Chapter Three:
It was as if Abigail had never left Hope Valley, all the years melting away as the two friends visited quietly. Elizabeth grasped Nathan's hand tightly the entire time, but otherwise she was able to keep her worries tucked inside her while she heard about Cody's first year at university. He was considering a career as a veterinarian, but was still undecided at the moment, as he hadn't completely put the Mounties out of his mind. Becky was happily working with an engineering crew on a new bridge in San Francisco. Abigail couldn't contain her excitement about the challenge and honor that Becky had to be a part of the project.
Elizabeth filled her part with giving Abigail updates about the Coulters, Minnie and Joseph's excellent care of her cafe, and of course all the children she had the pleasure of teaching. Anna had taken over running the classroom while Elizabeth took some time off to be at home with baby Daniel, and Elizabeth was proud her former student could continue to keep her classroom in order while she waited for Nathan's recovery.
A loud rumble from Elizabeth's stomach interrupted their conversation. "Would you like me to find us some lunch?" Abigail offered.
Elizabeth gave a nod. "Actually, I would love some. I raced over here so fast this morning, I barely ate a bite at breakfast."
Abigail gave her a tight hug and another whisper of reassurance before leaving the room. Elizabeth then turned her full attention to Nathan for the first time in hours, and gently traced his cheek with a finger. His features were so relaxed, not a hint of pain or discomfort. There could be no possible way that Dr. Mueller was right about his assumptions, her heart beat the truth to her mind. And Elizabeth wouldn't let anything take that hope away from her.
She placed one hand on his chest, taking comfort again from its steady rise and fall, and the metronomic rhythm of his heart. She whispered some of the words that had been constantly repeating in her mind the last day, "please God, don't take him yet."
Her attention was so fully consumed by Nathan that she didn't hear the footsteps running up behind her. But the tight squeeze of her son did grab her focus, and she pulled Jack into her lap to welcome him to her. "Hi Honey Bear," she murmured, trying to keep the tears at bay so as not to scare Jack.
Jack pulled away and began talking a mile a minute. "Danny cried the WHOLE way here. Aunt Rosemary says he's hungry, but we had so many bottles for him. Is Dad still asleep? Allie said he might stay asleep for a long time. I have a card for him though, I want him to wake up so he can see it." He held up the card he had made, covered with pictures of Pal the pony and Nathan clad in his iconic red serge.
Elizabeth gently took the card. "Dad will love this. We'll show it to him as soon as he wakes up." Elizabeth looked up to acknowledge the other newcomers to the room. Allie had already rushed to the other side of Nathan's bed, taking his unoccupied hand in her own and murmuring a prayer. Rosemary stood in the doorway with a wailing baby Daniel in her arms. Elizabeth left Nathan's side for the only thing that could pull her away; her children. She took her son from Rosemary and cuddled him close to herself.
Turning to her friend, she expressed how deeply grateful she was. "Thank you for bringing the children Rosemary. That was quite a drive to make with them, especially because it sounds like Danny wasn't such a good traveler."
Rosemary shook her head. "The children should be here with you. And I was more than happy to bring them, since it gives me the chance to give you my support. And as for Danny, he just misses his mother."
Elizabeth looked down at her son, who still was inconsolable. She figured she should find a quiet place to feed him, craving a peaceful moment with the little boy. "I'm going to ask the nurses if there's some place I can feed Danny. Will you keep an eye on the children a few minutes longer?"
Rosemary put her hand on her friend's arm. "Of course. Take all the time you need."
Elizabeth took a glance back at her children, Allie focused solely on Nathan while Jack was exploring everything he could in the room. She turned to Rosemary again. "Thank you."
Nurse Lethbridge happened to be walking towards her just as Elizabeth stepped into the hallway. "Excuse me Nurse Lethbridge. Is there a place I could go to feed my son?"
"Of course! The nurse's break room will be nice and quiet this time of day. Let me show you the way." The kind nurse guided Elizabeth to a room tucked away and furnished with a comfortable settee, a small dining set, and a tiny stove. She assured Elizabeth that she would get some privacy, and then left her to fulfill her own duties.
Elizabeth stroked her son's downy dark hair as he instantly calmed and began eating eagerly. She contemplated Nathan once again, but this time remembering all the little moments relating to Danny. As soon as she had suspected she was expecting, Elizabeth had told Nathan, wanting to include him in the entire journey of having a child. It had been such a special memory, and Elizabeth replayed it all in her mind.
Nathan entered their bedroom after getting Jack settled into bed, and then a quick check on Allie. He loved being able to do a bedtime routine with the children while Elizabeth was usually preparing lunches for the family for the next day. Today, Elizabeth had hurried through making tomorrow's lunches so she could have plenty of time to talk with Nathan before they settled into bed themselves. She was already in her nightgown, standing at the wash basin cleaning her face.
She turned around to face her husband. "I've been bursting all day to tell you something."
Nathan paused in the unbuttoning of the final few buttons on his shirt. "What is it?"
Now that the moment was here, Elizabeth hesitated slightly, worried that she may be getting his hopes up. "Well, it's still very early, but I think… I think I might be pregnant."
Nathan's eyes widened, and he began stammering in a way she hadn't heard in years. "Uh, well, are you… Did you… Have you…"
Elizabeth smiled and closed the distance between them, saving him from his flustered state. "I just started suspecting today. There's a few signs, but I think it's still too early for me to go see Faith. But, unless something changes, I think we can expect a baby in the spring."
The wheels in Nathan's head had finally turned enough. His lips lifted to his ears, and a sheen covered his eyes. He lifted Elizabeth in the air and spun her around. "We're having a baby!" he yelled excitedly.
"Shhh!" Elizabeth shushed, though her own excitement made her want to shout out loud. "I don't think we should tell the children quite yet, and I doubt either of them are asleep yet."
Proving her point, there was a knock at the door. "Is everything okay? I thought I heard Dad shout," Allie called through the door.
"He just… stubbed his toe," Elizabeth provided a quick fib.
"Yeah Allie, everything's fine. Head back to bed," Nathan said.
"Okay, goodnight." Allie's voice was full of suspicion, and Elizabeth suspected there would be a conversation about this tomorrow.
Once they heard Allie's footsteps retreating, Nathan returned to his exuberant expression of joy. He pulled Elizabeth close to him, and held her so tightly yet tenderly. "We're going to have a baby," he whispered softly into her ear this time.
Elizabeth pulled back far enough that she could look directly into his eyes. "You're going to be a father."
Nathan shook his head, and knelt down to be closer to her abdomen. He cradled the place where their child was currently growing, and spoke so softly Elizabeth could barely hear him.
"If there's more love to be had in the world than what I have for Allie and Jack, I don't know if my heart can handle it. Maybe one day it will happen, but I can't imagine it right now. All I know is I am so grateful for each and every child we have been blessed with, and a baby is exactly the addition we need." Nathan gave a long kiss to her stomach, and Elizabeth felt her own heart swell to unimaginable proportions. She thanked God that she had given her heart to a man who didn't hesitate to claim all three children that would be in their home soon. This husband of hers made her fall in love with him each and every day, and today was another example of that.
All through her pregnancy, a similar care and attention had been Nathan's standard. He had gone with Elizabeth to every appointment she made with Faith, and they rejoiced together over the confirmation about Elizabeth's expectant state. They had told Allie and Jack together shortly after that, and Allie confessed that she had heard the news the night Elizabeth had told Nathan, but hadn't wanted to say anything out of respect for her parent's privacy. Not that it made her any less thrilled to be a big sister again.
As she approached the baby's imminent arrival, Elizabeth was seized with uncharacteristic anxiety and high emotions. Despite Nathan's assurances that he would be by her side throughout the entire process, she had nightmares about being in a cold cabin, alone, as she delivered. Nathan took all of this in stride, and soothingly gave Elizabeth whispered words of reassurance and gentle touches when the nightmares left her restless. And though Elizabeth had been in the middle of teaching when her water broke, leaving many of the school children with lots of questions, it had ended at home, with Nathan there the whole time as promised, and Faith placing her healthy, screaming son on her chest to shouts and tears of joy.
When they had sat together shortly afterward, gazing lovingly into little Daniel's calm, sleeping face, Nathan held his son with ultimate care as he crooned the words he had sung repeatedly since deciding on his name.
Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,
It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.
Elizabeth was pulled out of her memories by the soft grunting noises of her son. Her little Danny boy gave a satisfied sigh and settled into sleep. She leaned down to brush her lips across his forehead. "I'm praying Daddy will sing you to sleep soon."
She arranged the baby on her shoulder and gingerly walked back to Nathan's room. Elizabeth looked forward to being able to have her children all with her, and hoped that their words of encouragement and prayers would be enough to reach Nathan in whatever dream state he was in. With their family all around him, he may feel their strength and be able to will himself back to recovery.
Steps away from the room, shouting brought speed to Elizabeth's feet, and a sinking to her stomach. She couldn't tell what was being said, but nothing sounded good. When she made it to the doorway, the scene before her was chaos.
I hope the cute memories make up for leaving you all on a cliffhanger. Hey, at least we have a new episode tonight. I'm so excited to see what looks to be a steamy, romantic, melt our hearts date. See you next week!