Strands of sunlight hit her closed eyes. She felt herself being jostled about but held firmly in place by an arm around her. She awoke with a start, trying to remember where she was. She saw a flash of red draped around her, and realized she was wrapped in Nathan's serge and that the arm holding her in place belonged to the same. She realized she was nestled beside him on a train bench.
She heard his deep timber of a voice whisper in her ear, "We're almost there sweetheart."
Her mind panicked for a second, as she searched for her son. She glanced over in front of her and saw Jack curled up on the opposite bench clinging to Allie. Flashes of everything from the night before came back to her, and she remembered where they were. She was here with her family on their way to face this next challenge together.
Nathan eased his arm from around her and slipped over to the bench holding their children. She sat with that thought for a minute. Their children…as unconventional as they currently were, this was her family. This man had given up everything, as had his daughter, to be with her and Jack through this time of struggle. A feeling of love just washed over her.
She saw Nathan tenderly wake Jack up.
"Mountie Nathan!" Jack was weak but managed to throw his arms tightly around Nathan's neck, elated to see Nathan had joined them on their journey.
Allie slowly sat up and Jack threw an arm around her as well, "Allie!" with as much enthusiasm as he could muster in his weakened state.
"Next stop, Cape Fullerton!" they could hear being shouted from the hallway. Elizabeth handed Nathan's serge back to him. The family of four made their way to the hallway, ready to disembark.
Nerves started to build in Elizabeth's stomach, both at the unknown and at the thought of seeing Charlotte. They stepped down onto the platform of the train station. Allie made her way to stand beside Elizabeth, she gave her a smile and took her hand. Elizabeth knew Allie could feel her trepidation. Behind them Nathan followed carrying Jack, who was already half asleep again in his arms. Elizabeth searched the faces waiting in the station, and there she was, Charlotte Thornton. Charlotte briefly had a smile, then a look of concern, as she noted the small figure of Jack slumped in the arms of the Mountie.
Charlotte walked quickly towards them, "Lizzie?!" an urgent question in her tone.
"Charlotte, this is Allie Grant, and this is Chief Constable Nathan Grant. They accompanied us here."
Recognition flashed in Charlotte's eyes. "Ah, Constable, I've heard a bit about you from my son and from Lizzie. I didn't realize you and your daughter would be joining Lizzie and Jack." She paused taking in the sight of her weakened grandson, pain in her eyes.
"Perhaps we could continue this conversation once we get Jack to the clinic." Elizabeth implored.
"Of course, my car is over here." Charlotte gestured, "I'll have them bring your bags to the car."
"Bag." both Elizabeth and Nathan responded in unison. A quizzical look appeared on Charlotte's face as she set off to get the bag for her car.
Allie stepped up into the front passenger seat of Charlotte's car, as Elizabeth got into the back seat. Nathan tried to hand Jack down to Elizabth in the car. Jack groaned and clung tightly to Nathan's neck, "No, don't leave me Mountie Nathan." Elizabeth looked up at Nathan with misting eyes and nodded at Nathan.
He carefully stepped up into the car holding tightly to his precious cargo and maneuvered both of them into the back seat beside Elizabeth. "I'm not going anywhere son," Nathan replied.
Charlotte took in this scene as she put Elizabeth's bag in her car. She glanced up and stepped into the driver's seat.
The drive to the clinic seemed to last a lifetime and yet they were there in a matter of minutes. Once they got Jack checked in, they rushed him back to a bed. They had been preparing for him as soon as they had gotten Faith's call. Elizabeth and Nathan took chairs beside Jack's bed.
"Why don't I take Allie and get her settled in my apartment." Charlotte broke the silence in the sterile room. "Lizzie, I have room for you, Allie, and little Jack in my apartment. Constable, I can get you set up in a room at the boarding house for now."
Elizabeth stood, nodded, and gave Charlotte a big hug. She sat back down by Jack's side, as Nathan took Elizabeth's hand and thanked Charlotte.
Allie hugged her dad and Elizabeth, then followed after Charlotte as the doctors came into Jack's room. Nathan gave a quick kiss to Elizabeth's temple as they prepared themselves to face this next chapter.
As they got back into Charlotte's car, Charlotte looked over to Allie, "So you want to fill me in on how you and your dad ended up here in Cape Fullerton with no luggage to boot?"
Allie filled her in on all that had happened in the last 24 hours. Charlotte took it all in. As she pulled up to her apartment, she glanced up once more and whispered with tears in her eyes, "Son, you sent a good one to love our Lizzie and little Jack."