What's in Your Heart?
The following story is a one shot exploring the before and after of the promo/previews for When Calls the Heart Season 10 Episode 11. It's informally known as the "What do you want?" scene.
Elizabeth is worried about the fate of the Hope Valley because Governor Balfour and Bernhardt Montague were diverting water to Union City. The corruption is blatantly obvious to everyone; however, when confronted Governor Balfour threatened to evoke eminent domain to secure the land for diverting the water. After school Elizabeth has plans to meet Lucas by the water tower to officially announce his campaign for Governor. This is the last chance to attempt to stop the corruption in Balfour's office thus saving the bleak future of Hope Valley. Elizabeth is conflicted about this because it would mean sacrificing her true calling, home, community, and friends she thought would be for a lifetime. Nevertheless, she agrees that Lucas should run for Governor to save the town. But deep down she is sick to her stomach thinking about leaving this town and resigning from her teaching position at the Jack Thornton School. As worry fills the streets and homes in Hope Valley, Elizabeth wants to give her students a lesson on hope to lift their spirits. Elizabeth is always using the current situations in town as a jumping off point for her lessons. It allows real life application and provides the students with an opportunity to feel a sense of ownership over the town. She taught her students the importance of hope and with hope comes perseverance and strength to stand up for what is right. She gave a brief lesson on the importance of proactivity and making their voices heard in this matter. She had them write a letter to Governor Balfour expressing their love for Hope Valley and how the Valley has become their home. In fact, she has considered doing this herself but has refrained to keep from making matters worse between Lucas and the Governor Balfour. The students are writing and pouring their hearts out as Elizabeth wonders the classroom deep in her thoughts and only pausing when a student asks for assistance. As she read these beautiful letters to Balfour from her students she began to tear up and felt a sense a pride. She loves teaching and these students are so special to her. She loves Hope Valley and considers it her home even though she was born and raised in Hamilton. This simple life and tight knit community is irreplaceable and she cannot imagine leaving. Nonetheless, she much persevere and stand by Lucas as he goes head-to-head with the Incumbent, Governor Balfour. The clock strikes noon and she dismisses the students early so they can hand deliver their letters to Governor Balfour.
The students packed up their books and headed home for the weekend. Elizabeth is gathering her belongings when she notices a very worried Allie Grant lingering in the classroom. Elizabeth sweetly asks, "What's the matter, Allie?" Allie looks around with a hint of sadness creeping into her eyes but responds, "If Hope Valley can't be saved, will my dad have to find a new job? Being a Mountie a serving this town is his calling. When he turned down the inspector promotion 3 years ago he told me he never wanted to leave Hope Valley. We planted roots and made Hope Valley our home. This is the longest we have ever stayed in one place. I don't want to leave." Elizabeth is trying to keep her emotions in check but inside her mind is spinning because she had not considered that she would lose Nathan and Allie forever if Lucas won the election. She did not doubt that he would sway the votes his way because he a natural born politician and businessman. She knows that is his calling just as hers is teaching these students in Hope Valley. She also remembers telling Nathan she never wanted to leave Hope Valley yesterday. Without skipping a beat she says, "Oh Allie. I am sorry all of this happening to you. I know you and your dad have made this town your home after moving around a lot. There is an increased need for Mounties in the cities and I am sure he will be able to find a job. He's an impeccable Mountie." Allie nods her head in agreement and thanks Elizabeth for her words of encouragement. Allie turns to leave the school filled with renewed hope and determination to make the Governor change his mind. She was off to hand deliver to letter and give him a piece of her mind! Suddenly, Elizabeth is overcome with emotion the gravity and reality of this predicament settles in. She feels her heart race, chest tighten, and tears well up in her eyes threatening to escape at any given moment. She takes deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself. She managed to compose herself on the way to the water tower and along the road met Lucas. She walked arm in arm with her fiance but something still did not seem right. She tried to shake this feeling.
Looking around she notices all her friends and other members of the community gathered around to watch the raising of the banner announcing Lucas's campaign. They all look up in awe with looks of renewed hope dancing in their eyes. How could she let them down? She kept telling herself sacrificing her true calling and home was worth it if her friends and community stayed intact, albeit without her and Lucas. She asked herself if she is truly ok with this potential. The honest answer is "no" but she pushed that aside and told her an astounding "YES" which she kept repeating like it was her new mantra. She wondered what else could she do at this point but the concede to the reality of the situation? The banner says "Lucas Bouchard for Governor. Save Our Valley" as it raises higher in the sky Elizabeth gets this sinking feeling and pit in her stomach. The emotions she has been suppressing are now bubbling to surface at an increasingly dangerous rate threatening to escape. Again, she starts to feel her heart race, chest tighten, and tears well up in her eyes threatening now more than ever to escape. She lets out a huge exhale and diverts her eyes to temporarily stop the tears from making their escape and uncovering the facade she has been putting for weeks now.
Nathan is witness to Elizabeth's reaction while everyone else appears to be completely oblivious to how she is feeling. This is difficult for Nathan because he still loves her and always will. He has accepted that she is to be wed to Lucas in 6 weeks. Nathan and Elizabeth's friendship has continued to deepen over the last 2 years. He only wants her happiness and if being with Lucas makes her happy then he will support her. However, lately he has noticed something has been off with Elizabeth. Nathan decides to talk to her the next day. As a friend, he wants to make sure she is doing ok and that this is what she wants.
The next day, Elizabeth briefly visited the school to make sure her lesson plans for the following week were finished. Nathan walks in as Elizabeth is finalizing her lesson plans. They make some small talk about the water diversion and Lucas running for Governor. Nathan says, "Just yesterday you told me how you never wanted to leave Hope Valley. Elizabeth, is that still what YOU want?" Elizabeth is again struggling to keep her emotions buried but respond, "We don't know what will happen. We don't even know if Lucas will win the election." Unconvinced by her answer Nathan says, "Let's say Lucas wins. Then what? What about...what about teaching? What these kids? Is this what YOU want?" As Elizabeth's friend he knows she is hurting. She has been for a while now and he does not want her to make a decision she may regret later. Nathan notices Elizabeth struggling as her eyes fill with tears as she responds, "Nathan this is bigger than me." Nathan responds backs with "Elizabeth...you make a difference here. I am asking YOU to be honest with yourself is this what YOU want?" Nathan is hoping that she considers what she truly wants instead of giving up her teaching dreams and home. He walks slowly toward her closing the gap between them but still remaining at a distance because he is an honorable man and she is still an engaged woman. Elizabeth counters with, "What other choice do I have?" She has been avoiding answering his questions directly which Nathan knows is her tell for when she is not being completely truthful with herself. Nathan knows she does this when she is hurting and experiencing a deep internal conflict. In one last attempt to get her be honest with herself, he asks once more but this time in a low whisper, slowly enunciating each word, "Elizabeth, what do YOU want." Elizabeth is tongue tied. She does not know what to say because she hates to lie but telling the truth now seems like the wrong time. The tension in the room is palpable as they part ways both with a lot to ponder this exchange and their futures.
Elizabeth is slowly letting her guard her down because she is aware Nathan knows she does not want to leave Hope Valley or her teaching job. But she is reluctant to be completely honest with herself because at this surface this is why she does not want to leave. There is another factor in her strong reactions about leaving Hope Valley. Unresolved feelings for Nathan. She has always loved him but now she is wondering if she what she feels is actually true love. A love she has not experiences since Jack. Elizabeth is trying so hard to deny her feelings but for a while now she has grappled this feelings that something is not right All of this happening in the town and wedding planning fails she wonders if this is an omen. Leaving Hope Valley would mean losing Nathan forever and her heart cannot bear such a thought. Realizing she has to make a decision that change Hope Valley forever, Elizabeth is overwhelmed and full of thoughts as she takes a stroll to the stables to get Sergeant so she can ride to the log by the pond surrounded by beautiful green foliage and sounds of nature. This is her safe space and place of comfort.
Will she finally find what has been in her heart this whole time? Or will she continue down the current path because she feels it is her duty to save Hope Valley?
Thank you for reading the short story!
Tune into Hallmark Channel at 9pm/8c Sunday night to find out how this really unfolds.