Nathan Grant stood at the front window of the rowhouse, peaking through the sheer curtains for the tenth time in five minutes.

Nothing.

"You know," his wife's melodic voice called from the kitchen. "Looking out the window every thirty seconds won't make him appear any faster." She was busy mixing the ingredients for a fresh batch of banana bread, seeming utterly calm despite the situation.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Nathan said as he beelined to the kitchen, slightly embarrassed at being caught.

"Honey, you have all but worn a hole in the floor pacing from here to the window in the past hour," Elizabeth laughed, pouring her batter into the loaf pan.

"I just think it sets a bad impression with our family for him to be late."

Elizabeth glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. "Sweetheart, he's not even supposed to be here for another 15 minutes."

"In the Mounties, to be early is on time, and to be on time is late," Nathan stated matter-of-factly as he sat at the kitchen table.

"Okay," Elizabeth replied, trying to stifle her laughter as she handed the mixing bowl to her husband. "Why don't you lick the bowl and the spatula while we wait."

"Thank you, sweetheart," he took the bowl from Elizabeth's hands before pulling her down for a kiss. "You always know how to make me feel better."

Their moment of peace was suddenly interrupted when the front door swung open, Jack running inside at full speed, with Scout following right behind him. "Dad! The goose is in the barn!"

"What in the world does that mean?" Elizabeth questioned as Nathan shot up to close the front door.

"It means," Nathan whispered, "He's almost here. Excellent work, Mountie Jack," he high-fived his son and ruffled the boy's hair on his way back to the kitchen.

"Did you send him out to spy?" Elizabeth asked as she placed the bread pan into the oven.

"No," Nathan cheekily responded before placing a quick kiss on her lips. "I sent him out to…observe."

"What a distinction." Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she walked to the bottom of the stairs to call up to her daughter. "Allie, sweetheart, it's time!"

She turned to find Nathan, Jack, and Scout standing in a row, staring at the door. Nathan had his feet firmly planted and arms crossed, with Jack imitating his Dad's stance beside him. She didn't know whether to laugh or roll her eyes again.

"Honeybear," Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Could you please run upstairs and make sure your sister heard me call her?"

"Yes, Mama," Jack answered, breaking his tough stance to scurry up the stairs.

Standing before Nathan, Elizabeth grasped the front of his shirt and pulled him closer, trying to hide her smile. "Try not to be such a Mountie, okay?"

Nathan softened when he remembered the first time she had said that to him back when Tom Thornton had gotten a little over his head. That memory, combined with the pleading in her eyes, had his tough exterior melting. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her against him and kissed her forehead. "I promise I will try."

"You know, it was just a matter of time before this happened," Elizabeth reminded him while she mindlessly played with his collar.

"I was kind of hoping it wouldn't happen at all."

Elizabeth laughed. "But we like him."

"We do like him," Nathan agreed. "Just not when he is dating our daughter."

They were interrupted by Jack landing with a thud as he jumped the last two steps. "She's ready!" he announced.

Nathan and Elizabeth turned just in time to see Allie descend the stairs. She wore her royal blue dress with small kitten heels, which Emily had loaned to her. She had lightly curled her hair and secured it with the hairpin Elizabeth had gifted her on her seventeenth birthday. She looked so grown up, and it tugged at the hearts of both of her parents.

"Oh, Allie," Elizabeth sighed, going to embrace her daughter. "You look gorgeous, my darling."

"Thanks, Mom," Allie beamed as Elizabeth kissed her temple before stepping aside to let Nathan have his moment.

"Allie, you look beautiful," he agreed.

"Thanks, Dad. You really think so?"

"You look great!" Jack gleefully announced, causing everyone to laugh.

"See," Nathan scooped the young boy up to place him on his hip. "It's unanimous!"

A knock at the door interrupted the sweet family moment as Allie went to open it. On the other side stood Oliver Garrett, dressed in his best clothes, holding a bouquet of yellow lilies. "Hi, Allie."

"Looks like someone's out of uniform again!" she teased.

Oliver nervously laughed, standing silently for a moment before remembering the flowers he held in his hand. "Oh! These are for you."

"Thanks," Allie received the flowers, bringing them to her nose to take in their sweet scent. Elizabeth saw it as the perfect moment to throw a lifeline to the obviously nervous teens as she stepped up beside Allie. "Hi, Oliver! Come in, come in."

"Thanks, Mrs. Grant." Oliver stepped into the house, taking his place next to Allie, being careful to leave at least six inches between them while he was in the presence of her parents.

"Would you like me to put these in water for you, sweetie?" Elizabeth gestured to the flowers, breaking the awkward silence, as Allie handed the bouquet to her Mother.

"Hi, Cadet Oliver," Jack saluted from his place in Nathan's arms. "Are you and my sister going to dinner?"

"We are," Oliver answered, making sure to return the young boy's salute before bringing his eyes to meet those of his supervisor. "Hello, Constable Grant."

"Kiddo, why don't you see if your Mom needs help?" Nathan said as he sat Jack back on the ground. As soon as the young boy was a few steps away, Nathan crossed his arms in front of him, eyeing Oliver as if he was a suspect brought in for questioning.

"You'll be careful?"

"Yes, sir."

"Only use lighted pathways?"

"Yes, sir."

"You'll be back by 7?"

"Dad!" Allie groaned. "It's 6:30 now."

Nathan glanced at the Grandfather clock in the corner. "Fair Point. 7:30 then."

"Okay!" Elizabeth interrupted in her best teacher voice, returning from the kitchen. "Allie, here is your shawl. You all have so much fun. Just be back before 9, okay?"

"Nine o'clock?" Nathan exclaimed.

"Nine o'clock," Elizabeth repeated as she hugged Allie. "We love you, sweetheart. Have a great dinner. And we'll see you later, Oliver!" She did her best to push them out the door before Nathan's interrogation could continue.

Before Elizabeth could entirely close the door, Oliver turned around, extending his hand out to shake Nathan's. "I'll take good care of her, sir."

Nathan softened as he took the cadet's hand. "I know you will."

Nodding in appreciation, Oliver turned to escort Allie out the door, everyone sharing one last goodbye as Elizabeth shut the door behind them. She leaned against the door and gave her husband a playful glare.

"Come on now," he grinned. "I wasn't too hard on him, was I?"

"I will give it to you; it could've been worse." she smiled.

"Jack!" Nathan called. "Why don't you take Scout on a quick walk before dinner, kiddo."

"Okay!" the young boy cheered as he called for Scout to follow him outside.

Nathan came up behind his wife, circling his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. "You know, it's almost time for sunset. Do you want to watch it with me?"

"I would love that." Elizabeth beamed as she turned to place a quick kiss on her husband's cheek. They followed their son out the front door, taking their place on the porch steps, watching Jack skip down the lane with Scout.

"Can you believe Allie is on her first date?" Nathan sighed as Elizabeth placed her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Honestly, no. When did she grow up? It was just yesterday she was cutting my class to go fishing," Elizabeth chortled before they both burst into laughter at the memory.

"Oh," Nathan groaned. "She did put us both through it, didn't she? But she really has grown into an amazing young lady."

"She has," Elizabeth lifted her head to look in his eyes. "And that is because of you."

"And you," Nathan covered her hand with his own. " Sweetheart, even when you were just her teacher, you've always been so much more." He leaned forward to capture her lips in a tender kiss.

"And I am so glad she is not on a date with Earl Wyatt!" Nathan proclaimed as they settled back against one another.

"Ugh!" Elizabeth sighed. "Me too! I wish we could have spared her the heartache, but I am glad that situation didn't work out."

They fell into a comfortable silence as the sun began slipping lower. There was a slight chill in the air, and Elizabeth knew Jack and Scout would be back any minute. She was just about to suggest they go in and start dinner when Nathan spoke up. "But who would've thought it would be Oliver?

"What?" Elizabeth asked, sitting up so she could see his face.

"Who would've thought Allie's first date would be with Oliver?"

Elizabeth laughed before seeing his somber facial expression. "Wait, are you serious?"

"Yeah. I mean, where did that even come from?"

"Nathan."

"What?" he responded, genuinely confused at his wife's response.

"Sweetheart, I saw this coming a mile away. Everyone did!"

"Oliver and Alile?" he exclaimed.

"Yeah!"

"You knew?"

"Who didn't?!"

"I thought they were just good friends!"

Elizabeth smirked as she ran her hand through his thick, dark hair. "Well, you know, I remember some other people who started as 'just good friends.'"

"That's different," Nathan huffed.

"How so?" Elizabeth playfully poked his side. "I know what it's like to be a girl with a crush on local law enforcement."

"You know, he's not officially law enforcement yet." Nathan pointed out, but Elizabeth could tell he was finding it more difficult to hide his smile.

"Okay," Elizabeth smiled, trying to keep her laughter from escaping again.
"How about we just try to relax? Have a nice evening. Enjoy some banana bread. Not send our son out to spy."

As if on cue, footsteps running on the dirt path quickly drew their attention to Jack and

Scout coming around the corner. "Dad!" Jack crashed into Nathan's side before climbing onto his father's knee. "We followed them to the cafe. Oliver held Allie's hand the whole way!"

Nathan immediately hung his head, turning every shade of red.

"Nathan Grant!" Elizabeth exclaimed, playfully swatting his arm again but failing to hide her smile or contain her laughter.

"In my defense," Nathan said sheepishly. "I already had that planned. I will no longer spy.

Starting now!"

And yet, when Oliver brought Allie home at exactly 8:58, it was Elizabeth who was peeking through the curtain of one of the front windows. While she couldn't hear what the young couple were saying as they stepped on the porch, Elizabeth felt so much joy at the look of young love on her daughter's face.

"Elizabeth Grant!" Nathan exclaimed as he descended the stairs, causing Elizabeth to jump back as if the curtains had caught fire.

"Shhhhhh," she shushed him in her panic. "They might hear you!"

"Are they back?" Nathan ran to join her, both fighting for a look out the small window.

"Hey, I was here first," Elizabeth playfully pushed her husband. "Go get your own window!"

Nathan dashed to the opposite window on the other side of the front door, carefully pulling back the curtain to try and get a view of Oliver, hopefully keeping his hands to himself. He laughed to himself at what a sight he and Elizabeth must be. Both clad in their pajamas and robes, sneaking around, trying to get a glimpse of their daughter's first date. All they needed to do now was flicker the porch light.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door handle rattling. Elizabeth and Nathan immediately dove for the couch, bumping into one another and scrambling to appear as if they had been there the whole time.

"Hi, Allie!" They both said in unison as their daughter walked through the door.

"Hello," Allie said, obviously suspicious of her parents' odd behavior.

"How was it?" Elizabeth asked excitedly. "We want to hear everything about the date!"

"Some of us don't want to hear everything," Nathan added.

"Where did you go? How was the restaurant? Was there a good night kiss?"

"That, for instance, is one of the things I don't want to know about," Nathan groaned.

Allie bent over the back of the couch, wrapping an arm around each of her parents to hug them from behind. "I love you both," she said, kissing each of their cheeks. Good night!" she called as she practically skipped up the steps.

Elizabeth sighed as she placed her hand on Nathan's thigh, while he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "She seems happy."

"Yeah, she does." Nathan agreed. "But just so I'm clear," he whispered into his wife's ear. "Were you spying or observing?"

Elizabeth burst into laughter and hid her face in Nathan's shoulder. "Oh goodness. How are we going to survive our children dating?"

"Like we do everything," Nathan pulled her closer, kissing her forehead. "Together. And for what it's worth, I'm really glad you had a crush on local law enforcement. And extra thankful that you married local law enforcement!"

"Me too," Elizabeth giggled before placing a sweet kiss on the crook of his neck. "Banana bread?"

"I'd love some."

The End