When Love Calls

Chapter 30

"bonnes vacances d'été. First person who gets it right kicks off summer vacation!" I said with a smile. Today was the last day of the school year and it was bittersweet I loved teaching but I definitely could use a break. "bonnes vacances d'été." I said repeating myself looking around the class to see if anyone could get it. "Does it say 'Happy summer vacation'?" One of the kids asked, " It does indeed. Enjoy your summer vacation, you all worked hard this year and I'm proud of each and every one of you. Happy summer vacation! Class is dismissed." Everyone cheered as they ran towards the door which made me chunkle at them. I gathered my things I would need over the summer which was good amount of books and papers, I put them into my basket and headed for the house. I needed to go into town but I had so much stuff I needed to go home first.

I emptied my basket and put everything before heading right back out the door to town. "Good afternoon, Adeline." Joe waved as I passed his store heading towards the post office I had a letter for my mom. "Good afternoon!" I waved with a smile. "How can I help you today, Adeline?" Jocelyn asked as I walked up to the counter. "I have a letter I need sent to Hope Valley." I smiled pulling it out of my basket and handing it over. "I'll get it sent right out for you." She smiled as her husband came around the corner. "Oh Mrs Kinslow I have a telegram for your husband, it's marked urgent. Can you pass it to him?" He asked, "Of course. I was planning on heading there next." I smiled taking it from him and headed for Gabriel's office.

"Well isn't this a nice surprise." Gabriel smiled as I closed the door, "I was just at the post office and this came for you, marked urgent." I said handing him the folded paper, he smiled and took it from me. He read it and I knew something was wrong, "Gabriel... what's wrong?" I said as he stood up from his chair I took a few steps closer to him. "Its Joshua. He was killed in the line of duty." Gabriel said as tears filled his eyes, as mine did as well. He didn't say anything but just hugged me. I couldn't believe it. I stayed with Gabriel for the rest of the day, he was having a hard time and I couldn't blame him.

I was spending time at the orphanage today and right now i was watching the children for Lillian so she could go to town. I heard the piano so I walked in to see Roise sitting playing a few notes she's come such a long way since she started her lesson. She played some more and I knew what song it was, "Danny Boy. Did you know that's Mountie Gabriel's favorite song?" I asked her as i kneed behind her, she nodded her hear no. She started playing it again which made me smile, "Sing Mrs Kinslow." She said smiling it warmed my heart.

"O Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen and down the mountainside
The summer's gone and all the roses falling
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or all the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
O Danny boy, O Danny boy, I love you so." I finished singing and started clapping for Rosie when I suddenly heard more behind me i turned to see Lillian and Gabriel smiling at us.

"You have such a beautiful voice, Adeline. I didn't realize you could sing like that." Lillian said surprised and Gabriel just stood there chunkling since he already knew.

"She's a woman of many talents." Gabriel smiled as I walked over to him. "Thank you Lillian." I smiled at my friend.

"Its been a week since the news about Joshua and Gabriel was still grieving the loss of his friend. He rode out today for his funeral I offered to go with him but he wanted to be alone. I'm afraid that Gabriel somehow blames himself for Joshua death and watching that makes me sadden. I pray that he will find comfort knowing he lived an honorable life." I let out a sigh closing my journal and put it aside on my desk.

"How's Gabriel doing?" Grace asked as we walked through town, "He's doing okay. I'm just worried about him." I sighed thinking about my husband. "Well we're here for him." Grace smiled which I made me, "Thank you. I'm sure he knows, he just needs time." I said with a half smile.

The warm spring weather was quickly turning, you could tell that summer was just around the corner.  I was home working outside, I really wanted a garden this year so I was busy planting seeds. It was nothing big but was enough for Gabriel and I. "It's coming along well, Adeline. Are we gonna have lots of veggies this coming fall?" I heard a voice come from behind me, I instantly jumped up to see my husband was home. "You're back!" I said as I jumped into his arms. "I'm glad to be back." He smiled but I could still tell that he wasn't himself. "You look exhausted, Gabriel." I told him as we walked towards the house. "I haven't slept much." Gabriel told me as I washed my hands and poured him a glass of water. "Maybe a nap would help." I suggested  before having some water myself. "Only if you join me," Gabriel sleepily smiled I didn't say anything but just headed towards our bedroom. I forgot something out in the kitchen and by the time I was back, I saw my husband completely passed out in our bed. I just smiled and joined him, I was glad he was home.

The next day Gabriel went back to work and I had kept myself busy around the house before I headed into town to check in on him. "How's your day been going?" I asked Gabriel as I sat down, "Nothing crazy as happened just your typical day." Gabriel smiled, "Adeline I've been-" Gabriel started off but didn't get to finish because  superintendent Shepherd walked in and immediately Gabriel jumped up. "Sir." Gabriel said to his superior, "At ease, Kinslow." He told him he did as he was told. "I should be going, I'll see you later." I smiled at my husband before heading towards the door. I needed some things from Joe's before i headed back home, it was such a beautiful day.

I was starting on dinner on he finally came home it was a little later on normal but I figured he was talking to his boss. "Adeline we need to talk." Gabriel said very seriously sitting down at the table, I instantly stopped what I was doing and sat down besides him. "What's going on?" I asked now kind of concerned. "Superintendent Shepherd asked if I'd lead a squadron of men out to the northern territories." Gabriel said, "And you told him no, right? It's too dangerous up there Gabriel." I said lifting in my chair, "I'm sorry, Adeline. We both know bad things happen if good people do nothing, we're taking a hard hit up there." Gabriel explained as tears flooded my eyes, "The same God that has called you to teach... to change these children's lives... has called me to serve my country. You have to have faith that it'll-" I cut him off, "How can you ask me to have faith after what happened to Joshua?" I asked as tears started to fall. "How long will you be gone?" I shot another question at him. "I don't know. It's an indefinite posting." He told me so many things were going through my head, I got up and jetted for the door. "Adeline!" He called running after me but I kept walking towards the barn. "Adeline!" He said grabbing my arm and pulling me towards him. "Let me go." Is all I asked as I wept, "Let me finish, Adeline please. You're my life, you're everyting to me." I didn't want to hear anymore i just wanted space. "Gabriel, please, just leave me alone." Is all could get out I ran to the barn and grabbed a bridle for sergeant and galloped away bareback as Gabriel stood there watching.

I sat down by the pond thinking about everything that my flying around in my head. My mother told me how hard it was for my father up in the Northern Territories, and now my husband was going up there. After what happened to Joshua that only made things worse.

"You've always known that Gabriel isn't the kind of man who can look the other way when something needs to be done, no matter what the sacrifice." Lillian said as I told her what just happened. "Its one of the many reasons I love him so much." I told them as I took a sip of tea. "But it doesn't make his leaving any easier." Grace said to me, "Of course it doesn't. I guess I knew this might happen. Ever since Josh died, I've seen how it's torn him apart." I explained to the girls, "I've seen it, too." Lillian told me, "He's not the same. He says he doesn't want to go, but that he has to go." I said to them "Gabriel didn't choose this. He was chosen to fight the good fight." Lillian added on which made me smile. "I need to talk to him."

"Gabriel?" I asked stepping into his office, he quickly came around the corner when he heard my voice. "Adeline." He said walking over to me and pulled me closer to him. "Adeline... very first moment we met, I knew Heaven had sent an angel into my life. I don't know when I'm coming back and I know this won't be easy but one thing I do know is that everyday I'm going to work my hardest to come home to you." Gabriel said as tears fell down the side of my face, he smiled softly and wiped them. "I will wait for you here for you as long as it takes and I will love you every moment across time." I told him as we hugged once again, I tried to hold it in but I cried and I cried hard.