1,206. .
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Chapter One Hundred Sixty-six
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The Elder Grants Arrive
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Not wanting to forget on this busy day, Nathan called the church office at Knox to ask the Pastor about signing a certificate for Bill if Nathan could find one.
"What a lovely thing to do, Nathan. That Allie of yours is a delightful testament to your wonderful parenting. I would be happy to do that, but we have blank certificates that say 'On the occasion of 'blank' on this date 'blank' this certificate is presented to 'blank' for 'blank.'"
Loving this idea, Ellwood Huntley was getting excited, "We could use one of those and note the adoption into the Grant family. Would you like that? My secretary has lovely penmanship so I could ask her to write it up for us and maybe we could present it to him in my office right after church? You and I could both sign at that time to make it official. You could even have Elizabeth, Allie and Jack sign too!"
"Oh Ellwood! You have no idea how precious this would be to all of us. You see, Bill is Jack's godfather and has been adopted family to Elizabeth for all his years in Hope Valley. Plus, I cannot reveal another's secrets but I can say this will shock and thrill Bill, beyond imaginings. Allie would like to frame the certificate though, so could you provide the measurements to me? I can bring the frame and we can make that part of our little ceremony."
"Are you at Depot? I can have my secretary measure and call you back shortly."
"Actually I am at home, in what was the Collins's house but is now ours. My parents are due to arrive today from Calgary, so could you ask her to get the measurements for me now? I can wait on the telephone then can purchase the frame before I meet them at the station."
"Hold on and I'll get her, Nathan. This sounds like such a blessing to everyone and it's a first for me!" Ellwood chuckled as he rested the receiver on his desk.
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Departing early for downtown, Nathan purchased the certificate frame, then at the Bookstore, found a leather-bound blank book to give Bill. He intended to write an inscription inside to encourage Bill to write out his fascinating life story. It was a legacy Nathan wanted recorded for the family and eventually for young Jack to keep.
Having allocated more time than required, he found a good parking spot at the Regina Train Station, donned his sling as a reminder that he shouldn't be lifting anything heavy, and went inside to walk around while awaiting the arrivals from Calgary. Nathan marveled at the difference between this large, crowded station and the small one in Hope Valley.
That thought grew into thoughts of what their wedding guests would be experiencing when traveling here for the first time. In his years as a Mountie, he had traversed so much of Canada that he couldn't remember his first impressions of this place when he began training so many years ago.
His musings were interrupted by the voice of a little boy, "Daddy! Daddy! We're going to see the train come with Grandma and Grandpa!" Jack was running towards Nathan and was soon engulfed in a hug as Nathan looked up to see Elizabeth, her parents, and Hudson heading his way.
"This is a surprise! I didn't know you'd be coming to meet Mom and Dad!" Nathan stood to greet Elizabeth, the family and Hudson.
Elizabeth reached up on tiptoe to kiss her strikingly handsome fiancé and explained, "At breakfast we decided to come and welcome them. Of course, seeing a train was part of the enticement for a certain young boy and his granddaddy! Father's reason is to oversee the unloading of Mom's and Dad's belongings, so that's legitimate!"
William colored slightly, admitting, "I didn't get involved in shipping and transport for nothing!"
"We get it, William, and I am so grateful you have taken such good care of my parents' relocation. I don't know if they could have done such a major move at their age without your assistance."
"My pleasure to contribute to bringing all the family together. Now should we be making our way to the platform?"
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Jack's excitement was uncontainable as the locomotive pulled into the Station, steam and smoke escaping, with screeching brakes adding to the experience from which the little boy never tired.
"Where are they, Grandaddy? Do you see 'em?" Jack was held high in William's arms so he had the best view. "Oh! There! Over there!"
As Jack pointed, Nathan hurried in the direction of his parent's railroad car arriving in time to reach up and assist his mother as she stepped onto the platform. Soon there was a flurry of hugs and welcomes and excited chatter! William had arranged for a wheelchair for Ruth, just to make it easier to weave through the crowds or standby and wait if she chose to watch the unloading, and Hudson had graciously volunteered to push her wherever she desired.
"I feel like the queen on a portable throne!" Ruth laughed, "However, I am extremely grateful, William, as I need to pace myself this weekend… actually this coming week as well! The Groom's mother has responsibilities!"
With Grace and Elizabeth on either side, Ruth took their hands, "I can hardly believe we are here, home, for good! What a blessing!"
"We are as excited as you are, Mom. Allie hated to be in school when you arrived, but she plans to help as much as possible later this afternoon."
Jack wiggled his way between his mother and Grandma, "Can I ride with you? It looks like fun!"
Laughing, Ruth welcomed Jack onto her lap and wrapped her loving arms around the little boy. Grateful for another grandchild, she was looking forward to being part of his life and watching him grow.
"The automobile will be unloaded from a railcar even further down, however that is the moving truck, so we can proceed in that direction if you want to watch the process," William directed the family group to follow Archie while Nathan accompanied the porter to load the Grants' luggage into his vehicle before rejoining the family.
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With the movers that William had hired, the Grant's belongings were unloaded and arranged in the Cottage, according to the plan that Ruth had devised. Everyone was amazed at how well the furniture fit and knew that once all the cartons were unpacked, this would be an attractive, cozy home.
Hudson took Jack with him and retreated to the main house to assist Carol in preparing a celebratory supper for the extended family.
Heading downtown, Jake and Irma purchased groceries for the main house and perishables with money Nathan had given them to stock the Cottage kitchen, knowing Ruth would want to save her strength for the upcoming events.
Before Allie arrived home from school, the family had made progress settling the kitchen and bedrooms, and Grace had made the beds with fresh linens and arranged the towels behind the glass doors of the bathroom cabinet.
While seated at the small table, Ruth unpacked each crate labeled for the kitchen and Elizabeth filled the cupboards with dishes and cookware according to Ruth's directions. Nathan helped his Dad unload the cartons of bedroom items and clothing, arranging dresser drawers and carefully unfolding clothing to be hung in the closet.
"Hi everyone! I'm back!" Allie's excited voice rang out as she opened the Cottage's door. Following the sounds of voices, she hurried to greet her grandmother in the kitchen. "Grandma! Welcome home!" Engulfing Ruth in a tight hug, Allie spoke huskily, "I am so happy you are here to stay!"
"Oh, sweet Allie-girl, so am I. It all happened so fast that it is hard to believe we were longing to be with you right after the New Year and here we are to stay! Let me look at you, Sweetheart! Have you grown taller since we last saw you?"
Allie stood back and shrugged her shoulders, "You have to ask Dad and Miss Bess. I'm not sure," With a quick turn, Allie moved to hug and greet Elizabeth.
"Is that my girl? Allie!" Archie exclaimed excitedly as he entered the kitchen, his arms open wide. "How about a big kiss for your old grandpa?"
"I'm always happy to kiss you, Grandpa, and now we can hug every single day!" Allie gave the requested kiss, then shared a hug with her father. "Oh, hi, Grandmom! Isn't this great? Everyone here again?" Allie hugged Grace, then glanced back at the Grants as she shed her overcoat, "I hope you saved some things for me to help with?"
"We certainly did, Sweetheart!" Archie ginned and extended his hand, "We have lots of crates in the living room so maybe you can help me there if your dad can finish the bedroom?"
"Go ahead, Dad, we are mostly finished with the essentials in the bedroom and, Allie, you'll enjoy unwrapping Grandma and Grandpa's books and treasures," Nathan waved Allie to accompany Archie. "Mom? When you get a chance please come let me know if you approve of the drawers?"
In the bedroom, Ruth requested two drawers be reversed, then motioned to the trunk at the bottom of the bed. "Son? Paintings and photos are in there if you could unload and unwrap those? Maybe lean them against the wall so we can decide what goes where?"
"Of course. You have the key?"
"Your father has it in his wallet. Archie? We need the trunk key, please?" Ruth called out, aware this was a small house and they could easily communicate from room to room!
"I'm coming Dad," Nathan strode out of the room and collected the key. "Thanks."
After his mom returned to join Grace and Elizabeth in the kitchen, Nathan set to work on uncovering Colleen's carefully wrapped paintings, relishing them again and admiring her handiwork. He unpacked the two, painted Graham and Grant family crests, a couple plaques he had carved in his youth, an embroidered sampler from his maternal grandmother, and an old, painted Scripture verse that declared, 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.' Sighing, he ran his finger over the familiar words that had always graced the wall of the family's dining room.
The next layer contained smaller framed photographs of ancestors and parents as well as a few childhood photos of him with Colleen. He choked up as he gazed at the likeness of his sister, reminded once again of how much Allie resembled her mother. Setting them on the bed quilt he continued to empty the trunk.
Suddenly surprised to see his name in his sister's unmistakable, artistic script, Nathan lifted a fabric-wrapped package with a yellowed envelope tucked into the tightly tied cotton string, 'For Nathan.' Excited, yet hesitant, Nathan felt the package discerning that it was a framed canvas. Leaving it on the bed, he closed the trunk lid and arranged the photographs along the wall as his mother had requested, then stepped into the hallway.
At the kitchen door, he whispered, "Mom?" Quietly, he motioned for his mother to follow him into the bedroom, closing the door behind them. "Mom? What is this?"
Following Nathan to the bed, Ruth looked up to meet her son's eyes, "Oh! We found this when we were packing, Honey. I had kept it safe, hidden away after we closed up the ranch and moved to Calgary. You were in the Mounties and I knew you couldn't carry it around with you, but I forgot all about it for all these years. It was in a crate with some of Colleen's paintings so I just kept it for you. I'm sorry, Nathan. Please forgive my forgetting it?"
"There is nothing to be sorry for, Mom." Nathan lifted the package, questioning, "Do you know what it is?"
"I do not, but since there is a letter with it, I assume maybe she wrote an explanation?" Seeing the moisture in Nathan's eyes, Ruth wrapped her arm around his waist, suggesting, "Maybe you should open that in private, Honey? Not here with everyone around?"
"Thanks, I think I will do that." Glancing around the room, Nathan spotted a fabric tote and pointed, "May I borrow that to take it up to the house? I will hide it in my room to open later."
"Of course. Why don't you take it up now so it doesn't get knocked around with all these cartons?"
"I will," Nathan squeezed his mother's shoulders, kissing the top of her head, then retrieved the tote and excused himself to go to the main house. "I'll be back shortly."
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The dining room table was once again almost filled to capacity as the four Grants, Thorntons, Thatchers, Hudson, Carol and Bill gathered to share dinner together. Nathan lead in a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing, to which Archie added a prayer of gratitude for Nathan's recovery, the Thatchers' provisions during the move and the fact that he and Ruth would now reside in Regina! A delicious ham dinner was enjoyed by all and conversation was lively including discussion of the Grants' departure from Calgary, their train ride, and the new job!
As they enjoyed pies for dessert, the group made plans for the upcoming days, the graduation, and meals, while Carol made notes of who would cook and what so they could be prepared.
"Irma will be assisting in this kitchen daily beginning tomorrow so none of us need to miss out on events or time together. As the wedding approaches, she will take over for lunches and dinners, but I know she will appreciate help whenever you can offer it. Remember that Peter will be back and the Kinslows and Zach will be staying here as well, so we may need to add a folding table to one end of this dining table!" Carol laughed, "At least we all have lots of experience after spending our holidays together!"
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Cleanup went quickly with all hands working, and after saying good night to his parents, Carol, Elizabeth, and the rest of the family, Nathan sat on the edge of Allie's bed.
"Well, Honey, this is it! This is what we have been waiting for, right? Our big family all together for a few days and then the wedding! How are you doing?" Nathan glanced around Allie's room, then returned his attention to his daughter, who was propped up with pillows, ready to read before turning out her light. "By the way, your room is beautiful."
"Thanks, Dad. I think so too. I love the window seat, you know and the colors are all so pretty." Allie also took in her new bedroom then answered her father's questions, "I'm really happy, Dad. I'm just trying not to think about all the goodbyes and concentrate on all the hellos first! I'm getting excited to see Angela and Aunt Rosie and Uncle Lee, along with our other Hope Valley friends. Oh, and we haven't seen Uncle Gabe in so long! It will be fun to have him here. I have so much to tell him!"
Allied smiled with anticipation before suddenly inhaling sharply, "Dad! I forgot to tell you. Miss Bell announced we are beginning rehearsals for another concert. She isn't yet certain if it will be at City Hall this time, but she has chosen music for it. We'll sing with Jared's Academy again and the plan is for the end of May! I am excited for that too, but I can't think about it too much until after the wedding. It is something to look forward to though, and Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Bill and the Coulters will be here this time!"
"I hadn't heard about this, but that is wonderful, Honey. It's something special to look forward to and I think Jack might be old enough to attend as well. He'll be pretty proud of his big sister, eh?"
Grinning, Allie agreed, "It will be fun to introduce him to new things and have him meet everyone again. He was so busy at the Engagement Party I don't know if everyone met him!"
"It will be fun for us to have a little fella around, won't it?" Nathan gave his half-smile, adding, "Our lives may never again be as quiet as they are at this moment!"
"You're probably right!" With twinkling eyes, Allie added, "And then when the babies come… the house will get really noisy!"
"Oh Allie!" Nathan chuckled, "We can't think that far in advance, but we can pray for God's will to be done. I think it is time to pray together now, though, so you can read a little before you sleep, okay?"
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