The sunlight streamed through the window and across Nathan's face as he tried to grab just a few more minutes of sleep but once he was awake his mind started reeling with all the things to accomplish today before picking up Archie at the train station. He needed to wrap some gifts before Allie was up and even on Christmas Eve he still needed to do his rounds which always took longer in the winter as he never knew what the condition of the trails would be. Doing a walk through in town should be quiet given most of the businesses were closed for Christmas.
He was actually looking forward to picking his father up at the train station later today. Not really for himself but for Allie. She and Archie had been writing to each other regularly and while Archie shared stories of Colleen, Allie kept him up to date on life in Hope Valley.
Soon Nathan heard Allie stirring so he began breakfast for the two of them. Allie came downstairs still rubbing her eyes. She found her dad in the kitchen dressed in this uniform pants and a thermal. His serge hung on the back of a chair. "Good morning sweet girl, Merry Christmas Eve. What do you have planned this morning?"
"I have a few things to take care of before Miss Sarah comes over. Then she and I are going to spend the afternoon cooking for dinner tonight and we're making something special for tomorrow." Nathan was glad Allie looked forward to her time with Sarah. She had promised to teach Allie how to make her chicken pot pie and they were going to attempt to make Minnie's chocolate cake for Christmas dinner.
Once Nathan left for work Allie took care of the breakfast dishes and started wrapping the gifts she had for her dad and Sarah. She'd been saving her money from working at the café and had wanted to get her dad something special this year. Mr. Yost had helped her order it. She really hoped he liked it.
Sarah arrived loaded down with everything they needed for their afternoon in the kitchen. Sarah also had with her a large box that she handed to Allie. "What's this?" Allie wasn't sure what to do with it.
"This is a gift for you from me. Why don't you open it." Allie set the box down on the table. Opening it her eyes got big as saucers. Inside was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. The body of the dress was made of velvet in sapphire blue. It had a drop waist and the hem was just below her knees. Up near the collar was intricate embroidery work also in blue. The bell sleeves were made of chiffon in a lighter blue color and edged in the same blue velvet as the body of the dress. Allie took it out of the box and held it up to her. She couldn't help but touch the velvet and feel its luxurious softness.
Allie set the dress down gently back in the box and threw her arms around Sarah. "Thank you so much I've never had anything so beautiful in my life." Sarah returned Allie's hug and couldn't help but tear up remembering the dresses her mother had given her every year.
"I wanted you to have a new dress to wear for Christmas just like I did when I was a girl. I think this color will be absolutely beautiful on you with your eye color and hair color."
Allie carried her new dress upstairs not wanting it to get dirty nor did she want her dad to see it before they went to church tonight.
Allie and Sarah got busy in the kitchen first making a chicken pot pie for the potluck dinner at the saloon. Sarah proved a very good teacher and Allie an excellent student as Sarah let her do most of the work while she supervised. The result was a beautiful dish that smelled heavenly.
Sarah and Allie got started on Minnie's cake recipe and once it was in the oven Sarah sat down with Allie in the sitting room. "Allie, I want to talk to you about something. I talked with Mrs. Thornton last week when we were working on the Christmas Eve program." Sarah watched Allie's face to see if she had any reaction. Seeing none she continued "She told me she was very happy for you, your dad, and me and asked if she and I could be friends. I know she did some things that were very hurtful to you and your dad so I want to know what you think about us being friends."
Allie pondered this a minute. "It's true, she really hurt my dad and me and it's been hard to forgive her. I know my dad did so I figure I should too. Mrs. Thornton used to be really nice but she's been weird lately since she started seeing Mister Bouchard." Sarah noted how Allie emphasized the 'Mister' when referring to Lucas. "But then a couple of weeks ago she started acting more like she used to. I don't know what happened." Sarah wondered too.
"So would it bother you if we became friends?" Allie said she thought it would be okay.
"Miss Sarah, can I say one thing?" Sarah waited. "Please don't hurt my dad. I don't think he could go through that again." Sarah put her arm around Allie's shoulders and told her that was the last thing she wanted to do.
Waiting for the cake to bake, Allie and Sarah began talking about the books in the Grant library. Allie showed her a few of her favorites, one was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. They had a lively conversation about the different characters in the book. Sarah was doing her best to occupy Allie knowing Nathan would be here soon with his father to surprise her.
Nathan had gone to the train station to pick up Archie. When Archie exited the train he looked older than Nathan remembered from his last visit. His hair was a bit whiter, a bit thinner, the stoop in his back more pronounced and his words a little slower. Nathan tried to picture the man he'd been angry with for so many years. This was not him. Nathan made his way to Archie took his bag from him and held out his hand not to shake it but to provide support. "Oh son, it's good to see you. Thank you for letting me come for Christmas."
Nathan helped his father through the throng of holiday travelers to the wagon he'd borrowed from the livery. Helping Archie up to the seat Nathan noticed how much lighter he was. His dad had always been wiry but now he noticed he'd lost weight. Nathan put an extra blanket around him to keep him warm.
"How are you doing dad?" Nathan's Mountie instincts told him something was wrong. Observing the physical changes in Archie, Nathan assumed it was his health.
"Well son, I'm doing pretty good all things considered. It's been a long year but I'm doing better." The vagueness of Archie's answers reinforced Nathan's assumption that something was wrong.
"Dad, I can tell something is wrong. You look like you've lost weight and you're moving slower than you were the last time I saw you." Nathan knew it had been over a year since he'd seen Archie but at that time he was much healthier and had a lot more energy.
"Always straight to the point aren't you son?" Archie then proceeded to tell Nathan that earlier in the year he'd had cancer. It was called Hodgkin Lymphoma but they'd caught it early. Archie had gone through a series of radiation treatments and was currently in remission. "They say I'll get stronger every day. I just need to rest and I think being with you and Allie will help a lot."
Nathan didn't know what to say. He couldn't believe that in spite of numerous letters and phone calls Archie had never mentioned anything was wrong. Nathan felt guilty that he hadn't picked up on any signs or been to see him. If he had he would have known something was wrong. "Dad, why didn't you say anything? I could have been there to help you."
"Son, you have enough to manage with your job and Allie. I didn't want to worry you. I figured if it got real bad I would tell you then and if it got better you wouldn't need to know at all." The logic was something Nathan would do, not worry the people you love. "Listen Nathan, I don't want you to say anything to Allie. Promise me son."
Nathan agreed though he wondered how long he could keep that promise. Reaching the house Nathan entered to the scene of Allie and Sarah snuggled on the settee reading. For a moment he forgot about the conversation with his father and thought what a beautiful sight this would be to come home to every day. Both Sarah and Allie looked up when Nathan came in. Allie saw Archie and leaped up running to embrace him. "Grandpa! I didn't know you were coming for Christmas." Turning to Nathan she said "Why didn't you tell me?"
Nathan stood behind Archie knowing Allie could easily knock him off balance with her hug. "We wanted to surprise you." Allie turned to Nathan giving him a hug too. "How long are you here?" Archie told her he was going to be there for the whole week.
Turning to Sarah Archie introduced himself. "Miss Crawford it is a pleasure to meet you. I almost feel like I know you since my granddaughter has written about you in her letters." Sarah told Archie to call her Sarah and immediately liked him and his light Irish brogue. She was looking for similarities between Archie and Nathan. The first thing she noticed was that he shared the same stunning blue eyes and when Archie smiled it was the same as his son's crooked grin.
Sarah excused herself to go take the cake out of the oven. Nathan came up behind her leaning over to appreciate the smell of his favorite dessert. Sarah told him to leave it alone and he better not sample it until dinner the following day. He wrapped his arms around her asking how her time with Allie was. "We had a really good talk. She loves you so much Nathan and she worries about you. She's so much more mature than I was at that age." Nathan told Sarah he wanted to walk her home. Sarah told him it wasn't necessary but he insisted.
As they walked Sarah sensed something was wrong. "What is it Nathan?"
Nathan told Sarah about his conversation with Archie on the way from the train station. She didn't know what to say other than she was sorry. Nathan told her Archie was in remission but had a long way to go to regain his strength. He hoped the week with he and Allie would help in his recovery. Sarah put her arm through Nathan's as they continued back to her apartment. Finally Nathan said "I spent so many years angry at the man who had deserted our family and when he got off that train today he wasn't that man I remembered at all."
Sarah understood. "Nathan your father is still here. You still have time with him. You told me once that you needed to forgive him. Maybe now is the time." Nathan nodded knowing she was right. He was thankful for the chance to tell his father he forgives him. Nathan wrapped Sarah in his arms and kissed her needing the comfort that she always gave him.
Nathan and Archie were standing at the bottom of the stairs waiting for Allie to come down. Sarah had arrived earlier and had gone upstairs to help Allie into her new dress. Nathan called out to Allie to hurry up, worried they were going to be late. They heard Sarah coming down the stairs followed shortly by Allie. When she reached the bottom both Nathan and Archie were speechless. Allie stood before them in her new dress. "Allie you look absolutely beautiful. Where did you get that dress?"
Allie told her dad and Grandpa that it was a gift from Sarah. Sarah had been standing off to the side watching Grandfather, father and daughter. She knew that seeing the three generations celebrating Christmas together had been a long and often painful journey for all of them. She prayed that healing for them would continue.
Nathan pulled himself together and told them they needed to get to church or there wouldn't be any place to sit. It was a good thing he did because the church was already filling up. Allie ran ahead to sit with her choir and was proud to show off her new dress.
Elizabeth was at the front of the church organizing the choir but turned as Archie, Nathan and Sarah came in. She couldn't help but see what a striking couple Nathan and Sarah were together. Nathan was in his blue suit and Sarah was in a cream colored dress with a blue sash. Seeing Archie, Elizabeth made her way to greet him and told him how nice it was to see him again. Elizabeth wished the three of them a Merry Christmas and went back to the front to make sure the children were ready.
The program started with the choir singing several traditional Christmas songs. There were also several smaller groups that sang. Joseph Canfield gave a short message and the program ended with the lighting of candles and singing of Silent Night. Sarah didn't think she'd ever heard anything so beautiful. Standing between Nathan and Archie she found another similarity between the two. Both had beautiful voices.
Following church everyone made their way to the saloon for dinner. The food was plentiful and there was lots of lively conversation. Nathan, Allie, Archie and Sarah all sat together talking about how beautiful the program at church had been. They said hello to Rosemary and Lee who were sitting with Elizabeth and Little Jack. Nathan and Sarah both thought it odd that Lucas wasn't sitting with them too. After dinner, as everyone left, the children looked for their wishes from the Giving Tree. There were many excited squeals as presents were found. Everyone gathered in the middle of the street and after several minutes a murmur made its way through the crowd. Necks were craned and one by one white lanterns made their way across the sky. It was a beautiful spectacle. Nathan stood behind Sarah and wrapped his arms around her. Sarah leaned her back against his chest and he leaned over to kiss her cheek. After saying goodbye to their friends Archie and Allie headed for home while Nathan walked Sarah home.
Standing at Sarah's door Nathan thought of the scene he'd walked into earlier today of Sarah and Allie reading together. It made his heart so full. "Sarah, thank you for everything you did today for Allie."
"Nathan, I loved every minute of it. You've raised a remarkable young woman." Sarah's praise made Nathan's breath catch.
They stood for a long time just gazing into each other's eyes. Nathan pulled Sarah to him as his lips touched hers so lightly at first and then exploring with a passion she couldn't resist. Her hands rested on his shoulders as she steadied herself against him. Nathan pulled back kissing Sarah's forehead, her cheeks, and again found her parted lips. As their kiss ended, Nathan smiled at Sarah, the blueness of his eyes that were impossible to turn away from. Sarah reached up to kiss Nathan on the cheek and heard his breath escape as her lips touched him. Saying a final goodnight Sarah went inside. Nathan stood for a moment collecting himself, already missing her.