Granting a Family - Chapter 3: The Encounter

 

Nathan rushed into his house to get warm. Cold weather was settling into Hope Valley, and his serge provided little protection from the elements. His mind drifted back to the day Elizabeth warmed his serge by the fire and helped him put it back on, nearly buttoning it up for him. He knew they both felt something that day, but Elizabeth said she was just looking for Jack in him - whatever that meant. That seemed like a lifetime ago. He shook his head to get rid of the memory.

Weeks had passed, and he had been able to avoid her almost completely. He had seen little Jack a few times playing with Robert or Laura outside as he passed the house. One day, little Jack came running for Nathan, wanting to be picked up and played with as he held the Mountie and horse toys Nathan had made for him last Christmas. He picked the boy up and held him close, talked to him about how honorable his father, Mountie Jack Thornton had been, then set him down and told him to watch out for his mother. Someday he hoped to have his own son that he could teach to be brave, kind, loyal, honest, and all the things his own father had not been for him. 

Nathan stoked the fire that was barely burning and realized they needed more firewood. He changed into civilian clothes and went to the backyard to chop wood. Hard, physical labor had a way of clearing his mind, and he needed a clear mind as he re-evaluated what he wanted out of life. 

He didn’t notice Elizabeth coming up behind him while he was chopping wood, but he heard her voice say his name. He hated that she still had an effect on him. This was their first real encounter since the jail. Allie was at a sleepover, so he planned on having a quiet night at home reading and turning in early. Why didn’t he chop wood yesterday, so he wouldn’t be out here now?

He turned to face her, his heart pounding faster. “Elizabeth, what can I do for you?” Out of habit, he looked her up and down to appreciate her beauty. Why was she wearing that purple coat today? The one she was wearing when she flung herself into his arms in front of the entire town, when she thought he may have been killed during the prisoner transfer last year.

Elizabeth could feel the familiar gaze of Nathan admiring her, and realized she herself had been staring at Nathan’s muscular frame as he chopped wood, her mouth gaped open and now she couldn’t remember how to form a coherent sentence. Why had she come to talk to him? She fell back on the one thing she knew he couldn’t avoid talking about. “Um, I just wanted to make sure Allie is ok, and you of course. I haven’t seen you for a while, and I do care about you and Allie very much still.” Elizabeth looked down at the ground, knowing she had been a horrible friend and neighbor to them these past several weeks.

“Is Allie giving you trouble in school? Despite what happened with us, she knows she is supposed to respect and obey you in the classroom.” Nathan passionately insisted.

“Allie is polite in class, but not very friendly to me. That isn’t surprising, under the circumstances. She’s doing well academically as usual. She is really thriving in the accelerated math class, as you know. You must really have a wonderful mind to help her with all of that extra homework.” 

“Allie really doesn’t need much help, but I can usually figure things out when she has questions.” Nathan paused for a moment then continued, “I’m sorry she hasn’t been friendly with you, but did you know she saw you and Lucas at the bridge on the first day of school?”

Elizabeth’s cheeks turned bright red and she gasped “Oh! I had no idea.” 

“Don’t worry, I had a talk with her about what you told me at the jail,” Nathan explained, sadly.

Elizabeth looked even more embarrassed “Nathan,” she said softly as she stepped toward him and reached for him.

Nathan’s defenses kicked in and he was the one to instinctively take a step back this time. Elizabeth’s eyes widened then closed tightly as she realized how badly hurt this truly impeccable man was because of her. “Is there anything else I can do for you?” he asked, looking away.

Elizabeth opened her eyes and said, “I just want to apologize for hurting you, Nathan. You matter to me, and I want to be friends.”

Anger started bubbling up in Nathan, and he didn’t hold back in his response. “You want to be friends with me? Nathan Grant? From what you said, I am just a Jack Thornton replacement. That statement hurt worse than anything anyone has ever said to me. I don’t know how I can ever get over that. If you are happy, great. Don’t let me stand in your way. If I make you see Jack, you’ll never get on with your life unless I’m out of it, so we best not be friends.” Nathan was nearly shaking as he spoke. He didn’t want to hurt her, but she spent the last year pushing him away, seeking him out, then brutally rejecting him. He had protected her for three years, now the time had come for him to let her go and protect himself.

Tears were in Elizabeth’s eyes as she said, “I’m so sorry. I won’t bother you again.” Then she turned and briskly walked home. 

Nathan ran his fingers through his hair in frustration as he watched her go. He went back to chopping wood to calm himself back down. That wasn’t exactly how he saw their first encounter since the final rejection going. What did he expect though? His mouth was suddenly dry, and he realized he had chopped enough wood for several weeks. He gathered up a pile and went back inside. 

After building up the fire and getting a drink of water, Nathan sat on the couch and put his head in his hands. Will I ever be able to move on and find love again? Nathan wondered. Even if Elizabeth ever ended things with Lucas, he knew it wouldn’t work between them after the things she said and the way she had treated him and Allie. It was over. He had to move on once and for all. 

A knock at the door startled Nathan. Who could that be? he thought. He moved to the door and was shocked to see Lucas Bouchard standing in his doorway. Before he could say anything Lucas tore into him.

“What did you say to Elizabeth, Nathan?” I saw her talking to you outside, and the next thing I knew she practically ran home in tears and won’t let me in the house to talk about it.” 

 

“Why don’t you stop accusing me of things, Lucas,” Nathan defended himself. “Elizabeth hurt me, and she came to ask me to be friends with her. I can’t give her that right now. Maybe in the future, but she’s with you now and I have to focus on moving on for me and for Allie. If there’s nothing else I can do for you, please let me get back to my peace and quiet.” 

Lucas looked stunned, and before he could say anything else, Nathan had closed the door in his face. He turned around, went to his car, and drove home without checking in on Elizabeth again.

Nathan locked the door and headed to bed without dinner. His appetite was gone, and sleep seemed like a good way to escape his thoughts on what had just transpired over the last hour. As he got ready for bed, he said a little prayer that he would have the strength to move on from a love that wasn’t meant to be anymore. He missed Allie tonight, but was glad she had been gone when Elizabeth and Lucas came over. Things can only go up from here, he thought. Sometimes love hurts, but one day it will be beautiful. He drifted off to sleep feeling a bit lighter, and more hopeful than before.