Granting a Family - Chapter 13: Future Thoughts

Nathan and Allie had settled back into a comfortable routine since being back in Hope Valley. It was the middle of May, with only two weeks of school left before summer break. The factory outside of town had been open since the first week of the month, and the families moving into the area were much more peaceful than the men who had come to complete the construction. Things at the Saloon had finally settled back down, since a lot of the construction workers had moved to other projects across the territory. However, with more residents did come more work for the Mounties. Nathan and Thomas spent much of their time resolving disputes and making sure Hope Valley stayed the peaceful safe haven that had drawn so many people there before.

Work had been a good distraction for Nathan, and kept him from having to really focus on his love life...or lack thereof. It was also becoming a full-time job just to try and figure out the inner-workings of a teenage girl. Knowing more about how teenage boys work (because he had been one), made Nathan even more nervous about watching Allie’s interest in Robert grow. 

Elizabeth had been so busy with the end of school, and meeting with Mr. Landis regularly to discuss the new school and hiring of the new teacher, that she had barely said more than a hello since he had returned from Union City. Lucas was also pressuring her to commit to the book tour coming up when school ended, and she was trying to work out the logistics of that. Nathan was actually grateful for some distance while he tried to sort out his feelings. 

One downfall of his new promotion was all of the paperwork he had to complete, and today had been particularly long and boring sitting at his typewriter to complete large stacks of forms. He wished he were out doing rounds with Thomas, instead of being stuck in the office. After a while, he decided to stretch his legs and grab some lunch at the café. Constable Bradshaw walked in the office right before he was going to leave.

“Grant, where you headed?” Thomas asked.

“I’m just going to grab lunch at the café,” Nathan answered. “I’ve been knee-deep in paperwork all day and realized I hadn’t eaten since early this morning. Hopefully rounds were quiet and uneventful for you.”

“I did break up one fight over property lines, but it wasn’t too bad. Do you want company at lunch, or are you going to assign me to stay and do paperwork?” Thomas teased.

“You can come,” Nathan offered. “But I’m still going to make you do some of that paperwork when we get back.” They both chuckled, knowing it would go faster with both of them working on it anyway.

At the café, only one small table was available when they arrived. “Go ahead and sit down,” Clara instructed. “I’ll be with you shortly.” The two of them sat down and looked around assessing the situation and the people...something they were trained to do as Mounties. When they noticed each other doing the same thing, they smiled and laughed together.

“So, how’s your wife feeling these days?” Nathan inquired. “When is that baby of yours supposed to arrive?”

“She has good days and a little bit harder days, but she’s hanging in there,” Thomas replied. “Baby is set to arrive at the end of July or first part of August. Anne already feels like the weather is getting too hot for her liking, so this summer might be a little uncomfortable for her.”

“But worth it in the end,” Nathan remarked. “You are a lucky man.”

“I’m not used to babies, and I’m a bit nervous,” Thomas confessed. “My youngest sibling is my sister who is only 2 years younger than me, so I don’t exactly remember being around infants.”

“I’ve never had an infant yet either,” Nathan admitted. “Allie was school-aged before I took her in. I mean, I held her when she was a baby, and sometimes I felt like I would break her. But babies aren’t as fragile as you think, and when it’s your own child…” he let the thought drift off.

“Anne is sewing all sorts of baby clothes and is obsessed with getting the house ready for the baby.” Thomas was beaming with excitement at the thought of becoming a new father.

Clara finally came to bring them coffee and take their orders. They heard the bell on the door and both turned to see who was coming in. Lucas, Fiona, and Hickam walked in and found a newly-open table for what looked like a business meeting. “Constable. Inspector,” they all greeted the two of them.

“How’s the oil business?” Nathan asked the trio. “Are things getting back on track since the Pinkertons left?”

Lucas looked uncomfortable, Fiona just smiled, and Hickam willingly answered, “Business is about to be booming, especially with more people moving into the area. We’re just making sure we are all on the same page before Lucas leaves to take Elizabeth on her book tour the first of June.”

“Right. How long is this tour going to last? Is she taking little Jack with her?” Nathan was sure Elizabeth wouldn’t want to be away from her boy for so long, but also knew it would be difficult to have a toddler on a book tour.

“Elizabeth is working on a plan,” Lucas interjected. “This tour is extremely important to get her name out there, and sell as many books as possible.”

Thomas had been observing the exchange, and tried to converse with Nathan again to draw his attention back to the two of them. Their food had come and they ate and kept the conversation to small talk.

After lunch, they headed back to the office to dive back into the paperwork. Surprisingly, they made it through everything faster than anticipated, and Nathan looked at the time to see if he would have time to grab Allie from school. “I’m going to the school to get my girl and take her home today since we are finished. If you can just stick around to make sure no one needs anything, then you can head home around five.”

“Yes, sir!” Thomas saluted then grinned. “So what is your deal with Mr. Bouchard and Mrs. Thornton still? That seemed pretty awkward back in the café.”

“There is no deal,” Nathan insisted. “I was just trying to find out how business was going. And even though nothing is going on with me and Elizabeth, I still worry about little Jack. Two weeks without his mother won’t be easy on either of them, and he wouldn’t do well with all that travel either. I want to help out with him if she does leave him here.”

“Why don’t you just go ask Elizabeth what she’s planning then? Or are the two of you not really speaking right now? I swear, if I didn’t know any better, I would think the two of you are an old married couple sometimes with the back and forth.” Thomas observed.

“I’m going to be late getting Allie, so I better get out of here. Thanks again for all your help today. You are doing a great job so far, and I’m going to make sure Superintendent Lewis hears about it!” Nathan promised.

“And I will make sure Mountie Headquarters knows you are the best boss, and best Inspector in the entire territory.” Thomas winked and let out a loud laugh.

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” Nathan joked as he headed out of the office and walked toward the school.

Students were already running away from the school when Nathan arrived to pick up Allie. She was with her group of friends, and when they saw him they all came rushing over. “Dad, can I sleep over at Anna’s house tonight? She already asked her mom who said it was ok. Please? It’s Friday, so no school tomorrow!” 

“I don’t see why not,” Nathan answered. “I guess I won’t be walking you home right now?”

“We are all going to go ask the other parents, then I’ll be home to get my stuff a little later.” Allie and her friends rushed off and Nathan was left standing alone near the school when he turned and noticed Elizabeth looking over at him with a distressed look on her face. He waved and she started walking down the stairs toward him. He was torn and didn’t know if he really wanted to talk to her right now.

“Elizabeth,” he greeted. “Is everything ok?”

“I’m trying to finish the last two weeks of school, figure out this book tour Lucas and Helen have set up for me, and the new teacher is going to be arriving here while I’m out of town. Not to mention I have to leave Jack for 2 whole weeks, and how can I do that?” Elizabeth was practically in tears as her troubles all tumbled out of her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Nathan. I didn’t mean to tell you all my problems, but I’ve always found it so easy to share things with you.”

“I heard through the rumor mill about all of those challenges you are facing, and I figured that’s why I hadn’t heard from you in a while. Is there anything I can help you with specifically?” Nathan asked. “Are Lee and Rosemary planning to keep little Jack for you? If they need any assistance with him, I’m sure Allie would love to help, and you know how I feel about the little guy.”

“I know you love my son,” she whispered. “Yes, Lee and Rosemary offered to keep him, and I know he would be in good hands. It’s just…”

“Hard?” Nathan guessed. Elizabeth nodded. “That is how I feel every time I have to go on a mission without Allie, and why I had to take her to Union City with me.”

“I would love it if you would check in on him, and maybe let him pet the horses sometimes? It is so kind of you to want to help out with him.” Elizabeth looked sincerely into Nathan’s eyes for a brief moment, then looked down.

“Of course I will do what I can if it makes you feel better,” Nathan responded, also not able to look her straight in the eyes. “I can also help with the new school teacher. What are your concerns with them arriving while you are gone?”

“I just don’t want to feel replaced,” Elizabeth began. “Mr. Landis wants the new teacher to offer a one month summer program for the students who will be moving up to the advanced group next year, so they will have to set it up here in the current schoolhouse, because the new school building won’t be finished until September when school starts again.”

“No one can replace you to those students, Elizabeth,” Nathan assured her. “But if you want me to check out the new teacher and make sure things are ok at the school while you are away, Constable Bradshaw and I can keep an eye on it for you.”

“That would make me feel better,” Elizabeth conceded. “I don’t know what I would do without you.” She smiled at him, then looked away.

“I better be going and make sure Allie gets her stuff all ready to go to her sleepover. Let me know when you have a plan and a schedule, so we can nail down what you need me to do. Have a good evening.” Nathan put on his hat, tipped it to Elizabeth and walked home while she stared after him, unable to express to him her feelings of appreciation for him being such a humble and good man, who was still willing to help her, even after she had hurt him.

When Nathan got back home, he changed out of his uniform and into casual clothes, good for spending a quiet Friday night alone at home. As he was trying to figure out what to make himself for dinner, Allie came in to grab her things before heading to Anna’s house for their sleepover. “Be good, and don’t stay up all night,” Nathan instructed. “And NO boys.”

“Dad! This is a girl’s only party. Plus, boys are so immature and annoying,” she complained. 

“Oh, so things with Robert must not be going that well right now,” Nathan speculated. “Good to hear.”

“Can we not talk about this right now?” Allie pleaded. “My friends are all just outside. Love you, Dad. I hope you won’t be too bored without me.”

“I just have so much excitement happening. I have a date with a good book and my bed to catch up on some sleep.” He winked at Allie, and she just rolled her eyes and headed out to be with the other giggling girls.

After he ate, Nathan realized he had already finished the book he had been reading and the library was already closed for the evening. I planned that out really well, he thought. Suddenly he felt very lonely. Allie was growing up and wouldn’t be under his roof for too many more years. As he thought about helping take care of little Jack for a couple weeks, the desire to have someone to share a life with, and to have more children with, made his heart ache. Out of the blue, an image of Kathryn in his home, doing simple everyday tasks with him, rushed through his mind. He had been so busy lately, and had tried his best to push thoughts of a woman he most likely would never see again, out of his head. 

I need to get out of here, Nathan thought to himself. He grabbed a jacket and started walking with no real destination in mind, just needing to try and find a distraction. He walked to the pond, but a young couple was out on a rowboat and the young lady had long blonde hair just like Kate. That really helped. Nathan just got more annoyed and headed into town. He decided to stop at the livery to check on Newton, but then was reminded of the time Kathryn talked about loving horses because she grew up on a farm, and that mental image of her riding with the wind in her hair and that dimple in her cheek...Seriously, Nathan, get a grip.

He saw the café still open and decided to go in and have some pie. As much as he really wasn’t in the mood to be social, Nathan figured that maybe being around others would take his mind off of a beautiful woman who refused to flee his brain tonight. He didn’t see an open table, but the Bradshaws, who seemed to be on a dinner date, waved him over.

“Won’t you join us, Nathan?” asked Anne politely. “We were just about to order pie and coffee, and would love to visit with you while we have them.”

“I came in for the same thing,” Nathan acknowledged. “But I don’t want to intrude on your date.”

“Nonsense,” Thomas waved it off. “We always enjoy socializing, and you are one of our very favorite people in Hope Valley. Where’s Allie tonight?”

“She went to a sleepover at Anna’s, so I’m flying solo and had to get out of the house,” Nathan explained. “I was talking to Elizabeth earlier, and they will have a new teacher coming when she’s on her book tour. I told her we would keep an eye on things, because she’s nervous about someone new having access to the school without her around.”

“Sure thing,” Thomas declared. “But I don’t think the new school teacher will be a problem.”

“He’s right,” Anne agreed. “I’m sure the new teacher is a perfectly lovely person, who will be a model citizen in this community.” Anne and Thomas gave each other a knowing smile.

“Why do I feel like there’s something you aren’t telling me?” Nathan asked suspiciously. 

“We aren’t at liberty to discuss it any further,” Thomas told him. “Nothing is official yet, but you will find out soon enough.”

They quickly changed the subject and enjoyed their pie and coffee with Nathan and Thomas swapping Mountie stories, which made Anne laugh so hard her pregnant belly kept tensing up and started hurting. “As much fun as this is, I am worn out and need to get some rest,” Anne decided. “I’m so glad you decided to join us for dessert, Nathan. We will have you and Allie over for dinner very soon.”

“We would love that,” said Nathan. “Have a good night.”

As Nathan was paying for his pie, he saw Bill at the back of the café cleaning up. “Hey Bill, I didn’t know you were working here tonight.”

“Nathan!” Bill looked surprised. “I didn’t see you eating here, or I would have come and said hello.”

“I just came for some pie and coffee since Allie’s at a sleepover and my house felt a little too quiet.” Nathan suddenly felt a little foolish, because he normally enjoyed the solitude. “The Bradshaws invited me to sit with them, and we had a good visit while we enjoyed dessert.”

“Elizabeth told me you offered to help with little Jack while she’s on the book tour,” Bill mentioned. “Just remember, I’m his Godfather and plan to help out as well.”

“Jack’s a very lucky boy to have so many people who love and care about him.” Nathan tried not to sound disappointed that he couldn’t be more involved in the sweet little boy’s life. “Elizabeth is very stressed and needs a lot of support. I just can’t be the kind of support I would want to be for her, because it’s important I maintain those boundaries as you suggested.”

Bill nodded in agreement. “You have already done so much for her. I know both of you wish things were different, but someday you’ll look back and be grateful the way it all turned out. I know it might be hard to believe or even hear right now.”

“Not really. I believe things happen for a reason, and all of us will be at peace with wherever the future takes us. I hope you have a good weekend, Bill. I’m suddenly very tired and think a quiet house and comfortable bed sound perfect right now.” Nathan walked home feeling more positive about his future. He knew God had a plan for his life and was finally ready to be excited for what was to come.