Nathan's hands were shaking as he went towards the theater back door. He was so nervous. Blissfully happy but also incredibly nervous. Nathan's eye grew wide as he saw the theater. The place had been transformed into a beautiful winter wonderland.
Elizabeth and Nathan had not been allowed to see the decorations. The town had wanted to do something special for their teacher and their Mountie. Fiona, Florence, and Molly had rallied the troops over the last several weeks. What they had done was amazing.
There were evergreen boughs and candle lanterns hanging from the rafters. Fallen twigs had been decorated with silver glitter and put into vases along the aisles. Chairs were tied with wide white ribbon, a spring of winter berries, and a white rose. White roses became a backdrop along the far wall, right where the bridal party would stay. Where Nathan and Elizabeth would say "I do." It was romantic.
Nathan found his fellow Mountie, Gabe Winslow. "You made it!" He gave him a hearty handshake.
"Of course!" Gabe replied. "You didn't think I would miss your wedding did you? And thank you for having us out of our uniforms for the day."
Nathan smiled ruefully. He had discussed his opinions on dress with Elizabeth weeks earlier. Jack had worn his red serge at Elizabeth's first wedding. And Nathan had wanted their union to be set apart. Additionally, Nathan had shared with Elizabeth that he was more than a Mountie. He didn't want to be defined by his outfit. Just as he had worn a suit to Ally's custody hearing, he wanted to have this momentous day be about Nathan Grant the man—not Nathan Grant the Mountie.
"Lee has the rings right?" Gabe questioned Nathan.
Nathan paused, doing his best to recall. "Yes, he does." Lee was going to step into his best man role after he completed his other role of walking Elizabeth down the aisle.
As Elizabeth had expected, none of Elizabeth's family had been able to make it to the wedding. They all were visiting Viola over in England and while they had sent their blessings and well wishes, their absence was felt. However, Elizabeth had shared with Nathan that ever since Jack's passing, Lee had always been there for her similar to that of an older brother, an older brother she had never had. Nathan thought back to Lee's face as she had asked him to walk her down the aisle. He hadn't spoken. He had just been emotional and nodded his head. Lee had responded similarly when Nathan had asked him to be his best man.
Bill walked over to Nathan, tapping his shoulder. "You ready for this?"
Nathan smoothed his new navy blue suit; Rosemary had insisted on making it for the occasion. "I couldn't be more so."
Florence quickly approached Nathan with a white rose for his lapel. Nathan appreciated that she was willing to pin it on; he would have stabbed himself with the pin.
"Thank you Florence," Nathan said. "And thank you for all of this!" He gestured to the surroundings.
Florence nodded. "This town loves you. Both of you. It was our pleasure."
Bill put his hands on Nathan's shoulders. "I couldn't be happier for you, Nathan. You and Elizabeth have healed each other and I'm excited to see what happens next." Nathan simply mouthed thank you as Bill continued speaking. "Now let's get this wedding started."
Nathan walked over to stand by Bill with Gabe following suit. Carson began playing "The Wedding March." Everyone turned to watch as Little Jack and Opal came in first.
"Natan!" Little Jack yelled when he saw Nathan down at the other end of the aisle. The friends gathered there chuckled. The little boy smiled yet did not run. He stayed side by side with Opal who, dressed in her brand new hunter green dress, tossed flower petals. Nathan returned an equally bigger smile at the boy. He truly loved Jack so much, as if he were his own son. If a new arrival were to come to Hope Valley, they would struggle believing Jack was not his biological son.
Next came Clara, followed closely by Rosemary. Out of the corner of his eye, Nathan saw Jesse suck in his breath at the sight of his wife. Dressed in lighter green organza, with their hair in loose up-dos, Elizabeth's closest friends really did look pretty. He knew Rosemary and Clara had spent hours working on their dresses and in the midst of Rosemary's welcoming new children and Clara being pregnant no less!
Nathan could hardly believe who he saw next—Ally. She didn't look like a little girl at the moment. She looked like the young woman she was blossoming into. Normally, Ally was more of a tomboy but today, she had fully embraced getting dressed up. Her dress was a combination of Opal and Rosemary's; it was the hunter green with a scooped neckline and flowy sleeves. Her hair was curled—Ally never curled her hair—and pinned up into a bouncy, fancy ponytail.
Nathan brushed a tear from his eye. Mounties prided themselves on not showing emotion but Nathan didn't care what Bill thought, or what Gabe thought, or what anyone thought. He wished his sister could see Ally right now. She would be so proud; Nathan knew that instinctively.
Nathan gave her a smile and a wink as she passed. Ally rolled her eyes and laughed softly. Nathan could tell she was happy and enjoying all of this.
The friends gathered together then stood up and turned to watch Elizabeth enter on Lee's arm. Elizabeth took Nathan's breath away. She always looked beautiful but today she looked drop dead gorgeous.
He felt like the luckiest man in the world.
Elizabeth's eyes immediately locked on Nathan. While he was trying to remain straight faced, her Mountie kept breaking into a wide crooked smile. His smile was one of his best features and there, dressed in his navy suit, his blue eyes were even more pronounced. He was so handsome.
Elizabeth walked slowly, confidently, down the aisle. She felt the love from each and every person gathered in this room. The space was gorgeous! It was unique and different, simple and romantic. Her dress was very much the same way. Rosemary and Clara had worked many hours on it. The silhouette was straight with a little bit of flounce. There was no desire for a puffy skirt on Elizabeth's part. A lace overlay covered the whole dress, complete with organza sleeves and a boatneck neckline. Elizabeth had pulled up sections of her hair and had tied them back with Nathan's mother's haircomb. But most of her hair Elizabeth had left down. Nathan had confessed that he liked it that way and she was more than happy to oblige.
"I'm so happy for you Elizabeth." Lee whispered. "He's a good man." They had reached the end of the aisle and he kissed her cheek. He gave Nathan a hug and stepped into his place beside Nathan. Elizabeth turned and handed her bouquet to Ally. Rosemary was her maid of honor in planning duties and speeches but at this ceremony, Elizabeth had wanted, and Rosemary had agreed, to have Ally by her side. Ally and Elizabeth exchanged a smile before Elizabeth turned to Nathan. She beamed from ear to ear.
"Friends," Bill spoke up. "We're here today to celebrate Elizabeth and Nathan. I know both of you have written vows for each other so we're going to do that first."
Everyone laughed at Bill's honesty and succinctness. "I'm not a pastor everyone. I can't say the flowery speeches, the words of God, that a pastor can." Bill looked at Nathan. "Nathan, what do you want to say to Elizabeth?"
Nathan looked deeply into Elizabeth's eyes. "Honestly, Elizabeth, I never thought I would get married. Then, I never thought I would marry a woman like you. You are a woman who loves with her whole heart and mind. You are a woman who stands up for her convictions and for others. You are a woman who has touched so many lives with bright colors. You are a woman, the woman, who broke down my walls. Elizabeth, you are my life and my love. I vow to spend every day and every night by your side. I vow to be the person you trust with your greatest dreams and your greatest fears. I vow to be honest with you and never shut you out. I vow to honor and cherish you, and our whole family, all the days of my life. I love you Elizabeth."
Bill turned to Elizabeth. "Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth's voice was strong, even though she had tears in her eyes. "Nathan, there was a time in my life where I thought I would never love again. But you arrived in Hope Valley and my world was forever changed. You challenged me to know what was in my heart. And because of that, you reminded me of what it felt to be loved and valued. You have always been there for me. I vow to always be there for there. I vow to support you in every endeavor you pursue. I vow to not let a day go by without telling you how much I love you. I vow to cherish you, and our whole family, all the days of my life. I love you Nathan."
Bill smiled. "So do you both vow to take each other for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
Nathan and Elizabeth replied yes in union.
Lee handed Nathan Elizabeth's gold wedding band. "As a circle has no end, Elizabeth, so does my love have no end for you." Elizabeth repeated those same words as she slipped Nathan's wedding band onto his finger. She liked seeing it on him.
"Then by the power given to me," Bill remarked. "I am very very happy to pronounce you husband and wife. Nathan, you may kiss your bride."
Nathan didn't need to be told twice. He pulled Elizabeth into an embrace with a deep kiss, dipping her down. Everyone around them was cheering but neither of them heard anything. They were in the moment with each other. When they finally came up for air, Elizabeth and Nathan laughed.
Bill put a hand on both of their shoulders. "Everyone, I am so excited to present Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Grant!"
Ally handed Elizabeth her bouquet back. "Congratulations Aunt Elizabeth!"
Elizabeth smiled and walked hand in hand down the aisle with Nathan. Aunt Elizabeth. Elizabeth Grant. She had many new names after today.
And she loved each and every one of them.