A New Setting—and a New Family Rhythm
When the Hallmark Channel drama returns, Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow), Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry), Little Jack (Hyland Goodrich), and Allie (Jaeda Lily Miller) are no longer in Hope Valley.
Instead, they find themselves in Cape Fullerton, where Little Jack is receiving treatment at a local diabetes clinic. The temporary relocation also places them under the same roof as Charlotte Thornton (Brooke Shields), the mother of Elizabeth’s late husband, Jack.
It’s a setting that naturally pushes Elizabeth and Nathan into new emotional territory. Their relationship, already solid, begins to feel less like a romance in progress and more like a family in motion.
“They have gotten closer as they’ve been living in this boarding house with Charlotte,” McGarry revealed. “And Nathan’s gotten closer with Charlotte as well. He’s been there looking after the kids, helping Little Jack with going through the diabetes clinic and everything. I think they’ve really kind of, without making anything official, stepped into this family zone with everyone helping out.”
Nathan Steps Fully Into His Role
That unspoken shift—toward shared responsibility and emotional partnership—is a defining thread in the new season.
Nathan’s role, in particular, deepens in ways that go beyond romance. For Elizabeth, who has spent years navigating motherhood largely on her own, that support is meaningful.
“Nathan is always just trying to remind Elizabeth that she doesn’t have to go it alone,” Krakow explained. “Elizabeth has been a single mom for many years, and I mean, obviously, she has a lot of help from her friends in Hope Valley. But Nathan is quick to remind her that he can be her rock. He’s going to be there for not just Elizabeth, but Little Jack as well. That’s very much on display in Season 13.”
New Trials—and a More Confident Elizabeth
Still, this next chapter isn’t without friction. Season 13 introduces fresh emotional tests—ones that challenge how Elizabeth and Nathan show up for each other when circumstances grow heavier.
“They’ve got new trials and tribulations to go through, and they’ve always leaned on each other to get through it,” McGarry teased. “We see it really tested this year, and we see them step into new roles for each other.”
Interestingly, one potential source of tension never materializes. Charlotte, whose presence could have complicated Elizabeth’s future with Nathan, instead becomes a catalyst for growth.
As Nathan and Charlotte form their own bond during their time in Cape Fullerton, Elizabeth responds not with doubt, but confidence.
“Elizabeth knows how she feels about Nathan, and she knows what he brings to the table, not just as a partner to her, but as a father figure to Little Jack,” Krakow said. “We don’t spend too much time seeing an insecure or questioning Elizabeth, wondering how Charlotte is going to react to her new boyfriend, which I think is really nice. It was a different, more confident side of Elizabeth.”
That confidence signals a subtle but important evolution for the character—one rooted in trust, emotional maturity, and the willingness to embrace a future that looks different from the past she once imagined.
Season 13 of When Calls the Heart premieres January 4 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel, ushering in a season that tests bonds, expands family, and asks what it truly means to build a life together.
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