Chapter 53 Christmas Day.
Christmas dawns bright and clear. Allie bounces out of bed so excited for Christmas. Maura makes a simple breakfast they share in front of the tree and Julia arrives to celebrate with them. Maura is thrilled to be sharing this day with her son and granddaughter. When everyone was settled Allie opened her gifts and she loves the many presents. She has received boots, games, books, and a quilt for her bed. Nathan finally gives her a star charm for her bracelet and she loves it. He then gives Allie her special gift a new saddle—which she absolutely loves. She also gets her pot of dirt and pine cone to continue the tradition of putting down roots. Allie is just as excited to give her gifts: She gives Maura a picture of the three of them that was taken on her adoption day. She gives Nathan a picture of Nathan, Elizabeth Allie and Little Jack—it was taken by Carson at the Christmas stroll and he is thrilled to have a picture of the four of them. There is much laughter and love shared in the little row house. As part of their annual tradition Nathan and Allie go fishing, but first they stop in at Elizabeth's to wish them Merry Christmas. With Elizabeth's approval Little Jack joins them this year for fishing and Elizabeth goes to help Maura. There is a great feeling of gratitude and love warming the house.
While the group goes fishing the women bustle around the kitchen putting together the Christmas meal and setting up tables to serve all the guests. Again it will be a filled house with the Coulters, Bill and Julia, Maura and William, Julie and Joseph and of course the Thorton/Grant group. The women share many stories of their past Christmases leaving out all the more recent painful ones they have endured. Each privately remembers those that cannot be with them on special day, but know their loved ones rejoice in their current happiness. There was more than one wiped tear on their aprons.
Nathan returns with the children and there was much excitement as Little Jack has caught his first fish and proudly had his mother admire it and hold it. Nathan and Allie had to stifle their laughter at the look on Elizabeth's face as she held the fish. Nathan finally took pity on Elizabeth and showed Jack how the fish could be stored.
Allie distracted Jack by telling him it was time for his present. Nathan wanted to give Jack his present before all the guest arrived. Jack's gift was a Mountie Fort that Nathan made with carved horses and Mounties. Jack was thrilled and Elizabeth was so touched with all the time and effort it had taken Nathan to make. Typical for Nathan he brushed off the compliments. Jack picked up one of the Mounties and took it over to Nathan and said "Mountie DaNa" and Nathan said "Yes buddy that is a Mountie". Jack gave that one to Nathan and took another Mountie over to Jack's picture and said "Mountie Papa" innocently. All the motion in the house appears to cease and Nathan finally goes over to Little Jack and kneels down and says "Yes Jack, that is Mountie Papa and he will always love you and look out for you". Little Jack crawls into Nathan's lap and with his arms around Nathan's neck he says "Mountie Da Na" and kisses him. At this point there is a not a dry eye in the house and proudly Allie steps up and says to Little Jack "He's a great Mountie DaNa and we both love him". Nathan crushes both children in a hug. Little Jack breaks the mood by asking for candy and when Nathan stands up from the hug, his eyes are wet and he looks at Elizabeth whose eyes are overflowing.
There is a knock at the door and the guests start arriving. Both Allie and Jack receive more presents and the house is awash in warm welcoming and loving feeling. As typical the women gather in the kitchen and the men congregate and start playing with the children and sharing some games. Nathan and Lee are busy being ordered around to move things and move chairs.
Finally they all sit down to Christmas dinner and Bill offers a Christmas blessing. He acknowledges how blessed they are all to share this feast and holiday together and ends with "Family is made up of people who love one another and we all love each other and are blessed to grow our family" With that a loud boisterous meal commences and is enjoyed by all.
The day flies by as most holidays do and soon it is evening and the guest start to depart. Little Jack is drooping and Nathan carries him home for Elizabeth and they put him to bed with no fuss. Elizabeth makes them both a hot toddy and they relax in the front of the tree. Elizabeth says to Nathan "Well our family keeps growing and it's not so simple anymore. How are you" Hugging her he replies, " I feel blessed that I have found such a family, but having Jack and you in our lives is the best present and feeling in the world." Elizabeth agrees as having Nathan and Allie has opened her heart to so much loving. She sighs contently and says "It was a perfect Christmas" and with that they kiss passionately as the lights of the Christmas tree wink on them.