The house was once again quiet and peaceful after a fun-filled day celebrating their little man. Birthday boy Jack was tucked in and fast asleep after all the excitement. Allie was snug in her bed with a good book. Nathan and Elizabeth tidied up the living room and kitchen in preparation of another special day tomorrow, Christmas.
After completing her task of dishes, Elizabeth joined Nathan in the living room as he was collecting the last of the birthday gift wrap strewn about the room.
"That was quite the birthday wish from Jack," she said, trying to judge Nathan's reaction. She smoothed her skirt nervously.
Nathan just laughed, "Yes, you never know what he'll say."
Elizabeth relaxed a little at his casual response but she felt the need for more conversation on that topic.
"Are you wishing for the same?" she finally asked quietly.
Nathan stopped what he was doing and walked over to where Elizabeth stood.
"Yes," he said simply. Still a man of few words much of the time but he said it with such feeling, it was all she needed to hear. His hands cupped her face. Elizabeth closed her eyes anticipating his kiss and wasn't disappointed.
"What about you?" he asked sincerely when their kiss ended, taking her hand and leading her to sit on the couch. With their short courtship and even shorter engagement, future children wasn't something they'd discussed before marrying.
Elizabeth had almost expected that it would happened quickly like it had with Jack but here they were, married over 5 months and still no hint that a child was on the way.
"Yes, I'm very hopeful that one day, I'll carry your baby." She touched his cheek and then ran her fingers through his hair. He took the opportunity to steal another kiss.
Torn between wanting to continue this conversation and wanting to move on to what had been on her mind all day, Elizabeth attempted to change the subject.
"I was thinking maybe I could give you my gift tonight. Now that's it's just the two of us." Elizabeth tried to sound casual but really this gift was all she could think about lately. She had thought for a very long time about what to get Nathan for Christmas. It had to be just right. One day, she suddenly knew exactly what it should be. Only it wasn't something she had to buy. And now that the time had almost arrived to exchange gifts, she had decided this one would be better given when it was only the two of them around.
Nathan raised his eyebrows and gave Elizabeth a look somewhere between goofy and flirty. "Oh really? And what did you have in mind?"
Giggling, Elizabeth lightly swatted his arm. "I just wanted it to be more private," she said sheepishly, looking down.
Nathan placed a finger under her chin and gently turned her face up to look at him. "I'd love that." And then he kissed her, soft and tender reminding her of his enduring love.
"I would love for you to open my gift for you tonight too. I'm not sure I can wait until tomorrow." He grinned and gave her one more loving kiss.
Quickly and quietly, Elizabeth dashed upstairs to retrieve the present from its hiding place. When she returned, Nathan was sitting on the couch waiting for her so she joining him there.
She handed him the bulky, soft parcel with a flush in her cheeks. Nathan unwrapped the gift and held up a blanket. But it looked used…and familiar. Suddenly he realized.
It was the blanket he had wrapped around her shoulders outside the infirmary years before. Nathan looked up at Elizabeth and then back at the blanket, lost for words. That night, she had tried to refuse his kindness and his company but he insisted knowing she needed the warmth. Yet she had kept the blanket all this time. Now she gladly accepted the warmth of his love and closeness. So much had changed. So much had healed. Before he could think of the right words, Elizabeth began to speak,
"For years, I kept it in my closet. I couldn't bear to look at this tangible piece of your love when I was trying so hard to ignore my heart. I also couldn't bring myself to return it to you and not have it there, safely tucked away, where I knew right where it was. But now, I give you this blanket as a symbol of the love I share with you. A blanket against the cold of life, cozy together in its warmth, side by side."
Nathan unfolded the blanket, wrapped it around her shoulders and, grasping the edges of it, pulled her in for a smouldering kiss.
"You know I loved you for every single second that this blanket sat hidden away in your closet. And I love you now," he spoke tenderly, brushing her hair away from the side of her face.
"And I love you, Nathan Grant." She rested her forehead against his, never feeling more at home than in this moment.
With a quick kiss, she pulled away, suddenly remembering his offer to give her a gift tonight as well.
"So, what did you get me?" she asked with all the excitement of a school girl.
Nathan laughed and went upstairs to get his hidden gift. He returned with a square parcel in his hand. Elizabeth took it and unwrapped it. She found herself staring at a beautiful wooden plaque with expertly carved lettering.
"Give all to love," she read from the plaque. Another Emerson quote. Elizabeth looked up with eyes filled with genuine love and gratitude. He had made her another plaque.
"Now that you've finally done what you're afraid to do" Nathan said, playfully gesturing to himself, "Love me," he elaborated with a chuckle, "I thought we could use a new Emerson quote. But this one is for our home."
"It's perfect. Thank you. And I fully intend to give all to loving you and our family."
Elizabeth set the plaque on the coffee table and slid over until her legs were draped over Nathan's lap.
"Best Christmas ever," she murmured against his lips and then kissed him.
The next morning, Jack was up with the sun and much like the day before, he quickly woke up the rest of the house.
After the kids opened their stockings of clementines, pencils, and trinkets, Elizabeth and Allie worked together to make a big breakfast for everyone. Nathan ate heartily but Jack mostly nibbled and then stared longingly at his gifts, wrapped neatly, just waiting for him to open and enjoy.
The dishes were set aside for later and the family gathered in the living room, around the tree. Before the gifts could be opened, Nathan picked up his Bible and read from Luke 2.
After reading, Nathan spoke for a moment to his family, "The birth of our Savior is the greatest gift this world has ever received. To celebrate, we give these gifts to each other but He is the reason for this day."
Even Little Jack seemed to take in the importance of his dad's words. With sincere hearts, the family joined Nathan in a simple prayer thanking God that He is indeed Emmanuel, God with us, the Light of the World.
Their time of devotion complete, Nathan handed Jack a present to open.
Jack happily tore into the paper, uncovering 2 carved wooden toys; one small pony that looked like Pal and another of a little boy. Not by coincidence, they went perfectly with his Mountie and horse toys. Jack jumped up and down, thrilled at these new additions to his favorite toys.
Elizabeth's mind went back to the Christmas when Nathan had shown up at her door with a small parcel in his hand for Little Jack. Elizabeth was surprised to see him, happy and startled all at once. Her constant inner turmoil had made her want to dive into his embrace once again and slam the door at the same time. She realized she cared deeply for him but her mind was always screaming, taunting her with, "This could be it. This could be the last time you see him. You could lose him too."
When Jack had unwrapped the simple paper to reveal the beautifully crafted figures of a Mountie and his horse, he jumped with joy much the same as he did today.
"Jack and Sergeant," Nathan had replied simply to Elizabeth's unspoken question.
"Well thank you. They will truly be cherished." Elizabeth had replied politely, trying desperately to hold her heart back. She couldn't help but consider the time that had gone into such a thoughtful gift and how she wasn't worthy of his time or devotion.
Now here they were. Together. As a family. Deeply in love. Elizabeth knew Christmas was a special time but she hadn't expected so many opportunities to look back at the years before she had opened her heart to this beautiful life she now lived. She hadn't known it could be this good. Now she couldn't imagine life any other way.
Jack had settled in to play with his new toys so Elizabeth picked up a tiny parcel marked "For Allie, From mama and dad". She handed it to the precious girl who was now her daughter.
Allie unwrapped the gift and then open the box, revealing a charm for her bracelet. It was a simple little home with a tiny heart dangling in front. Allie's eyes filled with happy tears as she squeezed both Nathan and Elizabeth in a hug.
Nathan spoke, "Allie, I know as a little girl, you longed for a place to call home but this year, I think we've been reminded that home is the people you love and the people who love you. And we are home now, Allie girl."
"They say home is where the heart is, right?" Allie replied, with a wobbly smile.
After the rest of the gifts were opened and dishes washed, it was nearly time to make their way over to the Coulters for dinner. Christmas dinner together had been Elizabeth's tradition for some time and that wasn't about to change now that her family had expanded.
"The more the merrier, that's what I always say! Don't I always say that, Lee?" Rosemary had answered when the topic came up a few weeks ago.
With cozy dishes in hand and a gift for little Goldie, they made their way through the snow to the Coulters.
Their home was filled with the delicious scents of Christmas and turkey and baking but Rosemary's giant gingerbread castle was the centrepiece of the whole house.
"A castle for our little princess," Lee said with pride, picking up Goldie who seemed fascinated by the oversized dessert.
They had just sat for dinner when Rosemary's hands flew up in the air. "Oh! Did you hear the news?" she asked and then continued speaking without waiting for a response, "Lucas and Fiona got engaged last night!" she squealed.
"Oh how wonderful!" Elizabeth replied cheerfully and reached for Nathan's hand.
"They haven't even dated that long," Lee remarked.
"But when you know, you know." Nathan added in, looking at his wife, his thumb drawing soft circles on the back of Elizabeth's hand.
"That's the truth." Lee replied, his eyes on his Rosie.
"How did you hear?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, we were keeping some of Goldie's gifts at the office. Can't keep her out of anything these days. So I went into town early today to bring them home and I ran into Florence and she said she was talking to…"
"Okay okay!" Elizabeth laughed, unsure of just how long this could go on.
Rosemary was only momentarily deflated but picked right back up with, "Well, there's going to be another wedding in Hope Valley! This truly is a special place, isn't it?" She finished with a dreamy smile on her face.
"There's no where else I'd rather be," Nathan answered with a smile and a quick kiss on Elizabeth's temple.
"I can't imagine anywhere else on earth like it," Elizabeth agreed, gazing into his blue eyes.
Rosemary smirked at her friends knowingly.