Honestly, Elizabeth....

    So.... Elizabeth. Are you maybe just realizing what a pickle you're in? I believe I caught Nathan and Lucas sitting in the cafe talking about you. They're saying something like, "So quickly Elizabeth's gone from suitable...to questionable." Oh, and then Lucas offered Nathan a cookie.😂

    Hey Hearties, and welcome to Friday! As promised I'm back to finish up my thoughts on this past episode, From the Ashes, and talk about.... the ending. (Dum, dum, DUUUUuumm!)

    I am at a loss when it comes to Elizabeth's current mindset. After episode 2 it seemed pretty clear that she had feelings for Nathan. Now this episode came and she's saying how she knows she did the right thing by rejecting Nathan. And with such calmness and surety. 

    Now I in no way am saying I believe her, as it was quite obvious that she indeed does have some sort of feelings for him. In fact I think this episode was still very much leaning in Nathan's direction as far as the triangle goes. The way she stared at him, and so firmly and quickly stated how he's not a suitor. And of course we had Little Jack playing with that wooden Mountie. It all tells me otherwise. However I am not at all saying that he will be her choice. I actually think this episode leveled the playing field a bit. And it all came with that sucker-punch of an ending.

    Lucas gave Elizabeth quite the zinger and it has everyone talking about whether he was (As Chris McNally put it) cruel or justified. 

    Let me go through it play-by-play and then I'll give my over all thoughts on Elizabeth.

    So Lucas said good-bye to his mother and away she went on the stagecoach. Elizabeth saw and came to stand on the platform beside him, clearly confused by Helen's sudden departure. Lucas explained that his mother was adamant about catching the last stage out, that she apologizes for leaving so suddenly, and that she would be in touch about Elizabeth's manuscript. He then explains that his family has never been gracious about goodbyes. 

    Elizabeth then asks if Helen is on her way to San Francisco, and Lucas answers that she is actually on her way home. He knows that something happened, as suddenly Helen has decided that she wants to reconcile with her husband. (Yay! I hope she does!)

    He then starts to walk away, clearly still upset with Elizabeth. His whole manner as he explained everything to her was very stiff and cold. In fact he refused to look at her the whole conversation. Like he just couldn't bring himself to do it.

    Elizabeth then calls him back, knowing that there is something wrong. Lucas then explains that what upset him wasn't just the fact that his parents had separated and that she hadn't told him. It was the fact that he believed that his parents loved each other. His romantic bubble has been burst and he now thinks he's been believing a lie. He's probably questioning his entire childhood, and everything he thought he knew for a fact about his parents and even love in general.

    Elizabeth, clearly unaware of exactly just what is hurting him, tries to comfort him. She says that maybe his parent were in love for a time, or maybe even still are.

    Lucas simply shakes his head sadly, and asks, "How do you lose that?" Once again this shows his entire idea on love has just been broken. He can't fathom the idea of how two people can fall out of love. But I think Lee summed that up pretty well this season. Love isn't always a feeling. It's a choice. One we have to make everyday. (Maybe Lee should have been the one to talk to both Bouchards this episode. Lol!)

    Anyhow, Elizabeth then decides to tell Lucas what she told Helen. She says, "Love has to be fought for." Okay... let me repeat that. 

    Love has to be fought for. (Are you even listening to yourself, Missy? Lol!) But wait! It gets better! 

    She then says that maybe Helen needed to be the one to reach out first. And that little sentence lit the fuse for Lucas' internal struggle to come spilling out. His lips press tight, before he finally just breaks and says...

    "What would you know about it?"

    Ouch! That was my initial thought. And I believe Elizabeth's comment, "That was cruel," summed up what a lot of people were thinking at first. 

    I think she was shocked to hear him talk to her like that, as well.... he never has. I have never seen Lucas get mad at Elizabeth. Like ever. This man hates it when he's messed up and hurt Elizabeth, always apologizing immediately and sincerely. But this time... This time he allowed her to see just how much she'd actually hurt him for the first time. The past two episodes he's tried to keep this kind facade when he was around her. Telling her he just wants her to be happy. But in this moment he finally allowed his true feelings to show.

    Elizabeth hurt him, and very deeply.

    Now obviously there is the whole debate that happened on Twitter as to whether Lucas' comment was cruel or whether he was justified in saying what he did. I will now dare to give my opinion....

    I think it was both. True what he said was far from nice, and was cruel. But....(Takes fortifying breath)...Elizabeth had that coming. She really did. Now please don't think for one moment that I don't understand her struggle. She's so scared about loving someone again after losing her husband. A husband she loved with all her heart and soul.

 

    But, if I'm being honest, I don't think this season is doing Elizabeth's character any favors. I know she's conflicted, and so scared, but she really has been leading both men on. Both Lucas and Nathan thought that she had feelings for them, and now both have been left heartbroken believing she doesn't. And Lucas has been hit very hard.

    For the past two seasons Lucas has had his eyes on no one else but her. He's always thinking about her, and actually made two of her dreams come true. He gave her a building for the library and then worked with his own hands to make it a reality. He then became her biggest cheerleader when it came to her writing, reading her work, giving feedback, and even playing a hand in her publishing deal. Everything he's done has shown her just how much he cares for her. Honestly, he really just adores her.

    And now... (Places hand to face) now she has the gall to tell him that love has to be fought for, and that maybe Helen (The woman in the relationship) had to make the first move. I mean... honestly Elizabeth.😉

    As far as I'm concerned Lucas has every right to be angry, and while his comment was harsh, Elizabeth really needed to hear it. Therefore I'm dubbing him as #CruelYetJustified. Lol! The poor, heartbroken man... 

    I also find it interesting that Elizabeth has rejected Nathan, and yet Lucas has no idea. I'm very curious to see if he will ever find out, and what his response would be if he did.

    And so to finish the scene, Lucas then walked away, still very much hurt. It then looked like Elizabeth was going to go after him, and she may have started to when.... She spotted Nathan coming. And low and behold! The triangle was literally formed in the street. Lol! Elizabeth first stares at Nathan, who stares back at her, his pain very obvious. We then go to Lucas who stares back over his shoulder at Elizabeth, so much hurt and pain in his gaze. Elizabeth is lost for words.... and leaves. Just flat out leaves. A friend of mine put it so well in her own blog post. 

(Click here for the link https://heartstringsandhallmarkthings.blogspot.com/2021/03/wcth-from-ashes.html) 

    She said that Elizabeth proves Lucas' point. She didn't fight for either man, and ran away from both of them. As she's been doing this whole season.

    As I mentioned before, I don't think this season has done her character any favors. I mean S6 was totally understandable. Jack had just died over a year ago, and both men were new in town. S7 was also understandable as Elizabeth was getting to know the guys, and finally was realizing her heart is open again. But now... Now she needs to step it up if you asked me. 

    It's been around three years since Jack died, and she's known both Lucas and Nathan for around two. As Helen said, she has to have some idea of her feelings for them by now. Of course she's going to be scared, and have to face her fears, but she needs to do SOMETHING. Pick one of them, or tell them both she can't give them romance right now. Just something. Although... I feel it's almost a bit late for that as both men have already been very hurt by her actions. I know she never meant to hurt them, and that's the last thing she wanted, but... It's been done.

    I'm hoping that Lucas' words spur her on to finally do something about this triangle. To be honest I was disappointed at how little the triangle was touched on int his past episode. I mean, it definitely was to a degree, but it was a more round about way, and I can clearly tell the writers are going to drag this on for quite awhile. Like, perhaps the entire season. (Oh, my poor heart....)

    Thank you so much for reading!  Feel free to tell me your thoughts on last episode's ending down in the comments below or on my Twitter page! (But please no spoilers. :) Have a wonderful weekend! God Bless!

    P.S. Want some fun merch to cheer your team on? I got you! Click the link to shop now! https://shop.spreadshirt.com/heart-and-family-mercantile