us, and the four of us get to spend our lives here! But know this: no matter what wonders come to us in this magnificent place, it's you whom I love most of all in this whole world and always will!"

"I love you, Lizbeth, my Darling, and I've never been happier in my whole life! Every single time I think I can't possibly love you more, somehow, I do! That's never going to change except to keep growing more and more! This is the place that is meant to be our home, where the four of us belong together! And I cannot wait to show the children, as well as both sets of our parents, and even Bill, now that we have all our beautiful preliminary plans together. But Elizabeth, what do you think Lee and Rosemary will do?"

Elizabeth couldn't help but giggle at Nathan's most serious question, deciding to have a little fun.

"They will be right next to us, Darling! So, you'd better get ready for Rosemary barging into our home all hours of the day and night like she owns the place on a regular basis!"

"Really?" asked Nathan, with a shocked look on his face.

She kissed him as if to soften the blow.

"Really, my Darling! Remember what she's already done to your office with her Mountie Hall of Fame? I mean, this IS, after all, Rosemary we're talking about!"

Nathan moaned while Elizabeth just continued to giggle.

"You know what they say, be careful what you wish for! But no worries. I'll give you pointers on how to handle her. And you'll be a pro in no time at all. But Darling, you did ask them. Though I do know you ever so sweetly did it for me and for her. And for that, I love you to the moon and back a million times over!"

"Why is it I get the feeling I'm also marrying Rosemary this coming Friday night?" he asked with pure dread. "Is that even possible?"

Elizabeth broke out into a rash of giggles.

"Well, you sort of are, my Darling! I mean, look at it this way, Love! How else is Lee ever going to get a break?"

"Do you think maybe we could talk her into being just a little closer to town?"

"Oh, that ship has long sailed, Love! And quite frankly, sunk to the bottom of the ocean, never to be resurrected again!"

Now, Nathan, filled with dread, couldn't stop moaning, running his hands through his hair, a sure sign of his foreboding, not to mention his furrowed brow!

"Oh, my goodness, Lizbeth! What have I done?"

"I'm only teasing, Darling! Well, partially. Seriously, I'll set her down and have a very blunt talk with her."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously! Besides, you are the Chief Inspector! If worse comes to worse, you can just always arrest her," she suggested brightly.

He glowered, enunciating each word of his response perfectly as he helped her up.

"Don't tempt me, my Darling! Though knowing her, she'd only add another framed poster to my Mountie Hall of Fame Hallway, that dreaded walk of shame!"

Causing them both to erupt into fits of laughter.

So much so that both horses were looking at them like their masters had lost their ever-loving minds…

To Elizabeth and Nathan's surprise, the entire family was already gathered at his rowhouse for Sunday night dinner when they returned from selecting the land for their new home.

"Papa, you and Mama look really excited," noted Allie, meeting them at the door.

"We are, Allie Girl," admitted her Papa, and both he and Elizabeth gave her a hug and kiss. "And we'll share all our news at dinner so all of you can share in our excitement!"

"That sounds wonderful, Dear," smiled Grace, looking up from her favorite three pieces of Allie's paintings.

"Papa! Mama!" You're home!" called Jack, scrambling up from the floor to greet them with hugs and sloppy kisses.

"Hi, Baby Bear!"

"Mama, I'm not a baby!"

"No, you are not, Son! And I need to find a new term of endearment! But I'm going to miss my Bear!"

"I know! How about Big Bear, Mama?"

"Jack's got a point, Babe!" winked Nathan.

"Well, it looks like I'm outvoted! We'll just have to try on Big Bear for size!" declared Elizabeth as she tickled their son.

Jack giggled, snuggling in next to his Papa, who had just sat down in one of his comfy leather chairs.

"Uncle Bill's making his famous wedge salad and has been grilling steaks all night while I put the baked beans and potatoes in for a slow bake before he got here," explained Allie. "And I just put the rolls in the oven, too, so we should be ready to eat fairly soon!"

"Yum. Sounds good," grinned Elizabeth. "Thanks for doing all that to help, Allie!"

"Auntie Julie and I already set the table, too, Mama! And we fixed a fresh bouquet of flowers from the wildflowers we picked earlier!"

"Thank you two for doing that. It all looks beautiful! Do I need to fix drinks?"

"The tea is already made, and I tried to fix the coffee, but Uncle Bill insists it's his turn!" whispered Allie.

"Oh, no, I'll run and put a fresh pot on!" And that's exactly what Elizabeth did in record time before Bill made it back inside from their grill in the backyard.

"I did my part by building a fire in the fireplace. It's not that we really needed the heat, but it just makes everything feel so nice and cozy, don't you think?" asked William. "Besides, it takes the chill off, too, making everything toasty!"

"Yes, another reason Elizabeth prefers this rowhouse over her own," smiled Nathan in agreement.

"Grandpapa, Mama and I only have a stove! And I have to stay away from it because it will probably burn me! Then I'll have to go see Dr. Faith, and I think it will probably hurt really badly. But her shots don't hurt too bad," Jack explained the sum of his medical experience all at once, causing everyone to hide their smiles.

Julie was in the middle of showing her mother Allie's art pieces, which meant Jack, not to be outdone, had to run and gather all of his drawings for everyone to look at as well!

"Well, Son, it looks like we clearly have two artists in this family," complimented William to Jack's delight, pouring over his stack of drawings as though they were masterpieces.

"Allie, these are stunning and very well-articulated paintings. I'm thoroughly amazed at how accomplished your talent is for such a young age," complimented Grace. "And I can see so much of your mother's influence in your work."

"Thank you, Nana! But can you really see Mama's influence? I mean, Auntie Julie said the same thing, but I just had never noticed it before she explained it to me."

"What are you all seeing? " Elizabeth asked from the kitchen door, curious to see what her mother and sister were seeing.

"Come, look, Ellabeth," pointed out Julie who had never been able to say her sister's name correctly till first grade and had ended up with a plethora of versions, though this had been the one that had stuck the most. "See how similar the brushstrokes are throughout both of their works. Where they differ is in their selection of color, but even that is also similar in that they both use color to create this aura of light popping off the canvas. The main difference I can see is that Allie uses a gold tint to create her light on the canvas, while Colleen used a collection of whites to get the same effect!"

"She did do that, Julie, pretty much all the time. It was one of her favorite tricks to make everything pop, and people loved it. I think it gives her work an impressionistic flair as well. And it must have worked because she was constantly being given commissions to recreate her unique take on lighting," explained Nathan.

"I can see why, as it's so unique, especially for our time period. To me, this is so intriguing because Allie didn't even realize their works were similar. Yet, they really are – there's a clear continuity here that amazes me, almost as though it's passed from mother to daughter instinctively, especially when none of it was taught! Still, they both clearly use the same technique, though they do it via different methods."

"I love knowing that, Auntie Julie. And here, I didn't even know I was doing it! I think I need lessons."

"Now that Julie's pointed it out, Allie, I can see it plainly too, but I think we missed it because it's very subtle right Jules?" asked Elizabeth.

"Exactly! It actually took me a while to figure it out! Allie, maybe we can paint some together while your parents are gone on their honeymoon. Would you like that?"

"I would love to learn from you, Auntie Julie. Papa just got me a new art book that I've started to read, and I'm beginning to realize how much I don't know!"

"Oh, you know a lot! And I want you to keep on doing what you're doing without me impacting or changing that too much! When I say you're very good, Allie, I mean that you are extremely talented, and Mother's right, remarkably so for your age!"

"Thank you, both! That means a lot!"

"Allie, do you think that when you paint with your Auntie Julie, maybe you could paint something for me to purchase and take home with me to show my friends?"

"Oh, no, Nana! You can't pay me anything, but I will paint you something beautiful to take home with you. Do you really think my painting's good enough to show your friends, though?"

"I not only think it, Dear! I know it!" Allie's Nana insisted, giving her a big hug, which Elizabeth was so grateful to see, but exchanged a look with Julie, both thinking it had never been that easy for them to get a hug.

Nathan caught their shared look, saddened for his wife and soon-to-be sister-in-law.

His family had experienced great tragedy, but they had always known they were loved, even during the worst of it. Thankfully, his mother had always made certain of that! And for that, he was most grateful.

"What's this second pot of coffee on the stove?" roared Bill, walking in from the kitchen. "We've already got a pot! But hey, Ladies and Gents, dinner is now served..."

Once the family was seated, Nathan asked William if he would like to say their blessing over the meal, which greatly pleased the patriarch as all joined hands.

"Dear Heavenly Father, we are so thankful to be here with our family, including Nathan, our new son, and Allie, our new granddaughter, along with our Elizabeth and our Jack! We thank You for bringing these four together in love, happiness, and hope as we see that is exactly the case and are so grateful for their strong and most beloved relationships. We thank you for Bill, who readily fills in for us when we can't be here ourselves, to help out directly whenever it's needed. Thank You for the delicious-looking meal he has prepared, and bless it for the nourishment of our bodies. But during this important Wedding week, we ask for two special blessings. The 1st for the Bride and Groom, may they relax and enjoy each other during their Wedding festivities, and may their great love only grow greater for each other as they take this next step forward in their relationship as husband and wife. Help them continue as a couple to find new ways to form the foundation of the family these adored children deserve and need as they grow and constantly experience new things. And most of all, help this pair to enjoy their coming honeymoon together, by making the most of their two weeks alone and without any worry, knowing we will take the very best care of their children they so adore. The 2nd is for our beloved grandchildren who will be going through a lot of new adjustments together - help them to both feel and understand how very much they are loved by not only their parents, which is a given, but by their extended families via both sets of grandparents and all the aunties, uncles, and cousins that will surely come along with, all in good time. We are so very grateful, and we humbly thank You with all our hearts! May You pour out your many blessings upon us all, and in particular, this new young family, we pray! Amen!"

"Amen," chorused everyone around the table.

"Thank you, William, for that beautiful prayer and sentiments," nodded Nathan sincerely, leaving Elizabeth a little flummoxed as to the pronounced change in her father.

"Okay, Family, this 1st platter of steaks is rare, this 2nd platter of steaks is medium, and this third platter is well done. Oh, and we have an assortment of filets, ribeyes, and t-bones! If anyone likes something more well done, just send me back to the grill! So, your choice. Thanks to Allie, we have baked beans, baked potatoes with bacon, butter, sour cream, and fresh herbs, along with yeast rolls. And I made my famous Wedge Salads for everyone! But I'm not tellin' you what dessert is till it's time, so just save some room! Enjoy your meal!"

"This looks wonderful, Bill," complimented Grace. "Absolutely wonderful!"

"And don't forget the baked beans are on Papa's end of the table, along with the yeast rolls," reminded Allie.

"Thanks, Little Mountie, for bein' my sous chef! I think that's it!"

Everything was passed around in a flurry till Elizabeth could wait no longer!

"Darling, why don't you share our news?" she asked Nathan.

"Why don't I give you the honors, Lizbeth?"

She chuckled.

"Well, you won't have to ask me twice! Children, your Papa and I looked at his top three favorite parcels of land that Uncle Bill owns, and Bill, we both fell in love with Nathan's favorite #1 plot! It is absolutely perfect, and I cannot possibly describe how beautiful it truly is, but I will say it's like a piece of heaven on earth – just so very special!"

"Glory be! Finally, you two have decided. And I couldn't be happier with your choice!"

"Does this mean we get a new house, Mama," asked Allie.

"Yes, Sweetheart, it does. And it's going to be everything we want and more!"

"But I like it here!" broke in Jack, almost ready to cry.

"And we'll be living here the whole time while our new home is being built, Jack," explained his Papa.

"Oh, okay!" and Jack was fine again.

"Sounds super exciting, Jack! When do we get to see this land? Because I, for one, can't wait," declared William, definitely anxious to see for himself.

"How about tomorrow afternoon, William? That is, if you think we can get there by car, Bill?"

"No, we better take a couple of carriages from the livery. That should work. But there are some rough patches along the way till a new road is built. And I definitely don't want to harm that brand-new car of yours in any way! But hey, I'll arrange the carriages and horses for whatever time you need, and we'll all go take the grand tour sometime tomorrow afternoon if that works!"

"Yes, my day is jam-packed. I even have a lunch appointment. So, it will have to be in the afternoon, but make sure we leave plenty of time to arrive before dark. And don't let me forget to contact my bank in Union City so I can get you paid, Bill!"

"No rush on that, Son! Besides, you and I need to talk about that first!"

"I'll feel a whole lot better when it's paid in full, Bill, seriously! The money is just sitting in the bank, ready to be transferred to you."

"Pfft. I'm not worried!"

"Bill, this might be the best steak I've ever eaten," complimented William. "I'm here to tell you this Chef can grill!"

"Thank you, William! We aim to please!"

"Tell us about the land, you two," urged Grace. "Julie and I can't wait to see where you'll be building and what it will be like!"

"Mother, there are mountains and hillsides covered with wildflowers, huge meadows of wildflowers below them, brooks, forest, pastures, and there's a gorgeous river that borders most of the property. It's just extraordinary! And it's going to be our splendid forever home!"

"As far as the house itself, Elizabeth wants traditional in style, but I'm also insisting she has every possible modern convenience inside to make her life easier! She wants a huge two-story white farmhouse with round columns and a wrap-around porch for the children to play on, but with lots of amenities, and that's exactly what she will have. We're also planning a couple of guesthouses for family visits, so you won't have to stay at the hotel. That way, you can stay inside with us in the main house, as there will be plenty of room, or if you prefer your privacy, you'll have that option, too!"

"Be sure and save a room for me," insisted Julie, getting her early bid in.

"Of course, you'll have a choice of rooms!" assured Elizabeth.

"Your description sounds perfect, Nathan! But will the main house have a 'Butler's Pantry?'" asked Grace with a worried look on her face.

"It absolutely will have the largest 'Butler's Pantry' you have ever seen, Grace," winked Nathan confidently at his Lizbeth, who had not steered him wrong. "Strategically placed between the large dining room and massive kitchen Elizabeth wants! But we may need your help on the actual design."

"That's the absolute best news ever, Nathan! And I would love to help design it! Finally, a man who understands what is important in a proper home…"